M-65 Field Jacket

[mumpy]

I found an M-65 field jacket from 1993, but instead of a DA/DSA/DLA #, it has a DBA #. Otherwise everything else looks fairly legit, and it’s from one of the known contractors. Anyone have any idea what this means? I’m wondering if it’s maybe one made not for civilian use and not actual military? It also says “Made in USA” but I don’t recall ever seeing that on any other M-65s. Wondering if some of the small discrepancies are just because it’s from the 90s or, like I mentioned, maybe because it’s a civilian model. TIA

Not sure about the DBA part but military issue jackets don’t mention “Made in the USA”. It is a civilian jacket for sure.

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

Great thread, I learned a lot.

I love my (what I take to be) 1980s or 90s M-65. The nylon zippers work great, it’s a perfect fit, the liner is super easy to put in and take out, it’s incredibly warm, tons of pocket space… I could go on and on.

The only downside is it’s getting too hot for it now!

I wear mine a lot. Here’s one of my favorite photos in it from last year - my mother and me. She doesn’t mind the jacket at all (we are a military family for generations).

 

[mumpy]

Great thread, I learned a lot.

I love my (what I take to be) 1980s or 90s M-65. The nylon zippers work great, it’s a perfect fit, the liner is super easy to put in and take out, it’s incredibly warm, tons of pocket space… I could go on and on.

The only downside is it’s getting too hot for it now!

I wear mine a lot. Here’s one of my favorite photos in it from last year - my mother and me. She doesn’t mind the jacket at all (we are a military family for generations).

View attachment 602251

They are great jackets! I have down sized significantly in these so I can wear them casually. The look is timeless.

I notice the main design elements of the M-65 field jacket everywhere I go. Almost everyone is wearing a variation of this jacket.

 

[Asinyne]

Not sure about the DBA part but military issue jackets don’t mention “Made in the USA”. It is a civilian jacket for sure.

That was my understand re: the made in USA. This is the actual tag. Thanks!

 

[PeterRocco]

I'm considering getting one to keep warm this winter. Does anyone have one? What are the pros &cons of it? I know that it's not vintage nor is it vintage-styled but I need something that can keep me warm & not be too concerned if it gets dirty.

Thanx!!!
Charlie

Hi. I just bough this Jacket and Liner on Poshmark. Both for $65.00. Don’t know much about the companies. It looks like they’re not in business anymore, but both are made in the USA.

 

[Flat-T]

That was my understand re: the made in USA. This is the actual tag. Thanks! View attachment 602263

Hi everyone,
that actually my first reply after years of reading.
Its a civillian jacket but manufactured by a well known company for M65s. Many are celebrating the Alphas but IMHO Golden ist the better OEM. There have been dozens of DSA/DLA 100- YY-C xxxx contractors over the years. Repros use fantasy number even Buck Rickson mimics an DSA-100-67-C number. Civilian Alphas carry a RN number only and of course a good hint is "Made in USA". I had plenty of of M65s over the last 40+ years, now I have only 1 left, DSA-100-67-C-0778 from Sunset Sportswear Seattle WA. Talon Silver Zippers, Rau Prov. RI Buttons.

 

[PeterRocco]

Hi everyone,
that actually my first reply after years of reading.
Its a civillian jacket but manufactured by a well known company for M65s. Many are celebrating the Alphas but IMHO Golden ist the better OEM. There have been dozens of DSA/DLA 100- YY-C xxxx contractors over the years. Repros use fantasy number even Buck Rickson mimics an DSA-100-67-C number. Civilian Alphas carry a RN number only and of course a good hint is "Made in USA". I had plenty of of M65s over the last 40+ years, now I have only 1 left, DSA-100-67-C-0778 from Sunset Sportswear Seattle WA. Talon Silver Zippers, Rau Prov. RI Buttons.

Hi. Nice to see you back. So let me understand the Company who made my Jacket made nice reproduction of the M65. You really know your Field Jackets. Thank You for helping me.

 

[Flat-T]

Hi. Nice to see you back. So let me understand the Company who made my Jacket made nice reproduction of the M65. You really know your Field Jackets. Thank You for helping me.

Hi Peter,
sorry if my statement was confusing. Golden was a OEM and supplied M65s in OG 107 to be issued in the early to mid 80s. Very nice quality, good stitching and well made. To my knowledge, they had no contracts for OG 107 later, the very last contract in OG 107 was awarded in 1991 to American Apparel. So my conclusion about your jacket, it is from a legit manufacturer, maybe they had surplus material or jackets from an old contract. I assume they used DBA 100 93 as a fantasy number to be close to the DSA/DLA contract system and gave them to surplus. So its a real jacket but never made its way to be GI.

 

[PeterRocco]

No you did Great. You really know your M65.
I would not of bought my jacket if it was not made in USA. You Helped me so much and I
Learned a lot from you. Thank You.

 

[Ernest P Shackleton]

I'm clearly an idiot, because I cannot figure out what the Army/Marines issue in 2024 for a winter coat. I thought I'd find an M-65 derivative in the Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP), but I also realize it was phased out nearly two decades ago. I just thought the replacement would be clear, but I can't figure it out. Can anyone provide a link for the new winter coat? Or just the official naming?

 

[Trenchfriend]

I'm clearly an idiot, because I cannot figure out what the Army/Marines issue in 2024 for a winter coat. I thought I'd find an M-65 derivative in the Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP), but I also realize it was phased out nearly two decades ago. I just thought the replacement would be clear, but I can't figure it out. Can anyone provide a link for the new winter coat? Or just the official naming?

ECW Parka?

 

[Preppy Climber]

Hi! I can't quite make out the manufacturer on this M-65 field jacket:

https://poshmark.com/listing/army-camo-jacket-7c1c3bad6d4afe

Is it John Ownbey?? From what I can see, the spelling on the tag doesn't appear to match up (e.g., the third letter in "John" looks like an "N," the third letter in Ownbey looks like an "N"), but it could be due to fading and/or lighting. I did also ask the seller.

Just want to ensure the jacket is a legit U.S. issued military jacket and if it is John Ownbey, whether it's well made versus Alpha Industries or Golden Manufacturing. I recently acquired the latter in olive color. Very nice.

Thanks in advance for any input you can provide.

Of course by posting I run the risk of someone else here snagging the jacket!

 

[Peacoat]

It's a military issue jacket.

 

[Preppy Climber]

It's a military issue jacket.

Thank you, @Peacoat!

 

[Peacoat]

Of course by posting I run the risk of someone else here snagging the jacket!

In my opinion it would be unethical for someone on this board to snatch it out from under you until you decide if you were going to buy it or not..

 

[Preppy Climber]

In my opinion it would be unethical for someone on this board to snatch it out from under you until you decide if you were going to buy it or not..

That is what I was hoping! Thank you. At this point no one can snatch the jacket as I decided to purchase it thanks to you.

 

[Doctor Damage]

When Peacoat said "it's a military issue jacket" he didn't necessarily mean "whether it's well made versus Alpha Industries or Golden Manufacturing." When clothing companies hammered out thousands of jackets for lowest-bid government contracts... well you can figure out the rest.

 

[Preppy Climber]

When Peacoat said "it's a military issue jacket" he didn't necessarily mean "whether it's well made versus Alpha Industries or Golden Manufacturing." When clothing companies hammered out thousands of jackets for lowest-bid government contracts... well you can figure out the rest.

When Peacoat said "it's a military issue jacket" he didn't necessarily mean "whether it's well made versus Alpha Industries or Golden Manufacturing." When clothing companies hammered out thousands of jackets for lowest-bid government contracts... well you can figure out the rest.

That makes sense!

 

[Preppy Climber]

When Peacoat said "it's a military issue jacket" he didn't necessarily mean "whether it's well made versus Alpha Industries or Golden Manufacturing." When clothing companies hammered out thousands of jackets for lowest-bid government contracts... well you can figure out the rest.

Curious, any idea how many clothing companies produced M-65 jackets for the military? I recently purchased one from Golden Manufacturing (1982) and two are on the way: Alpha Industries (1986) and, as referenced earlier, John Ownbey (1985). It will be interesting to see how they stack up to each other in terms of quality.

And why I felt the need to own three M-65 field jackets? Because they look really cool, are a piece of U.S. history, and are functional. The jacket in extra small short is oversized on me (e.g., shoulders droop), but I think about those who proudly served wearing their M-65s. I highly doubt they took their jackets to the local tailor if they didn't fit properly.

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

Curious, any idea how many clothing companies produced M-65 jackets for the military? I recently purchased one from Golden Manufacturing (1982) and two are on the way: Alpha Industries (1986) and, as referenced earlier, John Ownbey (1985). It will be interesting to see how they stack up to each other in terms of quality.

And why I felt the need to own three M-65 field jackets? Because they look really cool, are a piece of U.S. history, and are functional. The jacket in extra small short is oversized on me (e.g., shoulders droop), but I think about those who proudly served wearing their M-65s. I highly doubt they took their jackets to the local tailor if they didn't fit properly.

I had a Sargent in the Marine Corps that had his M-65 tailored to a proud Fedora Lounge fit level. Actually all his uniforms even day to day utilities were.
Was really weird for @1973-74. That guy was poster boy perfect and knew how to work the system. And most oddly he was a pretty cool guy and very slick.
B