USMC Drill Instructor Belt - M1956

Used knife from Laos. The blade is made from scraps of aircraft ammunition. The blade length is 275 mm.

Medium Short, late Vietnam or early 70's dress, 101st ABN with hemmed edge, name tag and "army" silk.

Colour patch of 199th Infantry Brigade (Light). Design with thin edge.

60s Vietnam War Vietnamese-Made US Army Branch Tape

Lightly used flashlight MX-991/U. Manufacturer GT Price. The flashlight are functional.

This T61-5 body armor, officially designated MIL-A-43197, represents a fascinating chapter in military equipment history. Developed in the mid-1960s, the T61-5 was designed to be a more ergonomic and flexible successor to the older M1952A model. Its innovative construction featured over 100 individual titanium plates, intended to provide superior protection and comfort.

Although it officially became the U.S. Army's standard-issue vest "on paper" in 1965, it never saw widespread adoption in reality. With the escalation of the Vietnam War, the T61-5 proved too expensive and complex to manufacture for mass deployment. The Army instead opted for a simpler, cheaper, updated version of the M1952A (the "3/4 collar" model).

Despite being an Army design, the T61-5 found its primary use elsewhere. It became characteristic equipment for the U.S. Navy's "Brown Water Navy" units operating in the rivers and coastal areas of Vietnam from 1966 onwards. It was also used by some U.S. Army mechanized infantry, armor, and armored cavalry units between 1969-1971.

Key Features:

• Official Designation: MIL-A-43197

• Common Name: T61-5 Composite Armor

• Standard Publication Date: Feb. 10, 1964

• Construction: Composite material with over 100 titanium plates

• Historical Status: Superseded, cancelled in 1972 with no direct replacement

• Primary Users: US Navy ("Brown Water Navy"), US Army mechanized units in Vietnam

This vest is an exceptional and rare collector's item, documenting the push for innovation in personal protection during one of the most significant conflicts of the 20th century.

Unused Blouse Coat, Man's, Cotton W/R Rip-stop Poplin, OG 107. Size XL Regular. Year of manufacture 1968 - 1969.

Unused 5qt water bag. Contract 1968.

Hook M 1956 1st Pattern - Large

Bag, Patient's Effects - 1965 - NIB

Trousers in ERDL camouflage. Size Medium Regular. Contract DSA 100-70-C-0137. Perfect almost unused condition. Colours are rich and unwashed. This piece comes from the estate of a Special Forces member named Norton who served in the US. Army from Vietnam to the 1990s.