boots dms Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 I recently aquired a ww2 style windproof smock in a green heavy denim material for a sum of £30.00.I thought it was a replica as it is almost new and intended to use it for hillwalking as its a nice nondiscript green.But on further investigation I am wondering if it is a ww2 original green denim snow smock, the label has been removed but it has a W.D stamp and arrow on the inside and I think a number 9 above this and a number 88 below .The buttons appear to be bakelite not plastic. Before I subject it to the rigours of the hills and woods I am wondering if it is an original if it would be more prudent to look after it . I don,t know how rare these are or even the value of them and was after any advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chevpol Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 nice, rare, interesting smock Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enfield1940 Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 Wdbikemad will confirm, but it looks like an olive green 1963 Pattern Windproof smock. If it is, hang it carefully in a cupboard - it's rare and valuable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eaglehurst Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 Wdbikemad will confirm, but it looks like an olive green 1963 Pattern Windproof smock. If it is, hang it carefully in a cupboard - it's rare and valuable. Agree with above. A 1963 Patt olive green. Real shame it is missing the label... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdbikemad Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 (edited) Sadly, NOT a 63 pattern olive green windproof........these were made in olive drab cotton gabardine (not denim or sateen), had the thick green 50s/60s combat smock cords fitted at the lower hem, had wrist adjustment tabs and buttons and a full-length frontal zipper and wind-baffle.........the older denim version (the fabric being the same as denim BD, tanksuits, etc) did not have any of these features.........the green 63 pattern garments did not appear until at least 1964 and lasted until 1970-ish in production..... The green denim smock (and trousers) were first introduced as early as 1941 (I have such a smock myself dated "Nov 41").........these were indeed part of the "snow suit" ensemble of various specialist items intended for mountain troops..... The smock and trousers were intended to be worn in cold, dry, snow-less conditions.....the items are often referred to as "heavy" garments..........labels can confusingly vary in nomenclature, and can state "Smock", "Smock Drab", "Smock Snow", "Snow Smock", etc (and similar variation for the matching trousers)...... The denim garment can be regarded as THE very first "SAS" pattern smock.......it was followed by the white version in heavy cotton, the various sand-colour versions in lightweight gabardine or poplin, and finally by the cammo version from 1943 onwards.........only the cammo version featured the wrist and lower-leg adjustment tabs and buttons, plus post-war manufactured cammo and green garments...... Manufacture of the original green denim suit lasted from 1941 to about 1943........these items used to be fairly common, and cheap........but the trousers were rarely encountered, even back then....... The reverse side of wartime green denim is generally a distinct "grey" shade, but I can't see that clearly on the smock featured. I wonder if it has been dyed at some point....? Buttons fitted were either dark-brown or khaki-brown vegetable fibre composition.....plus, most drab denim smocks and trousers I've seen were fitted with white or pale-drab drawtapes.....if these are any other colour I would suspect dyeing of the garment.........if it is not denim fabric, but a thicker cotton cloth then I would suspect a white snow smock that has also been dyed green at some point......this might account for the lack of label that would also have become dyed...... Even if dyed, too valuable to use for hill-walking methinks.... Edited July 29, 2012 by wdbikemad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eaglehurst Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 Sadly, NOT a 63 pattern olive green windproof........these were made in olive drab cotton gabardine (not denim or sateen), had the thick green 50s/60s combat smock cords fitted at the lower hem, had wrist adjustment tabs and buttons and a full-length frontal zipper and wind-baffle......... Hmmm - dunno how I missed that. Should look closer and not jump to conclusions I guess. Still the 63 Patt Olive smock is still THE piece missing from my collection.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boots dms Posted July 30, 2012 Author Share Posted July 30, 2012 Thanks for all the replies,very grateful.Looks like its back to the old red regatta waterproof for the hills. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdbikemad Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 (edited) Hmmm - dunno how I missed that. Should look closer and not jump to conclusions I guess. Still the 63 Patt Olive smock is still THE piece missing from my collection.... Hey Jason ! It's easily done.....I bought something only last year for the bike and didn't look at the part on the jumblers stall closely enough even though it was examined in my own hands....and I forked out £25 quid for the wrong part.... ...I was looking for a switch with the positions "Off, T, H, L" rather than the common "Off, T, L, H"..........unbelievably, I bought the wrong one despite knowing what I was looking for...........what a plonker...:-( Edited July 30, 2012 by wdbikemad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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