Enfield1940 Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 Hi, I decided to have a gamble on this indifferently photographed and well used Para smock on eBay: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160781963962?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 Is it a 1977 type? It has a green backed zip and the press studs look decidedly Newey-ish to me. It also appears to have had the epaulettes removed - any idea why? Cheers, Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdbikemad Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 I's agree with the early issue Mark.....the emerald-green cotton backed zip is always a good clue, as is the small darkish-green cotton label usually suggesting H E Textiles or similar........also, no FFD pocket on the right sleeve suggests pre-83/84.... Not sure why the epaulettes have gone.....but on a baggy para smock worn by a non-officer they are a pretty useless feature and a snag-risk.......and on the average para smock they rarely sit on the shoulder ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enfield1940 Posted April 20, 2012 Author Share Posted April 20, 2012 Thanks. I'll report back when I get it. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enfield1940 Posted April 27, 2012 Author Share Posted April 27, 2012 Well it is a 1977 type with the Newey hardware, but sadly it's well hammered and it has a less desirable metric label. (Extremely faded) I think - compared to the circa 1977-81 and circa 1984-87 Para Smocks I own - it may be made of cotton-modal rather than cotton-sateen fabric. Interestingly though, a couple of the pockets are made of the 'dotty' DPM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdbikemad Posted April 28, 2012 Share Posted April 28, 2012 It's very difficult nowadays to find the early-issue para smocks in a decent condition.....and they were never as common as the general issue 68 pattern that can be fairly easily and cheaply found...... Best sources today, in my humble opinion, are the military shows where the odd item can still be found for often very reasonable prices....only last week, my near-new 66-dated size 8 60 pattern in green for a tenner shows that things can still be found.....but if that were Ebay....well, a fair bit more to pay.....:-\ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotch Harry Posted April 28, 2012 Share Posted April 28, 2012 Unfortunately these days sellers are using the high Ebay prices as their benchmark prices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airportable Posted April 28, 2012 Share Posted April 28, 2012 I totally agree with wkib. getting up early and surporting military events/militairs and even car boots is paying divedends. I have never bought from a on line auction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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