beezman Posted May 15, 2009 Share #1 Posted May 15, 2009 This M-1952 flak jacket looks... different. Apparently it is not field modified, the label seems to indicate an official model. I can see female "lift the dot" snaps on bottom. Perhaps used to secure a flak diaper or a life preserver? Any thoughts from Korean War collectors? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B229 Posted May 15, 2009 Share #2 Posted May 15, 2009 This M-1952 flak jacket looks... different. Apparently it is not field modified, the label seems to indicate an official model. I can see female "lift the dot" snaps on bottom. Perhaps used to secure a flak diaper or a life preserver? Any thoughts from Korean War collectors? In spite of what the label says, this otherwise appears to be a T-1952-2 vest. This is one of the prototype designs for the M-1952A that was field tested in Korea during 1952. The T-1952-3 design was adopted as the M-1952A. The snaps along the bottom of your vest are for a groin protector, along the same lines as the M-12 armor and WWII aircrew armor. There is a photo of the T-1952-2 here: <http://www.olive-drab.com/od_soldiers_gear_body_armor_korea.php> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beezman Posted May 15, 2009 Author Share #3 Posted May 15, 2009 Thanks for the great info B229! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiGilio Posted May 15, 2009 Share #4 Posted May 15, 2009 Is this on ebay? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beezman Posted May 15, 2009 Author Share #5 Posted May 15, 2009 Yes it is on ebay.fr: http://cgi.ebay.fr/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewIt...em=120416778637 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B229 Posted May 16, 2009 Share #6 Posted May 16, 2009 Thanks for the great info B229! No problem. How'd you like to buy it for me and ship it back to its' home country! Really strange it wound up in France. I know the US supplied the French with body armor, but I wouldn't have thought it would be prototypes after a standard pattern was already adopted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beezman Posted May 16, 2009 Author Share #7 Posted May 16, 2009 I think shipping alone for this heavy vest would be at least $150! Perhaps it came from a vet of the French Battalion attached to the 2nd Inf Div in Korea, or it was really delivered to Dien Bien Phu as the seller says. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr-X Posted May 16, 2009 Share #8 Posted May 16, 2009 Very interesting Beez my old mate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coldwar Posted August 18, 2014 Share #9 Posted August 18, 2014 Maybe, it was not experimental, but an on going item of equipment which continued to be modified. More stuff I read on the M1952A the more I feel it missed the KW and was used in the post war period after Jul 1953. The posted M1952-2 with a Sep 52 date, has a way to go before it becomes the M1952A we all know and love. simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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