WW1 commonwealth sheepskin jerkin repro

[Tim P]

Looking to make (or have made) a sheepskin jerkin as worn in ww1 by commonwealth troops. the design itself is easy enough, rough sheep or goatskin, hair side out, fastened crudely, button and leather loop or simply a belt.
My first thought was to get a couple of rugs from ikea and cut to shape then hand sew with stout thread. these may come up a bit white and nice though ....
any suggestions from anyone as to where I might source the materials or have one made?

 

[Peter Graham]

You'll look like something out of a prehistoric B-movie ! Looking forward to the pics.

 

[Tim P]

hopefully it will top off a service dress impression.

 

[deeb7]

You'll look like something out of a prehistoric B-movie ! Looking forward to the pics.

I thought I'd found it, when I spotted this caveman like garment in my NZ uniforms book. Turned out to be a Woolly Trench Coat ... looked like a jerkin, as the body is white, and shaggy, but it also has dark fleece sleeves.

Dated as c1917, the caption goes on to say ... These coats were made locally in France and were issued to soldiers on a temporary basis.

 

[Andrew]

Appropriate timing for posting these. 93 years to the day. Aussie Diggers and others.

These should help Tim, from this amazing collection of shots.
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set= ... 2777219968
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set= ... 2777219968
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set= ... 2777219968

 

[asiamiles]

Oddly, someone commented just last week on a horror film forum that these type of garments are currently in fashion in London.

 

[John Lever]

From a practical point of view it would make more sense to have to wool on the inside so as to avoid the mud from the trenches. There must be a good reason why they are hair out, I wonder what it is ?

 

[Tim P]

No idea, beyond thats the way God puts it on the animals.. :lol: .... to me your observation makes sense John.

 

[Andrew]

Like everyone else I was thinking the same thing. It seems hard to imagine that they felt it worked better that way. In the documentary that accompanies these images they tell how they were all taken at the one location by one man and that some of the items were used by several guys- a la the pony hide jacket. Possibly the rabbit and sheepskin jerkins were also shared for the shots? There does appear to be quite a few of them.

What have you got in mind for your recreation Tim?

 

[John Lever]

German ones from the eastern front come up from time to time.