Eaglehurst

Seconded!

No problem - size 7 is a bit of a strange fit hence my offer. As you say drop me a PM if you are interested....

Super pictures Martyn! By the way if you want to swap out the trousers for a pair that might fit drop me a PM!

Superb Dave - thanks for posting. Love the 60 Pattern gear!

Steve - can you post some pics? Would be good to see label details...

Dominic - bear with me as I will have to find it! Richard - if yours are easy to find can you help answer the questions above? Cheers!

Superb Steve! A set of olive green wind proofs is the last real big ticket item on my list....

Sorry about that Steve! I do like these parkas and there seems to be several variants as per the smocks.....wouldn't be surprised if there are more out there....

There seem to be several variants of the venerable 1951 pattern parka introduced in answer to the bitter winter climate of Korea. I have examples of the early 1951 variant with no upper chest pockets, a very lightweight cotton shell (almost poplin) and fixed hood - 'Parka Middle'. I also have an example of the later version, 1953 onwards, made from sateen with upper and lower pockets and detachable hood - 'Parka Middle with detachable hood'. It also seems there was an intermediate (see pictures) version 'Parka Middle (1952 Pattern)' - that has upper and lower pockets, a heavier weight gaberdine type cotton and a fixed hood. Interesting to see the evolution over a short period of time.... So that is 3 different versions....anyone aware of any more?

£370 with time left to go......:shocked:

Go on - put me out of my misery (dob: 1974) what is an AZTEC sweetie bar....?:blush:

I have a pair of NOS 1950's issue "boxer" style poplin shorts which, to be fair, I wouldn't gag at being seen in. WTF happened between 1950s and 1970s that resulted in these monstrosities?! Was this a cruel joke from the procurement folks over in Whitehall?!:wow:

Any idea when these were introduced...and (thankfully) phased out!

An example of paper and stamped details.....

Don't really know what to say...anyone have any experience with the likes of these beauties...?:red: When were they issued?

Hi Munch, I have sold those already I think :red:....however here is a pair of new size 8 on Ebay: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRITISH-ISSUE-68-PATTERN-LINED-TROUSERS-SIZE-8-/180872965431?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item2a1cde6d37

I have just hired into my team an Ex-REME LE Captain and he swore by compo cheese as THE key tool for changing gearboxes in Centurion tanks. Apparently if you unbolt the gearbox from the clutch without supporting the clutch it would fall a couple of inches and potentially break the crankshaft. The solution - wedge a can of compo cheese under the clutch assembly to stop it falling. He swears that it was custom made for this job - exactly the right height and, as we all know, very rigid! He also said you would never find an old sweat REME lad who worked on Centurion who didn't carry a can of cheese in his tool box...:-D The second preferred use was when training with tank battalions. A can of cheese and a full charge blank out of a Scorpion gun could get some useful range and used to really annoy the tankies when they came to clean the cheese off the tank....!

Acquired this recently. Superb example of a 68 pattern smock by uncommon manufacturer Wm Brownlee. The interesting point about this smock is that it illustrated the danger of assuming date and pattern from the actual material pattern. This carries the later 8415 designation of the 68 pattern line so it is likely very late 70's or more likely early 80's manufacture however the material is the classic older lighter colours with the dots around the black etc. In fact the material is an excellent match for a 1971 dated CW Son smock I have. I think it has already been said (Wdbike and Scotchharry) but the lesser known manufacturers with a small output of smocks probably spent a long time using up thier stocks of material! Lesson - material pattern does not automatically equal uniform pattern/date! PS: Panzernut also did quite a nice comparison of where late 68 pattern was a dead ringer for 84/85 pattern issue illustrating the opposite problem!

Sounds good Steve - what else did you discover?

Hmm - you have said what I was not prepared to admit!!:red:

Agree with Steve - certain this is an aftermarket adaptation!

Steve - I wonder if this is not a general re-setting of sizes for the 68 pattern line. I take a size 9 in 53 and 60 pattern smocks and even then at 6'2" and c. 46" chest I can usually only manage teo gt a t-shirt and pullover on underneath before it starts to get snug. The point of the sizing should be that soldiers can get several layers of kit on underneath for cold weather ops. A size 9 smock in 68 pattern absolutely buries me and I find size 6 to be my size. This makes more sense to me as you could realistically layer up with the 68 pattern line. This seems to be the approach for all subsequent metric sizing. I find I am more of a 180/112 in modern sizing and 190/120 (old size 9) has plenty of room for layering and is practically a little too big for me. Just a thought....

Not sure if these are early enough for you Steve:

What sizes for 68 patt set?

There have been a couple for sale recently on eBay, one a mint size 4 which sold for £132 in spite of it being a relatively awkward size. The other a much more desirable size 9 but in average condition sold for c.£87. Surprised the size 9 did not do better. Size 4: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RARE-British-1960-Pattern-Combat-Smock-Size-4-MINT-/230774463295?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item35bb3adb3f Size 9: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRITISH-ARMY-1960-PATTERN-SMOCK-COMBAT-DPM-SIZE-9-SCARCE-/320885621978?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item4ab64604da