vintage french cyclist Jacket up for trade

[Jacques Terreur]

Here's what i believe to be an authentic 40's french cyclist jacket. Since it's much too short for me to wear, I'm looking to trade it in for a slightly bigger one. measurements are in the second photo, if anybody is interested, drop me a line and i will send more pics via PM.

Have a good day, everyone!

 

[Marc mndt]

Looks like a Luftwaffe / Hartmann jacket with the epaulets cut off and the nazi chestpatch removed.

Interesting to see that yours is made out of pigskin.

 

[Jacques Terreur]

Looks like a Luftwaffe / Hartmann jacket with the epaulets cut off and the nazi chestpatch removed.

Interesting to see that yours is made out of pigskin.
View attachment 413023

hi Marc, thank you for the info. Are you sure about the pigskin? I have never seen such a leather before, it`s really thin and has those little "pockmarks" all over.

 

[Marc mndt]

Are you sure about the pigskin? I have never seen such a leather before, it`s really thin and has those little "pockmarks" all over.

It does look like it. Pigskin features those visible hair pores in groups of three.

I own a pair of peccary gloves which show similar pores:

 

[Jacques Terreur]

You are right, it's very similar

 

[Marc mndt]

By the way, even though your jacket at one point in time featured epaulets and patches, your jacket is still an authentic French cyclist jacket.

Unlike the RAF or the USAF the Luftwaffe never issued official flight gear. Therefore german pilots sourced their own jackets. French cyclist jackets apparently suited their needs. They simply added epaulets and patches to this civilian style jacket.

 

[Chris Oberdorfer]

Unlike the RAF or the USAF the Luftwaffe never issued official flight gear. Therefore german pilots sourced their own jackets. French cyclist jackets apparently suited their needs.

That's not true. The Luftwaffe (or their suppliers)started around 1940 with the production of the so called "Kanaljacke", there were several different versions like a light cloth 'summer' jacket, first in white later in blue, followed by fleece lined winter versions in cloth or leather, and finally in late 1943 there was introduced the so called "Reichsverteidigungsjacke" (part of a complete set includes jackets and trousers), a leather jacket that was produced for fighter pilots only and often worn by the first jet fighter pilots.

 

[Marc mndt]

That's not true. The Luftwaffe (or their suppliers)started around 1940 with the production of the so called "Kanaljacke", there were several different versions like a light cloth 'summer' jacket, first in white later in blue, followed by fleece lined winter versions in cloth or leather, and finally in late 1943 there was introduced the so called "Reichsverteidigungsjacke" (part of a complete set includes jackets and trousers), a leather jacket that was produced for fighter pilots only and often worn by the first jet fighter pilots.

I stand corrected. But the hartmann jacket was not issued by the military right? These were commercially purchased by pilots AFAIK.

 

[dudewuttheheck]

I'm very interested in buying this. If you would ever consider selling instead of trading, please let me know!