Flak Vest

[ben]

First Id like to say hello to everyone as this is my first post.

Anyways, to the point. I am trying to find some leads on an M1952 flak vest size L or above and any help would be appreciated.

Thank you,
Ben

[Woodard]

It's not much of an answer, but I'd keep posted to e-bay. I don't know of any retailers that normally stock these.... Mabey Mooremilitaria once in a while, but they want way too much for their 3/4 collar ones. I'll keep my eyes open, though.

[ben]

woodard said:

It's not much of an answer, but I'd keep posted to e-bay. I don't know of any retailers that normally stock these.... Mabey Mooremilitaria once in a while, but they want way too much for their 3/4 collar ones. I'll keep my eyes open, though.

Yeah Ebay seems to be the only option and Moore's hasnt carried M1952's for awhile (and even then I think they only carried smalls).

Thanks for the help.

[Woodard]

It's one of those quirks of militaria that most of these you find are in size small. Most flaks are produced primarily in medium, the thought being that it fits 90% of people in the service. Moore wants like $150 for the 3/4 collar ones, I can't imagine paying more than 1/3 of that price for any Army flak. I'd be patient and keep an eye on E-bay.

[ben]

I appreciate the help.


Ive always wanted one but couldnt justify getting one. However, it has been confirmed that my unit ( www.easy39th.com/ ) is going to represent the 40th ID (California National Guard) in Korea during the annual Old Fort MacArthur Days event this summer. The idea is really taking off and the display is going to be epic.

Unlike most units at public displays (which have neat rows of pup tents and spend the day wearing HBT's and drinking beer) the 9th ID likes to get dirty. We will be digging in like moles and constructing structures out of wood and sandbags with mortar and machinegun emplacements along our line.

If anyone is in the Southern California area and wants to join in on either side of the wire let me know. This event is in July so there is plenty of time to plan.

[jonprince]

Ben, good luck, if you can find one in a dececnt size it isn't going to be cheap. I was personally planning on back-dating a later type at some point, but to be honest you can do a LOT of the Korean war witthout the things. I've seen a few of E-Bay, but there's usually a lot of bidding.

[Woodard]

I agree with Jonprince about needing one. This type wasn't issued until very late in the war. In late 51 the Army bought a bunch of the Marine Corps ones while they issued and tested a number of varieties. The M52A's wouldn't have even been ordered until the first part of 53. The earlier ones are rare as sh%#. I've seen one Marine M51 on Ebay about five or six years ago, and one of the rare Army ones (I was outbid by "thugkilla 27" or some crap, it still burns me up).
A good quickie internet info site, not Stanton's book but it'll do. www.olive-drab.com/od_soldiers_gear_body_armor_korea.php

[ben]

Thanks for the concern, however the public event will be a 1953 event (specifically so that we can bring out all of the special items for the publics' benefit). My platoon Sergeant is even getting an infrared setup for his carbine (or rather my carbine, which he is going to use).

Like I said Ive always wanted one anyway , and I have no doubt that the price will be up there.

Im actually planning on buying Stanton's book pretty quick here as well. Amazon has it for pretty cheap.


Again, thanks for the responses and help guys, I appreciate it.

[Woodard]

Yea, I forget sometimes that the last time I bought a flak was before Vietnam reenacting was around. I guess the days of $20 and $30 flaks are over... That Infared thing sounds awesome, you'll have to send us some pics.

[ringneck]

You know there is a USMC M52 also? Its entirely unrelated to the Army M52, looks like the USMC M51--found one at the Show of Shows in Louisville for $40---People had walked by it ALL day!!!!!!!!!!!! Whats funny is the size isn't marked, it just has a

SIZE________ With nothing inked in.

Now I do seem to to notice that the USMC M51 has NO flap with snaps over hte zipper in the photo on the website you linked too. That look right to you? My M52 does, just like an M55.

And here is a question, were the first Army M52's cloth?

BradLaGrange

[ringneck]

I find flak jackets cheaper now than I used too. Even next to an Army base they were $30+ in the 80's/90's. Now they seem to run $50-$100, BUT I've picked them up(3/4 collars, M69's, and M55's) for under $50 about a dozen times in the last year.

BradLaGrange

[Woodard]

As far as I can tell the Army M52's were always Nylon, but some of the earlier ones are cotton, and look like WW2 Aircrew vests w/ LTD fasteners on the shoulders. I wonder, If you could find some fiberglass plates if you could make a Marine one? You'd need something thick for the collar and shoulder, but even the M55's aren't too complicated or well made.

[ben]

Just wanted to thank everyone for their help a second time. I managed to snag a size L M1952A vest yesterday (and am very stoked about it) off of Ebay.

cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=009&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBI%3AIT&viewitem=&item=190078794069&rd=1&rd=1

[Woodard]

Ya know, I never would have even found this one on E-bay. I always just put in "Flak", never thought to try searching under body armor.... I learned something, Ben got his vest, everyone walks away happy.

[sdfoster]

National Capital Historic Sales sells these on eBay every now and then. Do a search for "armor" under seller name nchs and some of these early ones come up. But, be prepared to pay more than Ben did!

[Woodard]

Repros? Wow, I'd love to have one to trash. The originals are so fragile just wearing them destroys them. Honestly, They can't take as much labor to produce as uniform...

[sdfoster]

Who has repros?

[Woodard]

Oh, no, I thought you meant NCHS had repros, instead of M1952A's. my bad. Someone really should make them, if you could find the materials.

[sdfoster]

Oh, OK. Sorry if I was confusing!
Repros would be neat but I don't think many people would want to make them. You have to have a strong sewing machine to sew through the webbing parts. My wife would never agree to try to make one of those on our machine!

[ringneck]

Repros wouoldn't be incredibly hard if you had a heavy duty machine.

Now finding correct weight materials for the inside might be, but the shell is just green nylon w/the canvas zipper area, the grenade/foliage loops on the chest, and snaps.

You know a USMC VN era M55 would be easy--the plates would be very easy to replicate.

Might be a market, VN airsoft is big overseas(like Japan), would create an imperitus to make M52's, which could then be used for Korea. They wouldn't all be small, VN airsof is also popular w/Europeans, some which(namely the Dutch) are now on average even taller than Americans.

BradLaGrange