M-51 Fishtail Parka and such

Fifty150 · Mar 15, 2020

I suppose that other members have a version of this type of jacket. Some can run hundreds of dollars. Or they can be bought for the price of a backroom rub n' tug. Share your thoughts and experiences.

handymike · Mar 15, 2020

I always wanted one back in Middle school as one kid was a full on mod and so cool with his parka and chromed out Vespa!
Last year I picked up the Superdry version on sale. It doesn’t have the fur trim on the hood, but I did put on a snoopy patch.

AbbaDatDeHat · Mar 15, 2020

I have one of these. It cost me a visit to cold weather training at Fort Drum in 1974-75. It had the hood with fur, liner.
I guess i forgot to return it because it’s hanging by the basement door. Lol
Wear it every year. I always chuckle remembering how many beer cans we Jarheads left in the snow for them to remember our visit.
Damn good coat!
B

Fifty150 · Mar 15, 2020

AbbaDatDeHat said:
Fort Drum in 1974-75

Interesting. Still in use after Vietnam. What year did the military stop issuing this style? I thought that with the M-65, M-51 was removed from the uniform stock.

handymike said:
I picked up the Superdry version

The last I looked, SuperDry has very small sizing. I didn't see anything for a 50" chest.

What type of fabric does SuperDry use? Is it modern technology waterproof? Does it have a removable or fixed layer of insulation?

The 1 I saw online looks a little short, compared to others. Is this the same as what you have?

Doctor Damage · Mar 15, 2020

Alpha did a revival of this parka recently but they seem to have discontinued it. Photos below. Does anyone know of a source for a well-made one that isn't one of the uber-expensive Japanese repros?

Fifty150 · Mar 16, 2020

It looks like Alpha has several "fashion" type fishtail garments, but no actual M-51. Some of them actually look like they will be warm. I sort of like this 1. But the price, even on sale, is a little too high.

Fifty150 · Mar 16, 2020

The Rothco, perceived as a lower quality, is the least expensive. As with most Rothco, it's not authentic. Close. Effective. It is long, the liner retains body heat, and it's oversized to fit over layers.

Ernest P Shackleton · Mar 16, 2020

I believe the UK Mods (1960s), and Mod revival (1980s), made these popular. I'm not sure they were wearing US fishtails though. Whatever jacket it was, it was at least similar. Seems like a lot of fabric flopping around the body, but maybe I'm wrong in that estimation. Longer jackets really aren't my thing though.

Héctor Fernández · Mar 16, 2020

You earned it! A million thumbs up to you!

AbbaDatDeHat said:
I have one of these. It cost me a visit to cold weather training at Fort Drum in 1974-75. It had the hood with fur, liner.
I guess i forgot to return it because it’s hanging by the basement door. Lol
Wear it every year. I always chuckle remembering how many beer cans we Jarheads left in the snow for them to remember our visit.
Damn good coat!
B

handymike · Mar 16, 2020

How about here...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Genuine-Forces-Issue-Style-Fishtail/dp/B001KVO54U?th=1&psc=1

bn1966 · Mar 16, 2020

I was one of the 80’s Mod revivalists back in the day and owned an original ‘51 Parka (US Military issue). These days I have a model ‘65 for walking the dog. The unfashionable used to buy copies of the fishtail made by the likes of Millets (a UK camping equipment supplier).

Doctor Damage · Mar 17, 2020

Buzz repros... $$$$$$$$

Fifty150 · Mar 17, 2020

It was 45℉ this morning. I deliberately wore my cheap Rothco with just a t-shirt and Levi's. It was good enough. I was warm.

I got this years ago, at a local surplus type store. They showed me an Alpha, which was 4X the price. Then the shop owner showed me the Rothco. He said that it wasn't as nice, but the liner will keep you warm, and that in his store, the Made In China stuff was the best seller because of price.

If I recall, I saw it on a mannequin, and immediately thought that I could wear it on for pier fishing trips and around the campfire. And way back when, it worked great. Perfect top layer on those cold, foggy crab fishing trips. As I was not going to wear an expensive wool overcoat to a hunting trip, or get fish guts and salt water on.

The Rothco is a single layer of cotton. Imagine a butcher smock with a hood. The liner is just like the M-65 liner, or a poncho liner. Because it is not a nylon/cotton or poly/cotton blend, it's not water resistant. Because it is just cotton, I think it's softer and more comfortable.

20+ years ago, I recall paying $50. The price has actually gone down, when adjusted for inflation.

Sorry for the poor quality selfie.

Doctor Damage · Mar 17, 2020

^ good review, fifty50... sure the Rothco ones are not "accurate" but as long as it functions and is cheap, then hey ho that's fine with me... my days of insisting on historical accuracy and paying $$$$ to get it are long in the past!

Fifty150 · Mar 17, 2020

N

Doctor Damage said:
insisting on historical accuracy and paying $$$$ to get it

Nothing wrong with it. That's why people collect and restore cars. As if you really need to spend 6 figures, for 40 HP.

I am throwing my cell phone away. I'm only sending telegrams to be historically accurate.

Doctor Damage · Mar 17, 2020

Fifty150 · Mar 18, 2020

That Japanese advertisement makes the cheap coat look nice. I wonder what they charge for that in Japan.

bn1966 · Mar 18, 2020

Lots of places in the UK are selling M-51 clone parkas to our Mod market. And you can buy originals from some vendors (really not cheap). And if a very wealthy Mod, even an original M-48. Me I’m happy with my M-65

Fifty150 · Mar 20, 2020

When did the US stop using this coat? Unless it's actually issued to a soldier, everything is a clone. Even if manufactured by the original contractor, and made to exact specs, it's not "authentic" if it wasn't actually issued to a soldier.

Now let's get to the good stuff.

bn1966 said:
M-51 clone parkas

How well are they made? Is there a liner, or just the shell for kids to look cool wearing it? How about pricing and availability? Is there a brand name label? Do you own it?

Doctor Damage · Mar 20, 2020

Fifty150 said:
How well are they made? Is there a liner, or just the shell for kids to look cool wearing it? How about pricing and availability? Is there a brand name label? Do you own it?

The original M-51 parkas date from an era from which little or no records survive, much like with nylon flight jackets. Most of what we know has been reconstructed by collectors, etc.

M-51 Fishtail Parka and such

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