France Salik — K-Way Jigsaw Pattern

Not sure if this was ever officially issued, or if is just a commercial piece, but here is a nice sample of the french "salik" K-way pattern. For what i know they were manufactured both in france and belgium..

interest to note that the jacket is belgium and the pants are french...

Interesting that the items were made in both countries. I also notice that your Belgian made trousers have a horizontal orientation like Belgian Jigsaw, not like the typical Salik vertical orientation. The set I have is both vertical. No country mentioned in the trousers.

Steve

Hi steve, yes i had noticed that also, the pants have the french tag, sorry the photo looks confusing.

Interesting to note, the photo on the Borsarello book shows 3 french soldiers wearing this uniform, in the photo their jackets have the same orientation as my pants, horizontal strokes.

cheers

From memory didnt some Argentinian Commandos use this or something similar during the Falklands conflict?

yes they did, but the uniform is a completely different cut and is also the vertical strokes.

thanks

I don't know if it is this type of parka who weare this French soldier
Parka find in France



I am sure that this one was used by a French paratrooper

Hello it is my first time in the forum, and I am from Argentine. Looking for photos of the kway parka, I came to stop here. In the falklands War this camo it was used by some members of the 602 Commando Company (not for all). I attach some photos as example, the last three are of the combat of Top Malo House. Regards. Alejandro.

great post! I've been looking for informations on this pattern since many years. I heard it called in different ways, somebody told me that it was issued to french army motorized despatch riders, but I met some guys from 2 REP wearing this pattern, only the style was slightly different. It was not a coup-a-vent but a jacket with full zip and hood and fake fur inside.

Hello

one of my latest find

unfortunately , the label was removed and I don't know if it's a french or belgian manufacture ? all I know is that it was previsously used by a french soldier but I don't know from wich unit ? 1er RI maybe ???




1er RI (1st infantry regiment) 1987

Salutations

1er IR - 1990

Hello

I found another french manufacturer of  K-way jigsaw pattern : Trévois





from this webpage : http://www.leboncoin.fr/collection/944730253.htm?ca=4_s

Salutations

Hello


1er RI - 1985


1er RI - 1987


1er RI - 1995

Bonjour,

During the late 70's till mid 90's, Salik Kway sets and the warm jacket were on sale in "foyer" (more or less a little PX in every regiment where soldiers could buy food, drinks a few items such as batteries, lights, insignias, berets etc...).
Even if they were not official issue, they were bought and worn in the field at the 1er régiement d'infanterie as a semi-official item. This proffessional regiment was the airmobile infantry unit. Salik items was one of its distinctive marks.
Salik were widely used by air commandos too.
In other units, they were private purchase, worn by cadre and even few "gun ho" draftees, only in the field. During this period, some company commanders or CO hunted private purchase equipments. With Bosnia missions, a lot of things changed...

Cheers

Valery

Hi,

As far as i know, the introduction of the Center Europe Camo version for F2 BDU, marked the end of the use of Salik pattern clothings in the French army.
As Valery said, CCE slowey appeared during the Bosnian intervention.

Regards.

Mellon

Hello

the K-way used by a moroccan soldier in Bosnia 1996-97



http://www.ecpad.fr/premier-mandat-des-forces-francaises-de-la-sfor-en-bosnie-herzegovine-sous-le-commandement-de-la-dmnse/

Salutations

Hello!

Thanks for sharing the photo.

Amazing how much stuff of the Royal Moroccan Army are similar to the French Army stuff.

-paratroopers uniform (and lizard camo) based on the TAP 47-56 uniform
-standard field uniform, based on the TTA 47-52 uniform (sometime F2 jacket in OG or CCE)
-M51 & M56, F1 helmet and even SPECTRA helmet (alongside traditional PASGT helmet)
-flack jacket F1 (usually in CCE camo)
-M51 musette/breadbag

The moroccan web gear is not french (but in the 1970's they used a derivative of the french M1945 leather gear).

best regards

melon

Hello  

on this photo from 1994 , you can see a backpack cover in Salik pattern

Nicely spotted!

Steve

Thanks for very interesting information!

War in Croatia , 1992


French troops K-FOR , 2000

After a long time looking for one, I just got my first.

Original K-Way, can be folded into a fanny pack.

I'm really happy to have this one.

Finally I can add something to this thread after finding my first stuff in this camo!
Sadly I haven't been able to find any tags at all yet, but I'll start a more thorough search when I can.
It comes with a seperate bag that can be worn on a belt.

That is a fine addition to the thread, very cool.

Are the pants lined with faux fur ?

LeCamoufleur

Thanks!
And no it's entirely ulined, just a thin rainsuit.

For extra information, it was bought in Belgium from a Belgian

Got a belgian Salik unlined pants also, sadly it's an XL and too wide for me.