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Fried Ostermann M-444A in outstanding condition

Falcon_52

Active Member
I completely understand about the smell element - there is definitely something about it.

Looking back through your photos, I noticed something interesting in the zipper photo. The bottom of the wind flap has a clean-cut edge instead of the familiar folded edge with the fleece showing. I wonder if this was a manufacturing anomaly perhaps? Anyway, some food for thought. Excellent jacket by the way! :)

Noel
 

bazelot

Well-Known Member
It looks like Fried Ostermann always have the flap sitting higher than the zipper tab. You can see it on their M422As and also in this case on the M444. No idea why they made their jackets like that. This was definitely factory made.
 

Tommy

Active Member
WWII_M444_Pilot.jpg


Image borrowed from Goodwear.

How long were these in issue for? Does the fact the officer appears to be wearing Winter Green's rather than Khakis help date it at all?

Anyways yours is a seriously nice example! Did Eastman (I know they had one planned), or anyone else ever make a repro of these?
 

bazelot

Well-Known Member
I have been wearing it regularly lately and it has the new feel thta you rarely get from a 1941 jacket. Super comfortable and super warm
 

Dave

New Member
On the greens question, it wasn’t necessarily a winter uniform, just considered a working uniform. As were khakis and the working grey uniforms. All could be seen at different times of year and different theaters. Therefore unlikely to help date the jacket.
 

Peter Graham

Well-Known Member
How did I miss this thread ? Stunning jacket Tom, and practical too. Those pockets make a big difference to wearability.
 

bazelot

Well-Known Member
THank you guys. Yes the jacket is truly unique. I thought I would find weak spots wearing it but there is none. It is just brand new and as strong as when it was made. Can't wear it anymore in San Francisco since we are well into the 70s-80s here. Can't even wear a M-422a... I won't complain but it was nice to be able to wear jackets for 2 weeks.
 

Dover

Active Member
Gorgeous jacket hard to believe that it 75+ years old. It's been a cold January here in NC. Going to keep an eye out for something in a fleece. D-1 perhaps?
Congrats on the lovely jacket.
 

daw

Well-Known Member
Seems like the original m444 (as shown here) has much thinner fleece than is available on many repro versions, for example on my RMNZ and W&G versions, or the US Authentic I've seen online. What was the standard thickness for these jackets?
 

bazelot

Well-Known Member
I saw the spec sheets not long ago about fleece thickness. THe M-445A was close 1 inch I believe and the M-444A was around a quarter of an inch. Don't quote me on this but I was shocked by the difference and you can feel it when you wear them
 

Tommy

Active Member
This has seriously become the Sheepskin I'm gonna have to get. There have been a few floating about but all with tell tale signs of flaking, maybe worth saving and going to Goodwear?
 
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