N2B – dated 1961

[bobbyball]

Last week I was in Brick Lane and went into Rokit (Vintage Clothing shop).

They usually have the odd military jacket and the stock rotates fairly quickly. Anyway, I was looking through the racks and saw a coyote fur collared nylon jacket.

This is a N2b (the waist parka with split attached hood) dated 1961 and made by Wisconsin Mfg. The jacket appears unissued as there is no wear or scuffing/soiling of the nylon and the knits are perfect. The Coyote fur ruff is very full and perfect. The zippers are blackened conmar and all have the leather tabs present.

I paid £60 and was wondering if this is a rare piece.

 

[Creeping Past]

I think that's about the right price. They're not exactly rare, but they're getting harder to find in pristine condition.

 

[Atticus Finch]

I paid £60 and was wondering if this is a rare piece.

I think that translates to just shy of one hundred USD? Depending on the size, I think you did very well. Oddly enough, unlike other kinds of vintage flight jackets, larger N jackets seem to be more available than smaller ones. If your jacket is a medium or small, you got it for a very good price.

By the way, the last N-2A contract was in 1952, so the first N-2Bs must have appeared in 1953 or 1954...and they were issued well into the 'eighties. So as N-2Bs go, your '61 is solidly vintage. I'm guessing it has a USAF roundel on the left sleeve?

One thing for sure, you'll enjoy wearing that jacket during this unusually cold winter. N jackets of all kinds are warm, warm, warm!

AF

 

[bobbyball]

Thanks for the replies. Th size is a medium – I am a 42-44 and it fits me fine with room to move.

There is no AF roundel on the sleeve and never was one. I’m not sure about this but I think I read somewhere that towards the end of the 1950s they stopped automatically putting the roundel on as the jackets were issued to other areas of the forces and not exclusively USAF.

The hood is very heavy and these earlier nylons have a real quality feel to them. I am delighted with it. I guess the Albert Turner MA1 I have from 1959 is more easily wearable but the N2B looks amazing.