About genuine US ARMY M-65 field jacket

[eamenos]

Hi everybody, last month I bought an original issued 1987 US ARMY M-65 jacket in woodland cammo in excellent state. But I have some questions about it.

1- What could happen if someday I'm involved in a heavy rain, and the jacket ends totally wet? Is it dangerous for the jacket? Or I simply have to dry it under a sunny and windy day as other type of clothes?

2- Which M65 jackets are better designed (durability, resistance, etc), 60's-70's or 80's ones?

(My intention is to buy another genuine M-65 jacket but in the original colour, the green one). Thanks.

 

[B-Man2]

Hi E !
Welcome to VLJ !
The answer to your question is that you don’t have anything to worry about other than a little bit of sun fade over many years of sun and washing it in a washing machine . The coat was made for wearing in all sorts on inclement weather by combat troops . Believe me , you’re good to go .

 

[Chandler]

Can't answer which vintage is better, but I've had two over my years (70s & 90s versions, I guess), and both were pretty much bullet proof.

Grew out of one, still use the other for shoveling during snowstorms and grilling on cool evenings. Nothing to worry about if it gets wet -- it was meant to!

 

[B-Man2]

What size do you wear?
I have a couple for sale in the Buy / Sell section of this forum as we speak

 

[bazzer]

Hi again as b- man said don't worry about getting them wet they were made for it I wash my ones the use water resistant spray post

The od have been out of service for a long time now trying to find a good one at a good price is very hard now

They are all pretty much the same when it comes to quality

Baz

 

[eamenos]

What size do you wear?
I have a couple for sale in the Buy / Sell section of this forum as we speak

I wear a SMALL SHORT one

 

[B-Man2]

I wear a SMALL SHORT one

Yeah..... That’s probably not going to work for us . I’m a large / Extra Large Long

 

[Flightengineer]

The best - from 60s with silver zips.

 

[eamenos]

Hi again as b- man said don't worry about getting them wet they were made for it I wash my ones the use water resistant spray post

The od have been out of service for a long time now trying to find a good one at a good price is very hard now

They are all pretty much the same when it comes to quality

Baz

I don't know anything about using a water resistant spray. Could you summarise me that? Thanks

 

[Micawber]

Oh dear.

 

[Chandler]

Oh dear.

What did I miss?

 

[MikeyB-17]

Oh, not him again.

 

[B-Man2]

Where is moderator??
It is important.
Byu.

 

[B-Man2]

Same guy did this crap last year .

 

[Chandler]

Brigham Young University? It *is* important.

 

[Tylbor]

The best - from 60s with silver zips.

I can’t agree more. However jackets from 70s with brass zippers are also very well made. I have four M65 jackets and I must say that the one from the 80s is made with less attention to details, especially stiching. But I guess it is a matter of a particular manufacturer rather than a decade. Just avoid plastic zippers, they may be still reliable but look less stylish

 

[Flightengineer]

I can’t agree more. However jackets from 70s with brass zippers are also very well made. I have four M65 jackets and I must say that the one from the 80s is made with less attention to details, especially stiching. But I guess it is a matter of a particular manufacturer rather than a decade. Just avoid plastic zippers, they may be still reliable but look less stylish

Perhaps I expressed myself incorrectly. It's not about quality, of course, it's just my personal preference. I had a huge number of contract M65s and M51s and I liked the jackets most of all made before 1971, when the wedge in the sleeve disappeared and they began to use brass zippers.
As a result, I kept for myself two M65 from 1968 and 1971 and sold all other.

 

[bazzer]

I don't know anything about using a water resistant spray. Could you summarise me that? Thanks

I use this once they are dry don't worry it does not effect the material
It's easily reverse by using fabric condictioner in the wash
Works really well put up s tent in a heavy rain storm and remain dry
I think my favourite is the early DCU like the colour

It a 1991 one

 

[Tylbor]

View attachment 57096
I use this once they are dry don't worry it does not effect the material
It's easily reverse by using fabric condictioner in the wash
Works really well put up s tent in a heavy rain storm and remain dry
I think my favourite is the early DCU like the colour
View attachment 57098View attachment 57099
It a 1991 one

M65 in DCU is still on my list. Even with a plastic zipper. I can see that your jacket is manufactured by Isratex, how about the quality of stitching?

 

[bazzer]

It's ok not great had to restich around elbows Isratex has never been associated with quality
Baz