Verifying my M-65

bythesea · May 30, 2019

Hello everyone. I recently purchased what I believe to be a vintage 1977 M-65 field jacket (based on the DSA number) for a relatively good price of $55! (they don't show up on thrift stores or come cheap from where I'm from sadly...) The only thing that's bugging me is that I can't find much information about the front zipper which is branded as "General". However, it does use Scovill for the concealed hood compartment and the snap buttons. Can anybody confirm if this is a real vintage piece or just a repro?

UPDATE:
The helpful people down below seems to think that it's a real vintage piece. Nice

However, the "General" zipper is still a bit of an enigma. Someone below posted pictures that confirm the use of the "General" zipper since the early '70s (Precisely 1973). It would be nice to know more information about the features of these beautiful jackets!

Thank you!

Big J · May 30, 2019

Hi!
Welcome to TFL. That looks 100% legit to me. Nice score!
I wish I could find one in my size, I got some awesome original ARVN paratrooper patches for it.

Gamma68 · May 30, 2019

Looks legitimate to my eye.

I have a 1969 M-65 in great condition with the original button-in quilted liner. They're great jackets.

bythesea · May 30, 2019

Big J said:
Hi!
Welcome to TFL. That looks 100% legit to me. Nice score!
I wish I could find one in my size, I got some awesome original ARVN paratrooper patches for it.

Thanks for the welcome

and thanks again for the confirmation! By any chance you know about the "General" branded zipper? I can't seem to find any information about it, other than the zipper itself looking like a vintage Talon and that it is used on other vintage jackets I found online (like this G-1 or this other (well priced, in my opinion) M-65).

Also, from what I've seen, there are lots of small and medium sized M-65s on eBay. I think the larger ones are harder to come by. Best of luck on finding your size. Those ARVN patches would look gorgeous on one of these field jackets!

Gamma68 said:
Looks legitimate to my eye.

I have a 1969 M-65 in great condition with the original button-in quilted liner. They're great jackets.

Thank you for the confirmation! Same as the above, do know anything about the "General" branded front zipper?

That piece you have must be a beauty! And I have to agree, they are great jackets to have. I actually bought this one after buying the modern one made by Alpha Industries. A vintage piece that's almost as good the new one almost a third of the price? I just can't skip it

Trenchfriend · May 30, 2019

bythesea said:
they are great jackets to have.

Weight?

Gamma68 · May 30, 2019

I have no knowledge about the General branded zipper.

The zipper on my jacket is aluminum and unbranded. It's not the smoothest-operating zipper around. Your brass zipper is superior, IMO.

Lean'n'mean · May 30, 2019

As far as I know, both 'John Ownbey co. inc'. & 'So-Sew styles Inc.' used 'General' branded zippers from the late 70's to the early 80's, they both had government contracts but also made M65's for the civilian market & though I am no expert, there is something about the label that suggests your jacket is a civvie model.

bythesea · May 30, 2019

Trenchfriend said:
Weight?

For an estimate, I'd say it's around a kilo (three to four pounds) or so? Not light, nor close to heavy in my opinion. I'll get back to you with the precise weight when I can find my scale

Gamma68 said:
I have no knowledge about the General branded zipper.

The zipper on my jacket is aluminum and unbranded. It's not the smoothest-operating zipper around. Your brass zipper is superior, IMO.

View attachment 170677

Thanks for the answer. That aluminium zipper looks great though

Lean'n'mean said:
As far as I know, both 'John Ownbey co. inc'. & 'So-Sew styles Inc.' used 'General' branded zippers from the late 70's to the early 80's, they both had government contracts but also made M65's for the civilian market & though I am no expert, there is something about the label that suggests your jacket is a civvie model.

Thanks for the answer! That's some interesting information. I still wonder which company produced the "General" branded zippers. Still can't find any information about it. Regarding the civvie and the military version, do you happen to know any differences in features between them? What differentiates the label that mine has with the ones that are issued for the military? It would be awesome to know the history of these beautiful jackets!

kittyhawk · May 30, 2019

DSA points to this being military issue. Check out this web site.https://thechaplainkit.com/history/...ates-of-historic-military-clothing-equipment/

AbbaDatDeHat · May 30, 2019

bythesea said:
For an estimate, I'd say it's around a kilo (three to four pounds) or so? Not light, nor close to heavy in my opinion. I'll get back to you with the precise weight when I can find my scale

Thanks for the answer. That aluminium zipper looks great though

Thanks for the answer! That's some interesting information. I still wonder which company produced the "General" branded zippers. Still can't find any information about it. Regarding the civvie and the military version, do you happen to know any differences in features between them? What differentiates the label that mine has with the ones that are issued for the military? It would be awesome to know the history of these beautiful jackets!

Greetings bythesea et al:
This might help.
I’m not an expert on all things military, but i am an expert on this jacket.
Issued new to me, 1973, USMC. Note the General zipper on the collar and no name main zipper. My other one has Scovill’s on both. Still wear them all the time.
B

bythesea · May 30, 2019

kittyhawk said:
DSA points to this being military issue. Check out this web site.https://thechaplainkit.com/history/...ates-of-historic-military-clothing-equipment/

Very insightful. Thank you very much kittyhawk!

AbbaDatDeHat said:
I’m not an expert on all things military, but i am an expert on this jacket.

That must be one hell of a jacket! Thanks for the information. So now we can establish that the "General" zipper was used since at least 1973. Still wondering which company made it though... I think it has some resemblance to Talon zippers.

Also, judging from the label on your jacket, I see minor differences with the one I have. Perhaps I can confirm that mine is a military issue then? (Which makes it an even cooler piece of history IMO

)

Big J · May 31, 2019

@bythesea, that's an issue label, so an issue jacket. Nice.
I went through a phase of reading about Lam Son 719 and the ARVN paratroopers weeklong hand to hand fight with the NVA in the highlands. Contrary to popular opinion about ARVN troops, these guys were pretty tough cookies. When I found photos, there were many of them wearing M-65s. So when I found some patches, I bought them.

bythesea · May 31, 2019

Big J said:
@bythesea, that's an issue label, so an issue jacket. Nice.
I went through a phase of reading about Lam Son 719 and the ARVN paratroopers weeklong hand to hand fight with the NVA in the highlands. Contrary to popular opinion about ARVN troops, these guys were pretty tough cookies. When I found photos, there were many of them wearing M-65s. So when I found some patches, I bought them.

That's very good to know! Any info on how ARVNs got their M-65s?

Big J · Jun 1, 2019

Well I'd guess that they were issue items supplied by the US to the RVN as an ally, along with all the other uniform items, weapons and equipment.
How much of that ever got paid for (given the collapse of RVN) is anyone's guess (how much of that never needed paying for as it was illicitly supplied from US Gov stocks with Pentagon approval is also anyone's guess).
If you look at photos of the USMC at the siege of Khe Sanh you can find marines wearing the M-65 there too.
The Central Highlands seem to have been really chilly in the early morning.

Verifying my M-65

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