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Who Makes a Nice Pea Coat?

dudewuttheheck

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,422
I've tried on quite a few, including Mister Freedom, Buzz Rickson, and The Real McCoys, but the best I have tried is Freewheelers, which is the one I ended up buying.
PAy2Fvl.jpg
 

Peacoat

*
Bartender
Messages
6,464
Location
South of Nashville
Mr. Peacoat and gents- My first post here. Thank you for sharing of your knowledge in USN peacoat. I enjoy reading your posts.

And FYI, irish50don is selling a USN Kersey wool peacoat in size 48 on eBay. If anyone needs a Kersey wool in size 48, it's the time.
I have looked for that listing without success. Can you PM me the link? Or if you are unable to send a PM, just post it here. And welcome to the Lounge.
 

Musher

One of the Regulars
Messages
233
Location
Middleburgh. New York
Mr. Peacoat and gents- My first post here. Thank you for sharing of your knowledge in USN peacoat. I enjoy reading your posts.

And FYI, irish50don is selling a USN Kersey wool peacoat in size 48 on eBay. If anyone needs a Kersey wool in size 48, it's the time.
I can't find it on ebay.
 
D

Deleted member 16736

Guest
I bought a peacoat on eBay for $70. Looked nice in the pictures. When I got it, I could see it had significant pilling and is more or less unwearable. My next peacoat will be new.
 

Peacoat

*
Bartender
Messages
6,464
Location
South of Nashville
What you got was a civilian fashion copy of a pea coat, not a real Navy pea coat. As Lenny says, the real thing doesn't pill. Get a pre 1980 version made of the Kersey wool. It will last longer than you will--and no pilling.

For a guide to US Navy Peacoats, take a look at the link below. The guy who wrote it knows what he is talking about.
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/thre...-dating-the-united-states-navy-peacoat.72058/
 
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Pdxgeo

A-List Customer
Messages
318
My friend gifted me his navy issued 1963 model less than a week before he passed away from sudden illness. (Likely flu related)

I wear it in colder weather but the fit has never been "perfect" imho so i purchased a ww2 size 36 from guygardner on here. I recieved it today and while the difference in fit is subtle (mostly in the shoulders) I am very happy with it and after about half dozen tries am done with my peacoat quest. If you can find one go for a WWII model. If it is your size you WILL NOT find a better one for the price.
 

EmergencyIan

Practically Family
Messages
918
Location
New York, NY
I've owned a 70's pea coat, a 60's version, a mint 1946 that had orange cutter tags attached and a nearly mint size 38 made in Brooklyn during WWII (still has the size tag below the collar). The WWII pea coat is by far the nicest of the four that I have owned. It's the only one I currently own and I'm good with that.

- Ian
 

tropicalbob

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,954
Location
miami, fl
I remember that my pea coat that I bought in the early '70's (one of the best coats I've ever owned) had a kerosene smell. Is that still found with the Kerseys?
 

Peacoat

*
Bartender
Messages
6,464
Location
South of Nashville
It's a 1983 issue coat which has the Melton wool, as do all of the issue coats since 1980.* It will have the insulated liner to add warmth as the Melton shell is not as substantial as the old Kersey shell. The seller has this coat listed as an X Small. Where that came from, I have no idea. it is closer to a medium.

The p2p on this coat will be about 19 1/2" to 19 3/4". I just went back to the listing and the seller noted the p2p as 19.5". So, if your chest measures 36" I think you would be able to fit a sweater (jumper) under the coat for additional insulation, which you may need in your Scottish winters.

If you want a tighter fit with no room for a sweater, you might go one size down. The p2p on a current issue size 34 (one size down) will be 19" on a vintage model and 18" on a current issue. Yes, I know, the current issue is fitted tighter than the vintage, which is not what I normally say about the difference between the two, but when we get down to the size 34 peacoats, the p2p measurements are a bit different than what we would expect. I can't explain why. You will also need to check the sleeve length if you size down to ensure you will have sufficient length. I have fairly long arms, but can size down to a 40 and still get a good fit in the sleeves. In fact I mostly wear a size 40 these days.

I think the quality is excellent as it is a Navy issue peacoat. It is also a decent price for such a coat.

________
*Prior to 1980 there was at least one other contract for the Melton shell rather than the Kersey shell, with the most notable being the (I believe) 1978 Pembroke contract. Those coats are all noted on the tag as being Melton.
 
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Peacoat

*
Bartender
Messages
6,464
Location
South of Nashville
I remember that my pea coat that I bought in the early '70's (one of the best coats I've ever owned) had a kerosene smell. Is that still found with the Kerseys?
Just saw this post after posting a reply to Craig's message.

A kerosene smell? Never heard (smelled?) that before. I have owned or handled a whole bunch of vintage peacoats and never had one that smelled of kerosene. Also, in all of the correspondence I have had with others, no mention of a kerosene smell has ever been made.

I think the one you had experienced an unfortunate kerosene spill back in its past somewhere. That is a difficult odor to remove. Don't know if dry-cleaning would do it or not. It would certainly be worth a try if you still had the coat.
 

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