US Navy 1942 Blue Zip Deck Jacket

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. A few years ago I replaced the zipper and knits made a few repairs to the sleeve. These have stood the test of time and its a very nice wearable example.

Size

• Tagged a 36
  
• Fits a modern medium - its a snug fit on my 40" chest
• Pit to pit 21.5"
• Shoulder to shoulder 18.5"
• Shoulder to cuff 24"
• Collar to hem 24.5"