Czech Camo Field Cap-1961?

Sorry if its a dumb question but is the 61 the date?

Thanks

Yes 61 is the date 57 is the size .

Great stuff-Thanks

An interesting camo. I remember seeing this pattern available (mainly in jackets) well before the fall of the Eastern Bloc, when all other militaria from there, particularly camo, would cost a collector a squillion dollars! Was this pattern so fugly that the Czechs off-loaded it to us 'capitalists' to get rid of it? Anyone here know the real story ..???

My 1st thoughts seeing the makers stamp with the chap wearing the flat cap was that it was commercial/civilian and looks like the issue stamp of crossed swords and 61 are a later addition?

The hat is Military issue , the crossed sword stamp is the government acceptance stamp and year of .

As Steve said, the stamp is applied after manufacture on items that have been accepted for service. They are sometimes quite faint or partially imprinted. But there should always be some sign of it on a genuine piece.

Steve

Great info-Thanks

This camo is a little bit mysterious. Someone called it vz.58 (vz. = pattern) someone vz.60. But everyone knows it as "Mlok" (salamander). It was used by Czechoslavakia Army till the end of 60´s. Because Warshaw Pact standard pattern became "Needles" or "Rain" pattern also Czechoslovakia Army started to use "Needles" and this pattern was also vz.60!
During 70´s and 80´s were Mlok uniforms used as work uniforms in prisons and majority were sold to Africa and Middle East. There were used by guerilas like Palestina´s Jasir Arafat, etc. From Africa is also the story where some general of UN said to the captured teenage guerila:"Take your clown suit off and go home!"
A lot of pictured were sent to this forum by my friend Koalorka. Look at them.
Today are Mlok uniforms very interesting for collectors and the value is still increasing.

poch wrote:This camo is a little bit mysterious. Someone called it vz.58 (vz. = pattern) someone vz.60. But everyone knows it as "Mlok" (salamander). It was used by Czechoslavakia Army till the end of 60´s. Because Warshaw Pact standard pattern became "Needles" or "Rain" pattern also Czechoslovakia Army started to use "Needles" and this pattern was also vz.60!
During 70´s and 80´s were Mlok uniforms used as work uniforms in prisons and majority were sold to Africa and Middle East. There were used by guerilas like Palestina´s Jasir Arafat, etc. From Africa is also the story where some general of UN said to the captured teenage guerila:"Take your clown suit off and go home!"
A lot of pictured were sent to this forum by my friend Koalorka. Look at them.
Today are Mlok uniforms very interesting for collectors and the value is still increasing.

Very interesting,thanks for sharing that info

I have to find time to do some pictures of Mlok pants and post them here. There are 2 modification: one with cargo pockets and one without.