Buzz Rickson U. S. Army 1964 1st-Model Tropical Jacket
The master designers at Buzz Rickson's have recreated a GI classic made famous in the early years of the Vietnam War, commonly called the "jungle jacket." This is the highly desirable, rare 1st model made of poplin with exposed gloss-finished buttons and outfitted with epaulets as worn during the early days in Nam, though sometimes seen still being worn even at war's end. This style clearly had its design rooted in the WWII U. S. Army parachutist's jacket, though issue of the "jungle jackets" was to all troops and not specific. The jacket was made instantly recognizable and famous in the 1967 film "The Green Berets," prominently worn by John Wayne and the rest of the cast portraying members of the 5th Special Forces while "in country."
The overall design is incredibly practical, stylish, and so very functional in many capacities, thanks to the expandable cargo pockets with drain holes. Combat attrition, post-service life among the veterans, sales in surplus stores for hunters, fisherman, photographers and the like, plus relatively low production numbers before it was replaced by the 2nd model, rendered the 1st-model jackets scarce not long after the events of the era; today, vintage examples in new condition will fetch a hefty price in the collector market.
No design detail has been missed on this Buzz Rickson's copy, which includes custom manufacturing of the lightweight all-cotton poplin on vintage looms to perfectly match U. S. Army specs., including assembly using vintage industrial sewing machines. The buttons have also been custom made of genuine urea, not incorrect, cheap plastic, and inside the jacket you'll find all of the authentic labels that appeared on these early jackets, making this the ultimate copy of an all-time classic. Of course, this Buzz Rickson's jacket copy comes crispy new and unwashed, so if you don't want to look like some FNG who just got in from the World, you'll want to wash it a few times before wearing it.
The only other 1st-model "jungle jackets" to match the precision of Buzz Rickson's masterpiece are those prized, vintage examples in collections and veteran's attics. Please note all of these authentic features and details:
• Four expandable, bellows pockets outfitted with exposed buttons
• Custom manufacturing of genuine, gloss-finished urea buttons precisely matching the buttons of the 1st-Model Tropical Jacket
• Button-down epaulets
• Two-position adjustment tabs at waist-back area
• Custom manufacturing of the exact weight and weave all-cotton, water-repellant poplin produced on vintage looms
• Custom manufacturing of the exact type of all-cotton labels found on 1st-Model Tropical Jackets
• Pencil slot with separate compartment in each breast pocket with corners correctly bar tacked for extra strength
• Two-position adjustment on sleeve cuffs
• Concealed buttons on frontal closure
• Internal flap with buttons behind frontal closure
Sizes available: Med, Lg, XL &XL. Please see SIZING TIPS to obtain the correct fit.
Buzz Rickson’s products are imported from Japan
Buzz Rickson U. S. Army 1964 1st-Model Tropical Jacket
SIZING TIPS
About this Style: This jacket is produced from lightweight cotton poplin that is very comfortable for wear in warm climates. The vintage jackets can be seen worn trim or roomy, with many troops preferring a looser first to allow for better air circulation in jungle heat. Depending on the fit you desire and what will be worn under the jacket, the size best for you will be fully subjective, but the tips below provide some guidelines.
Tip 1: Follow the instructions entitled “How to Use Product Measures to Obtain a Good Fit” listed under the PRODUCT MEASUREMENTS tab for this product. After finding no substantive conflicts with your body measures obtained from the tab entitled BODY MEASURING, order this garment with no less than 2" of room in excess of your chest circumference measure if you prefer a trim-but-comfortable fit. If you prefer a roomier or longer fit, then order the next available size after reviewing all relative measures that pertain to that size.
Tip 2: Please note that your chest circumference measure is not necessarily the labeled size you wear in another garment you may own from a different maker or even the same maker, so please take the time to obtain your true chest circumference measure so as to compare to our chart of measures; this will enable us to perform a better job getting you the right size and minimize your chances in having to deal with the hassle and cost of exchanges.
Please ask us for fitting advice if in doubt.
Tip 3: Individuals who prefer looser fits and/or those with a waist measure that is nearly equal to or greater than their chest circumference measure may jump up one size in this shirt for comfort and desired fit (when we refer to waist measure we do not mean your trouser size; we mean the actual circumference measure of your waistline at its widest point). If you are unsure of the size to order we will assist you; please contact us with the following information: Height, waist circumference measure, chest circumference measure, body weight, and type of clothing to be worn beneath the shirt most of the time, as well as the type of fit you prefer: Trim, roomy or oversized.
Buzz Rickson U. S. Army 1964 1st-Model Tropical Jacket
PRODUCT MEASUREMENTS
The following table provides actual product measures. These measures are provided as an aid because, in conjunction with the information found under the SIZING TIPS tab for each product, they can sometimes be very useful when comparing the measurements from this garment to the measures of your body; however, acting as an armchair tailor should be done with caution, as well as with knowledge of other important areas of fit that are not displayed here. Armchair tailors frequently fail to take into account other significant elements that impact fit; following the information found under the SIZING TIPS tab for each garment on this web site is strongly suggested, which can be very useful in supplanting or supplementing the listed measures below.
Our measures were derived from averaging many garments of the same size from each specific size in the range of any given product, thus the measures provided are representative for each size but they may not be exactly what you will receive. Some fluctuation in size is normal and to be expected, especially in these garments that have been manufactured on vintage machinery using natural fibers; the vintage machinery and techniques that create sought-after looks and fabrics are also less precise than machines contemporary to the current era.
| Size | Med | Lg | XL | XXL |
| Chest width | 21" | 22" | 23" | 24" |
| Shoulder width | 18" | 19" | 19.5" | 20" |
| Arm length | 24" | 25" | 25.5" | 26" |
| Back length | 27.75" | 29" | 30" | 31" |
How to Use the Product Measures to Obtain a Good Fit:
1) Using the measurements listed for this product and information found under the tab entitled MEASURING GARMENTS to understand our measuring technique, please double the chest measure to obtain the total external chest circumference of this garment. For example: If the chest measure listed for size Large is 22”, doubling this measure yields a 44” external chest circumference.
2) Measure your chest circumference as per the tab on this web site specifically addressing BODY MEASURING, then compare your chest measure to the chest measure of this product.
3) Many garments are cut in such a way that the wearer requires no less than 2” of room in the shirt for a sleek fit that is also comfortable, while other shirts styles require the wearer to have more than 6” of room. If your chest circumference is 42”, a product with a 22” chest width has a 44” external chest circumference and would provide 2” of external room in this scenario (chest measures 42”, external chest measure of shirt is 44”, thus 2” of external room would be realized).
4) Again, using the measurements listed for this product and information under the MEASURING GARMENTS tab to understand our measuring technique, add half of the shoulder width to the arm length. For example: If the shoulder width is 17.5” and the arm length is 24.5”, adding 8.75” (half the shoulder width) to 24.5” (the arm length) will yield an overall sleeve length of 33.25” in this product.
5) Measure your overall sleeve length following the instructions on this web site under the tab specifically addressing BODY MEASURING, then compare your overall sleeve length to this product.
6) If desired, repeat the measuring comparisons for back length.
7) Compare your body measures to the listed garment measures and follow the advice found under the SIZING TIPS tab to obtain a good fit.
IMPORTANT: Because you need room in a garment for comfort, garments with a 44” chest circumference are NOT a size 44, nor are they intended for anyone with a 44” chest circumference. Tee shirts and thermal shirts tend to have the most body-hugging fits of our product offerings because these were originally intended to be undergarments, thus these can be ordered to stretch to fit if that is how you wish to wear such garments. Other shirts, sweatshirts, sweaters, jackets, etc. will all have some amount of room incorporated in their designs, thus these will all measure larger than your actual chest measure by varying degrees.
Sometimes-Problematic Way to Determine a Good Fit:
Due to differences in how even near-identical garments are cut by different manufacturers, it is not necessarily a good idea to compare the listed measures of this product to the measures of an existing, similar product in your wardrobe to determine the correct size to order in this product. Though such comparisons can indeed work some of the time, and maybe even most of the time, vast experience with and knowledge of the products we market has proven such practices will sometimes fail. This inaccurate measuring methodology doesn't factor in other key variables of fit relative to you and the garment that includes: Armhole opening, shoulder slope, high-point shoulder, high chest, width of sleeves at all points including the all-important elbow, waist measure, and the thickness, plumpness, and rigidity of the material the garment is made from, naming just some variables influencing fit that do not appear on any list of measurements for a garment or that a customer is likely to account for.
It is best to compare your actual body measures to the listed measures of this product AND follow our advice listed under the SIZING TIPS tab specific to this product to obtain a good fit in this style.
A Good Fit:
This is highly subjective - what one person may think is too big, another may think fits perfectly. Some garments are cut quite generously and others are cut quite trimly. If comparing measurements of one of our products to another you may own, some individuals will surely find that none or maybe only one area of measure is commonly shared or remotely close to being the same. Ultimately, chest measure is the most important area to properly fit, then all other areas of measure will have to fall into place. And some individuals who are extremely tall may find that body and/or sleeve length are more important to accommodate than even chest measure.
It is best to compare your actual body measures to the listed measures of this product AND follow our advice listed under the SIZING TIPS tab specific to this product to obtain a good fit in this style.
We strive to create a crisp fit between our products and the customer, and not a loose, sloppy look. If you prefer your clothing to fit more loosely, then we will do our best to work with you to that end, though, by the very nature of our product designs and fits it may not be possible to duplicate the slack looks found in many mainstream clothing brands even if you go up one or two sizes in our products.
