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As my research continues, more info comes to light ! Production combat suit introduced during 1951 in time for the 2nd Korean winter of 51-52. All items (smock, hood, cap, trouser & parka) made from cotton-gaberdine and trousers LINED. From 1952 onwards change in material saw all garments made from cotton-sateen except for the combat cap that remained in gaberdine. Due to sateen being heavier than gaberdine trouser lining discontinued. Sateen garments now all termed "1952 pattern".....the earlier gaberdine versions having no formal year designation....... Trial combat suit of 1948-49 designed to be worn over battledress but production suit of 1951 onwards designed (the trousers) to be worn over thick woollen trouser-liners (trousers, inner) and in turn worn over long-johns......however, smock to be worn over BD jacket, pullover, etc......

Really nice smock - they don't make 'em like that anymore ! This one dates from about 1981-2 onwards, identified by the metric sizing......the original '77 issue would have numbered sizing (eg - size 2) from introduction up to around 1981....but apart from this the smock remained basically unaltered....... Following introduction the DPM para smock was made either in 68 pattern cotton-sateen DPM cloth or 77-78 issue mixed cotton modal fabric......

I guess we will see a glut of current pattern DPM arrive onto the market over the next few years as the military clear out their stores......lets hope some of the more obscure stuff is also released for the benefit of us collectors !

Trialed in the early-1970s and introduced around 1975-76 for general issue, I didn't realise until recently that the issue British DPM tropical combats became obsolete around 1996-97 following the introduction of the CS 95 lightweight jacket/shirt and trousers.... Seems the only original tropical DPM item to remain in service today is the bush hat...!

I think they are a copy Jason, but I haven't any originals to refer to ! However, I would assume that the original ripstop trousers were "field trousers" to accompany the matching field-jacket ? So on this basis, the CS 95 ripstop DPM smock (very first contract) states on the label "Jacket, DPM, Field" (no mention of Ripstop !) then NSN 8415 99 869 1935 (I would assume that the matching trousers would have a NSN in a range close to that of the smock as per many other combat garments ?). I also note that the label in your trousers lacks any washing or care instructions that are present on the majority of issue combat clothing to baffle the average squaddie who normally chucks everything into the block machine on "boil"..... I have two or three pairs of ripstop windproof DPM trousers though, but these are not the same as the original issue DPM ripstop field trousers. Again, these have no mention of ripstop on the labelling. Even an Ebay search brings up few genuine examples of the ripstop CS 95 trousers for sale although there are a few pairs out there but smallish sizes and expensive (eg - £25 +)....I think "Denbigh Army Surplus" have some originals ? Talking of Ebay, a quick search currently shows a red-labelled CS 95 trial shirt/jacket and trousers for sale 'though sadly, items I already have in the collection ! Worth buying though, as it is thought that production for the "User Trial" between 1992 and 1994 was less than 3,000 suits (each item individually serial numbered too)....

I must admit that I love going to Beltring and having a good rummage...... But a lot of that depends on the time to do so, rather than the money...in my experience at least..... Last year I went for 2 days and with a ton of cash.......didn't spend anymore than necessary but had the time to browse at my leisure.....and got lots of decent items at a good price (eg: several mint NOS '44 waterbottles and mugs dated 1945 at only a fiver each...plus some Korean war era Brit combat trousers at a reasonable £15 a pair)...... This year I was hoping for a couple of days but planning for one, that in reality ended up as a 5-hour limit......I kept seeing things that I thought I'd return to later but simply ran out of time to do so.......:undecided: I always have a mental shopping-list at the back of my mind, but an open one for anything that I think is a bargain or fills a gap in the collection.......... Guess my disappointment this year was due to my limited time to rummage....although finding the rare pair of OG SAS windproof trousers perhaps balanced things out a tad....:-) Still, there's always next year ! Mind you, I'll be married (again) by then, so the purse strings may be pulled in a slightly different direction...........:embarrassed:

I'm no expert on US kit.....but I do know that the M41 jacket was also privately purchased.......and no doubt copied post-war by many other nations... The US Navy also had their own versions of army pattern clothing, much of it a greener colour than the army gear..... Sometimes, labels can be found in the pockets rather than in the body lining......

Clive, any chance of a copy of your CM list (providing it isn't too large !).....this should deal with clothing.....looking at the period 1960 through to the 90's.....quite willing to pay the cost ! Can you email me about this when convenient ? Many thanks, Steve Madden

Sabre Sales in Southsea have some NOS Yokes, Poncho Rolls, Kidney Pouches and Large Packs in the basement....there may be the odd waterbottle pouch there too......none of this gear is in the webbing room though.....most of it is early 1980's dated and very cheap......

I promise to post some Jason ! Give me time !!!

But on the bright side, I still have to find the matching smock.... Winning the lottery may be easier......

I have a feeling that initially, the CS 95 kit was supplied as lightweight non-ripstop jacket/shirt and trousers, plus the heavyweight ripstop field jacket and trousers......but I guess that the heavyweight ripstop field trousers were soon discontinued when it was established that few troops actually wore 'em in the field, most troops preferring the lightweight field trousers for the majority of applications......... There are some CS 95 MK2 arctic windproof trousers around in ripstop that should not be confused with the original ripstop CS 95 field trousers.......

I think I saw that one, hanging up in a gun dealers tent ??? Looked nice, but I didn't buy as I have 3 of these now (2 early and 1 later pattern).......... Sniper smock appeared around 1977-78 and originally supplied under the old numbered sizing system.......changed around the same time as the para smock (1982 ?) to metric sizing.........then around 1992 the design of the garment was altered, seeing changes to the lining and a plastic front zip fitted...

Believe it or not Jason, this year saw me spend the least ever at Beltring ! (she will be pleased !)......didn't seem to be the range of stuff I've found on previous years, but that's the way it goes.... I only bought the green windproof trousers, a book, a pair of ladies ATS shoes (NOT for me :red:) and one or two minor bits.... One stall near the Lancaster cockpits had 3 large rummage boxes at £1 an item.....the boxes included lots of NOS early pattern DPM tropical shirts and trousers in sizes 1, 3, 4 and 6.......a couple of stalls boxes of NOS DPM combat caps all in a size 6 & 7/8ths (early pattern) plus I found several 68 pattern DPM smocks in great condition and sizes but didn't buy any of it simply for the sake of it (I have lots already)..... Found a couple of NOS 44 pattern waterbottle covers too, but without markings so I suspect they were export production....plus some of the rarer small packs (pre-65) but too scruffy for my purposes...... Also found one of those very early Korean war middle parkas with attached hood and no upper pockets......I noted that it was dated 1951 and made in cotton gaberdine rather than sateen, thus explaining the lighter weight/feel compared to the later versions.......didn't buy though (too scruffy !)...... I'd still recommend going though, if you can......always something to find there...

They DO exist !!! Today, I found a NOS pair of green windproof gaberdine old-style "SAS" windproof trousers in a Size 4.......thus confirming that a matching smock must have existed..... Label states "Trousers, Windproof, CM - 8405-99-122-1878 - Size 4 - (then measurements) - BMC - A/78/CLO/28153/DC69(2)"........... They are identical in style to the wartime denim, white, sand and cammo windproof trousers plus the recently-discovered DPM 63-pattern windproof trousers complete with single left-leg map pocket, reinforced knees and arse, ankle tabs, side pockets and drawcord waist (the cord the same as 1960 pattern combat smocks)....label is white and sewn into the upper-inner rear...........material is olive-green windproof cotton-gaberdine..... A check of my NSN's shows the DPM 63 pattern smock to run from size 1 to 9 and with NSN 8405 99 122 1866 to 1874, with the trousers following from size 1 to 9 and with NSN 8405 99 122 1875 to 1883........ However, these size 4 green trousers carry the same NSN as the later DPM size 4 63 pattern trousers...... So....I think we can safely assume that the 63 pattern windproof smocks and trousers were initially made in olive green cotton gaberdine from roughly 1965 to 1970-71 and then changed to DPM cotton-sateen in production up to obsolesence in 1975, retaining the same NSN as the green garments.......unusual but not unheard of........ Also of note is the "CM" designation also used for arctic clothing, combat caps, etc, rather than the "CG" designation used for most combat clothing....... And at £20 I'm not complaining....!!

Still listed in 1986 as available, but obsolete....saw two at Beltring today...one a very good size 5 for £20....maybe I should go back and buy it ??!!! Best go visit your local Army cadet hut....they've probably got bales of the things sitting in the loft.....

Incredibly, this item, looking like the top-half of a greatcoat with leather shoulder pads, was still listed in QM catalogues into the 1960's for issue to those troops still lugging the old heavy machine gun & tripod around prior to the introduction of the GPMG.......

68 pattern DPM first commenced issue during 1971.....so I guess that the James Smith & Cookson contracts ran from 1970 into 1971 when the production lines switched over to the new pattern.......meantime, other manufacturers likely had secured contracts for 68 pattern DPM so commenced production of these garments during 1971 but possibly before Smith & Cookson had completed their extant 60-pattern DPM contracts...?

Contract 28791 in a Size 1 Cookson & Clegg 60 pattern DPM smock......:-)

The Fire Service also received BSA B31's........most were purchased for the Cold War nuclear threat throughout the 50s and 60s.....many remained in store, with the odd mobilisation exercise ever few years.....all finished in a lovely dark gloss green.....

During the 1980's and 1990's I made a concerted effort to collect examples of NOS British WW2 37 pattern webbing. Back then, you could get almost everything wartime dated and new......I'm now glad I did, as current prices for certain items are now steadily rising with some items nowadays very scarce and expensive.....such as WW2-dated belts, pistol holsters, small packs, officers satchel haversacks, etc...... I ignored the 44 pattern then as it was still in limited use......but a couple of years ago now I noticed that 44 gear was becoming harder to find NOS......particularly waterbottle carriers, decent bottles & mugs, plus the pre-'65 haversack.... Some of this rarity has come about by the excellent reference books on post-war webbing & jungle webbing that have come out in the last couple of years........anyway, I made a concerted effort (again) and found nearly all items NOS both wartime and post-war dated without breaking the bank.......yet I have still to find a NOS small pack (pre '65 small version) and only last week finally managed to find a NOS waterbottle carrier to go with the NOS bottle & mug I found at Beltring last summer........ 58 webbing....well, you can still get it all NOS and reasonably cheap.....but belts are becoming very hard to find NOS and with repros now on the market......(Sabre Sales still have quantities of NOS most items at VERY cheap prices)....needless to say, I've put together a set, plus a rare nylon 70s issue trials set.... 85 trials pattern PLCE has been more difficult, but I've now got most 'bar the yoke and utility pouch...... Plus, I have two full sets of NOS 72 pattern trials webbing.....and a full NOS set of the increasingly scarce green 90 pattern PLCE...... The point is...if you are interested in acquiring mint webbing....best to start searching now ! I thought it would be simple but the odd item continues to elude.........!!!

I well remember my RAF plod scale of issue at RAF Newton in the very early 1980's....this supplemented the normal RAF clothing & kit issued at Swinderby for recruits..... 2 x 68 pattern DPM combat suits....a DPM combat cap (never allowed to be worn).....3 x green KF shirts....1 x puttees....a sleeveless nylon smock liner.....3 x green wool polyester socks "athletes foot, for the creation of".....2 x green polyester knitted gloves.....a nylon poncho......2 x green longjohns.....a green wooly pully....and a faceveil, although me and most of my fellow sprogs were actually issued with a headover-mesh sniper's veil that could not be used as a scarf..!! Plus the extra "blue" kit for RAF plod...including armlets, white cap, blue nylon waterproofs and shoulder titles...... Arrival on your station saw additional kit issued....MK5 tin hat, MK1 NBC suit, S6 respirator & bag, DPM parka & liner, & green RAF "NI" waterproofs (bloody good kit amongst the other useless)....plus a set of new 58 webbing minus the large pack........oh, plus a pair of RAF-issue cold weather "working" gloves that were OD cotton with brown leather palms....really good items and I still have 'em ! As time went on, I was issued with DPM arctic windproofs plus the "dangerous Brian" hat.....and DPM nylon waterproofs......the RAF Regiment were always VERY irritated that the plods had the "SAS" windproofs issued and I personally took great delight in parading mine whenever I had the opportunity.....

This was the case up to the early 1990's......but when the MoD supply system became "Agency-fied" space and stock became a cost-driven issue hence tons of stuff stored for years "just in case" was either sold off or binned..... I remember tons of MK 4 & 5 tin hats, DR breeches, 37 webbing, leather jerkins, etc, all suddenly appearing on the market as NOS......... The odd corner of some long-established clothing & vehicle stores may still hold a few odds and sods, but sadly, the bulk of old gear has now gone.........:-(

Hi Clive. It will be (I think) in the CG category.....? Description would be "Smock, Combat", "Trousers, Combat", "Hoods, Combat, Attachable", "Cap, Combat", "Trousers, Inner" and "Parka, Middle".........issue was believed to have commenced circa 1950-51 and this stuff was pretty-much rush-introduced for the second Korean winter of 1952......so maybe a theatre or cold-weather issue, at least initially...?......for some reason "CG 1091" flares up in my mind for the hood although probably wildly out........... Most of the later stuff remained under section CG....and with similar descriptions..... I recently found a copy of the full kit issue list for female ATS personnel dating from around 1943...interested..?

There are several members on this Forum that have some really good knowledge of British military clothing and equipment.....I'm no expert myself and have learnt a great deal from my fellow enthusiasts - thank you :-) As many will already know, I'm currently writing a definitive publication on British Combat Clothing from roughly the Korean War through to the 1990's...... Can anybody help with any official references to the first listing of the green combat suit and associated items in military listings ? I'd say this would be circa 1950-51 ? Also, when was the DPM (1960 pattern) combat suit first listed in QM catalogues ? Current evidence suggests 1970.....? Whilst I'm on the subject, the 1968 pattern as well (1971 ?)...??? Answers on a post card please....:-D:-D