Viet Cong Black Man Pajamas - Picked up some. How RARE are originals?

[Colorado]

Got these from a Vietnam Vet who was there 68-69. Picked them up on a mission. Never seen a REAL pair before. It came with a collared and an un-collared (Mandarin style) shirt and the tie up pants. They are mint other than what looks like some dried powdery mildew.

Anyone come across a real pair before? How much are they worth? I did not even know what to offer, so I gave what we both thought was a fair price.

[RobertCOUTTS]

Viet Cong 'Pyjamas"

Hi,
dont know much about Viet Cong stuff but some friends of mine went over for a holiday about 3 years ago and came back with some Viet Cong Pyjamas. Looks liken they are making repos of them too.
cheers Robert

[Colorado]

Thanks, I am sure they are not difficult to repro. Would have to do a side by side to note differences. I am sure there are some, they never get it perfect.

[NKOMO]

They've been reproing these for quite sometime. The only way I can tell originals from the fakes is the size and age. It is a sad state of affairs. I've handled both in my hands and the size are a dead giveway.

[Colorado]

As soon as I figure out what a fair price is on these, I will put them on the e-stand. Here is a few photos. First is the collared shirt.

[Colorado]

Here is the one with the collar. There is a white discolorization from mildew or something on the front and back of this one. Does not affect the cloth. Almost looks like you can brush it or wash it out. The flash makes it look worse, in natural light, it's not that noticable.

[Colorado]

Last is the trousers. Like the other items, it is unworn and therefore no hemming at the bottom of the legs. Has a tie string at the waist.

[MikeP]

Black PJs did not necessarily mean VC.
They were daily worn by many civilians in the area I stayed for 15 months.
I also saw them at other places.
I'm sure they make and wear them now.
I have seen live as well as inoperable VC wearing other clothing.

[Wild Card]

Black PJs did not necessarily mean VC.
They were daily worn by many civilians in the area I stayed for 15 months.
I also saw them at other places.
I'm sure they make and wear them now.
I have seen live as well as inoperable VC wearing other clothing.

Well put.

Shown below is a group of “friendlies” getting ready for a week in the woods (DakTo 1967).

Regards,

Wild Card

[Joe Cartafalsa]

MikeP and Wild Card are exactly on the mark. I wore black pjs in the Mekong Delta while with RF/RP troops in all of 1972. The farmers still wear them and they are called "Ao Ba Ba" but they are becoming less popular in the countryside as cheap jeans become available. My mother-in -law made my last set in 2002 by hand, so looking at the sewing is no real clue. Maybe the bottons or thread are an area to compare. Good luck. Joe

[Colorado]

Thanks guys. I was not there, but he was in 1968-69, but I can tell you what an original Iraqi Dishdasha looks like if you know what I mean. He says he got them from the VC and nothing presented so far has disputed that. Because they repro them now does not make these any less real and from 1969.

I can snap photos of the buttons if it helps, but would like to see some other originals to compare. Like I said, I have yet to see any of these .....ever. In the absence of that I would say these are "textbook" originals.

[Steve Campbell]

Like some of the other posts, I was always under the impression that the Viet Cong just wore the traditional type of clothing that any other farmer or villager would wear. The items may be from the 60's but that doesn't mean they are Viet Cong used. This was one of the reasons they were often hard to spot as they could blend in with the regular population so easily.

[Colorado]

Sounds fair to me. Thanks for the input. Here are the buttons. The Mandarin shirt is on the right.

I will be selling these soon most likely on the estand. Thought I would give you all a heads up. Still have not found comparables to determine fair collector to collector price.

[Colorado]

Button isolation shot.

[Steve Campbell]

They would make a prett cool mannequin. Get some soviet web gear and an SKS, one of those distinct triangular hats and you'de have a nice Viet Cong display.