M-51 Field Jacket / Coat.

[@CorSmit]

Great looking jacket! Coincidentally, I wore my M51 to work yesterday, with a hoodie underneath. Great outerwear for the last days winter going into spring

[@derekdoeschannel]

Thanks! I forgot how much I love the M51s.

[@a-macduff]

Hey Derek! I love the field jacket videos. So, I actually own an m-51 and I wear it all the time. It’s incredibly utilitarian and attractive, in that it works really well with my own style. As for the jacket you have, I actually think it fits you perfectly. You just need to adjust the jacket, because one side was clearly hanging lower than the other in the video, which you can even see from the shoulders, and that’s what made it shorter on one of your arms. I love the lined pockets on these, and yes, while the m-1943 jackets were lined, they were some sort of cotton drill, I believe.

[@derekdoeschannel]

Thanks! I did have a better sweater under it so it might be better with just a shirt. After finding another M-51, I think it's my favorite of all Field Jackets. I'm glad you rock one as they are fantastic! It's odd they didn't line the M-65 pockets as it's a really nice addition. I wonder if the M-50 had that?

[@a-macduff]

@@derekdoeschannel - So, the M-50 is essentially the same as the M-1943, with minuscule differences: it had buttons on the inside for a liner, being the only real difference. It also has the exact same white cotton lining for the pockets. There’s a KZbin video that shows the exact minor differences if you’re curious to see (type in m-43 vs m-50). Speaking of! I literally just opened my package that had my newly acquired M-1943! 😂 I absolutely love it, and it’s practically mint. I would even bet that it was unworn, and the very, very minor little nicks are from years of storage and handling.

[@robertrobert7924]

I was issued a Summer weight field jacket at Ft. Bragg, NC in June 1968. I don't think I ever wore it because Summer in NC is too hot. The same was true at Ft, Holabird, Baltimore, MD. I then wore Civilian clothes when I got to the Pentagon. I think that field jacket may have been a surplus M51. We also were issued WW2 field rations when we slept outdoors in shelter half pup tents. We also shot M14 rifles at the range. I think all the new gear went to Vietnam.

[@derekdoeschannel]

during that time, that makes sense.

[@Drewsky840]

Great looking jacket! I have my Dads M51 from when he was in the Army, it doesn't have wool in the pockets though, i wonder when they made the change.

[@derekdoeschannel]

It's great you still have your dads! I'm not sure when it happened. Maybe early 60's when they were used in a more Jungle environment? The 1964 model M51 I picked up didn't have them.

[@Cattledogfever]

Wow what a find. May of these that are left are frayed around the sleeve cuffs. Don't forget the Fishtails. 51 fishtail and the M65 fishtail. Very cool Parker's

[@derekdoeschannel]

Thanks! Yes finding one in good order it a lot harder than it use to be. Those fishtails are cool for sure!

[@JDMJOE]

Great jacket, will be looking on eBay for one of these, or a military surplus store. Great review.

[@derekdoeschannel]

Thanks! I'm on the hunt now too for one with a longer sleeve.

[@JDMJOE]

I'm all the way in London but have a great military surplus store just a stones throw from me that gets a lot of US/ European stock. Good luck hunting. 👍🏻

[@derekdoeschannel]

@@JDMJOE Unfortunately most of the Army/Navy stores in the US have closed.

[@jamieward3574]

Do you mind saying which store in London you mean?

[@JDMJOE]

@@jamieward3574 Silvermans Mile End Road E1

[@froginthewaves8450]

Awesome Video!

[@derekdoeschannel]

Thanks!

[@lt3880]

when did they add the rounded collar? I have an m51 from alpha industries with rounded collar, no velcro cuffs

[@derekdoeschannel]

Hi, I didn't know the M51 had the rounded collar like the M-65. Is it an original or a repro?

[@arryanan3596]

Hi derek, I just got the m51 from thrifted. The thing is the tag for sizing are stamped on with black ink not the normal tag that been sewed below the collar. Do you ever saw that kind of tag? I wonder if its true vintage or reproduction one.

[@derekdoeschannel]

I bet it’s real. They made these from 1951-1965 so I’m sure tags changed over the years. Does the tag have a date on it?

[@arryanan3596]

@@derekdoeschannel no cant see since the tag is faded. But the details is on point such as the zipper and pocket.

[@derekdoeschannel]

It’s an m-51

[@spitfireaace]

Always like seeing an original Talon. Very Nice!

[@derekdoeschannel]

It is. Don't see the big ones that often.

[@darkhero2114]

The G1 and the B3 jacket are my favorite.

[@derekdoeschannel]

Excellent choices!

[@gratefulname8359]

Bro really likes horror games

[@stephenlegg262]

Hi from Wales. Picked one up today. Looks exactly like yours but there is no tab anywhere. I hope it is authentic. It has the same studs and zip.

[@derekdoeschannel]

I'm sure it's original, just missing the tag. Great pick up!

[@stephenlegg262]

@@derekdoeschannel thanks.

[@ManWithTheBanjo]

I have both a 65 and a 51 and I definitely prefer my 51, I work in the wildlife field and it is a great multi season work coat especially when working out in the field

[@derekdoeschannel]

I agree, the M51 is a better coat than the M65 for everyday use.

[@RamboJohn-j2r]

Can an M65 jacket be sewn in a reduced size? My jacket is a size too big

[@derekdoeschannel]

I’m sure it could be but really it might be cheaper to just get a smaller size and sell the bigger one.

[@boardstechre0964]

Hi Derek! Were you still found the date of your jacket? My unit is from '62, but it is very different from yours, mine has the og 107 color zipper lining and not that brown color like yours (I would like to know if that detail has some significance of the date of manufacture), the lining of the bottom pockets are cotton, not wool. Also, it lacks the double cord exit in the middle, it only has the outside one, I have a thought, maybe your jacket is from the years 63-64 (models before the m-65), probably many soldiers complained about the middle cord because it got stuck in combat or in risky situations, so they decided to do it that way, then in the M-65, they finally decided to leave the cord on the inside, but it is just a hypothesis.

[@derekdoeschannel]

Hi, your jacket sounds pretty interesting! I'm thinkin the other way around that your jacket is a cross-model version before the M-65 came out. I think mine is an mid 50's model from what I've read. Keep in mind the M-51 was in service for almost 15 years so I'm sure like the differences in the M-65 it also changed and was improved over those years. And you don't have a zippered hood correct? Just making sure you don't have a super early M-65.

[@boardstechre0964]

@@derekdoeschannel Indeed, it does not have a zipper hood, besides that it does have the labels inside that has the contract number "DSA-1-854-62-C" and the description of the jacket "Coats Men Field Olive Green 107 M-1951". Between these days I acquired another M-51, the curious thing is that it is one manufactured in 1965, just of the last units in production of the M-51!!!! (DSA-1-8295) It has an interesting detail, in the neck part it has a neck adjuster but made of fabric, not velcro like an M-65, and this one has a brown zipper! Pretty crazy, in this video there is an M-51 from '63 with that same feature I mention: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJ3RYouEmbODga8si=XD8si8d4uVo4M5Nk

[@CHRISMED2]

Sunderland approved

[@spitfireaace]

Lol .. M-65 and M-43 had a baby.

[@patdavis8416]

would love to find a m51 large long!!!!!!

[@josephkujo5544]

Just nabbed one - I’m loving it; it fits pretty much perfectly, but the sleeves are like balloons lol. Might get it tailored but I’m trying to think of temporary fixes since I want to keep its original design Also I’m in the opposite situation with the drawstrings; I have the bottom drawstring but I’m missing the middle one 😂

[@derekdoeschannel]

Awesome find! Try living with the sleeves if you can, if not you could (sew) gather them at the sleeves and that way if you decide to sell it later you just undo the thread and they're back to normal.

[@josephkujo5544]

@@derekdoeschannel good call, I may try that

[@MikeInMexico]

Great review. And which field jacket overall do you prefer. I have my opinions as well, but I do like the m51 surprisingly. Great content, keep up the great work.

[@derekdoeschannel]

Thank you. I’m actually loving the M51 the best. It’s like the M65 but not as bulky.

[@RamboJohn-j2r]

Jaket yang sangat bagus❤ ada kah jaket m41 dan m42

[@derekdoeschannel]

Thanks! Yes there are.

[@spitfireaace]

Elvis had one.

[@derekdoeschannel]

Great pic of him online!

[@ГовардНекрономикон]

m51? Looks like m65

[@derekdoeschannel]

they're similar. M-51s don't have the hood in the collar is the main difference.