I don't know where to start with this, one of the best, most stylish and most practical garment designs to come out of WW2. Designed before the war, the zip jacket was issued from early 1941 until replaced in 1942/43 by the more common hook deck. The thinking by the Navy was the front zipper was too challenging to open whilst cold or wearing heavy gloves, and so they took inspiration from fireman's clothing of the time and changed the zip for hooks. Today the zip decks are far rarer than the already rare hook jackets, but (in my humble opinion) are a much better fit.
Built of a solid outer shell of durable blue jungle cloth, with a wool liner, these jackets were made to last in extremes. And last they did. This particular example is later for a zip deck. The contract number, 15462 dates it to October 1942, manufactured by Haverhill Sportswear in Massachusetts. However, given it's slight later manufacturing run for a zip deck, that means it includes the highly desirable US NAVY stencil to the reverse.
Condition
This is a used but very nice example. Moths had been pretty unkind, as had corrosion to the zipper so I've completely replaced both with matching knits and a NOS Talon zipper. Whilst I had the opportunity I patched and darned a couple of holes in the left sleeve and the lining (near the hang) - all done with original blue jungle clothing and lining. She's now in great shape and will last for years.
Size
- Tagged a 36
- Fits a modern small/medium
- Pit to pit 21.5"
- Shoulder to shoulder 18.5"
- Shoulder to cuff 24"
- Collar to hem 25"