Chinese People’s Volunteer CPV circa 1950 Korean War Summer Tunic

We have been collecting Chinese Korean War for more than 50 years and rarely have items in this category to offer.

Here is a Chinese lightweight, cotton poplin, enlisted summer tunic from the Korean war.

It has five early war brass buttons on the front, two pockets on the chest, long sleeves, a high standing collar with brass hooks to fasten around the neck. There are no visible markings. They are long faded out.

Because  of the brass buttons and high collar, this is likely 1950 production or before. Thus, it would have been worn during the first winter of the Korean War when the Chinese and Americans first met in battle. Brass button soon gave way to plastic  buttons due to economy measures in manufacturing the hundreds of thousands of uniforms that were required for the Korean War.

There are many repairs on this shirt, but it remains sound and ready for display.

This is typical of the condition of the uniforms that the Chinese were forced to wear due to limited resupply at the front.

In the winter months, this tunic would form the base layer of the winter uniform.

The inner hanging pockets on the chest have been removed and the flaps have been sewn down. This was likely done to make repairs to other clothing that had become worn out or threadbare.