The M-1943 US Army Field Jacket

[WW2 Buff]

Hello, I want to share some photos of the original WW2 period M-1943 US Army Field Jacket I have acquired.

 

[B-Man2]

One of the nicest original mint conditioned
M-43 jackets I’ve ever seen .
Congrats on your find .

 

[Pa12]

Hello, I want to share some photos of the original WW2 period M-1943 US Army Field Jacket I have acquired.




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Man, that’s mint.

 

[WW2 Buff]

Thanks, I was pleased to find one in this condition, in a decent size and dated Oct 11 1943.
Here's a photo of the M-43 being worn during WW2.

 

[coolhandluke]

This is the one jacket that I own, but have never been able to work into my wear rotation. Time and time again, I'll see Illya Sobtchak wearing his M-43, so I'll pull mine out and try it on. It just never looks quite right on me, even though it feels fantastic.

 

[Thomas Koehle]

Thanks, I was pleased to find one in this condition, in a decent size and dated Oct 11 1943.
Here's a photo of the M-43 being worn during WW2.

View attachment 143631

Obviously those fellas are paratroppers (A-jokes and leather chincup on the helmet, additional pockets on their pants) - even more interesting is the guy second from left wearing a british para denison smock

 

[Erwin]

Hey Thomas,

This is a well known image with US para wearing a Denison smock, more information here https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/fo...181949-gi-wearing-british-denison-para-smock/

There is another fantastic picture with a US Army soldier during late NAM war wearing a Denison smock, need to look for this picture as cannot find this on my HD.

 

[MauldinFan]

Sweet M43. When I got into this stuff seriously in the late 80s, you could still find them with cutter tags for smaller sizes. It wasn't too unusual to find people wearing them out in the wild.

 

[Erwin]

You can still find these M43 jackets in a decent condition, especially in the USA. Finding a prototype from the pre-production run is a tricky task.

 

[Tattoo A2]

When I was in my early teens back in the 70s we would buy these for five dollars at the flea market in Queens NY. Not knowing any better we would wear them till they fell apart, the good old days. Great looking jacket.

 

[Spitfireace]

Now they should remain in the closet as a collectible. Nobody knows it's a real WW2 jacket anyhow except you. Might as well get a Bronson or something as a beater.

 

[Dumpster D]

Who's got the best Repro Jacket available?

 

[MauldinFan]

Now they should remain in the closet as a collectible. Nobody knows it's a real WW2 jacket anyhow except you.

I agree. Decent condition ones aren't easy to find now, but there are many good reproductions that don't cost much.

 

[Dumpster D]

Decent condition ones aren't easy to find now

They've all been blown up in Films for low budget war movies.

I got an original, but it's completely blown.

 

[Thomas Koehle]

The design of the M43 was continued by the norwegian army up to the 1990ies.

I was able to get my hand on a whole lot of those jackets in my size (44-46) actually dirtcheap. They came with matching pants also in the original design ...

They're still part of my collection. All came with the norwegian flag on the shoulder - no other insignia.

There is/where 2 versions existing which only difference was the epaulettes ...

difference in the epaulettes

and i own 2 original - 1 in size 46 (with some stains) and 1 in 36

there is another jacket on the hanger with the larger M43 and the visible label does not belong to the M43

I got them during my active "reenactment" period just when "SPR" and "BOB" where in the movies respectively on HBO

 

[Spitfireace]

So the difference in the jackets is the over stitch type join at the shoulder of the epaulette. The the original was understitched.

 

[Thomas Koehle]

the Norwegian jackets come in both styles - my 2 originals are „understitched“ …

Possibly in WW2 they used both versions as well?????

 

[Spitfireace]

Do not know Thomas. Maybe a good deep dive into it would be a rabbit hole of a thing.

 

[coolhandluke]

The design of the M43 was continued by the norwegian army up to the 1990ies.

I was able to get my hand on a whole lot of those jackets in my size (44-46) actually dirtcheap. They came with matching pants also in the original design ...

They're still part of my collection. All came with the norwegian flag on the shoulder - no other insignia.

There is/where 2 versions existing which only difference was the epaulettes ...

difference in the epaulettes

and i own 2 original - 1 in size 46 (with some stains) and 1 in 36

there is another jacket on the hanger with the larger M43 and the visible label does not belong to the M43

I got them during my active "reenactment" period just when "SPR" and "BOB" where in the movies respectively on HBO

The Greeks had them too Thomas. The cuff adjustment on the sleeves, being one of the main distinguishing features.

 

[Thomas Koehle]

The Greeks had them too Thomas. The cuff adjustment on the sleeves, being one of the main distinguishing features.

View attachment 146469

Didn’t know that before …