Canadian Camo combat pants in the 1960's?

[Ed Storey]

Just to clear up a few misconceptions, the camouflage uniform being discussed was a Canadian trials British DPM style pattern that had been initiated in the early 1970s. The trials seem to have progressed to the point where this uniform would have replaced the OG 107 (green) coloured Combat Uniform that had been issued since the early 1960s; but for whatever reason, I suspect perhaps due to finances, this never happened. Tanzania was the recipient of the clothing although a number of pieces could be found languishing in surplus stores well into the 1980s.

These are the trousers.

Canadian Experimental Camouflage.jpg

The Parachute Smock, Disruptive Pattern was developed for the Airborne and their associated units and issued in the late 1970s as a replacement for the OG 107 Nylon Parachute Smock that had been in use since the mid-1950s. The British DPM style camouflage used a pattern similar to the trials clothing and this smock was used until the advent of CADPAT in the late 1990s early 2000s.

Parachutist Smock, Disruptive Pattern - front.jpg

As I stated in the first paragraph, the trials camouflage clothing could be readily found in surplus stores in the late 1970s but it was not an issue item, therefore the trousers should not be considered an 'Airborne' item.

[derk derin]

Thanks for everybody's input. I only wondered about accidental bleaching or purposely camoflouged as the inside labels and green material were not affected which made me think the outside material was dyed that way and then sewn together. I would have thought bleach would have discolored the inside green material and washed out the labels as well? At least I don't have to look for a matching jacket now!
Regards,Derk

[Ed Storey]

It looks like the nylon areas were unaffected.

[Eric B]

It looks more like oil stains than bleach to me.

Eric

[randall klein]

Derk

Peerless Garments is still making uniforms for the CAF. Perhaps send them an inquiry?

[derk derin]

I remembered hearing that if the guys washed their combats at home with a certain detergent or too much detergent that it would turn the material a ''Pinkish'' color so I am thinking that is what happened here. Especially where the nylon material was not affected but the cloth material was. And here I thought I had a very rare set of Canadian ''Camouflaged'' combat pants!
Regards,Derk