ATF Observations and Responses

[Chandler]

As much as we all know and discuss the multiple variances in flight jackets from WW2, Rollin's latest struggles with "experts" really made me roll my eyes.

I especially love:

"This cannot be spec! How can this have been allowed to happen?"

US Facts - At The Front

The unexpected controversy over the “US” markings has been a total surprise to me. Even photos of piles of original gear, showing a wide range of variations of the markings, has simply prompted more questions. Why this year (2023) has seen a sudden fixation on them is a mystery. So, here are...

blog.atthefront.com

 

[Otter]

The horror, the horror!

 

[B-Man2]

It boggles the mind that some cannot accept that in production runs of any equipment or military gear totaling millions of units of anything … that there’s going to be some discrepancies or differences in manufacture of those items . Particularly when dealing with those kinds of numbers and that multiplier suppliers and manufacturers were being used .

 

[Chandler]

Particularly when dealing with those kinds of numbers and that multiplier suppliers and manufacturers were being used .

Not to mention manufacturing limits of those days and the fact that a lot of items were designed on-the-fly.

Nevermind the consternation (angst?) over stencil variances.

 

[JonnyCrow]

It boggles the mind that some cannot accept that in production runs of any equipment or military gear totaling millions of units of anything … that there’s going to be some discrepancies or differences in manufacture of those items . Particularly when dealing with those kinds of numbers and that multiplier suppliers and manufacturers were being used .

I remember seeing a Rock Island Arsenal Indian wars knapsack Burt with a upside down US, we know it happened

 

[CBI]

well, Rollin does like to make the most of "idiots" but yes, what a pain in the rear some of his customers are. If you are a grown adult who likse to dress up and play solider, you gotta have a screw loose.

 

[foster]

Good thing Rollin never ventured into making replica A-2 leather jackets.

 

[Chandler]

Good thing Rollin never ventured into making replica A-2 leather jackets.

Well, he's taking flack for the other jackets he's making, so I don't think he's terribly flappable.

Didn't WW2 Impressions offer an A-2 at one point? Can't remember where it was sourced from.

 

[Smithy]

I love ATF stuff, always have but if truth be told and we're honest I'd argue his Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS stuff was always that little bit better and more accurate than his US clobber. The research he put into Waffen-SS camo patterns and their printing alone was way ahead of anything else he has done. His attention to things like MP40, MP44 mag bandoliers and the like is the same, just crazy good.

 

[mulceber]

This should be required reading for the people who like to use spec sheet to assess accuracy.

 

[CBI]

for the first time in a long time he has first pattern Tankers now

 

[Chandler]

for the first time in a long time he has first pattern Tankers now

I mentioned that in another thread -- they just came in last week.

SM Wholesale vs. WWII Impressions

I dig the tan color of the jacket, and the fact that it’s made in Los Angeles, my hometown.

www.vintageleatherjackets.org

 

[Chandler]

Didn't WW2 Impressions offer an A-2 at one point? Can't remember where it was sourced from.

Looks like they still do. And the marketing spiel sounded familiar: sourced from the Cockpit.

 

[MauldinFan]

US Facts - At The Front

The unexpected controversy over the “US” markings has been a total surprise to me. Even photos of piles of original gear, showing a wide range of variations of the markings, has simply prompted more questions. Why this year (2023) has seen a sudden fixation on them is a mystery. So, here are...

blog.atthefront.com

I never pulled it on ATF, but I'd bought a reproduction musette bag from What Price Glory (I think) to replicate one worn by a specific war correspondent.
When I returned it, they wanted to know why, as the typeface for the 'US' was the tall sans-serif one that didn't match the real one I was trying to copy. When I explained to them, I'm sure in their eyes I was THAT guy who got nitpicky.
But it'd be like one of you trying to re-create someone's real A-2 and the maker shipping you a totally different-looking contract with different leather than you were looking for.

 

[Enigma1938]

Well, I observe that people are getting more 'stupid selfish and intolerant' as time goes by in the last couple of years. It's not only in discussing military gear, it's in every conceivable area of life...

 

[Thomas Koehle]

Well, I observe that people are getting more 'stupid selfish and intolerant' as time goes by in the last couple of years. It's not only in discussing military gear, it's in every conceivable area of life...

Same here: even more "internet-experts" pop up and the attitude of: i know everything - you know nuthn spreads more and more

 

[Otter]

It is "first world problems", suck it up buttercup, no disrespect intended to anyone.

 

[Thomas Koehle]

It is "first world problems", suck it up buttercup, no disrespect intended to anyone.

Didn’t reference to your comment - was obviously ironic anyway …

 

[Otter]

I should have put in a "winkey".
The ATF stuff looks nice, I had a browse, just worried about postage and VAT.

 

[Smithy]

I should have put in a "winkey".
The ATF stuff looks nice, I had a browse, just worried about postage and VAT.

I mentioned this in another thread...

I nearly bought a toque from them a few weeks back as they were on special. Toque was $9, shipping was going to be $41 for an item weighing around 100gms.