Fried Ostermann M-444A in outstanding condition

[Falcon_52]

I completely understand about the smell element - there is definitely something about it.

Looking back through your photos, I noticed something interesting in the zipper photo. The bottom of the wind flap has a clean-cut edge instead of the familiar folded edge with the fleece showing. I wonder if this was a manufacturing anomaly perhaps? Anyway, some food for thought. Excellent jacket by the way!

Noel

 

[bazelot]

It looks like Fried Ostermann always have the flap sitting higher than the zipper tab. You can see it on their M422As and also in this case on the M444. No idea why they made their jackets like that. This was definitely factory made.

 

[Tommy]

Image borrowed from Goodwear.

How long were these in issue for? Does the fact the officer appears to be wearing Winter Green's rather than Khakis help date it at all?

Anyways yours is a seriously nice example! Did Eastman (I know they had one planned), or anyone else ever make a repro of these?

 

[John Lever]

Spoke to Gary about it recently. It's on the back burner.

 

[m444uk]

Here's another one https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/b291346568?u=;warmart_military_items

 

[bazelot]

I have been wearing it regularly lately and it has the new feel thta you rarely get from a 1941 jacket. Super comfortable and super warm

 

[Dave]

On the greens question, it wasn’t necessarily a winter uniform, just considered a working uniform. As were khakis and the working grey uniforms. All could be seen at different times of year and different theaters. Therefore unlikely to help date the jacket.

 

[CBI]

totally amazing!!!!

 

[Peter Graham]

How did I miss this thread ? Stunning jacket Tom, and practical too. Those pockets make a big difference to wearability.

 

[B-Man2]

Sweet!
Absolutely a pristine looking M444A.
Best of luck with it!

 

[saucerfiend]

Hey, how about a few wearing pics. Love to see the fit.

 

[dujardin]

i forget - i will keep your photo as documentation

 

[Miles]

Great jacket. Many of these period jackets have lovely rich coloured glossy fleece, something most modern repros lack.

Lost Worlds makes a nice fleece. They also fade nicely with time


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[Miles]

Probably the score of the decade! Congrats!!


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[bazelot]

THank you guys. Yes the jacket is truly unique. I thought I would find weak spots wearing it but there is none. It is just brand new and as strong as when it was made. Can't wear it anymore in San Francisco since we are well into the 70s-80s here. Can't even wear a M-422a... I won't complain but it was nice to be able to wear jackets for 2 weeks.

 

[B-Man2]

I won't complain but it was nice to be able to wear jackets for 2 weeks.

Living in Florida I feel your pain

 

[Dover]

Gorgeous jacket hard to believe that it 75+ years old. It's been a cold January here in NC. Going to keep an eye out for something in a fleece. D-1 perhaps?
Congrats on the lovely jacket.

 

[daw]

Seems like the original m444 (as shown here) has much thinner fleece than is available on many repro versions, for example on my RMNZ and W&G versions, or the US Authentic I've seen online. What was the standard thickness for these jackets?

 

[bazelot]

I saw the spec sheets not long ago about fleece thickness. THe M-445A was close 1 inch I believe and the M-444A was around a quarter of an inch. Don't quote me on this but I was shocked by the difference and you can feel it when you wear them

 

[Tommy]

This has seriously become the Sheepskin I'm gonna have to get. There have been a few floating about but all with tell tale signs of flaking, maybe worth saving and going to Goodwear?