G-1 flight jacket ID help needed

[Dgilbert66]

I acquired a G-1 Jacket at an estate sale this weekend, labeled as a "Korean War" era jacket. Unfortunately both the maker tag and the size tag are both missing. As you can see it is in decent shape except for a tear in the lining near the bottom waist cuff. and it is missing one button. So my questions are, for the experts here:


1. Is it possible to ID the jacket from pocket style or other identifying features?
2. it appears to be goatskin to me, but need confirmation
3. the windflap does NOT have USN stamped into it for some reason. Nor is there a USN imprint under the collar.
4. do you believe the collar is real mouton or imitation?
5. it has a Talon zipper with lanyard
6. finally, era it is from... the lining is sort of a slick brownish-pinkish tone, seems like a man-made material such as polyester and not cotton, so I am guessing post-WWII.
thank you for any help you can offer!
DG

 

[Silver Surfer]

Could be wrong, but from the looks of it, you have a late ,50s civy version of the same era service issued g-1s. Contract? Dunno. Collar fur looks to be just that, fur. Goatskins.

 

[tda003]

Looking at the collar area, I can see stitching holes where a label was sewn, but that's not to say it wasn't a private purchase label. Also, stitching on the hanger loop is vertical, which is the 1st time I've seen that. Also, without the "USN" punched nor stencilling, it's unlikely to be a contract G-1.

I tend to agree with Silver Surfer.

 

[JonnyCrow]

Looking at the collar area, I can see stitching holes where a label was sewn, but that's not to say it wasn't a private purchase label. Also, stitching on the hanger loop is vertical, which is the 1st time I've seen that. Also, without the "USN" punched nor stencilling, it's unlikely to be a contract G-1.

I tend to agree with Silver Surfer.

Nearly every official G1 I've seen or ones I've owned were punched USN or at least back collar traces of paint, as a point what differed from the USN stencil and the anchor stencil in terms of period?

 

[MikeyB-17]

I also wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a civi version of a military contract jacket- made by one of the military makers, probably on the same production line, but for civilian or possibly PX sale hence no stamp or stencil. Cuffs are definitely replaced, I reckon the zip has been as well. Still a decent jacket-scalloped pocket flaps are usually an indicator of an earlier-40’s/50’s-jacket, later ones were curved. Navy jackets have always had man-made linings, rayon initially then nylon or similar.

 

[JonnyCrow]

I also wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a civi version of a military contract jacket- made by one of the military makers, probably on the same production line, but for civilian or possibly PX sale hence no stamp or stencil. Cuffs are definitely replaced, I reckon the zip has been as well. Still a decent jacket-scalloped pocket flaps are usually an indicator of an earlier-40’s/50’s-jacket, later ones were curved. Navy jackets have always had man-made linings, rayon initially then nylon or similar.

Mikey I have a old jacket American horsehide with that silk rayon type lining, a motorcycle jacket with talon zipper

 

[Dgilbert66]

tda003 yes there is a rectangular pattern of stitch holes in the lining near the collar, so at one time yes there was a label there. I sure wish someone had not removed it in the last 70 years.

 

[Chandler]

Nearly every official G1 I've seen or ones I've owned were punched USN or at least back collar traces of paint, as a point what differed from the USN stencil and the anchor stencil in terms of period?

I have an early '50s Monarch with no markings on windflap or collar, but has the usual spec tag. I've posed the question that it could be Coast Guard issued, but haven't learned anything about that branch using G-1s.

 

[Skyhawk]

I have had original 1950's G-1's that had no paint left from the stencil at all. It was removed somehow. This could be original.

what it does have
- Vintage Goatskin
- Real vintage mouton fur
- The correct color Rayon Liner
- The correct buttons
- late 1940's shaped pockets
- The zipper, could be replaced but there were some odd ones on G-1's as well. I had an 1950's Amendment #2 G-1 that had a blackened Talon Hershey Bar style zipper. It was original.

The USCG has used G-1's for a very long time. Sometimes they have USCG stamped in the windflap, sometimes USN. That is a modern deal though and I suspect older G-1's had the USN on them.

 

[Chandler]

I have had original 1950's G-1's that had no paint left from the stencil at all. It was removed somehow.

How can you tell for sure that it was ever there?

 

[Skyhawk]

It had to be there at one time on that jacket because it had the spec label and it was required to have the stencil up until like 1956 -1957, when they went to the punched windflap instead. I've had G-1's that have both from that change over period. I have seen some stencils removed with solvent, or covered with dye, Then that Foster, just gone without a trace. Diluted paint thinner maybe? I don't know.

 

[Chandler]

It had to be there at one time on that jacket because it had the spec label and it was required to have the stencil up until like 1956 -1957, when they went to the punched windflap instead. I've had G-1's that have both from that change over period. I have seen some stencils removed with solvent, or covered with dye, Then that Foster, just gone without a trace. Diluted paint thinner maybe? I don't know.

Wouldn't solvent cause some finish wear?

I'll take a closer look (again) at mine, but I haven't found any remnants in the past.*

I'll get a good pic too, if I can.

*Just looked again -- no variation in the color or finish, no remnants of paint in the stitching. I'll use my digital to get some detailed shots tomorrow.

Does anyone else have an early 50s Monarch G-1? With or without a collar stencil?

 

[Skyhawk]

Do you want to sell this fine jacket? You won't when I tell you what I think it is.

It's an issued jacket from before 1956. I zoomed in to your back collar pic. There are remnants of yellow paint. It looks to be an offset USN, with the N on the right. H.L. Block used that stencil for their M-422a Jackets. The liner matches the Block. You can clearly see that the zipper was replaced so that is not a factor.

If the armpit vents are stitched instead of metal eyelets, that would be the clencher.

USN WWII Bomber jacket.

I used to have one of those. Cool jackets. That one would not be hard to restore.

 

[Dgilbert66]

Skyhawk, the armpit vents are metal eyelets, unfortunately! For the life of me, I can't see any yellow paint remnants under the collar. Maybe just my bad eyes.

I've had someone message me, confident that what I have is an 1943/44 American Sportswear Navy flight jacket, AN-6552. Maybe a leftover after the Navy cancelled their contract, or a civilian version. He said they may have used the Talon zippers since the Conmar was part of the Navy contract.

 

[Skyhawk]

Here is what I saw but you have to zoom way in. could be a light artifact I guess. The zipper was replaced for sure so that is not what the original zipper was.

 

[Skyhawk]

Skyhawk, the armpit vents are metal eyelets, unfortunately! For the life of me, I can't see any yellow paint remnants under the collar. Maybe just my bad eyes.

I've had someone message me, confident that what I have is an 1943/44 American Sportswear Navy flight jacket, AN-6552. Maybe a leftover after the Navy cancelled their contract, or a civilian version. He said they may have used the Talon zippers since the Conmar was part of the Navy contract.

American Sportswear is another possibility. The Pocket flaps are similar and they also used yellow paint for the stencil.

 

[Dgilbert66]

thank you everyone for your help, it is greatly appreciated. I guess I will have to sell this one as I can't even begin to fit into it, it was just too nice to pass up at the sale. Wish it was a 44.

 

[johnwayne]

To me and I’m no specialist in this area but apart from Talon zipper it’s pretty much like my ‘57 Cagleco’s - I have two both ‘44’s.

 

[Skyhawk]

To me and I’m no specialist in this area but apart from Talon zipper it’s pretty much like my ‘57 Cagleco’s - I have two both ‘44’s.

No it could not be Cagleco. I agree that the pocket shape is similar The waist knit is the wrong color though. Plus the mouton is pretty light. Most Caglecos had very dark mouton that didn't fade as much as other makers. The bigger difference is the huge wide topstitch on the pockets. I think that feature points solidly to American Sportswear:

 

[johnwayne]

Did question the colour of knits after I posted but thought mouton might just be faded! Did say I was no specialist!!