We are a small family business based in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, passionate about preserving history through authentic military artifacts. Established in 2014, every item in our store has a story to tell, connecting you to a meaningful piece of the past.
Item Descriptiontem
This is a U.S. Army M-1951 field jacket, the Korean War pattern cotton sateen field coat, "Coat, Man's, Cotton, WR Sateen, Water Repellent Treated, Olive Green, Shade No. 107, Slide Fastener Closure." It has the classic M-1951 features, a fold-down collar with concealed buttons for the attachable hood, a zippered front backed by a snap storm flap, two upper flap pockets and two lower cargo pockets, epaulets, button-adjust cuffs, and drawcords at the waist and hem.
The interior label is fully legible and richly detailed. It reads "Coat, Man's, Cotton, WR Sateen, Water Repellent Treated, Olive Green, Shade No. 107, Slide Fastener Closure, Southern Aviation Mfg. Co. Inc., Cont: QM-(CTM)-1711-01-748-C-58, Date: 31 January 1958, Spec. MIL-C-11448B Amend #1, Patt. Date: 14 March 1957, MC & TSA, Phila. QM Depot." The maker was Southern Aviation Manufacturing Company, and the January 31, 1958 contract date places manufacture firmly in 1958. The size label reads Short Small (chest 33 to 37 inches, height up to 67 inches), stock number 8405-255-8591. The collar is stenciled with the laundry mark "C-8333," and the size label is hand-marked with the owner's name, "Fischer."
What sets this jacket apart is what came home in its pockets. Tucked inside were the owner's own personal papers: a 1975 State of Minnesota Resident Combination (Husband and Wife) Angling License made out to Richard Fischer of the Minneapolis area, with his wife Sandra named on it, a period school portrait of a young boy, and a 1972 Vitalis "Man of the Year" pro football ballot. Together they put a real family behind the jacket and document it to Richard Fischer, a Minnesota outdoorsman of the 1970s. All of these original items are included with the jacket.
Measured flat, the jacket runs approximately 22 inches from underarm to underarm (pit to pit) and about 24 inches from the shoulder seam to the cuff, both close-approximate readings against a tape, and it carries the generous cut of a field jacket meant to be worn over a uniform and liner.
History
The M-1951 field jacket was the Army's Korean War field coat, an improvement on the World War II M-1943 that introduced the snap-and-zip front and the button-in liner and hood system. It stayed in service for years after Korea and was produced well into the late 1950s, as this 1958-dated example shows, before the M-65 replaced it in 1965. Jackets like this passed by the millions into surplus, where they became the go-to outdoor coat for a generation of American hunters, anglers, and working men. That is exactly the life this one led. By 1975 it belonged to Richard Fischer, who carried his fishing license, a picture of a child, and a football ballot in its pockets and wore it out on Minnesota's lakes and woods. I made a genuine effort to trace Mr. Fischer (born September 4, 1942) and his wife Sandra in public records but could not confirm a specific match, as the name is a common one and he may well still be living. What remains is an honest, personally documented jacket with its original owner's name and papers intact, the kind of provenance that rarely survives.
Condition
The jacket is complete and structurally sound, with the zipper, snaps, buttons, drawcords, epaulets, and both interior labels present and fully legible. It shows honest wear and staining throughout from real outdoor use, consistent with its history, but no significant damage. The named size label and laundry mark are clear, and the original pocket papers are included.
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About UsVDG Militaria is a family-run business located in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. Since 2014, we have been dedicated to preserving historical artifacts and connecting collectors with authentic military memorabilia. We specialize in items from many eras and nations, from the American Civil War through both World Wars and beyond.
Why Collectors Choose Us Authentic, carefully curated artifacts. A family-run business with a personal touch. Proudly based in Minnesota, serving collectors since 2014. A genuine passion for preserving and sharing history. PaymentsPayment is due at checkout through 's secure checkout. We accept all payment methods currently supports, including major credit and debit cards, PayPal, Google Pay, and Apple Pay. If you need a combined invoice for multiple items, please request it before paying (see Shipping below).
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Buying more than one item? Please request a combined invoice before paying. If items are paid for separately, they will ship individually and we are unable to refund the difference in shipping.
We receive a high volume of orders and cannot retroactively combine shipping once separate payments are made. Note: Items shipped internationally through 's International Shipping program cannot be combined, per policy.
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The item was damaged during transit. There is a legitimate concern about the item's authenticity.We are unable to accept returns for:
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