Recent content by Maverickson

Seeing is believing. I would not have thought it possible Eddelle carried that same atypical knife during the Aleutian Campaign had that period picture not existed. Likewise me saving a period picture (seen below) of what I thought might include one of those more elusive Switlik M-422...

Hi All, Thought to add some images of Edelle's survival knife that I received along with his Switlik M-422 jacket. As explained to me from Edelle's kinfolk, gifted to him by his crew and favored over his USN issue. As seen on Attu with his crew. A close up of Edelle's knife. Cheers, Dave

On the contrary, I would have to say that G-1 flight jackets were in fact worn by USN aviators during Vietnam. As evidenced to images I've seen taken during my late father's 1968 combat deployment in the Gulf of Tonkin while aboard the USS Oriskany. Those pix were taken in December or January...

Hi All, Recently completed my second size 46 AN-J-3A Monarch restoration. During this process I was pleasantly surprised to find that each of the two jackets were in fact built using different patterns. All in spite of the fact that both jackets are from the exact same contract. Besides the...

Hi All, By chance I came up with the USN AN-J-3A specifications. To include the required outer shell (goatskin) material as seen highlighted below. As I surmised much like the required color of the brown knits, only goatskin was specified to have been used for the AN-J-A's outer shell. No...

Hi J, My mistake! Since you purchased all specs from Mark how about providing that AN-J-3A outer shell info for clarification? My guess is that only goat skin was in fact specified. I would like to know whether or not the USN deviated from that goat hide specification or was horse hide also...

Mark, Found that you had in fact already included some of the specifications for the AN-J-3A. More specifically regarding the type of hides to be used for the outer shell and as see below. Before seeing your provided specifications I thought that perhaps the USN had left more leeway in the type...

Hi Mark, I had a question related to the USN specifications regarding the type of hides to be used for the AN-J-3A? Notably you listed both earlier and later model specs. Specifically whether or not only brown goatskin is mentioned for the outer shell material. Thanks, Dave

Hi All, Just finished up restoring a 1943 model size 46 Monarch (representing one of 2% of those built from this contract) AN-J-3A. In fact my second from this same 20570 contract. Thought to use dull purple colored knits like periodically found on jackets from this same model Monarch...

Yes, I believe that a wise man once said "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink."

Hi Coolhand, There is no convincing everyone. Some are steadfast to USN specifications. In reality all WW-2 jacket makers only loosely followed given jacket specifications. Something that became very evident to me through many years of hands on experience and the school of hard knocks.That is...

Hi All, All the horsehide W&G 35805 ANJ-J-3A jackets I have seen came equipped with a Talon. What I refer to as a late War (44/45) brass (blackened) Talon. As found used with AN-J-3A's and last seen used on 1948 or 1949 manufactured 55J14 G-1 USN type jackets. Cheers, Dave

Hi All, Yes, zippers have been used on jackets for some time. A good early example is my civilian survivor which has a brass Talon that may very well predate date 1932. The jacket was made by an aviation equipment manufacturer and worn by early aviators. A number of patent dates are seen...

Hi, Looks like the same type female connection point as seen on a Talon zip for a G-1. In that case it was Ralph Edwards 7823A model G-1. I believe that contract was let in 1961. The exception being that particular zip's teeth were aluminum. But still probably roughly dates your A-2. Cheers,Dave

Hi All, Please see yet another example of red knits on a USN type jacket. A same make and model Star with red knits as mentioned earlier by the Silver Surfer. As per John Chapman's Flight jacket CD. In this case a post War Star 55J14. As seen the pix are detailed enough to indicate that...