BR Security Togs A-2

[asiamiles]

I just picked up this Buzz Rickson Security Togs A-2 (the photos are the sellers...they seem to do justice to the jacket as well any of mine could) and am very impressed. I know this model has been mentioned on here before, some time ago, where it was dismissed as either an incorrectly labelled non-military spec jacket or a BR invention; I'd probably go with the former as the design quirks seem very specific. I'm not sure why they felt compelled to put a bogus A-2 label in it, if that is in fact what they did, but that's not something that bothers me; what counts is the jacket itself.

I love the details such as the lack of windflap and ep's, the Hookless zipper, and the two-tone knits.The horsehide feels slightly lighter than my two other BR A-2's and while they are both 38's this is a 40, but because of the slightly narrower cut, it fits almost perfectly. Whereas the A-2 has a distinct 40's/50's look to it, this clearly belongs to an earlier era. When young I very much favoured baggier 50's clothing but now I prefer a slightly trimmer more 60's look and, like the A-1 and the 37J1, this seems to fit in better. It's in great shape with just slight rubbing on the collar fold at the back (you can just make it out on the top photo).

This individually numbered jacket was made exclusively for Yokohama based shop "Junky" (they have a banch in Shinjuku as well). I don't know if they made a slightly different Security Togs jacket for wider sale or this pre-war design was only made in extremely limited numbers. It's already one of my very favourite jackets, and I guess I'll be moving out one of my BR A-2's to make room for it.

 

[deeb7]

Oh yes, good jacket, Miles ... I like the colour, not as bright as in other pictures I've seen, and I love the leg o' mutton sleeves.

In support of your first theory, yes, it does look like a civilian jacket of the period. Several makers, including Rough Wear, produced styles like this, without a windflap.

Looking at pictures of Security Sportswear's first A-2 contract, the only visible difference between that first version, and the later jackets, is the buttoned pocket flaps ... the one feature that would have been so easy to copy, had that been the plan.

 

[zoomer]

The paranoid history buff in me says that the Security A-2 has become the Holy Grail, nay, the I Am That I Am of the flight jacket otaku, never to be looked upon by any but the high priests. Thus the refusal to replicate it directly.

The inclusion of the lovingly copied labels is merely a statement of deep faith, like an intrinsically carved medieval altarpiece or (more appropriately) the little Jewish scrolls crafted by specialist scribes, blessed by rabbis, and enclosed in tiny leather casings (in this case, sizes 34-42 by actual measure).

Of course, the letters of the Hebrew alphabet are also used as numbers, and appropriately enough, the numbers 32-485 translate to f'gt t'tch'rl'yh, the consonants in the English phrase Forget It, Charlie.

Hey, I understand about as much Hebrew as I do Japanese. Just thought I'd blow a little sarcastic sunshine up y'all. :lol:

 

[asiamiles]

Oh yes, good jacket, Miles ... I like the colour, not as bright as in other pictures I've seen, and I love the leg o' mutton sleeves.

In support of your first theory, yes, it does look like a civilian jacket of the period. Several makers, including Rough Wear, produced styles like this, without a windflap.

Looking at pictures of Security Sportswear's first A-2 contract, the only visible difference between that first version, and the later jackets, is the buttoned pocket flaps ... the one feature that would have been so easy to copy, had that been the plan.

Yes, I love the colour too. Considering all the "original maker" repro's around I wonder why no one has taken a stab at the Security A-2 with the buttoned flaps? After all this is a significant difference to all the other A-2's, which you would think would make it an instant choice. Perhaps because they don't have an original jacket to use as a pattern?

So is the A-2 on this label a copy of an original Security A-2 label or don't we have a photo of an original one to know?

And while we're talking early A-2 variants, do we have any idea who made the A-2's with the buttons instead of the zips, and when they were made?

 

[deeb7]

Perhaps because they don't have an original jacket to use as a pattern?

Yes, I think so .......

So is the A-2 on this label a copy of an original Security A-2 label or don't we have a photo of an original one to know?

I haven't seen an original label, but I assume that BR's version is what they imagine one would look like. The SAT label will be from their commercially sold Regulation Army Jacket.

And while we're talking early A-2 variants, do we have any idea who made the A-2's with the buttons instead of the zips, and when they were made?

With the concealed buttons? The one I have posted about in the past at RMNZ is unlabelled, but seems to be the same as an illustration of another in Full Gear. That one is by KNOPH, the text has 1941-1943 .... KNOPH are believed to be responsible of one of the 'unknown maker' A-2 contracts.

 

[asiamiles]

And while we're talking early A-2 variants, do we have any idea who made the A-2's with the buttons instead of the zips, and when they were made?

With the concealed buttons? The one I have posted about in the past at RMNZ is unlabelled, but seems to be the same as an illustration of another in Full Gear. That one is by KNOPH, the text has 1941-1943 .... KNOPH are believed to be responsible of one of the 'unknown maker' A-2 contracts.

Yes, that's the one. Thanks for the date and maker info; KNOPH is not a name I recall hearing before, or maybe it just didn't stick in my memory! I'm not sure I've ever seen one worn in period photos by members of the forces, only in the film THE PURPLE HEART (about the captured Doolittle Raiders) and once in the flesh in Flip (used clothing store in London) back in 1979, so I guess these were just commercial jackets?

 

[deeb7]

... so I guess these were just commercial jackets?

Yes, commercial jackets.

And I misspelt ... it's S.H. KNOPF MFG. CO. Boston, MA, they had several contracts, including one for the D-1 jacket, and B-1 trousers.

The A-2 attributed to Knopf is the 42-18246-P.

 

[Chandler]

The horsehide feels slightly lighter than my two other BR A-2's

Horsehide? The images make it look like goat -- very similar to my G&B goat, actually.

Chandler

 

[deeb7]

Horsehide? The images make it look like goat -- very similar to my G&B goat, actually.

Italian horsehide often has that grainy look, it certainly matches up with examples I have here.

You don't trust the labelling?

 

[Chandler]

You don't trust the labelling?

The label also says Security Aviation Togs, Chicago...

Trust?

Chamdler

 

[Chris217]

I would LOVE to see JC do a clone of a Security Togs A-2.

 

[asiamiles]

I would LOVE to see JC do a clone of a Security Togs A-2.

Without an original to work from he would have to do a lot a guess work; like his A-1 it would not be a 'clone'.

 

[Swing]

I would LOVE to see JC do a clone of a Security Togs A-2.

I'd like to see John tackle the no-name 23383.

http://www.acmedepot.com/a2jacket/a2detail2.html

I know ace Duane Beeson wore a jacket from that contract, and it's as unique of an A-2 as you can possible make.

~Swing

 

[srivats]

Miles, do post some pics of you wearing the jacket ...

 

[Chris217]

I would LOVE to see JC do a clone of a Security Togs A-2.

I'd like to see John tackle the no-name 23383.

http://www.acmedepot.com/a2jacket/a2detail2.html

I know ace Duane Beeson wore a jacket from that contract, and it's as unique of an A-2 as you can possible make.

~Swing

I have to agree with you Swing, that's one unusual looking A-2. Look how small those pockets are! Kinda looks like the same size as A-1 pockets!
I take it these are the rarest of the wartime contracts?

 

[deeb7]

I take it these are the rarest of the wartime contracts?

Not rare ... just different.

These jackets are actually somewhat common, and several people of note had them, like Duane Beeson and Heath Bottomly.
JC-CD.

 

[Swing]

I have to agree with you Swing, that's one unusual looking A-2. Look how small those pockets are! Kinda looks like the same size as A-1 pockets!
I take it these are the rarest of the wartime contracts?

Rarest? I don't know. My guess would be that production was somewhere around 15,000 jackets. Small, when compared to contracts like RW's 27752 and Aero's last three contracts which were supposed to be 50,000 jackets each.

~Swing

 

[srivats]

Miles, do post some pics

I found another pic of the BR togs A2:

 

[Weasel_Loader]

That is one ugly color hide.

 

[Peter Graham]

That is one ugly color hide.

I have to agree. It looks very different from the one Miles posted. The knits are a different colour too.