Can anyone date my new (to me) N3-B please?

[Stand By]

Good day!
Well, I can announce that in the past hour I've just pulled the trigger on my first vintage N3-B! The mid-Winter dog walks are about to get cosier!
I really wanted a blue vintage N3-A like BN1966's but just can't seem to find one (he has all the luck) ... so I came across an N3-B in very nice condition (just missing two buttons and the seller is kindly including spares) and it was made by Albert Turner - but I don't know how to date it, although I know others here could in a flash.
So may I ask if someone could date it for me please?
Thanks a lot, fellas!

 

[Peacoat]

The tag is hard to read but from what I can see of it, I would say 1964 or a little earlier.

 

[Stand By]

Wow. That's early. Thanks for deciphering that for me, Peacoat! I really appreciate it!
I noticed in my latest Buzz Rickson's catalogue that their N3-B also has a black label - and I've noticed that many N3-B's have white labels - so, is a black label indicative of an earlier vintage too?
Thank you!

 

[Stand By]

Well, after a run-through of previous posts here, it seems that my question is already answered courtesy of Twelve O'Clock High who responded to the same question from Quarter a few weeks ago - to the same jacket, maker, coloured label and spec. numbers! Mine just has one last digit higher on the S.N. (Stock Number?).
So it's between 1958 and 1961 !
My esteemed thanks to Twelve O'Clock High !!!





The second one is an original as well, Albert Turner was a big brand for USAF flight clothing in the 50's and 60's. The contract date on the label does not appear, since the label coding used at that time was different. The DSA number system appeared only in 1962. It means this N-3B was made before 1962. Likely somewhere between 1958 and 1961. I have an Albert turner from 1957 that is a "MIL-J-6279C". What is important is the letter at the end of the specification number, in this case D (MIL-J-6279D). These are the changes in the construction and quality of the parka. The latest specification number I know of is MIL-J-6279K (from March 1987).

The N-3 is spec. 3110
The N-3A is spec MIL-J-6279
The N-3B goes from MIL-J-6279A to MIL-J-6279K

Until the early 60's the tags were black with silver or gold embroidered letters. With the DSA number system, they started to use the cheaper white tag with black printed letters, still in use today.

They have had different names too :

- JACKET,AIRCREW,HEAVY,ATTACHED HOOD,TYPE N-3B : MIL-J-6279A to MIL-J-6279E
- JACKET,FLYING, MAN'S NYLON TWILL : MIL-J-6279F
- JACKET,FLYING, MAN'S EXTREME COLD WEATHER,TYPE N-3B : MIL-J-6279G
- JACKET,FLYING, MAN'S、N-3B MODIFIED : MIL-J-6279H(1)
- PARKA,EXTREME COLD WEATHER, TYPE N-3B : MIL-J-6279H to MIL-J-6279K

You can spilt the N-3Bs in 3 big families :

- Nylon Shell, wool insulation, real (wolf or coyote) fur trim (until the mid 60's)
- Cotton shell, wool insulation, real (wolf or coyote) fur trim (late 60's early 70's)
- Cotton shell, polyester insulation, synthetic fur trim (mid 70's till today)

I much prefer the wool insulation, they are much warmer, and give a better shape to the parka.

The synthetic ones are lighter, more flexible, but IMO the fake fur trim looks awfully cheap. They also tend to age worse than the wool insulated ones.

Nylon or cotton blend outer shell is a matter of preference (I like both).

For the "cotton" shell, I know of 4 different materials :

80% cotton / 20% nylon (the most common and the nicest material, looks like a thick poplin)
50% cotton / 50% nylon (same fabric used in M65 field jackets, a bit too soft IMO)
65% cotton / 35% nylon (less common, seems to be more on late 80's and 90's parkas)
100% cotton (the one they use on modern N-3Bs)

Now you just have to find the right one for you