Yes and no. Many Army tents differ in the weight of canvas or the way it is waterproofed. There are dry waterproofing manufacturing methods and there are wet waterproofing manufacturing methods. Many of the Army tents that your folks use to have were treated with a wet waterproofing method leaving a waxy feeling and the unique smell on the canvas. In fact, you might recall that it actually was a little bit brittle in very cold weather and difficult to manage. Our canvas tents are treated with the dry method allowing it to breathe, stretch, and smell like canvas was made to smell. Both tents are very nice, but we are a bit partial to the Kodiak brand.