It may be that the tri-color desert coat could be one of the early prototype pieces. Yes, I'm saying I could unknowingly own of a piece of military history.

Also just more dumb facts, the year of manufacture would help. It's very common to find a absolutely good condition DCU field jackets, as GORE TEX gear was very new. But everyone found out hard the DoD wanted the Gore turned back in, but m65's field jackets could be kept. Mine if from 1989 and that's pretty common year but doesn't make it worthless. 3 color is tough to find now, so regardless you have something cool.

Also 6 color was made in the 70's in a worry for US involvement in Palestine and Israel, but not made or fielded until the gulf war. But it was tested in California and the middle east isn't as rocky as California. So 3 color FINALLY took sand samples from Afghanistan/Iraq etc and made something for over there that'd work as an effective camo. Funny gov blunders at work.

Posting for fun, but the contracts vary with desert uniforms. Elbow patches can be seen in prototypes of ERDL (pre woodland pattern from the late 60's) in the late 70's, with the subtraction if elbow reinforcements on 6 color DBDU until late 80's early 90'smanufacture. The 6 color was made till mid maybe late 90's after the gulf war, and 3 color making very rare prototypes in field in 1989 on till the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993 where you saw them both pretty much equal.

You have two shirts with "elves" style collars, they made the collars smaller in the early/mid 80's after the interdiction of the hot weather BDU after complains in Panama. But the 3 color DCU was made in twill like the 6 color and early m81 and VERY HOT, m81 lost the big collars when twill had subds for hot weather in 100% rip and 50/50 ny/co rip stop. but the new 50/50 rip stop contracts in DCUs (no 100% rip cot except very rare proto 6 color) had contracts for the elbow pads and keeping the Elvis collar on some factories till even early 2000's. So it just depended on contract and if they cared to change.

Depending on service or if it was a presentation uniform, they would be scratched regardless of the tag saying "DONT". The air force was very common to press and starch their uniforms vs actually doing something. And the army and very commonly the USMC would have a set of pressed uniforms for show. the stock number (DLA) should have a year of manufacture in-between 2 hash marks. So 100-84-### is 1984 make. Hope that helps