just got a B-3

[groundpound]

thanks for the suggestions guys. i'm leaning towards not dying it as its too small for me to wear anyway. if anyone knows of a B-3 thats a size 46 for sale i would gladly consider using this jacket as a part trade. also, i have a beautiful original b-3 in a size 40 or 42 ,i'll have to check, that is in as near to flawless condition as you will ever find. this jacket has only slight fading of color on the bottom of the sleaves, and the hang chain needs to be re- stitched on one side. absolutely no rot or damage anywhere. this is an authentic apparantly combat worn jacket that i bought of of a fellow in france a while back. again it is too small for me to wear,and i would be interested in selling or trading this jacket. it wont be cheap though. ill try to post some pics of it. also i have a nice size 44 B-3 that is in excellent shape that i wear on occaision. i have had new cuffs made for it from some shearling pants that were too far gone to be of any other use. it fits well , but again i would like another original just a bit bigger. i really like the forum here and hopefully i will be able to make some contributions as well as just asking questions. thanks for having me. sim.

 

[groundpound]

IMG]http://i539.photobucket.com/albums/ff357/sitkaspruceman/001-1.jpg[/IMG]


here are some pics of my nice B-3. the one next to it is my size 44 which i wear every now and then. i'll take some pics of it and post them tomorrow. sim

 

[groundpound]

hers the last one that didnt make it on the other post.

 

[Roughwear]

Great pics of your B3s. Some time ago I took possession of a duo tone B3 by H. Bernstein in a size 42. It is a transitional B3 in that the maker used hand dyed shearling for the cuffs and one size panel. The rest of the fleece is machine spray dyed. Prior to late 1941 B3s were made using the hand dyed method. The Bernstein contract dates from 1942. There is a picture of one in the Eastman Golden book. The jacket is in remarkably good condition with very little wear to the cuffs and hem. But it has seen service!

The second jacket also does not have the maker on the label and is also a size 42. This contract also dates to 1942 and is machine sprayed a seal brown. The facings are a little lighter than the seal brown shearling, but darker than the russet facings on the Bernstein. It was worn by a Lieutenant in the USAAF and has virtually no wear and I would describe it as "near mint".

The photos show the differences between the two jackets.

Bernstein

No-name maker 42-21700p

Honey-coloured veg tanned fleece of the Bernstein

Chrome Tanned fleece of the Non-name maker

Bernstein pocket

21700p pocket-note the differences in shape.

Hand dyed cuffs on the Bernstein

Machine sprayed cuffs.

Bernstein spec label

21700p label

Buckles on the Bernstein

21700p

Collar seam on the Bernstein

21700p

Bernstein's tripple marked Talon zip

Tripple talon on 21700p

 

[Roughwear]

Here are some pictures of an extremely nice B-3 by the very rare maker Phillip's Tanning and Clothing Co of Newburgh, N.Y. The contract is 38-3640-P and dates from 1938. The redskin is very strong and there is almost no wear to the jacket at all, apart from a little at the end of the cuffs. The zipper is the hookless variety of Talon and it works smoothly with no loss of teeth. This is not a jacket I intend to wear (apart from to the odd airshow-weather permitting!) although it does fit me being a little bigger than wartime size 40s. It belonged to Dennis Burden (enlisted in 1940), a staff Sergeant who was stationed in the Pacific theatre in the War, working on C-47s. He was with the 13th troop carrier squadron nick named “Thirsty 13”. I don't think he wore the jacket very much at all! I bought it from Burden's son. It has had one light coat of Pecards.

 

[groundpound]

very, very nice jackets andrew!! your redskin in particular is one of the nicest i have ever seen! they truly are beautiful examples and you should be very proud of what you have there!( as i'm sure you are!) sim.

 

[Roughwear]

Here are some pics of the 4th B-3 in my collection.It's a size 42 and has had very little wear. The shearling is strong and has very little surface flaking. The 42-5111-P was Rough Wear's second contract for B-3s and this one dates from 1942. This one belonged to a vet who flew B-17s in the UK, but it was only lightly worn, then stored since the War.