Original Cold War US Army M-1951 (M51) Fishtail Parka – Size Small
Description
The M-1951 Fishtail Parka was officially adopted by the United States military in 1951 to equip infantry troops facing harsh cold-weather combat conditions during the Korean War. Designed as an outer garment to be worn over standard field uniforms, its signature split "fishtail" lower back allowed soldiers to tie the ends around their legs to trap body heat or snap them up inside the coat.
Historical Context and Provenance Sourced from an established private militaria collection focusing on Cold War US military equipment. The M-51 fishtail parka remains one of the most recognized and sought-after cold-weather garments in military collecting history.
Specific Details, Construction, and Condition
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Design & Hardware: Features an integrated drawstring hood, shoulder epaulets, two large slant handwarmer pockets with snap flaps, a heavy-duty brass zipper covered by a snap-closure storm flap, and interior buttons for a detachable liner.
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Zipper: Heavy brass closure zipper fitted with its original cotton pull tab, operating smoothly.
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Material Condition: Genuine issued military condition. The OG-107 cotton poplin fabric retains good color density and structural strength. Factory specification and sizing tags are missing/removed.
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Specific Flaw: The internal fabric drawstring channel at the waist exhibits localized friction wear/fraying on the interior side; the waist drawstring remains intact and operational.
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Sizing: Measures to a standard US military Small (characteristically oversized M-51 cut designed for layering over combat gear).
