December 7th Militaria and Aviation Auction
Lot 281:
Description
This is an exceptionally desirable and rare set of Vietnam War Era Tiger Stripe Combat Uniform pieces, comprising a jacket, trousers, and a Boonie hat. Tiger Stripe camouflage, characterized by its distinctive brush-stroke pattern, was never standard issue to US forces but was privately procured and famously worn by US Special Forces, US Navy SEALS, Advisors, and other reconnaissance units operating in Southeast Asia, giving it a high degree of collector cachet.
Tiger Stripe Uniform Jacket and Trousers
The uniform is made from the iconic Tiger Stripe pattern, a dark, vertical stripe design with black, dark green, olive, and brown colors, likely the Late War Lightweight or Advisor s Dense Pattern. The uniform construction follows the familiar Tropical Combat Uniform jungle fatigues style, with four flapped bellows pockets on the jacket two slanted chest, two lower and typically six pockets on the trousers. The jacket shows a faint -U S – M- mark on the interior collar, indicating a potential US contract or US-sized garment. Both the jacket and trousers display the unique aesthetics and coloring of period-correct Tiger Stripe material, and the fabric condition shows authentic, gentle wear and fading.
Tiger Stripe Boonie Hat
Completing the ensemble is the essential Tiger Stripe Boonie Hat. This soft, wide-brimmed cap, also known as a bush hat, was favored for its sun protection and camouflage capabilities. This Boonie features the correct pattern, ventilation grommets, and brim stitching, showing use and character. The overall completeness of this three-piece set hat, jacket, trousers in the same iconic camouflage pattern is a rarity that appeals strongly to advanced collectors of Vietnam War Special Operations gear.
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