More DPM para smocks !!

Some of mine. Sorry the pics are cr@p but i've done my back in and so took the photos i my attic rather than bring them down, photograph them and drag them back up.

The early ones posted elsewhere but included here for completeness











More recent ones now ....







next .....







Most recent one....

Fantastic

bloody great

Nice one!

Oustanding, I have one with Pen pocket, and FD pocket on the sleeves, which model is it Dave

Easy Gee wrote:Oustanding, I have one with Pen pocket, and FD pocket on the sleeves, which model is it Dave

After 1984 as the FDD was introduced then, also depends on camo print and cloth used. As a rule of thumb lighter camo print on heavy cloth is early, darker camo on lighter cloth is later.

Easy Gee wrote:Oustanding, I have one with Pen pocket, and FD pocket on the sleeves, which model is it Dave

As B20 said, post 1984. There is no pattern specifically for pre NATO sizing or pre or post FFD pocket. They are all smock, parachutists.

However, the type of material, zipper, label and sizing and tones of the pattern all point towards the age of manufacture. The later the date, the lower the quality. Anything made since 2000 is pretty shoddy, China-made crap.

All of mine are pre 1995. The pre NATO sizing and just into the NATO labelling are the best in terms of teh type of pattern, tones, material quality, nice heavy blackened zippers and the cotton modal that looks white on the onside of the smock.

Hope that helps ?

One day I'll do a proper history with all the discernable types and dates - but not yet !

Dave

There are a few exemptions to the rules.

The cloth first used on the half lined smocks and trousers which was the first run on the 84 FDD. The fixtures and fitting are quality but not the cloth , bright camo printed on white cloth was a thin cloth. There are not many of this example of clothing both para and regular army using that cloth as it was bad. It was prone to splitting and tearing quiet easy.

The regular army stuff trousers and jackets had a triangular style of cargo pocket to them. I have an example of the print on my para smock thread.

This cloth, 1984 model that was quickly replaced around 18-24 months later with the DPM shapes we still have today. The triangular look cargo pockets were also dumped for the para smock style right across the forces on both trousers, jacket and smocks.

Bury_Dave wrote:

Easy Gee wrote:Oustanding, I have one with Pen pocket, and FD pocket on the sleeves, which model is it Dave

As B20 said, post 1984. There is no pattern specifically for pre NATO sizing or pre or post FFD pocket. They are all smock, parachutists.

However, the type of material, zipper, label and sizing and tones of the pattern all point towards the age of manufacture. The later the date, the lower the quality. Anything made since 2000 is pretty shoddy, China-made crap.

All of mine are pre 1995. The pre NATO sizing and just into the NATO labelling are the best in terms of teh type of pattern, tones, material quality, nice heavy blackened zippers and the cotton modal that looks white on the onside of the smock.

Hope that helps ?

One day I'll do a proper history with all the discernable types and dates - but not yet !

Dave

One day I'll do a proper history with all the discernable types and dates - but not yet

Does anyone actually know for sure as on various forums there are various "experts" with a lot of conflicting info regarding the smocks.

I'm not claiming to be an 'expert' - only to post what i have found from smocks i have owned. And I am talking DPM here. Although the WW2 and post war, pre '59 pattern denisons are the easiest to categorize. I also lack the OCD traits to fully list EVERYTHING as I'm too lazy to take that deep an interest !

I would also add the WW2 and '59 pattern sizings table i have. It has the length, chest sleeve etc measurements for each size of smock.

Dave

Love those warm prints .

Thanks for the info guy's, I appreciate it

I've had another look at it, it has a plastic zip ( which could have been a replacement) and a custom pocket sewn on the front ( compass pocket ??), but sounds as you described, thanks again.

heres an old one of mine .

This one had it all .

Very cool kammo-man, like this one!!

My 68 pattern Para smock





with para wing and The 5 Airborne Brigade's Pathfinder DZ flash on the right arm, canadian para wind on the upper of right chest pocket


liner

lable


with detachable hood

thanks for looking