6 colour bdu's

evening gents ,here's a few of my latest pickups ,a day time coat and trousers both in xtra large regular and a pasgt cover in medium /large

I don't know if you noticed but the shirt is not an issued piece. Probably made for the civilian market.

thanks phillip ,what gives it away ,is it the lack of dla number , the trousers look to be dated 1983 cheers TC

thunderchild wrote:what gives it away ,is it the lack of dla number

Among others. The label in general, the epaulettes and the waist tabs.

thanks philip can you explain a little more when you say for civilian use ,does it mean an off the shelf version and also why does the label show a stock number and nato size is it a bogus label i ask because im not very familiar with uniforms of this kind ,thanks for your help tc

Hi TC, very impressed with your latest pickups, the trousers are great especially as they are early issued one's, some collectors think 6 colour was issued in '91, so it's great to see examples of pre Kuwait issue kit. As previously pointed out the jacket is a commercially made item, but cool nevertheless, I'm not sure though if troops would have bought and worn commercially available kit??

THink most 6 colour I have is dated 83,84.

Gulf91 wrote:THink most 6 colour I have is dated 83,84.

The 1983 shirts have RDF style chest pockets where the bellowing is towards the chest , the 1984 sets were moved to the arm pit.

The earliest example of 6 color dates from around 1971 and was 100% a carbon copy of the later 1976 introduced RDF ERDL cut. The set included the BDU , boonie with foliage loops, pack cover, m1 helmet cover and tan leather ( not suede) jungle boots.

Special commission items were also produced , this includes a special forces para smock that was introduced in 1976/77.

There is also issue ripstop uniform in this print , made of NYCO ripstop with Velcro fastening pockets , these were exclusively made by Natick Labs in very small numbers around 1990.

There are several slight modifications to the standard general issue uniform. These include added waist tabs on jackets ( mk2 ) , added sweat yoke ( mk1/2) , reinforced knee/elbows ( mk1/2) and removal of the extras in the mk3 produced for the war in 1990 to speed up production.

superb information B2Z as always ,you really know your stuff ,so much appreciated ,im pretty much a novice on bdu's and a bit like when i started collecting headgear ,i had to learn the hard way , the introduction of 6 colour in 1971 really does surprise me ,i just never realised it was as old as me ,thanks for joining the thread

thunderchild wrote:superb information B2Z as always ,you really know your stuff ,so much appreciated ,im pretty much a novice on bdu's and a bit like when i started collecting headgear ,i had to learn the hard way , the introduction of 6 colour in 1971 really does surprise me ,i just never realised it was as old as me ,thanks for joining the thread

Thanks

I forgot to add

There are also 2 different prints in 6 color , a large print and a small print. The large print tends to be later and not as good at holding its color and fades quiet bad. The small print tends to be early issue with a nice deep into the cloth print which wears better.

The sizes to differ a lot from early issue to late issue. The early issue jackets seem to be a size smaller than the late ones. A large early issue would only be roughly the same size as a medium late. I have maybe 7 or so 6 color sets from 1977 to 1991 ( inc special forces para smock and ripstop experimental one ) and the early 80's jackets are cut on the very snug side at the side of the 90's stuff.

Hi TC, here's a pair of trousers dated 91, made by Wrangler, interestingly ( well I think so) the pocket lining is made of 3 colour fabric. 

thanks b2z and gary ,ive a lot to learn , trousers made by wrangler ,crikey ,very interesting combination of the 3 colour ,now the label states 50% nylon 50% cotton ,is that a good indication of originality ,im just going by whats on my trouser label ,thanks for sharing ,cheers james

thunderchild wrote:thanks b2z and gary ,ive a lot to learn , trousers made by wrangler ,crikey ,very interesting combination of the 3 colour ,now the label states 50% nylon 50% cotton ,is that a good indication of originality ,im just going by whats on my trouser label ,thanks for sharing ,cheers james

Thanks TC, I believe Wrangler were contracted by the DoD to make these camo uniforms, the 3 colour pockets are strange, I guess they also made the 3 colour kit too,so were using scraps of material lying around ??

I have a set of 3 colour 1991 dated DBDU's somewhere in the loft I will dig them out,and check the manufacturer;) 

Easy Gee wrote:

thunderchild wrote:thanks b2z and gary ,ive a lot to learn , trousers made by wrangler ,crikey ,very interesting combination of the 3 colour ,now the label states 50% nylon 50% cotton ,is that a good indication of originality ,im just going by whats on my trouser label ,thanks for sharing ,cheers james

Thanks TC, I believe Wrangler were contracted by the DoD to make these camo uniforms, the 3 colour pockets are strange, I guess they also made the 3 colour kit too,so were using scraps of material lying around ??

I have a set of 3 colour 1991 dated DBDU's somewhere in the loft I will dig them out,and check the manufacturer;) 

3 color started rolling out in 1989 with m65 jackets and frag vests, I have an example of both. The earliest BDU I've seen/own is 1990 in both NYCO twill and 100% cotton ripstop. The first ripstop versions mirrors mk1/2 6 color cut, one with a yoke no waist tabs but Elvis collar , one with waist no yoke but small regular collar. The jacket and pants were both reinforced knee/seat/elbow and featured the large hip pockets rather than the later sewn down versions.

https://iacmc.forumotion.com/t7040-1990-first-issue-nyco-ripstop-3-color-desert-suits

1990 ripstops & NYCO twill

https://iacmc.forumotion.com/t7039-1991-first-issue-3-color-desert-set-in-nyco

1991 NYCO




1990 experimental ripstop 6 color




1977 special forces jump smock

Fantastic additions to this thread B20

Here's a few more if you don't mind me showing them here TC 

i dont mind at all ,post away guys ,there are some real nice examples here for sure ,the insignia's make them more special ,and at least i know what to look for now on my learning curve

picked up a 6 colour fragmentation vest cover ,dated 1984

Do you need a vest to go with it?

i do indeed ,i will keep a lookout ,for the ellusive woodland vest ,thanks for asking ,james

As it happens I have a spare but not sure of the size.

a spare one ,crikey ,i missed out on one recently as the seller would only do local pickup ,i quess i will keep my eyes peeled ,as for the cover i was told small and medium relate to a larger size ,for some reason possibly because of it being worn over the bdu's,thanks for your interest

At one time believe it or not I had 5 as veered off to start collecting body armour/flak jackets as well but have whittled them down now as take too much space but can dig mine out if youre interested.

The covers arent a very good fit whichever size you take.

well i wont look a gift horse in the mouth ,thanks for digging your spare out ,im sure either way i could squeeze the cover on or have a baggy cover ,would you consider a trade of some sort ,we have traded in a former life  im based in north wales ,thanks james

James,my memory is shot these days Im afraid and must apologise not remembering but will certainly have a look as to what I have left vest wise as now trying to see sense and only keep 1 of each item and not 5 or 6 of the same dammn things.

With regards trades,could do with the cash at the moment but am a sucker for new goodies so please feel free to PM me over a list of what you have going spare.

Probably wont now get a chance until Friday(day off) to have a good rummage as am way behind with things thanks to stress at work.

Thanks