An original 1968 U.S. Army M-65 Field Coat manufactured by Appleman Mfg. Co. under DSA 100-68-C-2372.
This specimen represents the Second Pattern configuration, distinguished by shoulder epaulets. It retains its OG-107 nylon/cotton sateen shell, grey interior lining, original military label, aluminum zipper hardware, and Small Regular configuration.
SPECIFICATIONS
IDENTIFICATION
NOMENCLATURE:
COAT, MAN’S FIELD WITH HOOD
SERVICE:
U.S. ARMY
MODEL:
M-65 FIELD COAT
CLASSIFICATION:
ORIGINAL U.S. MILITARY ISSUE
PROCUREMENT
CONTRACTOR:
APPLEMAN MFG. CO.
CONTRACT NUMBER:
DSA 100-68-C-2372
STOCK NUMBER:
8405-782-2936
FISCAL YEAR:
1968
COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE:
U.S.A.
CONSTRUCTION
PATTERN:
SECOND PATTERN
CONFIGURATION:
SHOULDER EPAULETS
SHELL:
NYLON / COTTON SATEEN
SHELL COLOR:
OLIVE GREEN OG-107
INTERIOR LINING:
GREY
COLLAR:
STAND COLLAR WITH CONCEALED HOOD COMPARTMENT
FRONT CLOSURE:
ZIPPER WITH SNAP-FRONT STORM FLAP
POCKETS:
FOUR FRONT CARGO POCKETS
CUFFS:
ADJUSTABLE CUFF TABS
WAIST / HEM:
INTERNAL DRAWCORD ADJUSTMENT
HARDWARE
MAIN ZIPPER:
GENERAL ALUMINUM
HOOD ZIPPER:
GENERAL ALUMINUM
ORIGINAL LABEL & MARKINGS
The original contract and size label remains present and legible.
The surviving labels retain the garment’s original identification, sizing, operating, liner, cold-weather, drying, fastener-maintenance, and water-repellency information. Together with the surviving collar insignia, they document identifying and service-related elements that remain physically associated with the garment.
The contract and size label identifies the garment as:
COAT, MAN’S FIELD WITH HOOD
NYLON COTTON SATEEN OG-107
DSA 100-68-C-2372
APPLEMAN MFG. CO.
SMALL REGULAR
CHEST: FROM 33 TO 37 INCHES
HEIGHT: 67 TO 71 INCHES
STOCK NO.: 8405-782-2936
SIZE & MEASUREMENTS
ORIGINAL LABEL SIZE: SMALL REGULAR
CHEST WIDTH: 55 CM
BODY LENGTH: 80 CM
The original size label specifies a chest range of 33–37 inches and a height range of 67–71 inches.
All measurements are taken manually and are approximate. Compare these measurements with a similar garment that fits properly rather than relying solely on the labeled size.
UNISSUED / NOS EVIDENCE
ISSUE STATUS: UNISSUED
NOS EVIDENCE: PHYSICALLY CONSISTENT
DOCUMENTARY PROVENANCE: UNAVAILABLE
EVIDENCE BASIS
Physical inspection is consistent with an unused or unissued specimen. No material evidence of sustained wear, laundering, field modification, service repair, or prolonged hardware use has been identified.
No item-specific warehouse, inventory, contractor, or chain-of-custody documentation is presently available. The specimen is therefore classified as Physically Consistent rather than Documented.
SPECIMEN ASSESSMENT
ISSUE STATUS: UNISSUED / NEW OLD STOCK
CONDITION: ★★★★ — EXCELLENT
SCARCITY: ★★★★ — VERY RARE
NOS EVIDENCE: PHYSICALLY CONSISTENT
DOCUMENTARY PROVENANCE: UNAVAILABLE
SCARCITY ASSESSMENT BASIS
The ★★★★ — Very Rare rating applies to this specifically defined specimen configuration rather than to the M-65 Field Coat as a general model.
The assessment considers the combined presence of a fiscal-year 1968 Appleman Mfg. Co. contract, DSA 100-68-C-2372, Second Pattern shoulder-epaulet construction, Small Regular size, grey interior lining, surviving original military label, and substantially original period configuration.
Comparable examples matching this combination of year, contractor, contract, configuration, size, and surviving original components are encountered only occasionally within specialist military-surplus and collector-market channels.
SCARCITY ASSESSMENT LIMITATION
Scarcity represents relative market availability and does not indicate physical condition, monetary value, collector demand, historical importance, or NOS status.
The rating may be reassessed if meaningful new comparable market evidence becomes available.
INSPECTION CONDITION REPORT
OVERALL CONDITION
★★★★ — EXCELLENT
Exceptionally well-preserved original military specimen with limited age- and storage-related characteristics. The garment remains structurally sound and substantially complete.
SHELL
The OG-107 nylon/cotton sateen shell, primary garment panels, collar, shoulder epaulets, pockets, cuffs, seams, and grey interior lining remain intact and well preserved.
CONSTRUCTION
The primary garment panels, collar, shoulder epaulets, pockets, cuffs, seams, and internal construction remain intact and consistent with the original Second Pattern configuration.
The shoulder epaulets are retained as an original defining construction feature of this specimen.
HARDWARE
The coat retains its aluminum zipper hardware and original closure components. No material operating wear indicative of prolonged use is apparent.
LABELS & MARKINGS
The original Appleman Mfg. Co. contract and size label remains present and legible, with natural age-related textile characteristics retained.
REPAIRS / ALTERATIONS
No material repairs or intrusive alterations observed.
NOTED DEFECTS
No material defects identified. Minor age- or storage-related characteristics may be present.
HISTORICAL NOTE
Manufactured by Appleman Mfg. Co. under DSA 100-68-C-2372, this M-65 dates to fiscal year 1968 and represents the Second Pattern configuration of the U.S. Army field coat.
Its shoulder epaulets distinguish this configuration from the earlier no-epaulet First Pattern.
The 1968 procurement date places the coat within the Vietnam War period, including the year of the Tet Offensive and a period of peak U.S. military involvement in Vietnam.
This historical context identifies the period in which the garment was produced and does not establish that this individual specimen was issued, deployed, or used in Vietnam.
