Alpha Industries M65 Field Jacket

Doctor Damage said:

These guys are Helikon are clearly fraudsters.

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Thanks for the warning.

I wonder if it's too late to cancel my order.

Ernest P Shackleton said:

I'm honestly surprised there hasn't been an ambitious blogger who has every M-65 manufacturer, years of production, labels and how to read them, etc.

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I'm not. The less than a handful who might want to know that information, are all on this thread.

Everyone else in the free world is not trying to decode the label on a 50 year old jacket. They simply try on a few jackets, and buy the one that fits best.

I have seen other guys cutting off the epaulettes. Apparently, in ACU configuration, the coat is made without epaulettes.

Fifty150 said:

I'm not. The less than a handful who might want to know that information, are all on this thread.

Everyone else in the free world is not trying to decode the label on a 50 year old jacket.

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Believe me, there are many people who have spent thousands of hours and still argue about decifering the codes on these labels, just take a look at the amazing VLJ forum.

Harris HTM said:

Believe me, there are many people who have spent thousands of hours and still argue about decifering the codes on these labels,

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I'll take your word for it.

***** ***** FLASHBACK ***** *****

It's Monday. My Monday shift actually was last night, at midnight. 12 hour shifts. Then I go home, the rest of the business day happens, and I come back. A good shift. Off work by noon, which allows for "day drinking". Here I am, reporting in for my Tuesday midnight shift. The supervisor had a few words for me.

"5150, go home. Get some sleep. In the morning, you are to take your team on a field trip. Fun Boy, The Red Rocker, Diamond Dave, Ducky, Hop Sing, Shlomo, & Shecky. You boys are going to The Sand Box to ride your little tricycles. You guys are expected to get there by tomorrow night. The program begins Wednesday, for 10 days, to next Friday You know the rules. You will not wear anything with our agency patches or emblems. There's a set of khakis by your lockers. Be on your best behaviour. Don't embarrass us like you did last time. Bring clean underwear, and wear it."

{REDACTED LOCATION NOT DISCLOSED} is a desert environment, known for triple digit heat, and high winds which I've personally seen bending palm trees. Night time can drop the temperatures in half or more. With the wind chill, it gets cold. A few times, I've seen flash flooding. I can only guess that this training facility is located out where you can bury a body, because the rent is cheap.

I actually don't have a "locker". "Our Room", is not a conventional office. We have some steel shelving, which everyone has sort of unofficially claimed a piece of. There it was. 3 shirts. 3 pairs of pants. 1 pair of boots. And a jacket.

***** ***** Today **** *******

I never wore that jacket. I took it home, with the tag still attached. It wasn't a military mission. Actually, it was a lot less exciting. Just another accelerated training camp where they try to teach you a bunch of stuff in 10 days. I just about forgot about it, since it was so long ago. But I dug it out of storage today. Still in the plastic wrapper. M-65 style/type. The sleeve did not have the flapto go over your hand, and the opening appears wider. The liner cuff was also an open cuff, like on an inexpensive liner; as opposed to rib knit cuff on an Alpha liner. Metal zipper and snaps are generic, with no brand name, just random markings. To my surprise, the hood was down the back of the jacket between the inner & outer layers, instead of rolled up; so that the collar is not bunched up & bulky. Hemline drawcord is elasticized bungee style. Waistline drawcord is like a cheap shoelace. I tried it on today, for the first time. It felt okay. It felt warm. It's about 45 degrees Fahrenheit. I wore it over a t-shirt. It feels like my other jackets marked as Size XL. And now the controversy will be in how size XL is marked in inches on the label.





Tru Spec is not a brand familiar to most people. I've only seen it at the uniform supply shop. Amazon has the jacket for $121.96, and not in khaki.

Fifty150 said:

I'm not. The less than a handful who might want to know that information, are all on this thread.

Everyone else in the free world is not trying to decode the label on a 50 year old jacket. They simply try on a few jackets, and buy the one that fits best.

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uh-uh. There are probably hundreds of forums and facebook groups of disgruntled people, wannabe paramilitary types, bushcrafters, and war re-enactment hobbyists, all of which are obsessed with gear. I've even seen some inquisitive groups on hunting forums who got into surplus curiosity via their backpacking needs (Kifaru, Mystery Ranch). There are hunters who are happy using their grandad's clothing, and then there are the types spending oodles of cash on gear. No different than any other male hobby. There are plenty of fellas out there wanting to know what every single number and letter indicate on a 1972 John Ownbey Co M-65.

Sounds like sports enthusiast obsessed with tracking statistics. While the rest of the world is not effected by an obscure pitcher's ERA in 1987. Or the won-loss record of a college team in 1978.

I don't know. Distractions are good, and hobbies are distractions. They're healthy. People into knives knowing steels and metals. Cooks learning that recipes are actually as much chemistry as they're anything else, and that's about numbers and science. Most things (the most rewarding things) aren't about practicality or utility. Painters knowing about brushes and paints. Mechanics knowing about tools. Does it matter what anyone else thinks about it? The sad thing is that too many people think their distractions or way of living is superior to others. Or that they don't recognize their distractions as just distractions like everyone else has. One definition for themselves, and another for everyone else. Dynamic goalposts.

Most people are enthusiastic about something, or another. For every topic, there are enthusiast. Plenty of automotive enthusiast who are interested in vehicles from a gone-by era. Whereas most of the world simply buys whatever is new with current technology. I would much rather employ current technology if I'm camping, rather than try to "bushcraft" with Amish gear. Sort of like trying to decide if I want to hook up online, or smash a random girl with my club and drag her back to my cave.

M-65 jackets went into service in 1965. US Military phased them out when? Last Mil-Spec contract for production was probably 2000- something? So we're not trying to unravel production specifications for knights in the crusades. If someone really wanted to do research, military manufacturing specifications for contract production should not be that hard to find. The companies which made these coats are mostly still in business. And the issued items of uniform still exist today in some veteran's closet or attic.

What I want to know about is the hood which is suppose to button onto the jacket. The cold weather hood. I've seen buttonholes on the jacket along the collar. There's that 1 button on the outside of the windguard flap. I've never seen it in person. None of the uniform suppliers have it in my area. How does it attach? Has anyone had experience using it? Is it made from that same NYCO fabric? Is there a lining or insulation? Do you use it with that hood in the collar?

Fifty150 said:

What I want to know about is the hood which is suppose to button onto the jacket. The cold weather hood. I've seen buttonholes on the jacket along the collar. There's that 1 button on the outside of the windguard flap. I've never seen it in person. None of the uniform suppliers have it in my area. How does it attach? Has anyone had experience using it? Is it made from that same NYCO fabric? Is there a lining or insulation? Do you use it with that hood in the collar?

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Here are pictures of the hood and the instructions for installing it. On my field jacket I have the button on the outside of the windflap you mentioned, as well as two buttonholes under the collar. Never used the internal hood nor the cold weather hood. I suppose one could use the internal hood under the insulated hood, but don't think it would add anything of value. It is thin and flimsy.

Those are M-51s?

It looks like BDU sold as cargo pants, MA-1, N-3B, & M=65 jackets keep coming back into fashion rotation. Whether you want surplus, mil-spec copy, or something with a fashion label..... These styles will be around for a long time. I wonder why the BDU shirt isn't as popular in the civilian world.

Nice jackets, but when one have actually wore them in combat and tactical teams like I did, they have a whole different meaning.

Is not a fashion statement, but part of ones life.

I think the Horst Schimanski-M65 thing came because of Serpico.

Götz George said, the first M65 was his own, he brought along to the set. But I think, secretly the inspiration was Pacino's Serpico. Because the "backround" of the Horst Schimanski-plot and the production crew was totally left-liberal!

Fifty150 said:

I wonder why the BDU shirt isn't as popular in the civilian world.

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I've worn BDU trousers since a teenager. Cut off and hemmed into shorts, because you could buy repaired surplus pairs of trousers for like $8 and modify them for any whim. Full length for skateboarding because the double knees and butt could come in handy, both in wipe outs and in colder months. Hiking. Backpacking. Working on cars or bicycles. They were cheaper than jeans, more comfortable (IMO), and utilitarian. I tried wearing the BDU shirts more times than I can count. I didn't care for the tailoring/fit/cut, nor the material, for the shirt or light jacket application. I could never figure out what temperature was good for them to act like a jacket, which once again seems like it was because of the blend of material. That little bit of polyester on my upper half made me hot. For the bottom, not a lot of better options. For the top, many better options.
I see BDU uppers now and again. All it would take is one pop fashion designer to use one, and it would be off to the races. MA-1, and MA-1 derivatives, are everywhere now. I see an awful lot of N-3Bs now too. If Chanel or Fendi did a single runway look with a BDU upper, you'd see them everywhere.

I like the shirt for the pockets. I usually roll up the sleeves. In my climate, about 50℉, it's just right.

Without being active duty, and getting all the free uniform layers, what are you guys wearing under the M-65?

Current ECWCS has a fleece jacket, and SoftShell jacket.

Costco now sells fleece and SoftShell.

I have a pullover from a company called RefrigiWear.

Ernest P Shackleton said:

Those are M-51s?

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Oh yeah, good point. Reversable collars instead of the stand-up collar of the M65. I'll leave the photo there since it's cool, if incorrect.