Best N-3B PARKA, Bronson or Real McCoys

[Peter Mackin]

I suppose I can always get a Buzz or RMC down the line if I don't like it. Also, I find cheaper brands will sometimes use more durable zippers than McCoys, which are prone to breaking.

Here's my take on it.i fell hook line and sinker into the Buzz rickson fan boy thing. Purchased a B2 and a buzz rickson william gibson B10 .very quickly realised that for the money they really weren't very good value. The B2 was very poor horse hide,not that well put together. Sold it on this forum. The B10 wasn't a great deal better. I sold that on vlj and picked up a Bronson b10 for £110,,one of the best buys I've ever made.twice as warm as the Buzz rickson, better knits.and the plus side is if it gets damaged I can replace it at next to no cost and wear it as a beater,,it's brilliant not having to baby it.i have many jackets costing upwards of a grand and more,but I enjoy wearing the beaters more

 

[WolfofStateSt]

Here's my take on it.i fell hook line and sinker into the Buzz rickson fan boy thing. Purchased a B2 and a buzz rickson william gibson B10 .very quickly realised that for the money they really weren't very good value. The B2 was very poor horse hide,not that well put together. Sold it on this forum. The B10 wasn't a great deal better. I sold that on vlj and picked up a Bronson b10 for £110,,one of the best buys I've ever made.twice as warm as the Buzz rickson, better knits.and the plus side is if it gets damaged I can replace it at next to no cost and wear it as a beater,,it's brilliant not having to baby it.i have many jackets costing upwards of a grand and more,but I enjoy wearing the beaters more

There’s something to that, that’s why if I end up buying a McCoys Parka it will be used. If I’m shilling out almost three grand for a parka it better able to keep me warm in North Pole and grant me magical powers.

 

[WolfofStateSt]

There’s something to that, that’s why if I end up buying a McCoys Parka it will be used. If I’m shilling out almost three grand for a parka it better able to keep me warm in North Pole and grant me magical powers.

Addendum, one of the things that is pushing me away from the Bronson is that the wolf hair is supposed coarser than the coyote fur found on the McCoys. My logic is if I spend would rather spend a couple hundred more now for nicer material than spend the money getting a second parka later. I can’t find a Buzz in Air Force blue, so it’s unlikely I’ll get one. It’s superficial but the color matters to me here.

 

[WolfofStateSt]

Addendum, one of the things that is pushing me away from the Bronson is that the wolf hair is supposed coarser than the coyote fur found on the McCoys. My logic is if I spend would rather spend a couple hundred more now for nicer material than spend the money getting a second parka later. I can’t find a Buzz in Air Force blue, so it’s unlikely I’ll get one. It’s superficial but the color matters to me here.

I would sacrifice some quality to get it in blue

 

[Aloysius]

Now’s the time, I haven’t made any purchases yet. Now it’s just a matter of finding one of the Buzzes in Air Force blue, if I could find a Buzz in Air Force blue, used, that fits me I would be sold. I should say I’m 6’3” with a 42 inch chest when wearing a light sweater, what size Buzz is that going to be. I know all these companies have different sizing.

I'm just over 6'1" with a roughly 42 inch chest. The L in the Gibson N-3B fits just right; regular fit might allow a medium to work.

Addendum, one of the things that is pushing me away from the Bronson is that the wolf hair is supposed coarser than the coyote fur found on the McCoys. My logic is if I spend would rather spend a couple hundred more now for nicer material than spend the money getting a second parka later. I can’t find a Buzz in Air Force blue, so it’s unlikely I’ll get one. It’s superficial but the color matters to me here.

The wolf hair is more likely to be raccoon for what it's worth. I know Peter above has had either unusually bad experiences with Buzz or somehow ended up with the things that failed QC from them but I've been extremely happy with two MA-1s, an L2, an N-3B, and many others. There are also lots of fans here of Toyo/Sugar Cane (which is the same company) who can attest to the quality of their textile jackets. ton312 is one of them.

I could be mistaken but I don't think the N-3B was made in blue. It's green by spec. Remember they switched from blue to green because blue was too easily to spot by enemy combatants.

It's the N-3A which was blue. That's probably why you're not pulling it up while searching for N-3Bs.

I would sacrifice some quality to get it in blue

No need. You just need to search the right term. Here's a Rickson's N-3A in great condition in Medium (but not "Slender Fit" so this would fit you and me just fine) for under $200. The decal is faded because of the professional cleaning, but that's a plus to me personally because I live in the US in a place with lots of vets so a super obvious USAF decal would feel like stolen valor.

 

[WolfofStateSt]

The decal thing makes sense, I feel like if someone asked you and you said it’s parka you got used they probably wouldn’t care, considering how widespread military surplus has become. It’s another thing if you are pretending or something. I have to get my logo and stamp it over it I guess.

What is the William Gibson collection, I came across a Parka that said it was from that?

 

[Aloysius]

The decal thing makes sense, I feel like if someone asked you and you said it’s parka you got used they probably wouldn’t care, considering how widespread military surplus has become. It’s another thing if you are pretending or something. I have to get my logo and stamp it over it I guess.

What is the William Gibson collection, I came across a Parka that said it was from that?

I think it depends on the design to an extent. Something very WWII looking will just be assumed to be surplus, whereas the N-3 series is still issued so someone could be conceivably wearing his own issued jacket.

William Gibson is a science fiction writer, who wrote a Buzz Rickson's MA-1 into one of his novels, having heard about the brand from a friend who was a vintage collector though he didn't own their stuff yet. Only… the MA-1 in the book is black (as many civilian ones are) and Buzz Rickson's didn't make civilian jackets at the time.

This led to a confused letter to Gibson from BR, as many customers had been asking for the black MA-1, in which they suggested a collaboration to do blacked-out versions of various military jackets, sometimes with alternate fits or construction. They cost more than the non-WG versions of the equivalent jacket, presumably due to the licensing and interest from fans of his books. Given you're looking for AF blue, the Gibson items can be skipped.

 

[WolfofStateSt]

I think it depends on the design to an extent. Something very WWII looking will just be assumed to be surplus, whereas the N-3 series is still issued so someone could be conceivably wearing his own issued jacket.

William Gibson is a science fiction writer, who wrote a Buzz Rickson's MA-1 into one of his novels, having heard about the brand from a friend who was a vintage collector though he didn't own their stuff yet. Only… the MA-1 in the book is black (as many civilian ones are) and Buzz Rickson's didn't make civilian jackets at the time.

This led to a confused letter to Gibson from BR, as many customers had been asking for the black MA-1, in which they suggested a collaboration to do blacked-out versions of various military jackets, sometimes with alternate fits or construction. They cost more than the non-WG versions of the equivalent jacket, presumably due to the licensing and interest from fans of his books. Given you're looking for AF blue, the Gibson items can be skipped.

I didn’t know that N3B’s were still being issued. It’s a shame because the USAF logo does look cool.

I found a Denim N3A by buzz, crazy design!

 

[Aloysius]

I didn’t know that N3B’s were still being issued. It’s a shame because the USAF logo does look cool.

I found a Denim N3A by buzz, crazy design!

Denim N-3B you mean. It was one of the Toyo 60th anniversary jackets, which is why it had Sugar Cane denim. I almost got it. I do have one of the other anniversary jackets though.

 

[WolfofStateSt]

Denim N-3B you mean. It was one of the Toyo 60th anniversary jackets, which is why it had Sugar Cane denim. I almost got it. I do have one of the other anniversary jackets though.

It looks cool, but I wouldn’t have much use for a denim parka.

You’re right, a used Rickson’s parka is cheaper than a new Bronson. The quality is going to be on nicer on the used Buzz right?

 

[Aloysius]

It looks cool, but I wouldn’t have much use for a denim parka.

You’re right, a used Rickson’s parka is cheaper than a new Bronson. The quality is going to be on nicer on the used Buzz right?

Definitely. As mentioned earlier, the Bronson nylon jackets are copies of the Buzz–on the one hand this means they fit decently, because Buzz has good patterns, but the actual pattern will wear better than a copy of it.

The coyote ruff they use is also particularly nice, and that's something most copies won't have. (And that's leaving aside that most of us would prefer coyote to raccoon dog lol.) It does a great job blocking out snow when in its sort of sunflower position or wind in its snorkel position.

 

[WolfofStateSt]

Definitely. As mentioned earlier, the Bronson nylon jackets are copies of the Buzz–on the one hand this means they fit decently, because Buzz has good patterns, but the actual pattern will wear better than a copy of it.

The coyote ruff they use is also particularly nice, and that's something most copies won't have. (And that's leaving aside that most of us would prefer coyote to raccoon dog lol.) It does a great job blocking out snow when in its sort of sunflower position or wind in its snorkel position.

Ok! I wonder how much better this will be than my Alpha, what percent would you say if you had to guess?

 

[WolfofStateSt]

I’ve been seeing some vintage N3B’s from the 60’s, are those any good?

 

[Aloysius]

Ok! I wonder how much better this will be than my Alpha, what percent would you say if you had to guess?

Honestly I think that kind of framing is a road to disappointment. Even the Alpha is not a bad product. If you asked me to quantify how much better a Turnbull & Asser shirt is from a Uniqlo one, I wouldn't quite know how to answer.

The main difference you'll notice is the drape; the pile lining in the Buzz will give it a drape like a wool coat, and you'll feel that even in your movements. The nylon will also likely feel much more substantial.

 

[Aloysius]

I’ve been seeing some vintage N3B’s from the 60’s, are those any good?

Yes, but they run short in the sleeves and wide in the body, because they are cut to wear over multiple layers and because they are worn with a large gauntlet style mitten that goes almost to the elbow. None of this is a problem necessarily, just be aware going in.

 

[WolfofStateSt]

Honestly I think that kind of framing is a road to disappointment. Even the Alpha is not a bad product. If you asked me to quantify how much better a Turnbull & Asser shirt is from a Uniqlo one, I wouldn't quite know how to answer.

The main difference you'll notice is the drape; the pile lining in the Buzz will give it a drape like a wool coat, and you'll feel that even in your movements. The nylon will also likely feel much more substantial.

Gotcha

 

[WolfofStateSt]

Yes, but they run short in the sleeves and wide in the body, because they are cut to wear over multiple layers and because they are worn with a large gauntlet style mitten that goes almost to the elbow. None of this is a problem necessarily, just be aware going in.

And you said those 60’s coats aren’t going to be as warm as even a modern alpha industries coat, save for the better fur hood?

 

[Aloysius]

And you said those 60’s coats aren’t going to be as warm as even a modern alpha industries coat, save for the better fur hood?

I don't remember if the switch to faux fur happened in the 60s or the 70s. That said the synthetic fur actually wasn't bad; it got better with use. But the lining switch was in the 70s I believe, and yes it made the jacket both lighter and warmer. (The wool-cotton pile is quite bulky.)

We have a long N-3B discussion that might be of interest.

 

[WolfofStateSt]

I don't remember if the switch to faux fur happened in the 60s or the 70s. That said the synthetic fur actually wasn't bad; it got better with use. But the lining switch was in the 70s I believe, and yes it made the jacket both lighter and warmer. (The wool-cotton pile is quite bulky.)

We have a long N-3B discussion that might be of interest.

Just was looking at that. The parka I found is a Southern Athletic Co. looks to be from 65 with real fur. Might be tempted to get that over the Buzz.

The one nice thing about the Alpha coat is that with the removable fur lining, I could turn it into a hell of a rain coat for 40 degree weather, once I replace it.