Buzz Rickson U. S. Army M-65 Field Jacket, 2nd Model
The U. S. Army M-65 Field Jacket served the U. S. armed forces well for a considerable period of time, though it was the peace movement and those returning service personnel during the Vietnam War years of the 1960's – ‘70's that really galvanized this jacket in the public’s mind as an iconic garment, where it was very often festooned with slogans, artwork and peace patches. And as is usually the case, Hollywood furthered the legend in a multitude of film and TV productions that featured every form of character in some way, shape or form – both good guy and bad – outfitted in the M-65 Field Jacket, most notably Robert Di Niro in “Taxi Driver” and Sylvester Stallone in “First Blood.” Today, this style is still produced in various forms and colors by fashion designers and manufacturers of military-style clothing – a testament to the enduring style and functionality of this jacket.
Buzz Rickson’s researchers and designers have done their usual superb work in copying every minute detail of this all-American classic. Even the original, military-spec. labels can be found on the lining, as well as the wind-blocking drawstrings and the buttons for securing the winter liner sometimes issued with the original M-65s (the removable liners are available separately on this website). The M-65 is a smart-looking jacket that is a delight to wear, providing a superb balance of weight to warmth (functions from 65 degrees Fahrenheit – 50 degrees Fahrenheit with no layering, and additional layering will allow use in even colder climates), and will glide on your body with no effort at all. All of the other features of an issue M-65 Field Jacket can be found on this Buzz Rickson’s masterpiece, including the capacious pockets, extendable cuffs with Velcro closures, water-repellent all-cotton outer shell and hidden hood that stows easily away behind the collar in a zippered compartment. And as with all Buzz Rickson’s creations, they are built to function and take on plenty of hard use, just like the original garments they copy and unlike most other copies on the market that are merely costumes or fashion statements with no real function or utility of endurance incorporated in the design.
This Buzz Rickson’s M-65 looks as great today as it did in the 1960s and ‘70s, and it will soldier on for years to come. Scorn the cookie-cutter look of “mall” jackets and grab a piece of 20th century American history that combines style with durability and utility. Buzz Rickson’s M-65 Field Jacket offers all of the following original features and more:
• Exact copy of the original military labels found in the lining
• Custom manufacturing of the correct weight and weave cotton-and-nylon outer shell in OG 107 to precisely match 1965 U. S. military specs.
• Custom manufacturing of the correct weight and weave all-cotton lining to precisely match 1965 U. S. military specs.
• Exact copy of the heavy-duty 1960's Crown zipper for the frontal closure with cotton pull tab and the #5 size for the hood compartment, both of which have zip tape made of all-cotton HBT fabric, not incorrect poly-cotton
• All-cotton drawstring at waist in lining and on bottom hem of jacket to seal out wind
• Bi-swing double-pleated action back for greater range of motion without binding
• Snap-closure wind flap in front of zipper to seal out wind
• Adjustable Velcro closures on throat latch and gusted, two-position, extendable sleeve cuff
• Button-down shoulder epaulets as found on genuine M-65's
• Two pleated, generously expandable chest pockets with snap-down flaps
• Two large “grenade” pockets with snap-down flaps located on hip/thigh region
• Flip-up stand collar with zippered rear compartment that houses stowaway hood with drawstring
Sizes XS – XXL. Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.
Crown is a registered trademark in the USA of History Preservation Associates
Buzz Rickson’s goods are imported from Japan
Buzz Rickson U. S. Army M-65 Field Jacket, 2nd Model
SIZING TIPS
About this Style: It is important to keep in mind that this is a mid-weight jacket and you’ll need to consider what you plan to wear under this jacket style most of the time, thus the external chest measures listed here are just that – EXTERNAL measures – and don’t account for the slightly lesser amount of room on the inside of the jacket. If you plan to wear heavy layers under this jacket style, that application will further subtract from the room inside the jacket; however, this jacket style also features a double-pleated bi-swing back which provides a great range of mobility. This is a very easy-wearing style that creates very few sizing issues for the overwhelming majority of individuals. The vast majority of our customers prefer this style in a size 5” larger than their chest measure if they plan to wear minimal layers under the jacket and use this for moderate temperature ranges.
When comparing the sizes in this jacket style to other Buzz Rickson jacket styles sized numerically, the size range would approximately equate as follows:
Small/38 Medium/40 Large/42 XL/44 XXL/46
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 5” of room in excess of your chest measure if you prefer a trim fit in the chest and shoulders and will not be wearing bulky layers under the jacket. If a roomier or longer fit is desired, then order the next available size after reviewing all relative measures that pertain to that size. Those whose chest measure falls on an odd number, such as 41” or 43”, will have to determine if they want less room or more room when selecting a jacket size. It is best advised for the vast majority of customers to order a size that directly equates to their chest measure: Chest measures 40”, order size MEDIUM. That size selection will maintain 5” of room between the jacket and the wearer.
Tip 2: Please note that your chest circumference measure is not necessarily the labeled size you wear in another jacket 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 jacket 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 jacket 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 jacket most of the time, as well as the type of fit you prefer: Trim, roomy or oversized.
Buzz Rickson U. S. Army M-65 Field Jacket, 2nd Model
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 measurements taken from 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 the bench by hand. Size fluctuations are rarely encountered in the width measures and more typically encountered in length measures, and particularly with respect to leather jackets and jackets with knit cuffs and waistbands. Fluctuations in width measures are very rare, and when they are encountered they are typically insignificant: 1/8” – ¼”. Normal fluctuations in sleeve and/or body length + /- a ½” are more common but still rare, and such fluctuations in that increment range are within spec. for jackets of the same size and style.
| Size | S | M | L | XL | XXL |
| Chest width | 21.5" | 22.5" | 23.5" | 24.5" | 25.5" |
| Shoulder width | 18" | 18.5" | 19.5" | 20.5" | 21" |
| Arm length | 24.5" | 25.5" | 26.5" | 26.5" | 27.5" |
| Back length | 31" | 31.5" | 32.5" | 32.5" | 32.75" |
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 Medium is 22.5”, doubling this measure yields a 45” 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 jackets are cut in such a way that the wearer requires no less than 4” of room in the jacket for a sleek fit that is also comfortable, while other jacket styles require the wearer to have more than 8” of room. If your chest circumference is 40”, a product with a 22.5” chest width has a 45” external chest circumference and would provide 5” of external room in this scenario (chest measures 40”, external chest measure of jacket is 45”, thus 5” 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 18.5” and the arm length is 25.5”, adding 9.25” (half the shoulder width) to 25.5” (the arm length) will yield an overall sleeve length of 34.75” 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.
