M-65 Article

[Chandler]

Somewhat interesting article on the M-65 -- if not taking some liberties here and there.

Field Drip: The M-65 Field Jacket

The long-serving M-65 jacket has rightly earned its place as one of the most popular pieces of military surplus money can buy.

habilitateblog.com

 

[Flightengineer]

ha ha and again the praises to Alpha

 

[Chandler]

ha ha and again the praises to Alpha

Yah. I saw that as part of the "liberties." Owned 2 M-65s in my lifetime... neither of them manufactured by Alpha.

And what's all this about the M-65 being "made for US soldiers fighting in the unforgiving territory of Vietnam."?

Can you imagine humping through the boonies in an M-65? Liner or not!

 

[johnwayne]

Ironic post as I’ve been thinking and looking at an M65 for a while now but, quite simply I already have more than enough jackets and no more room in the wardrobes, hence the dithering but there’s plenty of options other than Alpha and its yet another military style the ‘High St’ shops have copied.
So far, 2xVarsity, 3xA2’s, 2xG1’s, Tanker, B10, A1, M421, Hartman, 2xBarbour, 3xG9 Harringtons plus various others like Levi denim!! Storage prob why I’ve kept my distance from shearling jackets too even though I’d love a B3/6!!!

 

[Chandler]

I wore a 70s OD M-65 through high school and most of college (amazing to fit 2 cans of beer in each pocket), but I grew out of it.

I bought an 80s camo version for paintball back in the mid-90s and have grown out of that one, too... in the opposite direction.

Would love an older OD like my first one, but don't really need it.

Anyone got a medium OD they'd like to trade for a large camo?

 

[busdrivermike]

This guy has 6 videos on the m65 , a guy I follow on Instagram

 

[Monsoon]

Can you imagine humping through the boonies in an M-65? Liner or not!

I’ve seen pictures of guys in SF base camps in the Central Highlands wearing them.

 

[MikeyB-17]

I’ve got three, none of them a genuine one. I have a black one somewhere, and an Abercrombie and Fitch which is really battered and looks great-although my wife hates it. Recently I found a pretty much new one in a charity shop by Superdry, a British high street company who do some half reasonable stuff, classic designs, sometimes military, then plaster it in faux Japanese script and silly badges, which I usually avoid. However this is a really nice modern take on the M-65, with a fleece lining, very comfortable and practical, and thankfully someone had the good taste to remove the Superdry badge from the arm. I grabbed it as a beater, and for £25 I’m well pleased with it. They’re charging £95 for one in the shops.

 

[Chandler]

I’ve seen pictures of guys in SF base camps in the Central Highlands wearing them.

At night?

Like to see some examples, but it still doesn't hold up the claim it was "made for soldiers in Vietnam."*

*"This legendary versatility was born from the jacket’s origins as a uniform made for US soldiers fighting in the unforgiving territory of Vietnam."

 

[Flightengineer]

To be fair, I have a Bill Taylor's photo from Vietnam in my archive






It is clear that this is an exception, however, the fact that the M65 was used to a limited extent in cool weather

 

[B-Man2]

Kind of a late entry in this thread but for whatever it’s worth I can tell you guys that the m-65 jacket was a standard issued cold weather jacket for all troops in boot camp in a cold weather environment. The jacket was retained by the soldier as part of his kit.
That’s probably the case of how they showed up in Vietnam . One of the tricks used by many was to take the m-65 liner out of the jacket and to wear it under your combat fatigue shirt. It kept you warm without all the bulk of wearing the jacket .

 

[Chandler]

To be fair, I have a Bill Taylor's photo from Vietnam in my archive






It is clear that this is an exception, however, the fact that the M65 was used to a limited extent in cool weather

Monsoon season? (no pun to @Monsoon)

Funny that the grunt on the left isn't cold enough to put one on -- or did he forget his back home?

 

[Chandler]

One of the tricks used by many was to take the m-65 liner out of the jacket and to wear it under your combat fatigue shirt. It kept you warm without all the bulk of wearing the jacket .

Not a procedure I've seen (either), but it might be difficult to spot in pics.

 

[B-Man2]

Not a procedure I've seen (either), but it might be difficult to spot in pics.

I have pics and I can send them to you off line

 

[YoungMedic]

Monsoon season? (no pun to @Monsoon)

Funny that the grunt on the left isn't cold enough to put one on -- or did he forget his back home?

There's always one guy who's "not cold"

 

[Chandler]

There's always one guy who's "not cold"

I always thought it was there was always one guy who was cold.

(then I got old -- and it seems I can't get used to winter anymore. )

 

[Chandler]

I have pics and I can send them to you off line

Can you send a couple through PM?

Although, the liners being from an M-65 would keep it on topic in this thread.

 

[B-Man2]

Can you send a couple through PM?

Although, the liners being from an M-65 would keep it on topic in this thread.

I can but it’s going to take me a couple of days to dig them out of storage . I’ll have them to you by Monday .
BTW it was standard practice to wear them that way by the Ranger Battalion guys . If you know anyone who was a Ranger he can corroborate what I telling you .

 

[Chandler]

I can but it’s going to take me a couple of days to dig them out of storage . I’ll have them to you by Monday .
BTW it was standard practice to wear them that way by the Ranger Battalion guys . If you know anyone who was a Ranger he can corroborate what I telling you .

No hurry -- just interested to see.

Only Vietnam vets I know (knew) were army grunts and Air Force MP.

 

[Smithy]

To be fair, I have a Bill Taylor's photo from Vietnam in my archive






It is clear that this is an exception, however, the fact that the M65 was used to a limited extent in cool weather

I got an email from Bill the other day ;-)

His book is awesome BTW.