by CollectinSteve Sun Aug 04, 2013 12:03 pm
Some quick thoughts...
The three pocket design is something that the British put forward with their kit from WW2. I also don't understand the thinking, but it is what it is

There are basically only two styles of M&B/Brush trousers. The only one you are likely to see is the 3 pocket type, either in heavy cotton (1952-1955) or canvas (1956-1957). There is an 8 pocket poplin type that is very, very rare. Limited production and not very survivable in the field.
For Jigsaw it is vastly more complicated. That's because Jigsaw is *still* in production as a pattern. But to over simplify things, there are basically 5 types:
1. 3 pocket canvas (1958 and a few in the early 1960s)
2. 8 pocket in either poplin or lightweight cotton (1970s)
3. 6 pocket poplin (late 1970s through 1980s)
4. 5 pocket cotton (limited early 1990s issue)
5. 6 pocket in two different types of ripstop and one type of heavy cotton (1997-2012?)
The Jigsaw pattern has changed to have no white in it any more, but the cut of the uniform hasn't been altered as far as I know.
This is off the top of my head and could have some gaps. The 1980s-1990s had a number of small runs of slightly different items so I might have overlooked something. But all of the above mentioned items are in my hands and so those, for sure, exist.
Steve