Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good service-worn original U.S. Vietnam War-era Armor, Body, Fragmentation Protective, With 3/4 Collar, manufactured under a 1969 fiscal-year contract by Rachman Manufacturing Company and marked Size Small. This zipper-front, snap-flap configuration represents the late development of the 3/4-collar fragmentation vest immediately preceding the formally designated M-69 pattern and is commonly grouped with M69 flak vests by collectors.

Widely used by Army infantry, Navy sailors and Marines also were equipped with these, though not widely. Like its predecessor M-1952A, it was fabricated from 12 plies of ballistic nylon, to protect the wearer from explosion fragments. In fact, the name “M69” is the 1969 version of this series body armor’s model (ARMOR, BODY FRAGMENTATION PROTECTIVE, WITH ¾ COLLAR). This example differs from the normal M69 as there are snap closures instead of the velcro used in the official M69. Since this series of body armor are similar to each other, people refer to all of them by “M69”.

This example still retains both labels, the first reading:

SIZE SMALL
8470-122-1299
ARMOR, BODY, FRAGMENTATION
PROTECTIVE, WITH ¾ COLLAR
DSA-100-69-C-2579
RACHMAN MFG. CO.

This indicates it was manufactured in 1969 by the Rachman Manufacturing Company.  The bottom instruction label reads:

ARMOR, BODY FRAGMENTATION
PROTECTIVE, WITH 3/4 COLLAR
This armor may save your life! When properly worn, it will
Protect vital areas against shell and grenade fragments which
Cause most combat casualties.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. WEAR ARMOR OVER SHIRT AND UNDER FIELD JACKET
2. Adjust side laces to make armor fit the body but still
provide proper ventilation. Do not fit too tightly.
3. Use protective flaps to cover opening under side laces
and slide fastener. Protect slide fastener by fastening snap
closure.
4. DO NOT DRY THE ARMOR NEAR AN OPEN FLAME.

The combination of the Size Small marking, Rachman Manufacturing Company attribution, Fiscal Year 1969 DSA contract, zipper-and-snap front closure, 3/4 collar, surviving instruction label, and service-worn condition makes this an excellent representative example of the U.S. Army's evolving fragmentation-protection equipment during the Vietnam War. Its construction documents the transition between the earlier M1952A-derived 3/4-collar vest and the formally designated Velcro-front M-69 pattern that followed.