Made In Vietnam
Free CONUS Shipping, 30 Day Returns
Pouches
Specs
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.
New Production SADF Pattern 83 Battle Jacket
A Reborn P83 Battle Jacket With 2020s QC, by KSGI
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.
KSGI encompasses our mission to do this with many other pieces of timeless kit. learn more here.
Tap or click to interact
It's easy to don, easy to doff, and easy to use — Like early originals, it features ample storage for magazines, quick access to gear & tools, and enough room to sustain you for intense reconnoitering.
Made for high tempo counterinsurgency, the P83 design sits tight & comfortable, setting a precedent for the "tactical vest" blueprint.
Heavy-denier CORDURA Nylon never went out of style. It was durable in the 80s, and thanks to 2020s cut & sew processes, is even more durably constructed & consistently high quality.
It's a rig that will serve you for years to come and remain timeless with its retro silhouette.
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
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.
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
Our rig is cut and sewn by an experienced manufacturer in Vietnam.
We commissioned custom-run mesh, 1000D Cordura, and ITW Nexus hardware for consistent, top-notch quality.
You're getting a higher quality product, while matching the original's charm (minus the surplus smell).
Near-Infrared Fabrics & Dyes
Our rig is held to the same standards as modern high-end mil-spec gear is. Special non-reflective fabrics & color absorbing dyes reduces the rig's signature when viewed from night vision devices.
| Performance |
Rated 4 out of 5
|
First ever time buying a battle jacket and I absolutely love it and think it’s amazing
| Performance |
Rated 5 out of 5
|
|---|
The Kommando Store reproduction of the SADF Pattern 83 Battle Jacket is exceptional. I bought it for the history and lore behind the original, but the quality of the reproduction is what really impressed me. It arrives in separate components, but assembly is straightforward and intuitive. Once configured, the jacket carries a surprising amount of gear without feeling bulky or cumbersome, and the weight distribution is exceptionally well balanced. It’s a practical piece of equipment with a fascinating history behind it.
| Performance |
Rated 5 out of 5
|
|---|
I had to tie in 12 straps to assemble it, and it seems literally infinitely adjustable; truly one size fits all. Can sorta barely fit AK-74 mags, you can't close the pouches but its tight enough they wont fall out and there is enough space to fit my 11 mags :).
| Performance |
Rated 5 out of 5
|
|---|
Good stitching, solid materials and comfortable. Adjustable to small to xlarge torsos. DPM is great and I plan on buying one in ranger green. I missed out on the glut of original SADF nutria brown surplus a few years back and now even the ratty nasty ones are going for $$$ on the bay and other sites. Very happy with my "repro" and it carries a lot comfortably.
| Performance |
Rated 5 out of 5
|
|---|
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!
| Performance |
Rated 5 out of 5
|
|---|
