An extremely rare, locally made battle dress jacket featuring lizard camouflage, produced by the French Army during the First Indochina War in the 1950s. This unique piece was crafted by dismantling a French Army lizard camouflage shelter half and reusing the fabric.

What catches the eye most of all is the striking lizard camouflage pattern and the unique, short silhouette reminiscent of British Army battle dress. The design is distinctly different from standard French Army jackets, masterfully blending the creative freedom characteristic of local production at the time with the practicality required of military gear.

The First Indochina War was fought from 1946 to 1954, primarily in what are now Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.In addition to its regular forces, the French Army deployed the Foreign Legion and paratroopers to conduct operations in tropical jungles and mountainous regions. Among these units, the French paratroopers were known for using a wide variety of unique equipment and uniforms.

In particular, “Lizard” camouflage is one of the patterns that has come to symbolize the post-war French military.

Characterized by a complex pattern—primarily in brown and green—that appears to have been boldly painted with a brush, it is a significant presence in military history and is said to have influenced the later Tiger Stripe camouflage.

This jacket is an original vintage piece from the 1950s, tailored locally at the time, and made from a “Lizard Camouflage” shelter half.

It is not a modern remake or reissue.

It was produced at the time for specific reasons or purposes and has a very interesting background, differing from standardized government-issued items. The design, which appears to be based on British Army battle dress, is another major highlight.

It features a shorter overall length, a waistband that cinches the hem, two flap chest pockets on the front, and epaulets on both shoulders. Button-fastened adjusters at the hem create the compact silhouette characteristic of battle dress. The front fastens with brown buttons.

Vertical reinforcement strips are incorporated into the chest pockets, and buttons in a matching color are used on the shoulder epaulets.

The lining is made of a solid khaki-colored fabric, creating a striking contrast with the vibrant lizard camouflage of the outer fabric.

Above all, the combination of this bold lizard camouflage and the battle dress style gives it an overwhelming presence that cannot be found in standard French military-issued jackets.

The camouflage pattern layout, created by repurposing shelter halves, is also unique, with the front panel, sleeves, and back each displaying a distinct appearance.

Since the pattern’s appearance varies depending on where the fabric is cut, it is not easy to reproduce an exact replica.

Such locally made military gear often lacks clear records of its place of manufacture, workshop, or production quantity, giving it a charm distinct from standard issue items.

It is truly a historic piece that evokes the environment in which soldiers of that era found themselves, as well as the local procurement of equipment and the culture of reusing existing military materials.

This rare style, unique to that era, was used by French paratroopers and others.

French military equipment from the First Indochina War, in particular, represents a transitional period between the equipment system immediately following World War II and that of the later Algerian War, making it a subject of great interest to collectors.

Today, locally made items using the original 1950s lizard camouflage fabric are rare in and of themselves, and when it comes to such a distinctive battle dress-style jacket, opportunities to find one on the general vintage market are limited.

Even now, more than 70 years later, the unique colors and bold patterns of the lizard camouflage remain vividly intact, adding to its appeal.

This single garment encapsulates multiple historical elements: the French Army during the Indochina War, the lizard-camouflage shelter half, local-made items from that era, and British-style battle dress.

Not only is it stylish as military wear, but it is also a fascinating piece that serves as a historical record of the military culture of that era.

This is a gem we highly recommend to collectors of French military items and Indochina War-era military gear, as well as to those who appreciate rare vintage items related to airborne units.

This is an authentic, used item manufactured in the 1950s.

There are white stains on the sleeves, and there are signs of repair on the back.

Additionally, the fabric shows signs of aging and wear from many years of use, but this piece fully captures the unique atmosphere of locally made items from that era.

The lizard camouflage color scheme is also captivating, giving the jacket a striking, vintage military look.

Please note that returns are not accepted for used items.

Size (measured flat)

Shoulder width: 53 cm

Chest width: 61 cm

Length: 62 cm

Sleeve Length: 63 cm