Questions About the United States Navy Peacoat

[JackieL]

I should note the phone camera amplifies the difference. To the naked eye, both still look black to me. Pic was taken in the shade. In direct sunlight, there wasn’t this much noticeable difference.
Kind of like the phone camera amplifies the Northern Lights and makes them look much more vibrant when it looks very faint with the naked eye.

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

It’s blue

 

[Peacoat]

Looks blue to me as well.

 

[Peacoat]

Now that I have looked at it again, the nap looks rough, like that of a Melton and not the smooth finish of the Kersey.

If this is Kersey, it will feel smooth to the touch, similar to a piece of velvet. If you rub down the sleeve it will be smooth; rub back up and there will be a slightly nappy feel to it. Not much difference, but just a bit.

With a Melton, there won't be any difference in going up or going down.

 

[JackieL]

I

Now that I have looked at it again, the nap looks rough, like that of a Melton and not the smooth finish of the Kersey.

If this is Kersey, it will feel smooth to the touch, similar to a piece of velvet. If you rub down the sleeve it will be smooth; rub back up and there will be a slightly nappy feel to it. Not much difference, but just a bit.

With a Melton, there won't be any difference in going up or going down.

I did the feel test and did notice a difference. Rubbing up on the right sleeve felt smoother than rubbing down. On the left sleeve it was the opposite-smooth rubbing down and rougher rubbing up. This was barely touching the garment.

 

[Peacoat]

I tested my left sleeve and got the same result you got. Sounds as if you have a Kersey.

 

[Bolex]

If, by chance, anybody is stumbling over a 10 button peacoat in 38L, please let me know.
I have a 38L 8 button pea, but would prefer the slimmer WW2 variant.

Hi where are u based

 

[thebristolbloke]

Got the 1949 back from the Dry Cleaners, i'll do some close up's of the work the Tailors did tomorrow. I think they did a great job!

 

[Bolex]

Got the 1949 back from the Dry Cleaners, i'll do some close up's of the work the Tailors did tomorrow. I think they did a great job!

Just curious what size chest you are im still looking for one but lot of money im finding

 

[thebristolbloke]

Just curious what size chest you are im still looking for one but lot of money im finding

Mine is a Size 40, I really got lucky as didn't know it was a 1949 till after I'd bought it.

 

[Bolex]

Mine is a Size 40, I really got lucky as didn't know it was a 1949 till after I'd bought it.

What chest size were u

 

[spoonbelly1950]

Mine is a Size 40, I really got lucky as didn't know it was a 1949 till after I'd bought it.

I also bought one a few years ago and was told it was a different year. I think it was supposed to be an early '50s.. The tag was a 1949. I lucked out on that one. Love those '49s.

 

[thebristolbloke]

£140 with a tip as they did a great job, I also had a shopping list of wants! The coat itself was £50 originally which included shipping.

The Corduroy pockets were sewn through with the buttons, the rest of the buttons were hanging (literally) by a thread. These were taken out, moved and resewn with nylon thread, I was warned that after a year or so they'd need doing again.

The lining on the inside was reattached and after the dry cleaning - i'd have initially taken it to have been completely replaced if it weren't for some original moth nips!

To repair the moth damage they shortened and re-sewed the sleeves to make it a better fit and get some matirial to repair with. The additional cloth they gave to me in case it's needed again.

The repairs are only noticeable in certain light conditions which I can't seem to replicate with my phone camera. They are still there and very close up eye balling or touching with the fingers shows it.

For a 76 year old jacket it's pretty amazing what they've achieved!

 

[thebristolbloke]

The jacket was in a lot worse condition than the seller described, but with this forum once I was able to date it as a 1949 - it wasn't going back! The chances of finding another this side of the pond are very remote, particularly one that fits me from the get go.

I had a missing button on the top by the throat (the hidden buttons), trying to source replacements was a bit of an issue due to shipping costs. So I improvised and adapted, I now have a spare button in case it's needed with the additional cloth pieces.

Two genuine British Navy WW2 Greatcoat buttons are now in that place

 

[Bolex]

The jacket was in a lot worse condition than the seller described, but with this forum once I was able to date it as a 1949 - it wasn't going back! The chances of finding another this side of the pond are very remote, particularly one that fits me from the get go.

I had a missing button on the top by the throat (the hidden buttons), trying to source replacements was a bit of an issue due to shipping costs. So I improvised and adapted, I now have a spare button in case it's needed with the additional cloth pieces.

Two genuine British Navy WW2 Greatcoat buttons are now in that place

Looks nice i have my eye on a similar one i may buy curious as to your chest size and its fit as you mention it being a 40 im an inbetweener 39 inch chest and also looking at a 40 coat

 

[MacLean]

Wasn't sure which peacoat thread to add this to, but settled on this one, since it seems like the most comprehensive.

I found this either late 30s or very early 40s peacoat at a Savers here in AZ recently. It's in fantastic shape overall. The collar and right cuff was a little dirty, there are a couple small moth holes on the RH pocket inner, and the buttons are a little loose, but other than that it's a very pristine, beautiful Kersey coat.

Also, it's a 44, which fits me perfectly, and seems like an unusually large size to find floating around out there.

I know these are rare and getting rarer, so feels like A) a good time to remind people that these are still out there and B) a good opportunity to add this to the trove of details-obsessed posts on here, to compare the tag and other details.

Like I said, not exactly sure what year, but judging just by the name/rate tag, it looks pre-WW2 to me.

 

[Peacoat]

That is definitely a WW II style coat. The tag looks as though it might be embroidered rather than printed. If so, it is mid 30s to about 1943.

The printed tags were clean, and the embroidered tags were just a bit fuzzy. Your tag looks to be a little fuzzy. That's why I gave it the date that I did. Now that I have looked at the tag again, and compared it to a printed tag, I'm almost positive it is mid 30s to 1943.

I have never seen a size 44 in a WW II peacoat, so yours is exceptionally rare.

A good find. Take care of it, and it will last another 85 years.

 

[spoonbelly1950]

That is definitely a WW II style coat. The tag looks as though it might be embroidered rather than printed. If so, it is mid 30s to about 1943.

The printed tags were clean, and the embroidered tags were just a bit fuzzy. Your tag looks to be a little fuzzy. That's why I gave it the date that I did. Now that I have looked at the tag again, and compared it to a printed tag, I'm almost positive it is mid 30s to 1943.

I have never seen a size 44 in a WW II peacoat, so yours is exceptionally rare.
bo
A good find. Take care of it, and it will last another 85 years.

Hello Peacoat - Just wanted to throw in my two cents. I have 2 WWII coats. One has no tags. However, it does fit me like a 46. My WWII Coast Guard coat has the inside pocket tag.. This coat fits me just a little bit bigger then my 46 WWII. It is either a 46 or even maybe a 48. They both look just about brand new. I think the Coast Guard coat has a printed tag.

 

[Peacoat]

Hello Peacoat - Just wanted to throw in my two cents. I have 2 WWII coats. One has no tags. However, it does fit me like a 46. My WWII Coast Guard coat has the inside pocket tag.. This coat fits me just a little bit bigger then my 46 WWII. It is either a 46 or even maybe a 48. They both look just about brand new. I think the Coast Guard coat has a printed tag.

With a printed tag, that should be a post 1943 coat.

You are fortunate in having found two WW II coats in the larger sizes. They are rare indeed.

 

[MacLean]

Hello Peacoat - Just wanted to throw in my two cents. I have 2 WWII coats. One has no tags. However, it does fit me like a 46. My WWII Coast Guard coat has the inside pocket tag.. This coat fits me just a little bit bigger then my 46 WWII. It is either a 46 or even maybe a 48. They both look just about brand new. I think the Coast Guard coat has a printed tag.

Forgot to add that my coat has "U. S. Coast Guard" stenciled inside on the back and front right underneath the wearer's name/#, so definitely a USCG coat.