STEVIEBOY1
One Too Many
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- London UK
Due to lack of availability of these from Eastman for nearly a year and because the Aero version has odd ribbing below the collar I succumbed to buying Silvermans version and thought I'd share my thoughts on it.
I ordered the size three which is tagged 44-46. I am 6ft and 220lb and this is a snug fit - particularly in the armhole area. The collar is nice and tight and the sleeves, which have long welts, are a good length. The wool is reasonably soft and not scratchy. There are triangular cotton reinforcing patches where the shoulder seam meets the collar. The length is, well, long - at full extent it completely covers my posterior - so you have to adjust for an acceptable position of the hem welt.
The knit is the only thing I might have an issue with - you can't exactly shoot peas through it but its certainly not as close as my Barbour fisherman's sweater, but thats a different knit. There is a slight shadow effect if you wear a dark shirt under it. I guess I would wear a long sleeved white T shirt under it with maybe a thermal vest if I was outside on a particularly cold day. Looking at the old Eastman advert I'd think the needle size used was the same in both garments and there is some advantage to not having too thick a knit.
Verdict: For the money (49.99GBP plus 5.00GBP delivery) - not bad, particularly when you consider Nauticalia are selling something similar for 99GBP. Whether these are current Navy issue as Silvermans claim I know not. Whether they are anywhere near historically accurate, I also know not, but they are at least available and I can't fault Silvermans service - arrived the day after ordering.
Apologies for the quality of these, but they might give a flavour. The jacket is an Aero Cossack in seal buffalo:
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w195/Hornet35/Jumper1.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w195/Hornet35/Jumper2.jpg
Rgds,
H35
I have a Silverman's, very happy with it, though I do agree with what you say about the knit, I tend to wear something light coloured underneath it. In very cold weather I sometimes wear the Rollneck underneath a Long sleeved wool Cricket Sweater, may be a but bulky, but nice and warm.