USN M421-A

[Baron Kurtz]

Is any company currently making a decent period-correct replica M421-A? The summer weight cotton drill USN jacket. A true repro, lacking any of the usual "artistic license".

Here's an original from the Lost Worlds collection:

Unfortunately they don't have a full frontal large picture on their website.

The other original i have seen had 2 lower front pockets with scalloped, button-down flaps, and no breast pocket. It also had a half-belt back, possibly "action" pleats a la the G1.

bk

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Another two.

Culled from someone else's post from another forum. Hope they don't mind …

bk

 

[thunderw21]

Fantastic jackets. The backs are almost identical to the M-41 (belted and bi-swing).

 

[1stsargent]

Buzz Ricksons made one a few years back and so did What Price Glory but both have sold out. I believe Real McCoy Japan might be making one still, if you can find it.
http://www.realmccoys.co.jp/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=324
http://www.realmccoys.co.jp/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=325

 

[BellyTank]

Closer to home/cheaper.

Still listed at WPG/Online Militaria:
http://onlinemilitaria.net/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=140&cat=FLIGHT+SUITS+&+CLOTHING

OR in France:
http://www.doursoux.com/index.php?c...t=2a&page=2&osCsid=g5j0t6ajo4bqlc3i2gbj1cdci2

M-421s that I have owned have been quite a fine, cotton Gabardine- I doubt that these repros are gab', though.
These jackets do have the bi-swing back feature, as we can clearly see and they also have diamond shaped elbow/fore-arm reinforcement patches and armpit gussets(similar to the M-41 Field jacket, B-10 flight jacket).
The last one I had, I sold to a guy in France- it had a big piece of back painting- Felix the Cat as an Angel, with wings.

They're a nice, very lightweight jacket.


B
T

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Thanks guys,

The WPG one i found already and is only available in massive sizes so that's a no-go. Unfortunately the French one, fine and cheap as it is, comes only in generic sizing, which i'm never happy to buy - always ends up being to big and no chance to return it = money down the pan.

RMJP looks like it's going to be the winner in my hunt. They (admittedly, unsurprising, given their likely demographic) go down to a 34! Gotta love those little Japanese guys … Probably the detailing will be obsessive too, which is a good thing. How is the general obsessiveness of the RM Japan products? Typically as high as the rest of the Japanese repro market?

bk

 

[BellyTank]

Real McCoys- meticulous, yes.


B
T

 

[1stsargent]

Thanks guys,

The WPG one i found already and is only available in massive sizes so that's a no-go. Unfortunately the French one, fine and cheap as it is, comes only in generic sizing, which i'm never happy to buy - always ends up being to big and no chance to return it = money down the pan.

RMJP looks like it's going to be the winner in my hunt. They (admittedly, unsurprising, given their likely demographic) go down to a 34! Gotta love those little Japanese guys … Probably the detailing will be obsessive too, which is a good thing. How is the general obsessiveness of the RM Japan products? Typically as high as the rest of the Japanese repro market?

bk

If your able to buy the RMJP jacket let me know where you found it becuase I would like to pick one up. By the way I own the WPG version and its good but you can deffinitely tell it was made in a sweatshop overseas

 

[Baron Kurtz]

If your able to buy the RMJP jacket let me know where you found it becuase I would like to pick one up.

Eh? It's not just a matter of clicking the "add to cart" button on the link you provided? It has added it to my cart. [huh]

By the way I own the WPG version and its good but you can deffinitely tell it was made in a sweatshop overseas

My issue with the WPG one (other than the lack of small sizes) was the length. It looks to be a very looonnng jacket (well not that long but too long for one of these).

bk

 

[Edward]

I noticed on that French site too that they also have a cloth version of the A2, which they list as USAAF wear in tropical climates. Is this a bit of poetic licence, or did those really exist? I'm liking the look of both types...

 

[1stsargent]

Eh? It's not just a matter of clicking the "add to cart" button on the link you provided? It has added it to my cart. [huh]


I know, RMJP doesn't sell directly to the US from their site. Any one who I found to carry it does't sell to the US either.

 

[KCE]

Sorry to necropost, but if anyone is still looking, Eddie Bauer has a nice looking version:

http://www.eddiebauer.com/catalog/product.jsp?ensembleId=38929&se=1

 

[Dinerman]

Ralph Lauren repro

 

[Graemsay]

I asked John Chapman if he'd build a leather version of one of these. I thought it'd be an interesting jacket.

Unfortunately he's a bit busy right now to consider it. Ah well.

 

[Stearmen]

Happened to stumble onto these photos of JFK. Looks like a 421 to me.

 

[Biggles88a]

For whom this may be an option: Double RL M-421 in bleu. On sale. 495.00 USD now down to 244.99.

http://www.ralphlauren.com/product/index.jsp?productId=61949726

Definitely recognizable as a M-421 including belt and bi swing back, plus diamond elbows, low pockets, pointed collar and vertical curved stitching on front . If only for reference.

 

[Big J]

For whom this may be an option: Double RL M-421 in bleu. On sale. 495.00 USD now down to 244.99.

http://www.ralphlauren.com/product/index.jsp?productId=61949726

Definitely recognizable as a M-421 including belt and bi swing back, plus diamond elbows, low pockets, pointed collar and vertical curved stitching on front . If only for reference.

You know what, it's almost worth buying one, taking it apart to make a pattern, then sourcing fabric, buttons and zipper to make a decent repro in my size!

 

[thor]

Haley Enterprises sells a nice copy of the M-421B on eBay, all sizes, for $110 with free shipping. I've got one and it's definitely worth the price.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Good tip Thor - will check that out.

Do they fit true, small or large?

 

[Ralph_Phillips]

I noticed on that French site too that they also have a cloth version of the A2, which they list as USAAF wear in tropical climates. Is this a bit of poetic licence, or did those really exist? I'm liking the look of both types...

I believe that cloth A2's definitely existed and were issued toward the end of WW2 instead of the leather ones.