Nuances of WWII HBT pants??

[Doug C]

Do either the Army's '42 pattern HBT pants or the USMC's '43 pattern HBT pants have a draw-string at the bottom of the legs for tightening at the ankles... I thought they did but can't really tell from the pictures.

Doug C

 

[BellyTank]

Nope.

I think that's an M-51 trouser thing and maybe post-war M-43s...

B
T

 

[Baron Kurtz]

I had a pair of cargo shorts from Express, of all places, in this exact fabric. They died last summer, man they were my favourite shorts ever.

bk

 

[BellyTank]

"Cargo Shorts" indeed...(Stephen Fry speaking)
You're slipping Baron...

I congratulate you on their death.

It wouldn't have been this exact fabric, this exact fabric is long extinct.
They just do not make it like this anymore.
You'd maybe have to see it in the flesh and touch it to know.

Honest.

B
T

 

[Baron Kurtz]

honest guv, Express had found a bolt of WWII fabric and cobbled a pair of shorts together for me . . . likely? mefinks nahht

More a last remnant of a past self than a slippage. Couldn'ta got through summer without them. Cargo shorts or spandex . . . my choice is made, though i do look damn good in spandex.

bk

 

[eniksleestack]

This is my first post! It's funny I should happen upon this thread, because ironically, I just found a pair of reversible 1st camo pattern HBT's at a thrift store here in Santa Barbara. I thought maybe everyone might enjoy seeing them. The condition is fantastic (if they're authentic and not a re-enactor thing) -- like they've been warehoused for 65 years. Enjoy!

 

[Doug C]

Welcome Eniksleestack (I loved Land of the Lost) - So you found those at a thrift store? Wow, cool find. Probably paid next to nothing too huh?

Doug C

 

[eniksleestack]

So you found those at a thrift store? Wow, cool find. Probably paid next to nothing too huh?

Doug C

$5.99 at Goodwill. I love thrift stores. Only problem: these pants might have fit me in high school, but now...

 

[BellyTank]

Well- those are worth a "good" few hundred bucks now.
A GOOD few. Very rare, especially NOS.
Consider yourself well-off.

I sold a rare repro pair for $220 five years ago.

B
T

 

[eniksleestack]

Well- those are worth a "good" few hundred bucks now.

Sweet! Like I said, I love thrift stores. Best find ever: a rare 60s pysch-pop 45 that I got for 25 cents. $240 to a collector in France.

 

[BellyTank]

I scored a pair of WW2 US Mountain trousers, NOS in a large size, in a rag shop in London. Strange.

B
T

 

[eniksleestack]

I scored a pair of WW2 US Mountain trousers, NOS in a large size, in a rag shop in London. Strange.

B
T

"Rag Shop"? Is that the British equivalent of an American thrift store?

How are the European thrift stores? I's sure that US thrift stores, especially in metropolitan areas, are so great b/c Americans are the world's champions at conspicuous consumption.

I'm going on my honeymoon later this summer, taking my first ever trip to England and France. I might like to check out the second-hand shopping opportunities.

 

[BellyTank]

Slim pickings in "vintage" in England.
Thrift shops are mostly full of absolute junk but you can't help looking.
The Thrift shops in "posh" areas of London have designer clothing and good shoes though.
"Rag Shop" is an American expression- I thought, for a thrift shop.

B
T

 

[pretty faythe]

Rag Shop - Never heard of it before now, lived in the US all of my 32 years[huh]

 

[eniksleestack]

Rag Shop - Never heard of it before now, lived in the US all of my 32 years[huh]

Yeah, maybe it's an East Coast term, or 30's slang, which is fine with me.

My favorite 30's slang is bughouse: crazy

 

[Baron Kurtz]

I was under the impression that "rag shop" was the name for those industrial-scale used clothing warehouses where dealers find their stuff. They typically have high minimum spends and this keeps the punters away. it would not be possible to go in there and buy a pair of trousers.

The stuff that doesn't get sold gets, well, ragged. Ripped up into rags.

bk

 

[Alan Eardley]

Rag Market

"Rag Shop" is an American expression- I thought, for a thrift shop.

B
T

In Birmingham we have the Rag Market - pre-war a whole covered market was given over to second hand clothes. Not any more, but there are still a few good vintage stalls.

Alan

 

[MrBern]

I scored a pair of WW2 US Mountain trousers, NOS in a large size, in a rag shop in London. Strange.

B
T

Those are pretty cool & unique. I have the earlier wool version.Posted in this pantsthread

 

[BellyTank]

Yes, I saw those.
I had a pair of those too.

They are a direct copy of civilian ski-pants.
No suspenders necessary.

I recently found this pair of vintage, military mountain/climbing/alpine trousers:

Strange.
German/European styled, in British Army green denim, with War Dept. stamp.
But very Northern European.
Nice too.


B
T

 

[Doug C]

BT, You always seem to find the coolest things - how do you do it?

Doug C