Vintage French leather double breasted jacket

[Guppy]

I picked this up recently. Don't know a lot about it, but I like the way it looks. It's about a 40-42.

The seller claimed that it's 40s/50s French military, but I haven't been able to confirm that. Wondering what you all think.

 

[Monitor]

I'm pretty sure it's not military but damnit, that's a... really cool coat!!! I absolutely love it!

 

[Seb Lucas]

Interesting one. Curious pattern. Unusual looking back too. It looks more recent to me from the photos I can see on my phone. What's the lining and lable?

 

[barnabus]

I'm pretty sure it's not military but damnit, that's a... really cool coat!!! I absolutely love it!

Totes agree! Looks properly cool, I love the tonal changes across the coat. And I'm down with buttons like nobody's business at the moment.

 

[devilish]

To me it looks as though it comes from that time in the 70's when they were reviving the 40's? It's a very nice looking jacket, although I think it would look more natural on you in person rather than fit pics for the Internet. Which I sympathise with as someone who struggles not to look awkward in any photo at all. Put some abuse to it and it'll be fantastic looking.

 

[Doctor Wholittle]

Agreed it's most likely not military, but it's sharp as a razor!! Great find!

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

 

[l0fielectronic]

It looks quite unusual with some of the seams and such.

I wonder if it was some kind of miliary jacket which has had been 'remade' into a slighlty different patern?

 

[AeroFan_07]

Quite unusual and very cool! Nice find there Guppy!

 

[Doctor Damage]

Leather jackets virtually never seem to be made with raglan sleeves (although some French firefighter jackets were).

 

[Benny Holiday]

I've never seen one like it before. Great find!

 

[Guppy]

I took some photos of the interior.

The lining is a golden yellow herringbone cotton. Based on the material, I don't think it is likely to be a 70's vintage 40s revival, but I could be wrong. I think it's more likely to be 40s or 50s. But that's little more than a guess.

There is one inside pocket at wearer's left.

Below the pocket is stamped some words in ink, hard to read, but I am able to make out the following:

"
ARMEE
S. F. H. 1
SIMS
Paris (maybe?)
1961 (I think -- so maybe this is a 1961 jacket, then... or does it say 1951?)
(some kind of symbol)
B2
"

Everything else is too unclear to read.

Anyone know anything about the markings?

 

[Guppy]

I'm pretty sure it's not military but damnit, that's a... really cool coat!!! I absolutely love it!

I am doubtful of it being military as well, as there are no patches or insignia anywhere, and no stitch holes from previous ones ever being removed. I'm guessing the seller thought that the "ARMEE" stamp inside meant Army, maybe.

 

[ton312]

Man that's really cool Guppy. Love the hide itself and the pattern is very unique. Raglan sleeves on a cross-zip...who knew?! Very nice indeed.

 

[Guppy]

Man that's really cool Guppy. Love the hide itself and the pattern is very unique. Raglan sleeves on a cross-zip...who knew?! Very nice indeed.

Yeah, I've never seen that before, either. But it's a double-breasted button jacket, not a zipper to be found.

Another interesting feature, rather than have vent holes under the arms, they just left the seams open, so there's a pretty good sized hole in the underarms. At first I thought that I had a busted seam, but upon closer inspection that's how it was made.

I'd really love to find out some information about this. I think it's a little small for me, so I'm thinking about moving it on, but I'm very curious to learn more about what I have before I do so.

 

[ton312]

Yeah, I've never seen that before, either. But it's a double-breasted button jacket, not a zipper to be found.

Another interesting feature, rather than have vent holes under the arms, they just left the seams open, so there's a pretty good sized hole in the underarms. At first I thought that I had a busted seam, but upon closer inspection that's how it was made.

I'd really love to find out some information about this. I think it's a little small for me, so I'm thinking about moving it on, but I'm very curious to learn more about what I have before I do so.

The raglan sleeve with the epaulettes at the shoulder is really cool. I think it fits you really well. I wouldn't sell that one. It's one of a kind. At first I thought maybe it was a longer jacket that had been hemmed shorter but the hem itself and the button placement make me think otherwise. I'd keep that for when it's time to be a rock star. I really dig it.

 

[Guppy]

The raglan sleeve with the epaulettes at the shoulder is really cool. I think it fits you really well. I wouldn't sell that one. It's one of a kind. I'd keep that for when it's time to be a rock star. I really dig it.

Thanks... it is rather distinctive and I've never seen another like it. I'm going to keep thinking about it.

At first I thought maybe it was a longer jacket that had been hemmed shorter but the hem itself and the button placement make me think otherwise.

I do kindof wish that it were a longer coat. If it were a 3/4 length, it'd be a pretty badass trench coat.

 

[SpeedRcrX]

I am doubtful of it being military as well, as there are no patches or insignia anywhere, and no stitch holes from previous ones ever being removed. I'm guessing the seller thought that the "ARMEE" stamp inside meant Army, maybe.

It means Army but I don't remember seeing leather coat.

The only leather jacket I see in the French Army is the pilots ones in "l'Armée de l'Air" (equivalent of Air Force)

 

[SpeedRcrX]

Alright I did a little research, the date must be 1951. Before 1956, the French army stamped their clothes with the ARMEE stamps, after that date a white label was sewn on the lining.

SFH means Service des fabrications de l'habillement ( clothing makers service)

1951 was the year it was given to the soldier.

Too bad we can't see the oval stamp, we could have know which unit it came from.
Another thing about the oval stamp, its dimension should be 30mm by 17mm.
Some people restamp clothes on ebay...

For now, I can't find this particular model, anywhere.

 

[Guppy]

Alright I did a little research, the date must be 1951. Before 1956, the French army stamped their clothes with the ARMEE stamps, after that date a white label was sewn on the lining.

SFH means Service des fabrications de l'habillement ( clothing makers service)

1951 was the year it was given to the soldier.

Too bad we can see the oval stamp, we could have know which unit it came from.
Another thing about the oval stamp, its dimension should be 30mm by 17mm.
Some people restamp clothes on ebay...

For now, I can't find this particular model, anywhere.

Wow, thanks for that information! Where did you get it?

 

[SpeedRcrX]

Wow, thanks for that information! Where did you get it?

On some french websites about French Army