Hi all picked this smock up the other day..
I believe its an 85 pattern DPM smock... but it may be a manufacturer cast off or second.... as it seems to be unfinished.. the buttons for the arm pockets are missing and there are no signs of them ever being added!!??
the four front pockets buttons are added but the button holes are far too small to fit!! (easily remedied with a blade... but this has never been done!!) it has no makers marks labels of any kind... and finally it has an odd addition to the rear poachers pocket in the shape of a bright turquoise liner!!!????? what would the point of this be!!???
The waist and hem draw chords have also never been fitted..
I have read that the 85 patt smocks were some of the worst made items of British army clothing ever to be made and that the pockets literally fell off with light use!!!!! this would certainly also be true of this jacket it has a thrown together feel about it.. the pockets are unevenly folded before fitting... and poorly attached....(see pics)
did the MOD cancel the contract for the 85 patt... and hence a lot of unfinished items could have found their way to the surplus market????
your thoughts please gents...
I believe its an 85 pattern DPM smock... but it may be a manufacturer cast off or second.... as it seems to be unfinished.. the buttons for the arm pockets are missing and there are no signs of them ever being added!!??
the four front pockets buttons are added but the button holes are far too small to fit!! (easily remedied with a blade... but this has never been done!!) it has no makers marks labels of any kind... and finally it has an odd addition to the rear poachers pocket in the shape of a bright turquoise liner!!!????? what would the point of this be!!???
The waist and hem draw chords have also never been fitted..
I have read that the 85 patt smocks were some of the worst made items of British army clothing ever to be made and that the pockets literally fell off with light use!!!!! this would certainly also be true of this jacket it has a thrown together feel about it.. the pockets are unevenly folded before fitting... and poorly attached....(see pics)
did the MOD cancel the contract for the 85 patt... and hence a lot of unfinished items could have found their way to the surplus market????
your thoughts please gents...