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The wizard works his magic once again...

bseal

Well-Known Member

What color would you say those knits might be...you know, on your computer?

Is the new black.JPG
 

Maverickson

Well-Known Member
Hi Coolhand,
There is no convincing everyone. Some are steadfast to USN specifications. In reality all WW-2 jacket makers only loosely followed given jacket specifications.
Something that became very evident to me through many years of hands on experience and the school of hard knocks.That is verses opinions from arm chair critics.
Cheers, Dave
 
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Does anyone know which jacket makers of the M422 thru 7823D made jackets with knits that did not match the color of the jacket (dark brown). Any original period photos appreciated.

It is expected that knits and collars can change to a lighter shade over decades of age and sun exposure.

My question has to do with newly made original USN issue jackets, regardless of specification type or era produced.
 

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mulceber

Moderator
I don't know about knits, but I think it's very clear with the salmon-colored liners that those were not originally the brown color required by the specs, since the liner wasn't exposed to that much sunlight, and parts of it weren't exposed to any at all. Moreover, you can look at the back side of it and see that, while the color is darker, it's still nowhere near brown.
 
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Maverickson

Well-Known Member
Hi All,

Just finished up restoring a 1943 model size 46 Monarch (representing one of 2% of those built from this contract) AN-J-3A. In fact my second from this same 20570 contract.

Thought to use dull purple colored knits like periodically found on jackets from this same model Monarch.

IMG_20231217_094525990~2.jpg


Ironically the following 20570 Monarch AN-J-3A must have also been built using the same batch of hides as my size 46.

FB_IMG_1702403897556~2.jpg
FB_IMG_1702394329270.jpg
FB_IMG_1702394322042.jpg


No , I do not believe that the dull purple colored knits found on that all original example seen above began as a brown color.

Cheers, Dave
 
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bazelot

Well-Known Member
i just caught up on the whole knit color drama. I have literally had hundreds of WWII flight jackets over the years and I still have around 70 of them and I have seen my fair share of WWII purplish knits. The most blatant one was a G&F jacket that was in mint condition (I actually had 2 G&F with purple knits). I believe that jacket manufacturers used the same suppliers for knits and waistbands and color varied tremendously between those supplies.
 

Lord Flashheart

Well-Known Member
Credit where it's due Luke, pics of your Monarch AN-J-3A sold this jacket to me. The hide is really characterful and draped beautifully right from the word go. To be honest I've not yet had a chance to wear it properly but I think this is going to be a really nice bit of goat.
 

coolhandluke

Well-Known Member
Credit where it's due Luke, pics of your Monarch AN-J-3A sold this jacket to me. The hide is really characterful and draped beautifully right from the word go. To be honest I've not yet had a chance to wear it properly but I think this is going to be a really nice bit of goat.

I'm absolutely thrilled for you! It makes me happy to see a twin jacket out there. I'm not sure if Dave has done any other AN-J-3A's in that hide.
 

Nickb123

Well-Known Member
Mark,

Yes I agree that it's hard to argue against specifications. That is until you enter the real world.

Please see one of my all original W&G AN-J 3A jackets. One of the jackets I utilized to to derive my interpretation. That jacket can be viewed (# 42) within this same thread.

As seen below with this original AN-J-3A. My reproduction comes from W&G's N288s-35805 contract. Moreover, the jackets from this contract directly contradicts your USN specifications not once but twice.
View attachment 115667
View attachment 115661

View attachment 115663

Note, the stitch work seen in the close up below appears to be all original.
View attachment 115669

View attachment 115665
That jacket seen above is one of the four like W&G AN-J-3A 35805 jackets I have accumulated. Note the factory red knits and horse hide. Albeit I have witnessed same W&G 35805 jackets with brown colored knits that appeared to be factory.
View attachment 115671
Your entire argument reminds me of our conversation regarding that H.L. Block you owned and claimed to be a pre War non labeled M-422. I suppose you convinced yourself your jacket was an M-422 since it did not have the horizontal stitch work along the back of the collar. Exactly like the three builders for the M-422 originally did as per the USN spec

The jacket seen directly below is an original (preWar) size 40 Monarch M-422. There are no horizontal stitch work on the collar as seen on (most) later models.
View attachment 115687

A close up of one of my Monarch M-422 reproductions.Note that there is no horizontal stitch work on the collar its self.
View attachment 115689


In Spite of the fact that Block choose to omit that horizontal stitch work generally seen on most all M-422a, AN & G-1's. Still it goes without saying that those USN jacket specs do have merit. But they are far from being the end all.

Obviously your specifications convinced you again (because as you indicated to me prior that all makers followed USN specifications to a T and you have never seen a deviation) telling you that your Block jacket definitely had to be an M-422. If only because only the M-422 omitted that stitch work and the specifications backed you up.

All in spite of the fact that Block never built a M-422.

Cheers, Dave
Adding this image to the repository. The knit lines look more pronounced as to hint at being a replacement, but since it’s a W&G wanted to add as I’m not sure!

IMG_0072.jpeg
 

Maverickson

Well-Known Member
Hi All,

Yes & once again another example of a 35805 W&G AN-J-3A. A jacket more often than not found factory equipped with reddish colored knits, reddish colored thread, horse hide outer shell and exactly as seen with this example. All contrary to USN specifications.

Cheers, Dave
 
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