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Alpha Industries MA-1 (new and vintage) thread

Bela Kun

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Would people mind posting photos of their Alpha Industries MA-1 pocket labels (usually found inside the left-hand pocket) and stating the type, fit, and approximate age of the jacket? Any additional details would also be appreciated.

I’m trying to establish what the MIL-SPEC codes, stock numbers, and related details signify, how the Alpha MA-1 jacket has evolved over the decades, the different versions available, and how to identify authentic Alpha jackets versus counterfeits (I hear there are quite a few in circulation).

I’ll start with one of mine. This is a black Alpha MA-1 with a classic boxy/oversized fit - supposedly, it’s from the early ’90s.

IMG_20250114_092458805.jpg


This is the label in the left-hand handwarmer pocket. From what I understand, the military specification code MIL-J-82790J denotes the classic MA-1 flight jacket - what Alpha Industries now call the 'Heritage' model on their website (as opposed to the VF59 and other slim-fitting versions).

IMG_20250114_091617054.jpg


There's also an 'ALPHA (R) - MADE IN U.S.A' label in the same pocket:

IMG_20250114_091627936.jpg


No inside neck label:

IMG_20250114_091647835.jpg


The zipper says IDEAL rather than ALPHA. I understand this brand was used before Alpha switched to YKK zippers in the mid-to-late 1990s, and Alpha branded zippers in the 2000s.

IMG_20250114_095752000.jpg


There’s no black-and-orange "A" (Alpha) tag sewn to the pen pocket, as is seen on today's Alpha jackets. I understand this detail only became a thing in the late '90s.

Please post any Alpha MA-1 jackets in this thread — vintage or new, classic or slim-fitting, 'Heritage', 'VF59' and others.​

 
Last edited:

covskin

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Hello Bela, no photos but I remember that by 1990 the Alpha MA-1 was being made for retail rather than military surplus.

For ID purposes I do seem to remember the pocket label on the military surplus MA-1 I bought in 1982 had a month/year date on it as well as all the other details and no other branding.

The defining feature of the rack of true military surplus MA-1 though was that each one was a slightly different shade of green with the collar and cuffs on each often a darker shade than the body.
 

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