Reference Guides

A visual guide detailing and explaining how to read and understand US military contract labels, an essential component for assessing authenticity, provenance, and period of manufacture. This article traces their evolution from the early 20th century, through World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the GWOT era, to the present day, focusing mostly on labels found on US Army clothing and individual equipment, explaining their structure, purpose, and historical context. It also deep-dives into the format, content, and structure of contract numbers, helping you to gain a comprehensive understanding of US military procurement and supply structure throughout the 20th century to the present. Designed as a practical reference for collectors and re-enactors, the article is based on primary government and archival sources.

A comprehensive guide to the development and identification of US Military ERDL and Woodland camouflage patterns. This article studies the 30 years of development from the conception of the M-1948 pattern to the final evolution of Woodland in 1981.

An article dedicated to the study and preservation of the innumerable camouflage patterns of the Vietnam War period and beyond. A wide variety of Tigerstripe patterns were commissioned by U.S. and Southeast Asian military organisations throughout the Vietnam War, and contracts were awarded to numerous manufacturers across East Asia. Loose tolerances, various localised dying practices, and the expectation to meet demand explain the diversity of colourways seen on Tiger patterns. The swatches shown in this article display a range of colourways and fade patterns.

Since its initial development in the mid-60s, numerous minor updates to the design have taken place. While these changes bear little improvement to the practicality or ‘look’ of the M65, they can serve collectors and military hobbyists who wish to identify when their jacket was produced. While contract labels will always offer an exact two digit date code, if the labels are missing, one may use these particular nuances to their advantage.