First Pattern Lifchik

1st Pattern Lifchik
Type	Chest rig
Designation	Лифчик
Place of Origin	USSR
Produced	1985-1987
Manufacturer(s)	Unknown
Material(s)	canvas
Evolved from	Chicom Chest Rig
Evolved into	Second Pattern Lifchik
Service
Used by	Soviet Armed Forces
Wars	Soviet–Afghan War

The First Pattern Lifchik is a canvas chest rig of Soviet origin.

Overview

The 1st pattern lifchik chest rig is made of canvas. It has three main pockets which can hold up to six (two per pocket) AK-74 magazines.

There are also four secondary pockets which can hold up to four F1 or RGD-5 grenades. It also has two small pockets complemented with strips which can hold two RSP-30 flares.

The lifchik is fastened to the back of the wearer via simple belt-strap and two padded shoulder straps.

Manufacturer's stampings are located on the rear of the chest rig with the last two digits usually denoting the year of make.

History

The Chicom chest rig proved to be a very successful design while being used by the Soviets thus they copied and modified it to meet their needs, creating the first Soviet chest rig which would be known informally as Lifchik (лифчик) meaning bra.

The 1st Pattern Lifchik appears to have been introduced in 1985. There are three subvariations of the 1st Pattern Lifchik which have the same general design and differ only in their pocket closure system, also all of them have areas with velcro.

Another development of the Lifchik appeared in 1988 known as 2nd Pattern Lifchik, however, it was not distributed to the troops during the Soviet–Afghan War and according to photographic evidence, instead only the three subtypes of the 1st Pattern Lifchik were in use.

Variants

Variant 1985

The first variant of 1985 has distinctive snap fasteners similar to the US "lift-the-dot" snaps of the early 20th century. The male half of the snaps is hidden into the flap.

Spetsnaz troops after a combat mission near the village of Tokhram, 18 February 1988, note the 1985 lifchik in the middle

Soviets in the Soviet Afghan War, the 1985 variants are marked with a red star, the red dot is a lifchik but can't be determined whether it is 1985 or 1987 variant, all the lifchiks carry signal flares, the blue dot is a Chicom type 56 and the green dot a VOG grenade belt

Soviets in Afghanistan, red star is a 1985 variant, red dots are lifchiks but can't be determined whether they are 1985 or 1987 variant, green dots are field made lifchiks with pockets from RD-54 backpack, blue dot is another field made equipment made from an SVD carrier, some of the field made items have added strips to hold signal flares

Soviet lift-the-dot snaps similar (but not the same) to the ones used with the 1985 lifchik, this type was also used in other items

Variant 1986

The second variant of 1986 has standard snap fasteners. The male half of the snaps is exposed.

A 1st pattern lifchik manufactured in 1987

Backside view

Markings indicating the year of manufacture "87"

Variant 1987

The third variant of 1987 has the same snap fasteners like the 1986 variant but the male half of the snaps is hidden into the flap.

A 1987 dated 1st pattern lifchik

Backside view

Field Made

Field made lifchik assembled from the pouches of RD-54 Airborne Assault Backpack.

A field made lifchik with pockets from RD-54 backpack

Soviets in Afghanistan, red star is a 1985 variant, red dots are lifchiks but can't be determined whether they are 1985 or 1987 variant, green dots are field made lifchiks with pockets from RD-54 backpack, blue dot is another field made equipment made from an SVD carrier, some of the field made items have added strips to hold signal flares