Got the jacket, and have a few thoughts. TLDR; I'll probably be eating the 15% restocking fee. Since the only other deck jacket I have is a Bronson, I'll compare it to that.
Outer shell
SMW: Dull green, similar to the Bronson A-1 deck jacket. I know this can be considered "khaki", and it may be accurate to the originals, but it's not quite what I was looking for.
Bronson: Tan. More of what I consider "khaki".I prefer it.
Lining
SMW: Advertised as 100% Apalca and I believe it. It is longer and softer than the Bronson relatively speaking. Unfortunately, it is also itchy. Not SUPER itchy...I'd even say it tolerable...but I still don't think I'll enjoy wearing it. Again, this is probably more accurate, but it's also not as comfortable (to me).
Bronson: Advertised 70% wool, 30% polyester. Shorter, rougher, and thicker than the SMW, but it's more comfortable. I prefer this one.
Construction
SMW: Because the lining is thinner, the collar isn't quite as "robust" as the Bronson and kind of "folds" up on itself. The zipper looks & feels cheap. It's rather flimsy and hard to zip up. I think it's too small for the job it's being asked to do. The label is much nicer. I washed my Bronson A-1 and the lettering flaked off...this label would not have that problem.
Bronson: Collar holds its shape no matter what. Zipper is also a talon, but zips easily and smoothly. The pull tab is longer, which is nice. The pockets are corduroy lined, which is more accurate and nicer too. It's a tiny detail, but I like the USN stencil as well.
So...yeah. If there's anything I've learned in jacket collecting its that if I initially don't like a jacket, I'm not going to like it any better with time. Between the lining and the zipper, I'm just not feeling this one. I think the Bronson is overall the better jacket, even with the inaccurate lining. I just wish they made sizes larger than 44. The SMW is definitely more comfortable from a fit perspective, being a size 46.
As far as N1s go, I'm actually learning toward trying Cockpit's version. It's not accurate in many ways, but I like the look of the fit and the materials look great.
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Zipper:
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Color Comparison:
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Lining Comparison:
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