MikeyB-17
Well-Known Member
Well you can consider me well pleased with myself. Picked this up from the Post Office this morning, a 1975 Greenbrier Industries J-CWFS, forerunner of the CWU-45/P Nomex winter flying jacket. Bought for £25 on Ebay from a UK 'Thrift Store' seller who didn't really know what he was dealing with-a situation I've done well out of in the past. I'm a big fan of the Bi-swing Nomex jackets, which are warm, comfortable and I much prefer the styling to the nylon MA-1/L-2 types. Plus they're fireproof! I had a Greenbrier CWU-45/P a few years ago which I regretted selling, so I bought another off Greyhound here, with no label, which I wear regularly. I had thought that one was also a Greenbrier, but there are several differences in construction which make me doubt that now (although it's a later jacket-1980 by the cut-off windflap corner). The new one is in the best condition of any I've owned-no shell or knit damage, no stitching issues, and the male end of the zip tape is virtually undamaged, a sure sign it's not had much wear. I wouldn't call it unworn but it's not been worn much. Nice clear, firmly attached label. The zips are Servals (both my Greenbriers had Scovills). I was particularly interested in seeing what evidence remained of the inner signal pocket (unmentioned in the listing), which I knew these had-I was confidently expecting to see two velcro strips where it once resided, but in fact I found not only the pocket but the orange signal flag still in it! It's a large, and as I've always found, the fit is excellent, very comfortable, a much more modern fit than the 60's jackets. I think I will keep this one for very occasional wear-these bi-swing CWU's are funny creatures, supposedly more sought-after than the later non-bi-swing versions, and I've seen them going for three-figure sums on Ebay, yet I've only paid peanuts for all of mine, and I know I'm not alone. They seem to be obtainable on the cheap if you're lucky, which I think I have been!