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the not 5* goatskin dubow

Silver Surfer

Well-Known Member
pics of this one pretty much says it all. made last year? nope, made in 1942. the jacket is completely untouched and original, even the leather zipper puller. interesting that of the goatskin dubows that I have handled or owned, they were all fitted with crown zippers. the original owner a. Benedict Schneider jr [the a was for adolph, he didn't use it much] flew a scalpel, and made rank in the aaf us and England. I misplaced the read outs that jan and Natalie worked up about Schneider. the jacket fits as a true size 42 as tagged, and is inn every day wearable condition.....not that would even consider serious wear time with it.
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Chandler

Well-Known Member
So, the leather thong zipper pull was a true, issue item? I think I only ever got them on my Flight Suits jackets*.

Although, my original AN has one, but you know those Navy procurement guys were pretty picky. ;)

*I don't even see them on JC's jackets.
 

Silver Surfer

Well-Known Member
Damnit, I hate spell check. And for that matter, anything that interferes with my train of thought. Yeah, leather zipper pullers are uncommon. Because a repro does not include the pullers does not mean that they were not original to original a-2s. Most of the Time when I have gotten an original with an original puller, the leather was thread bare and shot.
 
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Chandler

Well-Known Member
Because a repro does not include the pullers does not mean that they were not original to original a-2s.
No doubt, but you'd think that if the pulls were standard in new-issue jackets, repro manufacturers would want to hold their "authenticity" levels to that detail.
 

Silver Surfer

Well-Known Member
Well, can’t say fore sure if all a-2s were issued with pulls or not, as I’ve only had or seen a few with them.it would seem that regardless of whether or not an a-2 was issued with a leather pull, owners stationed in England or Europe often improvised a puller so that they could navigate the zipper with gloves on. One of my favs (mentioned in another thread) is the a-2 that I received with an aluminum ford tool tag attached to the zipper puller. Coins, bells, cord, and all kinds of gee gaws were used as well.
 
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