Last month I looked at the early pattern SADF nutria brown shirt, today we are going to look at the matching trousers. I have previously covered the 1980s pattern here, but in order to more accurately create 1970s era impressions I have been trying to get hold of the earlier pattern for a while. At first glance the trousers look very similar: 

Close up however there are some tell-tale differences. The most obvious is that the flaps on the thigh pockets are cut to a point rather than being straight: 

On the seat of the trousers, the early pattern has a pair of pointed flaps to the pockets: 

These would be deleted on the later design, as would one of the pockets completely. Note also the buttons to secure the bottom of the belt loops, in a further simplification these would be replaced by plain loops. The other obvious difference is the material the trousers are made from. This early pair are noticeably less shiny than later production examples and a feel of the fabric shows they have a much higher cotton content than the later ones. Certain aspects of the design were to remain unchanged however, so we have the field dressing pocket on the upper right hip, a design feature that can be traced all the way back to British battledress in World War II: 

The fly is secured with plastic buttons: 

And a cord is provided at the cuff of each trouser leg to allow it to be drawn in: 

The knees of combat trousers are vulnerable to tears and damage, so they are reinforced with two layers of fabric here: 

The label within the trousers gives us a date of manufacture, in this case 1970, indicating that this was produced as part of the initial contracts for uniform when the SADF transitioned over to nutria brown combat clothing: