New Production SADF Pattern 83 Battle Jacket

16 total reviews

Color: DPM

DPMDPM
Ranger GreenRanger Green

Product variants

Available

Made In Vietnam

Free CONUS Shipping, 30 Day Returns

Product Features & Specs

Pouches

Four double magazine pouches, compatible with R4 Vektor and STANAG pattern magazines, and partially compatible with Galil and AK 5.45 magazines. Not compatible with AKM magazines.
One large front pouch
Two large canteen side pouches
Two Smoke Grenade Pouches
Two small side grenade pouches
Large “backpack” pouch with two compartments

Specs

1000D PU Coated Cordura fabric
Milspec ITW Fastex & Slider hardware
Milspec hook and loop fasteners
Milspec webbing and binding tape
High quality bonded nylon thread
All materials are NIR compliant

Fitting Your Rig

Proper fit is achieved by adjusting the shoulders and cummerbund so that the weight sits at your natural waist above your hips.

Pay attention to the height of the vest and position of the upper magazine pouches, as this will place the padding and magazine pouches in a way that will cause minimal intrusions to the wearer when shouldering a rifle.

To don the rig, simply put it on like a "Jacket" and fasten the two front buckles. It's a one-and-done adjustment!

Common mistakes include wearing the rig too low (at the "belt line" of your waist), Too high (magazine flaps open up higher than your chin) and not tightening the cummerbund enough so that the weight of the rig is entirely sitting on your shoulders.

SADF Field Manual

We are hosting a digital copy of the original SADF field manual containing adjustment, handling and maintenance information on the entire P83 system. To view the manual click here. Battle Jacket usage information can be found on pages A4, A12-A17, and A34-A46

New Production SADF Pattern 83 Battle Jacket

DPM

$259.99 USD

Where We Began...

In 1983, the first well-known modern chest rig was made somewhere most people wouldn't expect — South Africa. Developed during a time of canvas and metal fittings the SADF's "Pattern 83" brought new materials like Cordura, Velcro, nylon webbing, and plastic buckles to the forefront of military kit. It went on to inspire chest rig designs for generations to come... Including our own.

In 2021, we saw the writing on the wall — military surplus isn't forever. Supply would run dry one day, and before it did, we took it upon ourselves to breathe new life into the rig that frankly needed very little fixing.

Mag Compatibability Guide

If you're using a popular, semi-automatic magazine-fed rifle, odds are P83 fits at least 6 of your mags. Want to know for sure? We've tested dozens of different platforms and detailed our results below.

You can help expand this 'verified compatible' list by submitting your results to help@kommandostore.com

Rifle Platforms

Battle jackets were originally designed in 1983 for South Africa's R4 (Galil) 35 round magazines, which are similar in size but slightly longer than standard USGI/STANAG magazines.

PMAGs might be a tighter fit in general, and specialized 5.56 magazines such as those for the G36 are not going to double-stack. Consider using PMAGs instead of the kind that link together.

The best possible fit is always going to be the aluminum/steel USGI-style STANAGs for their slightly thinner proportions all around.

7.62 platform magazines, like the case with original battle jackets, largely do not fit in the main magazine poouches. AK mags are too tall, and "Battle Rifle" magazines such as those for the G3, FAL, or M14, are too large or otherwise awkward of a fit.

If It Ain't Broke..?

The process of "modernizing" a chest rig like this is a balancing act. Change too little and there’s no benefit to the end user. Change too much and you might ruin what made the original good.

In our view, almost everything about the P83 rig was done right the first time. The philosophy of the SADF is clear, and we agree with their conclusions. We decided our big design changes should be saved for a whole new rig, but also offer an option to get the classic factory fresh.

Click the "+" icons for more information

Quality Counts

Near-Infrared Fabrics & Dyes

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average rating 4.8 out of 5

Based on 16 reviews

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Performance

Rated 4 out of 5

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16 Reviews

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Reviewed by Erich P., from United States

Verified Buyer

I recommend this product

Height

5' 11"

Weight

210-240

How It FIts

Perfect Fit

What Platform Do You Use With This Rig?

AK47/74
AR-15/STANAG-Compatible

Rated 5 out of 5

Review posted

Awesome jacket

This was an answer to a prayer, I've been looking for a battle jacket to use but could only find cheap airsoft ones available until I found that kommando store had new production versions in stock. The one I received has good quality construction and fits both of my 2 quart roddie canteens perfectly!

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Performance	Rated 5 out of 5

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Reviewed by jared c., from United States

Verified Buyer

I recommend this product

Height

5' 10"

Weight

>250

How It FIts

Perfect Fit

What Platform Do You Use With This Rig?

AR-15/STANAG-Compatible

Rated 5 out of 5

Review posted

What I've been looking for

I have an original tan P83 and once adjusted this fits just the same. The RG is what I've been looking for since I got my Tan one

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Performance	Rated 5 out of 5

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Reviewed by Hakkapeliitta, from United States

Verified Buyer

I recommend this product

Height

5' 9"

Weight

175-190

How It FIts

Perfect Fit

What Platform Do You Use With This Rig?

AR-15/STANAG-Compatible
Other
AK47/74

Rated 5 out of 5

Review posted

Absolutely amazing

The battle jacket is quite nice and comfortable. I did not expect it to be in three separate pieces and thought it was attached all together but later found out how to connect them. Would recommend this and make sure to keep the remakes of the surplus of old alive with newly made versions of them.

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Performance	Rated 5 out of 5

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Reviewed by Colton T., from United States

Verified Buyer

I recommend this product

Height

6' 3"

Weight

175-190

How It FIts

Perfect Fit

What Platform Do You Use With This Rig?

AR-15/STANAG-Compatible

Rated 4 out of 5

Review posted

Great craftsmanship

Building the vest is what took me a minute to figure out but overall comfortable to wear, shoot from and can carry my gear very nicely, i ran my Aug with it and it fit nicely together

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Performance	Rated 4 out of 5

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Reviewed by Samuel L., from United States

Verified Buyer

I recommend this product

Height

6 1"

Weight

210-240

How It FIts

Too Much Adjustment

What Platform Do You Use With This Rig?

AR-15/STANAG-Compatible
AK47/74

Rated 4 out of 5

Review posted

Its ok

There is a rediculous amount of straps on this kit. Highly adjustable, but c'mon. The shoulder straps are a strange design. You cannot sinch the front torso straps tight until the left and right sides touch or the shoulder straps will choke you out. It has to be worn with a large gap in the front, unless your neck is only two inches thick. The canteen pouches would be greatly improved if they had fastex clips instead of straps that have to be woven each time that you use it. The ammo pouches have a ton of velcro but the straps themselves barely cover two mags. Why all the pile tape? The amount of mags you can carry is a huge plus!

My search for the perfect battle kit continues. I thought that i might have found it this time.

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Performance	Rated 3 out of 5

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