M - 1948 Fishtail Parka / M48 Fishtail Parka / Rare Liner / Korean War / Mod
Item History & Price
SellingThis original US army M1948 Fishtail Parka.Complete with its original brown pile modified liner.
ShellDated 1948, the parka shell is in wonderful condition
All the snap connectors work as they should and the original main front solid brass Talon Zipper works perfectly as does the left sleeve pocket zipper as well.Both are mint and both are original.
The cuff elastic is in great shape, the cuffs are mint and all buttons are present and correct as well as ev...ery drawstring, in fact they still have bonding on the ends.The colour retention is also fantastic, it looks almost as though it is just a couple of months old.
I don’t think this shell had never been issued, there is actually still bonding on the ends of the drawstrings and whislt it does have the odd very tiny mark it is certainly as good as any of the best M48 parkas ive seen in many years of researching and collecting them.
The fur is wolverine and was fitted by the experts at fishtailparkas.com only last year as the hide on it had perished.As such the fur is in mint conditon, has been fitted with expert authenticity and is “winter coat wolverine”, so very nice and plush as the photos show.
The shell spec label is in place and literally mint perfect condition, it is the earliest “typed font” spec label version, which was easily the best made and every revision after here was a slight compromise on cost and hence quality. This is the M48 shell every serious collector wants.It is the earliest model m48 parka made with the brown pile pockets and finding one in this condition is virtually impossible 70 years on.
It has a single very small repair (see pictures 11 to show position and 12 a close up) and this was a repair carried out when the parka shell was sent to Fishtailparkas.com for the new fur to be fitted as it had a small nick in it, needless to say they have done an excellent job.(In fact it is so tiny you would probably not even see it if i did not mention it)
There is not much else to say, except the pictures do not really do it justice, it really is a stunning parka and not one of the usual “poor” or very “average” examples I've seen often listed on eBay.
This really is a lovely mint one, and I make a point of never buying poor or tatty ones, so I never have to try and sell a poor one on.
LinerThe liner is what is called a Korean war “emergency measures” M-1948 liner and at some point it has been modified further with some WW2 frog pattern camouflage parachute material.
Needless to say these liners are extremely rare in any sort of decent condition 70 years on and were originally converted from the WW2 M43 field pile parka liners to fit M-1948 parka shells in order to meet the huge demand in korea as they simply could not supply enough of them to troops who were litrerally freezing to death in the harsh korean winter climate.
The Camo Pattern material is USMC Frog and it is a WW2 pattern, but id date the material to the early 1950s as it isnt silk.But it has been modified really very well indeed and it has clearly been done by a very talented professional seamstress or possibly military quartermaster and often these liners were often modified with whatever these guys found in the field of battle, parachute material included. - to keep warm and remain concealed from the enemy.
The photos tell the story, it really is a beautful liner and it is in very good condition, I cannot see any moth damage in the woollen hood at all where they usually are moth damaged.It’s a great liner and looks fantastic and although it does have the odd mark it is in very good condition for its age and the photos are a good illustration of it.
SummaryHere we have a superb m-1948 parka, complete with a super rare USMC frog camo modified liner.Ive certainly never seen one like it before and probably wont again.
The fur is brand new “Winter Coat” Wolverine and so worry-free as regards how long it will last. The wolverine pelt cost £400 alone when I purchased it to re-trim the shell.
Have a look through my feedback as I have sold a few parkas over the years as my collection focus has changed or I have thinned out the collection I have accumulated, and it was quite vast at one time.
My point is, I know parkas and I’d never ever sell rubbish, whoever buys this will be very very pleased when they open the box 🙂
SizingThe Liner is a medium size and the shell is a large sized shell
The pictures speak a thousand words really, have a good look and if you have any questions or need any more pictures just ask me.
This parka would be a lovely addition to your parka collection or even better for a committed scooter boy (or girl).It of course also very wearable, killer fashion and an essential purchase for the definitive mod.
There is the odd tiny mark on it as you'd expect from a 1948s original korean war parka that's 70+ years old, but its a cracking original first issue M-1948 MOD parka and there are not many of these originals about now as nice as this one is - trust me, I’ve looked night and day for them for years.
These are the actual sizes of the parka zipped up and laid flat with the liner in, i list them all to avoid anyone complaining about size and it not fitting and I sell it primarily as a collectible piece.So if you do plan to wear it, please check yourself with a tape measure before you bid on this parka please, so that this will fit you as it is a vintage parka and not made to fit you personally.
These were designed to go over full battle dress, so they are all big and the mods loved them as they covered and hence protected their smart clothes in all weathers on the scooter.I will not issue any returns for sizing, they are all clearly listed here - these are the sizes of the parka that i am selling and you buy it on the basis of these sizes.
Pit to pit = 32 inches (inside liner is 30 inches)Pit to Cuff = 20 inches
Shoulder to Cuff = 23 inches
Neck to hem (Front) = 32 inchesNeck to tail tip (back) = 40 inches
I am open to a sensible offer, but one not below the starting price and it would have to be good offer to end it early and before any bid is placed, as once a bid is placed I am committed to an auction.
To give those bidding their chance to own it.
If you are bidding from outside the UK please message me with your adress and i will get an exact postage price for you for postage as it may be less than the quoted price (or more) as this parka is super heavy and can only be sent via a tracked, fully insured and signed for service as youll appreciate.
Please do not make payment until you are invoiced if bidding from outside the ukThis is one of the best parkas in my collection and i will be very sad to see it go.
This parka is also advertised for sale elsewhere and may be pulled early if a first bid is not placed and it sells privately.
So the moment the right amount is paid via PayPal the listing will end before a bid is placed.
ShellDated 1948, the parka shell is in wonderful condition
All the snap connectors work as they should and the original main front solid brass Talon Zipper works perfectly as does the left sleeve pocket zipper as well.Both are mint and both are original.
The cuff elastic is in great shape, the cuffs are mint and all buttons are present and correct as well as ev...ery drawstring, in fact they still have bonding on the ends.The colour retention is also fantastic, it looks almost as though it is just a couple of months old.
I don’t think this shell had never been issued, there is actually still bonding on the ends of the drawstrings and whislt it does have the odd very tiny mark it is certainly as good as any of the best M48 parkas ive seen in many years of researching and collecting them.
The fur is wolverine and was fitted by the experts at fishtailparkas.com only last year as the hide on it had perished.As such the fur is in mint conditon, has been fitted with expert authenticity and is “winter coat wolverine”, so very nice and plush as the photos show.
The shell spec label is in place and literally mint perfect condition, it is the earliest “typed font” spec label version, which was easily the best made and every revision after here was a slight compromise on cost and hence quality. This is the M48 shell every serious collector wants.It is the earliest model m48 parka made with the brown pile pockets and finding one in this condition is virtually impossible 70 years on.
It has a single very small repair (see pictures 11 to show position and 12 a close up) and this was a repair carried out when the parka shell was sent to Fishtailparkas.com for the new fur to be fitted as it had a small nick in it, needless to say they have done an excellent job.(In fact it is so tiny you would probably not even see it if i did not mention it)
There is not much else to say, except the pictures do not really do it justice, it really is a stunning parka and not one of the usual “poor” or very “average” examples I've seen often listed on eBay.
This really is a lovely mint one, and I make a point of never buying poor or tatty ones, so I never have to try and sell a poor one on.
LinerThe liner is what is called a Korean war “emergency measures” M-1948 liner and at some point it has been modified further with some WW2 frog pattern camouflage parachute material.
Needless to say these liners are extremely rare in any sort of decent condition 70 years on and were originally converted from the WW2 M43 field pile parka liners to fit M-1948 parka shells in order to meet the huge demand in korea as they simply could not supply enough of them to troops who were litrerally freezing to death in the harsh korean winter climate.
The Camo Pattern material is USMC Frog and it is a WW2 pattern, but id date the material to the early 1950s as it isnt silk.But it has been modified really very well indeed and it has clearly been done by a very talented professional seamstress or possibly military quartermaster and often these liners were often modified with whatever these guys found in the field of battle, parachute material included. - to keep warm and remain concealed from the enemy.
The photos tell the story, it really is a beautful liner and it is in very good condition, I cannot see any moth damage in the woollen hood at all where they usually are moth damaged.It’s a great liner and looks fantastic and although it does have the odd mark it is in very good condition for its age and the photos are a good illustration of it.
SummaryHere we have a superb m-1948 parka, complete with a super rare USMC frog camo modified liner.Ive certainly never seen one like it before and probably wont again.
The fur is brand new “Winter Coat” Wolverine and so worry-free as regards how long it will last. The wolverine pelt cost £400 alone when I purchased it to re-trim the shell.
Have a look through my feedback as I have sold a few parkas over the years as my collection focus has changed or I have thinned out the collection I have accumulated, and it was quite vast at one time.
My point is, I know parkas and I’d never ever sell rubbish, whoever buys this will be very very pleased when they open the box 🙂
SizingThe Liner is a medium size and the shell is a large sized shell
The pictures speak a thousand words really, have a good look and if you have any questions or need any more pictures just ask me.
This parka would be a lovely addition to your parka collection or even better for a committed scooter boy (or girl).It of course also very wearable, killer fashion and an essential purchase for the definitive mod.
There is the odd tiny mark on it as you'd expect from a 1948s original korean war parka that's 70+ years old, but its a cracking original first issue M-1948 MOD parka and there are not many of these originals about now as nice as this one is - trust me, I’ve looked night and day for them for years.
These are the actual sizes of the parka zipped up and laid flat with the liner in, i list them all to avoid anyone complaining about size and it not fitting and I sell it primarily as a collectible piece.So if you do plan to wear it, please check yourself with a tape measure before you bid on this parka please, so that this will fit you as it is a vintage parka and not made to fit you personally.
These were designed to go over full battle dress, so they are all big and the mods loved them as they covered and hence protected their smart clothes in all weathers on the scooter.I will not issue any returns for sizing, they are all clearly listed here - these are the sizes of the parka that i am selling and you buy it on the basis of these sizes.
Pit to pit = 32 inches (inside liner is 30 inches)Pit to Cuff = 20 inches
Shoulder to Cuff = 23 inches
Neck to hem (Front) = 32 inchesNeck to tail tip (back) = 40 inches
I am open to a sensible offer, but one not below the starting price and it would have to be good offer to end it early and before any bid is placed, as once a bid is placed I am committed to an auction.
To give those bidding their chance to own it.
If you are bidding from outside the UK please message me with your adress and i will get an exact postage price for you for postage as it may be less than the quoted price (or more) as this parka is super heavy and can only be sent via a tracked, fully insured and signed for service as youll appreciate.
Please do not make payment until you are invoiced if bidding from outside the ukThis is one of the best parkas in my collection and i will be very sad to see it go.
This parka is also advertised for sale elsewhere and may be pulled early if a first bid is not placed and it sells privately.
So the moment the right amount is paid via PayPal the listing will end before a bid is placed.
