The Deck Jacket thread.

[CatsCan]

Cool was it lined with alpaca like the N-1? I have had my eyes on a Navy raincoat, I think it's called the N-2. Does anyone have any pics of that or idea where to find one?

The WWII Naval Winter Parka was lined with Alpaca, the post war versions were lined with 50/50 Alpaca/Lambs Wool blend.

The A-2 Rain Parka is one of my favorites. I have a vintage one in Size Medium, dated 1944. There are several Navy WWII versions. They came with a plain hood, some with a kind of a screen or shield sewn to the front of the hood, some came with raglan sleeves, some with regular armholes and regular sleeves, some came with a hook closer front, some with cordage. I have the plain one without this screen and with normal sleeves and it has the cordage. Color was OD #3 light shade (khaki). I think they really look cool!
However, I also have the later 1960s Army version, worn in Vietnam and other theaters. This is much heavier than the Navy WWII ones, color is OD #7 (OG-107), it has pockets like the M41 arctic Anorak and the 10th Mountain Reversible Ski Parka (which I have also, this is OD #2), it also has this "screen" or "shield" sewn to the front of the hood.

You can get the WWII Navy A-2 Rain Parka easily for about 100 to 150 Dollars in good condition in the bay or etsy (look for really good ones and ask the seller, if he can take pics with the left side out to show how integer the seam tapes are as they often times are cracking and crumbling from age). There are MANY around. Folded flat they did not take much place, so they could be stored in the hundreds of thousands and thus have been produced in unbelievably huge numbers. This is why there are so many of them still around.

Time Chime and other chinese companies make a repro that dont cost a fortune, don't know how waterproof theirs are. I think these are less waterproof than the originals which were rubberized cotton, didn't breathe, but were waterproof like you would expect from rubber.

Hope that helps

Cats

 

[WolfofStateSt]

The WWII Naval Winter Parka was lined with Alpaca, the post war versions were lined with 50/50 Alpaca/Lambs Wool blend.

The A-2 Rain Parka is one of my favorites. I have a vintage one in Size Medium, dated 1944. There are several Navy WWII versions. They came with a plain hood, some with a kind of a screen or shield sewn to the front of the hood, some came with raglan sleeves, some with regular armholes and regular sleeves, some came with a hook closer front, some with cordage. I have the plain one without this screen and with normal sleeves and it has the cordage. Color was OD #3 light shade (khaki). I think they really look cool!
However, I also have the later 1960s Army version, worn in Vietnam and other theaters. This is much heavier than the Navy WWII ones, color is OD #7 (OG-107), it has pockets like the M41 arctic Anorak and the 10th Mountain Reversible Ski Parka (which I have also, this is OD #2), it also has this "screen" or "shield" sewn to the front of the hood.

You can get the WWII Navy A-2 Rain Parka easily for about 100 to 150 Dollars in good condition in the bay or etsy (look for really good ones and ask the seller, if he can take pics with the left side out to show how integer the seam tapes are as they often times are cracking and crumbling from age). There are MANY around. Folded flat they did not take much place, so they could be stored in the hundreds of thousands and thus have been produced in unbelievably huge numbers. This is why there are so many of them still around.

Time Chime makes a repro, don't know how waterproof theirs are. I think these are less waterproof than the originals which were rubberized cotton, didn't breathe, but were waterproof like you would expect from rubber.

Hope that helps

Cats

Doesn't Real McCoys make one? Love the clasps hate the price. $830, wow.

 

[CatsCan]

Doesn't Real McCoys make one? Love the clasps hate the price. $830, wow.

That's ridiculous. There are near unworn/unissued authentic ones all around in the bay or at etsy (if you don't insist on the clasps).

I can accept when someone really likes to have a repro. But I sometimes don't get it when a repro, as faithful as it may be, is multiple times more expensive than an authentic piece with history. Like my 1967 M-65. It is in really good condition, has an original Talon Aluminum Zip, I paid 85 €. There are faithful repros for not much more money that are incredibly good, well made, from 50/50 NYCO - and there are not much better repros for 600+ €.
Same with A-2 Decks. You can pay a fortune for a faithful repro (RMC).
I go with my authentic issued 1978 one.
Here some pics of me I shot today while shopping for T-Shirts. I bought one but took the chance to check my look in the mirror (see my wife peeping around the curtain, wondering why it takes so long and why the silence in my changing room?).
I wear a pair of Levi's, a pair of good old Sambas, just a Tee, a sweatshirt, an authentic 1970 issued Sateen and because of the cold wind in the city an authentic 1978 A-2 Deck Jacket. Smartphone camera and bad light don't do the colors justice, jacket and shirt do have wonderfully rich colors. Along with 1970/80s B&L Ray Bans I felt good. . You can buy the Orslow replica Sateen (250,- €), the RMC A-2 (760,- €), new "Ray Bans" (no longer made in USA) but I go with original (Sateen 50,- €, A-2 about 100 incl. shipment from US; I found the glasses incl. case, wipe cloth and all in like new (the scratches are all mine) in a danish charity store for 20 Danske Kroner (2,70 €)).
Does it look less good as I would in expensive repros? I think no.



I love to pair new and vintage. And I love to fantasize what the jacket could have seen (the 7 seas, naval duty) or where the shirt could have travelled or what the glasses could have witnessed. And while enjoying a coffee in a nice coffee bar I figure how old I have been back then (I was 2 when the shirt, and 10 when the jacket was issued. Maybe 10 or 12 when the glasses where bought by their first owner).

 

[WolfofStateSt]

That's ridiculous. There are near unworn/unissued authentic ones all around in the bay or at etsy (if you don't insist on the clasps).

I can accept when someone really likes to have a repro. But I sometimes don't get it when a repro, as faithful as it may be, is multiple times more expensive than an authentic piece with history. Like my 1967 M-65. It is in really good condition, has an original Talon Aluminum Zip, I paid 85 €. There are faithful repros for not much more money that are incredibly good, well made, from 50/50 NYCO - and there are not much better repros for 600+ €.
Same with A-2 Decks. You can pay a fortune for a faithful repro (RMC).
I go with my authentic issued 1978 one.
Here some pics of me I shot today while shopping for T-Shirts. I bought one but took the chance to check my look in the mirror.
I wear a pair of Levi's, a pair of good old Sambas, just a Tee, a sweatshirt, an authentic 1970 issued Sateen and because of the cold wind in the city an authentic 1978 A-2 Deck Jacket. Along with 1970/80s B&L Ray Bans I felt good. . You can buy the Orslow replica Sateen (250,- €), the RMC A-2 (760,- €), new "Ray Bans" (no longer made in USA) but I go with original (Sateen 50,- €, A-2 about 100 incl. shipment from US; I found the glasses incl. case, wipe cloth and all in like new (the scratches are all mine) in a danish charity store for 20 Danske Kroner (2,70 €)).
Does it look less good as I would in expensive repros? I think no.

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I love to pair new and vintage. And I love to fantasize what the jacket could have seen (the 7 seas, naval duty) or where the shirt could have travelled or what the glasses could have witnessed. And while enjoying a coffee in a nice coffee bar I figure how old I have been back then (I was 2 when the shirt, and 10 when the jacket was issued. Maybe 10 or 12 when the glasses where bought by their first owner).

There are items where you would do better with a repro, and others where you would do better with an original.

Where repros are worth the money are B-3 and A-2 US Army Air Force leather flight jackets. They are worth the money because I doubt you can find a vintage, original leather flight jacket from WW2 in wearable condition for less. Even with N-1 deck jackets I lean repro for some reason, maybe because I like the modern upgrades Iron Heart makes.

With Peacoats, probably always better going with an original if you can find one that fits—although I prefer the Billy Reid Bond Peacoat style better, but I’m not looking for a repro in that case, I want something with a modern twist.

The only issue I have with vintage jackets is every once and a while you get one with an awful smell or stain, and they aren't always made of fabrics you can just throw in the washing machine. Good luck getting that litter box smell out of the suede jacket man.

I love the clasps on this, but that one detail alone is not worth an extra $780 to me. I found a Chinese knock off of this jacket on eBay for $56 and I am inclined to go with that.

Idk, I can’t justify throughing away almost a month of rent on raincoat, just because it has cool clasps. I get it’s RMC, but it should be $400 tops.

 

[CatsCan]

I found a Chinese knock off of this jacket on eBay for $56 and I am inclined to go with that.

As I said, I think those are everything but not at all rain proof.

I agree about the nasty smell of some vintage items. But I always ask the seller (I watch out for good sellers anyway) and have not been disappointed so far. My A-2 Deck Jacket came super clean and absolute free of any odor. I washed it however and it did not suffer any damage, discoloration or whatever. A-2 Deck Jackets are very forgiving when it comes to washing. Same with fatigue shirts. I don't like when the color is faded. So I go for those with an original rich color tone (my smartphone camera doesn't do the colors justice, shirt and jacket has a truely wonderful color in real).
Authentic N-1s have the downside of a) being too rare in a good enough condition that they can be worn without looking like a tramp to the common eye but then I don't dare to wear them anyway and b) the alpaca is wearing out fast, making this thing look ugly and moth eaten in no time. Plus, sizes are always problematic, sleeves often times too short for our modern eye. What I like about good repro N-1s is a) the lining is more durable and they look sharp and not at all trashy. What I don't like is that almost all come with a "fur" that lacks the beauty of the authentic alpaca used in originals especially at the collar.

I have to say, I once saw a guy wearing a wonderful B-3, this thing was beauty but it looked battered so I went to ask him if it was a repro he had had for a long time. To my surprise he replied It was an original authentic one from WWII and he had bought it like this. It was a great looking thing really. But he paired it with crisp and new looking trousers, a crisp shirt, polished boots. I think this is part of the ticket here.

 

[CatsCan]

Here is my A-2 Deck Jacket. I think it's condition is very good indeed. No rips, no stains, no odors, no fraying at the knit cuffs, as clean and tidy as it can get. Note the beautiful faint red stencil on the back and the wonderfully polished looking buttons. I love this coat. I realised that good ones are getting harder to find these days and prices have gone up quite remarkebly since the day when I had bought mine. Most ones I see in the bay have missing buttons, missing zipper theeth, paint streaks, holes, frayed knit cuffs, faded color and other defects. Mine came near pristine. Vintage but not inferior to new.

 

[WolfofStateSt]

I have to say, I once saw a guy wearing a wonderful B-3, this thing was beauty but it looked battered so I went to ask him if it was a repro he had had for a long time. To my surprise he replied It was an original authentic one from WWII and he had bought it like this. It was a great looking thing really. But he paired it with crisp and new looking trousers, a crisp shirt, polished boots. I think this is part of the ticket here.

Yes, but how much would it cost to buy a vintage B3 like that today? Even if it's beat up, it can still fetch a price that rivals most repros. This guy probably lucked out when he found it.

 

[WolfofStateSt]

Here is my A-2 Deck Jacket. I think it's condition is very good indeed. No rips, no stains, no odors, no fraying at the knit cuffs, as clean and tidy as it can get. Note the beautiful faint red stencil on the back and the wonderfully polished looking buttons. I love this coat. I realised that good ones are getting harder to find these days and prices have gone up quite remarkebly since the day when I had bought mine. Most ones I see in the bay have missing buttons, missing zipper theeth, paint streaks, holes, frayed knit cuffs, faded color and other defects. Mine came near pristine. Vintage but not inferior to new.

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Your A-2 deck jacket looks beautiful btw.