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Finally - At The Front Luftwaffe Kanal Jackets

Adama36

Well-Known Member
not a big fan of the pics shown on ATFs website and not a big fan of the pics shown by John (sorry man).
the collar , the fabric (color and material), the button and zipper look weird. Fur looks (is) too fake.

wondering if Shawn from 5 star could try to make one
 

CBI

Well-Known Member
to each his own, as I said for many VLJ'rs - they may not like this. Been wearing it all morning and actually really loving it. Like my Bronson N-1, this will be a good run to the store jacket. I guess I need to see in the long run. Maybe for some its more of a Kanal "inspired" jacket.
 

Enigma1938

Well-Known Member
This is about as good as its going to get as I don't see anyone else planning on making these. Noble House makes a similar product w/o the fur collar....

I dunno what you mean. NH's version has indeed a fur collar and it's real sheep fleece. As I mentioned before I had that NH jacket, and it was despite the stupid zippers and the fluff magnet fabric a pretty nice jacket actually. If NH would use better more period correct zippers and a better fabric and if they would rectify some seams and stitches it would still not be 100% authentic but would be a great repro nevertheless!


For a good summer "kanal jacke" I can highly recommend SM wholesale.


For the winter versions in leather/ suede there's a good but expensive one at connectionknitwear (also available in correct blue)

 

CBI

Well-Known Member
Oh yes, I was thinking of what would be NH's Summer version:

B00V3ITJFU

Looks like their cloth Winder version is much thicker that the ATF.

Yes, LOVE the Connection Knitwear. The last time I checked there were issues with ordering due to Covid and (if I recall) the maker having the proper materials
 

Kermit3D

Well-Known Member
I dunno what you mean. NH's version has indeed a fur collar and it's real sheep fleece. As I mentioned before I had that NH jacket, and it was despite the stupid zippers and the fluff magnet fabric a pretty nice jacket actually. If NH would use better more period correct zippers and a better fabric and if they would rectify some seams and stitches it would still not be 100% authentic but would be a great repro nevertheless!


For a good summer "kanal jacke" I can highly recommend SM wholesale.


For the winter versions in leather/ suede there's a good but expensive one at connectionknitwear (also available in correct blue)


I just discovered SM wholesale. It seems they have fantastic products ! Their boots look great.
Thanks for this post. :)
 

Enigma1938

Well-Known Member
And I have the blue summer "kanaljacke" from them, super quality and authenticity, I just had to change the repro Rapid zipper with an original.
 

CBI

Well-Known Member
ATF placing another order for these since they sold out so quickly. Also 20 being made with real fur collars/lining, says it almost doubles the price of the jacket??????
 
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MauldinFan

Well-Known Member
I'm not surprised they sold out. I knew a guy who used to work there and he said it's really as much of a shoestring, "Hey, wouldn't it be cool if we made ___" operation as the comments in those emails and the website suggest. I wouldn't be surprised if they had no idea it would sell or not, so they didn't make many.
I have no interest in one but I think it's great they made them for those who wanted one.
I love ATF's work, I have a B-10, M-43, M-41 from them and their new winter combat ('tanker') jacket is probably the most comfortable jacket I own of any type.
 

ausreenactor

Well-Known Member
I'm not surprised they sold out. I knew a guy who used to work there and he said it's really as much of a shoestring, "Hey, wouldn't it be cool if we made ___" operation as the comments in those emails and the website suggest. I wouldn't be surprised if they had no idea it would sell or not, so they didn't make many.
I have no interest in one but I think it's great they made them for those who wanted one.
I love ATF's work, I have a B-10, M-43, M-41 from them and their new winter combat ('tanker') jacket is probably the most comfortable jacket I own of any type.
Big fan. Spied the N-4 I snaffled in 2019. Different fabric shade just for the Navy version...

WPG have filled a lot of collector niche demands too. With varying success. ATF tend to nail it more often than not.
 
Interesting-In a way it is like a spiritual child of the late war flight jacket which has synthetic fur-not sure what the original material was, some kind of velour.
2egfp59.jpg
 

CBI

Well-Known Member
Yes, I had read somewhere that towards the end of the war, they were using any materials they had to make gear including synthetics. Recreating a 100% original repro might be next to impossible to get "correct" as there may have been so many variables. All the Kanal jackets I have seen have a rather large collar which of course is a 'thing" with the real ones. I don't know why ATF's collar is smaller but I actually prefer it from the day to day wearer standpoint.

I wonder if ELC would ever make one as they seem to have had success with their Luftwaffe jackets as well as their shearlings. 5 Star is the logical choice to tackle a leather version.
 

CBI

Well-Known Member
At The Front has two of these in size small selling on sale as "defects" stitching and some seamstress markings.
 
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