What is a National Stock Number (NSN) on Military Surplus?

An NSN, or National Stock Number, is a unique identifier assigned to items in the supply chain of the U.S. military and NATO forces. It typically consists of 13 digits and is used to standardize and simplify procurement and inventory management.

The NSN is broken down into four main parts:
1. Federal Supply Class (FSC): The first four digits indicate the category or class of the item.
2. NIIN (National Item Identification Number): The last nine digits uniquely identify the item within that class.

Military surplus items often bear their NSNs, which can help users identify the specific item, its specifications, and whether it meets certain requirements for use or compatibility