Korean war Uniforms and web gear

[T.R.]

I have the truck a 1953 M-37 and M101A1 trailer just about parade ready, now I need some military clothing and web gear. Does anyone know of any good sources.

Thanks for any and all help.

[refit1701]

That era is not easy to pin down. Korea was basically WWII gear I think. I have tried to figure this out. Hopefully some of the experts will chime in.

[Wes]

For most of the Korean conflict Army and Marine forces used WW2 equipment. The nice thing is that 50's era militaria is not big with collectors so it is realatively inexpensive. Ebay is your best bet.

[Cal_Gary]

I agree with Wes-search "military surplus" and thousands of items will appear. You could also check with any military museum curator who would set you straight.
Gary

[rixm37]

I've been trying to find stuff from WW2 through Vietnam for my truck bling.
SO don't forget junk shops and garage sales and church bazaars I have found a mess kit dated 1945 a canteen from 1944 a m1950 field jacket and an m8a1 scabbard and a couple of helmets.
so look everywhere.

[MikeOneSix]

T.R.

The U.S. Army wore the M43 fatigues with M1 steel helmet (w/o nets or covers) and brown lace up capped toe combat boots or the WW II M1943 "double buckle" boots. The webgear was either the M1943 or later M1945 in OD#7 shade.

For Marines it was the Pattern 1944 (or "P-44") HBT "utilities" with an M1 steel helmet w/ camo cover (no elastic band, though). Footware comprised of the 3/4 hight brown rough out "boon dockers" worn with tall khaki canvas leggings. Webgear would have been the same as what the 'corps was issuing during WW II. Don't remember what it was called but, it was slightly different than the Army's stuff.

Good news is that a lot of this stuff is being reproduced by companies such as www.atthefront.com So if you can't find original stuff in your size, there is always the repro route.

As previously posted, most of that war was fought with left overs from WW II but there was some stuff that was introduced during that war such as the M1951 patrol cap, the M1949 HBT fatiques (had plastic buttons) and the M1951 field jacket are examples. an excl. referance book is Shelby Stanton's "U.S. Army uniforms of the Korean war" Stackpole books.
Hope this helps,
Matt

[k8icu]

Korea was a hodge podge of equipment. Most of the uniforms and even the trucks were WWII but as new equipment and uniforms were made available they were sent to Korea. Example M37s ...some units started in the war with WC and then got M37 as they became available. Just like the uniforms...most soldiers started with the twil of WWII and ended up with OD that became more previlant in the late 50s. I would suggest finding pictures of the Korean War and looking at what equipement the GIs had and then go from there to replicate on your truck.

[T.R.]

Thanks for all the information and suggestion this should keep me busy for awhile, if anyone knows of any good surplus web sites please let me know.

T.R.

[MikeOneSix]

T.R.
You may try over on www.g503.com in their message boards. There is a forum for reenactors stuff for sale that may be of some help.
Matt

[Carter]

This is a good site to get info. or buy equipment and clothing, great read also. Good group of knowledgeable folks.

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/

[Antonio]

I agree with many of the comments previously stated. I was there, we flew WWII aircraft B-26 Invader.
Helmets, rifle M1 Grand, Carbine, clothing was WWII. Airforce had the same, except dress blues.
Vehicles were mostly WWII, we started to receive M-38 and M-37 before I left there.
If youstick with late WWII gear, I don't think that you will go wrong.

[Lifer]

Part of the reason why Korean War gear is so hard to find is because it wasn't a "war." It was a "police action." Funny thing, though; I would imagine that those who were "in country" at the time couldn't tell the difference.

[MikeOneSix]

I don't think that it is so hard to find items from the period, it's that some times it's difficult to tell it from the late WW II gear. My Father was in the assault wave of Marines to land at Inchon. He didn't talk much about it.

What is in your favor is a realitive lack of interest in that conflict by collectors as it was right between WW II and Vietnam hence the term "Forgotten war." A term that is probably lost on the family members of the 55,000 service members who didn't make it back as I'm sure it's not forgotten by them (IMHO).
Matt

My appologies I wasn't trying to turn this into a soap box post. Something just "hit" me while I was typing the above.

[Antonio]

Well Mr Lifer,

Maybe to You and Mr Truman, it was a police action, for your info the Caulaties for the 3 years, was 54000, The Vietnam Was for nine years less than 90,000. Just to let you know how fierce this what you call police action was. ALso FYI, congress has declared the Korean War a War. Regardless of what you MR Lifer call it, when you bleed from a would , you die. Why don't you ask the Korean people if it was a police action.
Ask the Korean Nation how they are today, they are not Communist, but a free Nation. I guess that yuou know how I feel.

[refit1701]

I'm sure Lifer's comment wasn't meant to disrespect anyone who fought in Korea, but rather to show the public's misconceptions about the war.