WWII Khaki Trousers - Originals and Reproductions

[jph712]

Military Collector's Show this weekend

Here in Huntsville, AL there is a military collectors show this coming Saturday and Sunday. I guess I know what I'll be on the lookout for.

Also if anyone lives within driving distance of Nashville, TN the Tennessee Military Collectors Association puts on a large and very well organized show at the Marriot at Cool Springs. This year it will be Friday April 6 and Saturday the 7th. www.tcmaonline.org

I've been to the TCMA show a number of times and its just fun to go look at the stuff folks have and pick up a thing or two along the way.

JPH712

 

[Clyde R.]

Well, I just got a pair on ebay and I hope they turn out to be good. They are button fly army khakis, probably 50's vintage and were listed as un-used.

I'm crossing my fingers and hoping they were worth the fifteen bucks they cost.

 

[Matt Deckard]

Look how high the waists are.

 

[Speedster]

...and how long some of the jackets are??

 

[Matt Deckard]

If the general wants pleats, the general gets pleats!

 

[Matt Deckard]

It was mentioned that the Buzz Ricksons are vertually a clone and that's correct... right down to the shiny sheen when they are new. The material is spot on, even better than the ones made claiming to be made on the original looms. Stitches insignia and buttons... they are perfect. I wish Bill's were close to that close. I wish Dockers would use the old patterns. I wish I could buy Buzz pants in the US.

I stopped by Kaiser Bill's yesterday chcking out original pairs and inside out they look the same as this pic of the Buzz Rickson khakis.

Flat feld seams through the crotch down the legs inside and out and same buttons and... well the Buzzes I saw in person were perfect clones to the WWII deadstock. That's an eye for detail.

A pair a member on Ask Andy owns.
Iside out detail

 

[Vladimir Berkov]

Looks like I will have to pony up the dough for some of these expensive repops soon. JC Penney no longer carries my favorite "Retro Chino" khakis, and the three pairs I have saved up will only last so long...

 

[Speedster]

It was mentioned that the Buzz Ricksons are vertually a clone and that's correct... right down to the shiny sheen when they are new. The material is spot on, even better than he ones made claiming to be made on the original looms. Stitches insignian and buttons... they are perfect. I wish Bill's were close to that close. I wish Dockers would use the old patterns. I wish I could buy Buzz pants in the US.

I stopped by Kaiser Bill's yesterday chcking out original pairs and inside out they look the same as this pic of the Buzz Rickson khakis.

Flat feld seams through the crotch down the legs inside and out and same buttons and... well the Buzzes I saw in person were perfect clones to the WWII deadstock. That's an eye for detail.

A pair a memeber on Ask Andy owns.
Iside out detail

Just wish they would make them in bigger sizes for us that are horizontally challenged

 

[stanier]

Just rung Eastman Leather clothing in the UK who are now selling BR 1942 Chino's and the gentleman there advised me that they may well be doing a size 36" waist and size 38" waist when they place their next BR order for the autumn, so here's hoping and for those interested might I suggest we all let the folks at Eastman know so it becomes reality.

Also he said that the BR blue Chambray shirts will be restocked in the autumn.

I hope this info is of use to some.

Cheers

 

[PADDY]

Thank-you for that heads up.

Appreicate the update on Eastmans'. And, welcome to The Lounge!

 

[Alan Eardley]

Alan do you also have Bill's ? and/or originals ? If so, how do they compare to each other?

Doug C

Doug,

I don't have Bill's, but I have a pair of Levi's Cramerton Army Cloth chinos. I don't have a pair or original's, but the guy from whom I bought the BR chinos had a pair. That's how he convinced me to buy them. They are very like the originals - I guess there would be more variations in pattern between two M1942 pants from different makers than between the BR and originals.

The Levi's are heavier and are nice pants but don't have anything like the originals' cut or detail - and I guess neither would the Bill's.

Hope this helps.

Alan

 

[Alan Eardley]

If the general wants pleats, the general gets pleats!

How true - and a shirt collar tab. Avirex used to repro Gen. McArthur's shirt and pants about fifteen years ago.

I am interested in Lt. Gen. Krueger's shirt, as it has no front placket. Some years ago when I was re-enacting I discovered that a Boy Scouts' shirt I bought very cheaply from a charity (goodwill) shop was an almost perfect match for my BR M1942 chinos. The cut and pockets etc. were fine. I swapped the buttons for some original WW2 ones and thought I had a good shirt impression, but the 'experts' told me that no US Army shirt ever, anywhere was without a placket. I used to try to hide it with my tie. Clearly I should have made myself a General!

Alan

 

[BellyTank]

I don't like pleat plackets.
A French(plain)front is elegant.

B
T

 

[Alan Eardley]

While we're at it...

...note the apparent age of the gentlemen in the photograph. Goes against the grain of the trend for twenty- and thirty-something staff officers one often sees at re-enactment event, eh?

Alan

 

[O-zone]

Sizing?

I would very much appreciate it if you gentlemen could give me a hand with a problem I have. I would very much order a few pairs of Bill's Khakis, however, as I live in the UK exchanging them if they are the wrong size would be a hassle. I therefore need a bit of a hand with sizing.

My waist actually measures 35", but most of the time (like with my single pair of K-1s) I wear a size 32" or 33". I contacted Bill's and they recommended ordering my actual waist size. As most pants in 35" are in my experience way too large for me, I'm a bit sceptical. How do the sizes on Bill's compare to Dockers in your experience?

What about the sizing on actual WWII trousers? I've got my eye on a pair on eBay, but again, I'm not sure of the sizing.

 

[MrBern]

"Bivvy Trousers"

heres a new twist

Trousers made from recycled WWII British army tents

 

[Alan Eardley]

I've seen these 'in the flesh'...please don't assume that they are anything like a vintage cut. They are low waisted and cut more like modern 'skate pants'.

They also contain odd seams and marks/repairs from the original tents.

Alan

 

[jake431]

Where does one purchase these trousers?

-Jake

 

[Alan Eardley]

From a firm called Stabo in the UK.

Alan

 

[MrBern]

Where does one purchase these trousers?

-Jake

http://www.stabo.co.uk/trousers1.htm