Beautiful, slim-fitting Overcoat FS

[HarpPlayerGene]

$65 shipped in the States.

Bought this as a Swiss Army Surplus item from Banana Republic back around 1984. Very heavy, warm and well tailored.

You've just got to be a long, lean guy to make it work. It's gotten too close for me if I try to wear it over a suit. With just a light sweater underneath, it still fits me and I'm 6'1" and abt. 145lbs. for reference. I usually take a 38L suit coat or blazer. This wool overcoat has the nice high armholes and well shaped body and sleeves. All intact, no damage, very good condition.

Across back from shoulder seam to shoulder seam: 17"
Chest: 41" around
Waist: 36-1/2"
Overall length: 49-1/2"
Sleeve length from shoulder seam to end: 25-1/2"

The coat is a warm, medium grey. Not as brown as some photos show. Definitely a grey. The first picture below is very accurate on my monitor. More photos at link at bottom:

{Edit} ONE FLAW SPOTTED:

When I checked the lining, in response to jeffconners, I noticed for the first time that there is a 1" frayed tear in the liner at the very bottom inside left front panel of the garment. Only flaw I can find.

http://s261.photobucket.com/albums/ii79/harpplayergene/SELLERS/Viking Swedish Overcoat/

 

[kaosharper1]

Wow. What a beaut from back before Banana Republic was bought by the Gap. Wish it were my size.

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Yeah, wish I could still make it work. It is high quality merchandise for sure. Not sure BR should get the credit though. I do think this is an actual Swiss Army Surplus garment. It just happened to be in their store as an odd item, as I recall.

 

[bigbjorn]

That's Swedish, not Swiss. Lovely piece, though.

 

[kaosharper1]

Yeah, wish I could still make it work. It is high quality merchandise for sure. Not sure BR should get the credit though. I do think this is an actual Swiss Army Surplus garment. It just happened to be in their store as an odd item, as I recall.

They started out selling surplus, and they used to get really good stuff. They used to make up funny stories to go with the stuff too sometimes. I remember that they had some Spanish parachute shirts with arms that were short and they made up a story about how Franco need jumpers with short arms to pull the ripcords.

 

[scotrace]

That is a really fabulous coat! I wish it fit me.

(Banana Republic, not Swedish or Swiss.)

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

It might fit this guy...

 

[fluteplayer07]

Gene,
You really have some nice stuff... That Borsalino, this coat. Wow! I'm a 38-40 R in my suits, about 140 lbs. What is your estimate? Think I'm too big for it?

 

[jeffconnors]

I'm 38L as well..Nice coat. Is it lined?
Shipping to Canada would probably be to prohibitively high for me to buy..but if the price was right....

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

To answer fluteplayer; I'd think the key thing would be the shoulders. My best fitting blazers are snug but not tight at my shoulders, for a tailored look. I use one of those for reference measurements so if a garment is being listed with the same dimensions I know what I should be in for.

Whether you plan to wear this as an actual OVERcoat with a suit underneath or to just wear it as a coat will make a difference also, of course. Wearing this over a simple pullover looks very hip. Wearing it over a suit looks very traditional and classy but you'd want some extra room in an overcoat. Whoever wears this with a suit underneath would have to be pretty narrow.

If you think the 17" across from seam-to-seam will work then the rest should be fine, especially considering the 140 lbs. part. In fact, the sleeve length will probably be more proper on you (coat sleeves should run longer than suit sleeves) than it ever was on me.

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

To answer jeffconners; as a 38L you'd probably also want to wear this with a regular shirt or sweater underneath rather than over a suit, but check the measurements to yourself on that.

Yes, it is fully lined with what I believe to a sort of satin/rayon material. You can see that lining peaking into the images below. (Disregard that light grey ribbed material in the top photo as that is just the form on which I displayed the coat.

Provide your address (email me at gene@genecrippen.com if you like) and I'll see what the shipping charges are.

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

ONE FLAW SPOTTED:

When I checked the lining, in response to jeffconners, I noticed for the first time that there is a 1" frayed tear in the liner at the very bottom inside left front panel of the garment. I will copy this as an edit into the original post.

 

[fluteplayer07]

I'll let Jeff make his decision on it, first. If it's still there, then I'll PM with an official decision. I like it a lot, but I still don't know if it is worth taking the money from my Art Fawcett savings fund. Thanks for the help, Gene.

 

[cptjeff]

(Banana Republic, not Swedish or Swiss.)

I doubt it. Notice the buttons? The tre kronor is a dead givaway that that sucker is Swedish. It's their national emblem. If BR made it, I doubt they would have included that detail.

Also, the tag, which I realize was posted after your post.

Nice overcoat. I might consider putting my name in the mix, but I just bought a 40's deadstock Polish army one that I'm waiting for (still has the original tag!). That and I'm probably too short for it.

 

[bigbjorn]

And Viking is the brand name. Kunglig Hovleverantör (Kungl Hovl) means "Royal Warrant."

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Moving this one to Ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160405361739#ht_504wt_1141