Desert uniforms (DCU) - DESERT 6 colors "Chocolate chip" dated 1984

It could be that Terry Manufacturing was a sub contractor. I'm not quite sure what the rules were back in the 1980s, but the "Prime" contractor is generally allowed to "Subcontract" to fulfill orders. The Prime must take total responsibility the same as if it manufactured them.

What I am less clear about is what company name would appear.

In any case, I don't know of any fakes like this, therefore I am very sure it is genuine. The inspection ticket in the pocket looks good too.

Steve

Steve,
Thank you for your response and explanations!

I agree with your arguments, and I also think that the web-site I have mentioned is not an absolutely complete source of information, and many small details are hidden after more than 30 years.

I supposed that the jacket was original during the purchasing (I checked the contract and NSN numbers), and I rejected another "chockolate chips" jacket, which seemed too much like commercial stuff - without inside liner in the upper back and very suspicious inscriptions on white ID tags.

It was a surprise for me to learn that 6-color desert pattern was invented and introduced not just before the "Desert Storm/Shield", but much earlier, and as you guys wrote in another topic, the earliest 6-color DCU dates back to the early or mid-1970s!!!

I really appreciate you inputs and information, which allow one to learn something new and interesting!

It is no doubt original - I have lots of US Army items made by Terry, and this jacket has all of the early features - Elvis collar, and the upper interior shoulder skirt that disappeared on later contracts. As Steve pointed out, no one seems to be reproducing this type of clothing, at least not with tags that are so accurate.

Haydamaka wrote:It was a surprise for me to learn that 6-color desert pattern was invented and introduced not just before the "Desert Storm/Shield", but much earlier, and as you guys wrote in another topic, the earliest 6-color DCU dates back to the early or mid-1970s!!!

Yes, and it was a surprise to me as well! I knew there was limited issue of the uniform in the 1980s, but I did not realize experimentation began in the mid 1970s. I have an example from 1978.

I really appreciate you inputs and information, which allow one to learn something new and interesting!

And we appreciate having a nice jacket to look at and talk about

Steve

In the Natick Labs photo archive there are images of chocolate trip trials from at least 1973, if not a little earlier (according to the photo captions at least). It appears that plan tan clothing was tested at around the same time.

Wow!

Steve

I actually talked to a former member of 10th mountain that said when they were on training one day in 1979, the call cam out for them to get geared up and head out to the tarmac. They exchanged their greenside uniforms for TAN uniforms of some sort (he was not to clear on anything except that they were desert tan) and waited outside for the better part of 10 hours before they were told to stand down. They found out later that day that they were one call away from being deployed to Afghanistan...

Here is a couple of examples from the Natick Soldier Systems Photographic Collection:

captioned 1972:


captioned 1975:


Somewhere I have a pair of tan trousers, cut roughly the same as OG M1951 field trousers, and dated 1976 or 1977. I will need to dig them out for photos.

Very interesting, thanks for sharing!

Sweet pictures! I figured the tan uniform was based on the "Transitional" uniform design (pleated pockets) since that's what the jungle green, ERDL/Woodland, and 6 Color Desert uniforms at the time were based around.

Steve

I have seen early DBDUs ( 6 color chocolate chip ) with the same cut as transitional ERDL.

They did indeed initially have  pocket pleats like  transitional ERDL/ OD uniforms


                                                                         

                                                                         












S

Thank you all for sharing interesting information!
That's amazing!

In my previous message I wrote: "... and I rejected another "chockolate chips" jacket, which seemed too much like commercial stuff - without inside liner in the upper back and very suspicious inscriptions on white ID tags".

After reading the topics on this forum I decided to return back to that local second-hand market and make sure whether that jacket fake/copy or not.

I made pictures and I'm going o present them to your judgement...

That jacket is legit, and it probably dates from around 1990. At that point, the inside skirt was omitted.

Thank you, Wolverine!

After checking out the manufacturer and NSN on the web-site: https://sites.google.com/site/unitedstatesmilitarycollection/desert-uniforms

I also think this jacket is not fake or copy.

It features 50% Cotton 50% Nylon Twill, Contract № 8055-90, manufacturer "Defense Personnel Support Center", Elvis collar + white tags, no reinforced elbows, no inside liner, no waist tag ...

But the NSN 8415-01-102-6760 corresponds rather to "Winfield Mfg. Co., Inc.".


Anyway, what do you think?
Thank you all in advance!

The NSN does not correspond to a particular contractor or manufacturer, but to an explicit item. In this case, 8415 refers to a general class or category of item (ie, clothing), 01 is the country code (USA), and 102-6760 is a stock number or part number that describes a desert camouflage jacket in this particular size. As such, the same jacket, in the same size, would have the same NSN whether it was sourced from Winfield Mfg, Terry, American Apparel, or the DPSC.

I have seen plenty of un-badged DPSC chocolate chip items in the thrift stores and fleamarkets, in new and used condition. There is nothing about this jacket that suggests to me that it is a copy.

Thank you very much again, Wolverine, for your comprehensive and detailed answer!!

for those interested, here is a picture of the actual uniform in that picture, the early natick trials

Danilo,

Very nice  set of trials/ experimental DBDU..  Thanks for posting them.



These are very scarce indeed and not well known .    Just missed the chance for a lone blouse recently and am not happy at myself.

Your set is cut like the 2 uniforms in the 2nd photo and the tan uniform in the first photo;  straight pockets with  center  pleat/gore  just like RDF types.
The 6 color DBDU  uniform in the 1st photo is cut like Vietnam era OD107/ERDL  combat uniforms with rounded pockets as opposed to straight angled pockets.
Looking at just these few pieces makes me wonder how many more variations must have existed, however briefly, prior to official issue of 6 color DBDUs.

Wonderful examples of transitional pieces that are rarely seen..












S

Thank you, drmatz!

Very interesting and informative pics!

Cool set!

Hmm.. I just had a lone blouse that I just sold because it was too big for me. Saved the pics, though. Unfortunately, the label was pretty faded.

Nice one G.

This one has no inner camo " cape " and what looks like brown buttons..
Most uniform  contractors used tan buttons, but not all.

Another nice variation;  this one seems to have  been  issue rather than experimental.

Too bad I did'nt know about it...





S

Thanks, I figure if I look through enough piles of the DBDU's, I can find something interesting. It was odd, so I picked it up, despite it being a size Large.

hey guys. Is this real? I could not find the DLA on the page you have mentioned above.

Looks legit to me.

Fake ones generally have commercial looking tags, but I've also seen faked quasi legit looking tags on these uniforms.

Considering the large volume of legit chocolate chip uniforms produced, and their relatively easy availability still today, it is amazing to me that some people still find it profitable to fake them.