Recently got this vintage 1948 M-43 field jacket pile liner for a little over $200 off of eBay including the shipping.
Despite its age, it's in great condition with only a few slightly noticeable stains and other cosmetic flaws on the outside and even then those are mostly quite small in area and can only be seen up-close. There also isn't that strong of a vintage, musty smell to it. I don't usually pick up vintage clothes (this old, at least) since I prefer to wear clean clothes and vintage odors are off-putting to me, but I figured this was too good to pass up.
I usually prefer to wear a size 36R (aka size small) when it comes to these types of vintage military jackets but this fits me fairly well - being just a bit snug around the underarms/chest with a flannel underneath and with the sleeves reaching just to my wrist/base of my thumb.
I also tried it on with my Bronson M-43 field jacket, also size 34R, over it while doing the "hug" test, but was unable to wrap my arms around my torso. It was noticeably tight too just having the two on. I'm not sure if these liners are supposed to fit this tightly underneath M-43s or if it's just an issue with this repo's sizing. According to ATF's page for this field jacket liner, original M-43s didn't need to be sized up in order to fit the liner (i.e. a 36R jacket fits a 36R liner). But it's not like this is an issue since I'm not planning on wearing the two together anyway, I just wanted to test out the fit.
Up-close of the liner's pile lining. This liner has the wool pile exposed, other variants had the pile covered with a cotton twill layer.
The pile lining for this liner isn't that itchy against the skin, but I could see it being annoying if worn for long periods.
Left to right:
Pocket tag, wearing and cleaning instructions tag, and size tag
Despite its age, it's in great condition with only a few slightly noticeable stains and other cosmetic flaws on the outside and even then those are mostly quite small in area and can only be seen up-close. There also isn't that strong of a vintage, musty smell to it. I don't usually pick up vintage clothes (this old, at least) since I prefer to wear clean clothes and vintage odors are off-putting to me, but I figured this was too good to pass up.
I usually prefer to wear a size 36R (aka size small) when it comes to these types of vintage military jackets but this fits me fairly well - being just a bit snug around the underarms/chest with a flannel underneath and with the sleeves reaching just to my wrist/base of my thumb.
I also tried it on with my Bronson M-43 field jacket, also size 34R, over it while doing the "hug" test, but was unable to wrap my arms around my torso. It was noticeably tight too just having the two on. I'm not sure if these liners are supposed to fit this tightly underneath M-43s or if it's just an issue with this repo's sizing. According to ATF's page for this field jacket liner, original M-43s didn't need to be sized up in order to fit the liner (i.e. a 36R jacket fits a 36R liner). But it's not like this is an issue since I'm not planning on wearing the two together anyway, I just wanted to test out the fit.
Up-close of the liner's pile lining. This liner has the wool pile exposed, other variants had the pile covered with a cotton twill layer.
The pile lining for this liner isn't that itchy against the skin, but I could see it being annoying if worn for long periods.
Left to right:
Pocket tag, wearing and cleaning instructions tag, and size tag
