Woodard
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Posts: 379
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Post by Woodard on Jan 14, 2007 11:43:06 GMT -5
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Post by Glen K on Jan 20, 2007 17:10:05 GMT -5
Those look like the later M65 parkas, what with the with nylon content (instead of all cotton) and the name tape thingy over the right breast. Has anyone gotten one and examined it in detail? I've wanted to get one, but the price seems too good for it to be an actual M51. I know there are a couple of companies that carry repro M51s out there, but even they run about $150
Glen K
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Woodard
Global Moderator
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Post by Woodard on Jan 21, 2007 9:27:44 GMT -5
Good point. Sportsmans guide has been wrong before as to what they have, when dealing with surplus. They could have been depot modified to M65 standard or something as well.
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Post by Glen K on Jan 23, 2007 21:17:02 GMT -5
Well, I've even emailed them to ask, and their response was rather snide, something like "of course it's an M-51, we've been selling surplus for 10,000 years, we know what we're doing, blah blah blah". I guess I just need to bite the bullet and order one, and send it back if (when?) it proves to be the later one.
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Woodard
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Post by Woodard on Jan 23, 2007 22:33:14 GMT -5
Yea, kinda like their "Russian" M52 helmets....
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Post by Glen K on Apr 12, 2007 21:45:05 GMT -5
I've just gotten an email from this place: www.jumpthegun.co.uk/Parka.htmlAnd while they are out of stock of the original M51s, apparently they can get repro ones now. He's supposed to be sending me a price for them... |
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cco23i
Corporal 
"Say, AAAAAAAAH"
Posts: 50
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Post by cco23i on Apr 16, 2007 22:59:02 GMT -5
Remember that most of the early 50's dated stuff didn't make it to Korea until AFTER the war. Your best bet is to use WW2 uniform items and layer them, and top it off with the 43 jacket and pants.
Scott
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Woodard
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Post by Woodard on Apr 18, 2007 20:00:35 GMT -5
A lot of the M51 stuff was rushed to Korea for the second winter of the war. The Stanton book goes into great detail about numbers issued, how priority was established, how uniforms were distributed to units, what was in short supply, all that.
Having said that, I would imagine that any repro winter parka will be very expensive. The reason that original stuff is cheaper is that the person selling it doesn't have to pay for labor, shipping, or materials. It just comes out of a warehouse somewhere.
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Post by Glen K on Apr 20, 2007 21:49:28 GMT -5
I don't know... have you seen the going rate for size L M51 parkas w/ liners lately? $250 was the cheapest one I've found on ebay for a while... which, granted, is about what the repros cost. Makes me want to go to England and pick one up, to at least save on shipping.  |
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Woodard
Global Moderator
Posts: 379
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Post by Woodard on Apr 21, 2007 14:04:41 GMT -5
Wow... you have to know I'm one of those little folks who everyone hates. I bought one of the early style parkas for like $20 "back in the day (~5 years ago)". I didn't realize there was any sort of demand for Korean War winter gear. I suppose that must be close to a repop pricewise, depending on where it's made and all.
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Post by foxholetom on Jun 30, 2007 22:17:54 GMT -5
Hello all, first post on the forum. Long time reenactor, recently began heavily looking into reenacting Korea.
Woodward is absolutely right about looking at the Stanton book. It is easily THE book needed for understanding clothing issue in Korea. The clothing items that did not have priority are items like the new OG 108 wool uniform and the sateen utilities. The M1951 parka however was an absolute priority item for frontline units from the second winter onward.
As far as buying one, I'm lucky, I'm a small guy, but I've still be surprised at the cost of M1951s. For my size I'm looking at the cheapest buy being perhaps $50, with as high as $100 if its got the liner.
Something I discovered while looking...apparently the "mod" crowd liked the M1951s and wore them because they looked cool, and I've found several websites that specialize in buying surplus M1951s in the U.S., shipping them to Europe and selling them for high prices as mod clothing. Most unfortunate for the collector!
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Post by big on Nov 28, 2007 21:49:18 GMT -5
This is exactly right, unfortunatly. I've been outbid once on ebay by someone in Germany whose ebay name was "streetstyle-motorscooter" I was really mad to think that this M51 in perfect shape size XL (I'm a pretty big guy) will be worn by someone who does'nt care about history, whose gone write or paint stupid things on the back... this was 3 years ago and I was so angry that I can still remember it!!!!
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Post by foxholetom on Nov 29, 2007 2:25:14 GMT -5
Yes, its a real shame, especially since there are tons of more modern military parkas that are not desirable, and as far as a regular person is concerned, a better parka, and looks more or less the same.
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Post by foxholetom on Nov 29, 2007 18:55:59 GMT -5
Okay, I'll just say it...I recently traded some stuff to a friend for some Korean War items, including an M1951 parka. I already have the hood, and a friend bought me the trousers and trouser liner for Christmas. So, all I need is the parka liner.  |
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Post by foxholetom on Dec 3, 2007 20:40:50 GMT -5
I also just picked up an M1943 OD parka, with fur trimmed hood. These were used until supply was exhausted through to the end of Korea. Now all I need is an M1948 parka.
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Woodard
Global Moderator
Posts: 379
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Post by Woodard on Dec 4, 2007 11:08:13 GMT -5
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Post by foxholetom on Dec 7, 2007 15:13:03 GMT -5
I received two parkas in the mail, an M1943, and an M1951. I love 'em. Christmas came early this year!
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iain
New Recruit
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Post by iain on Jan 26, 2008 20:28:59 GMT -5
Well I have to say...I am one of those dumb "European vespa riders" and I am desperate for a genuine M1951!!
I will not be painting anything on it. But the fact is this garment is a quintessential piece of MOD clothoing and apart from anything else does what ot is supposed to do...keeps you warm on a scooter in cold winter nights!
I'm trying to pick one up for less than the £300+ it seems to cost so maybe I am in the same boat as you guys.
Sorry if this upsets you guys but there you go!
:-)
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Post by John Abshire on Jan 27, 2008 9:17:48 GMT -5
GO HOME HIPPY...just kidding
Welcome to the hunt!
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Post by foxholetom on Jan 27, 2008 13:21:35 GMT -5
Well, I understand that the Mod scene is another part of history...
My best bet, if you don't want to pay an arm and a leg, search on e-bay, especially mislabeled auctions.
My complete M1951 parka, including shipping, was under $250. That's shell, liner (mint liner) and hood. I also snagged a second shell for about $90.
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