I love it but what is it? Unknown military smock.

[auxpaxautbellum]

...so first from me here, and a teaser for the Good Folk of the Fedora lounge.

I bought this piece from an American militaria dealer recently and I love it! I am however in a polite argument with the Great Mr Nigel Cabourn, who it turns out also has one (much to my annoyance and vice verca). We both have an opinion on what it is, and I have asked a few other collectors who can't seem to agree. I found this out a few weeks ago when I was up to see him in Newcastle and would love to be proved right! HA! But if I am wrong I will of course put my hands up and utter the immortal words "you were right and I was wrong".

[/IMG]

I will post what we respectively think it is in a week or two and see if anyone agrees! Cheers!

 

[Puzzicato]

smock for a mad scientist? Although judging by the colour, it's a mad scientist who was caught in a sandstorm.

 

[Dinerman]

Those snaps seem to indicate it's english or commonwealth.

 

[Geronimo]

Reminds me of this, so I'd guess it was a gas cape.

 

[Peacoat]

Reminds me of this, so I'd guess it was a gas cape.

I think the original gas capes were of a heavier material, perhaps oilcloth?

 

[Puzzicato]

I think the original gas capes were of a heavier material, perhaps oilcloth?

But there definitely seems to be room in the back for breathing apparatus.

 

[BinkieBaumont]

"I think it needs to be examined in the dark to see if it has a strangely Attractive "Glow"

 

[MisterCairo]

I vote protective (gas, etc.) gear.

 

[havocpaul]

I agree, a gas cape of sorts, possibly Canadian (they used Newey studs) or indeed British, lack of apparent label means we may never really know! I wonder if Mr Cabourn will 'copy' it and sell them to the Japanese fashion market, they'd love it on the golf course!?!

 

[Hercule]

Cold weather camoflage cover perhaps?

H

 

[GHQ1]

Gas Cape

or as otherwise known in the British collector's market . . . .

an "SAS - LRDG desert smock" . . .

No doubt it's a gas cape down to the FFD pocket on the outside . . .and the large back cut out for the P37 pack . . .

Original issue capes are olive green with dark brown camo blobs & proofed with a sticky anti-vessicant . . .so if you took such a cape and boiled it or washed it thoroughly then you'd get your washed out pinkie smock . . . You can still make out the big loopy Mickey Mouse ear style camo blobs . . .albeit in much lighter shade/tones

I did research on this years ago . . and never found any written or photographic evidence to suggest desert usage . . .but it's conceivable . . .so back to the marketing aspect of SAS LRDG . . . . "You see . . .David Stirling and Paddy Mayne were sitting in a wadi near Bir Hakim with these extra gas capes . . totally unsuitable for the rolling expanse of North African desert . . when Paddy got the brilliant idea to boil off the vessicant to make a fermentable mash . . . yadda yadda yadda . . ."

But you'll also note that it's a very thin cloth . . .and would not stand up to much punishment as an everyday outer garment . . .

 

[BanjoMerlin]

When I first saw it I thought "fallout suit." The US ones we had in the 1970s were a lot like that. Thin material meant to be worn over the gas suit which was itself quite bulky. The suit would be constructed to allow it to be worn over whatever breathing apparatus was in use and there would be a detachable hood to cover the head. The suits were disposable and would be shed just before entering a "clean" area.

But then I saw the pocket. I don't remember a pocket.