When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
If I recall, some years ago, Willis & Geiger, which had several Navy contracts back in WW2, did a re-release of some of their classic Navy designs. My guess would be that this is one of them.
I have a very good M-422A already. Pictures of it are posted here under vintage. I also have my own G-1 recently refinished, also with pictures here. This seems a good repro. Don't know if the collar is correct for that contract year. I probably will check. Also don't know if WG made G-1 jackets under that contract number. Does seem like a quite nice repro. Don't think I would be a player for $450 when there are good originals in that price range. Still looks like a good jacket and, in the day, WG made quality goods. Don't know if that's the case here.
This is a repro. I have a similar jacket in a 44. These are from the 80s/ early 90s. They are from the Avedon era. He bought the company and started manufacturing vintage style clothing and accessories. I got one used at a very good price because my dad's LWFoster size 40 wouldn't fit me anymore, plus I didn't want to ruin it. They are not totally accurate but mine suits me fine.
I had a WG Ernest Hemingway safari jacket from the Avedon period. The quality was excellent. I gave it to a friend. I figured 'gater hunting in the Okeefenokee Swamp probably didn't count as a real safari.
Well, I now own it! Put in what I thought was a ridiculously low bid and am now into it for under $200 including buyer's premium and shipping. No clue as to what to do now, but will post pics when it arrives and likely compare it to both my M-422A and G-1.
The jacket arrived yesterday. I'll post additional pictures when I get back. The jacket is in excellent condition with perfect leather, collar and lining. I has some minor mothing. This seems to be a common condition on all the WG repros that I've seen. The wind flap does not have the punched USN, which is correct for a 55J14 G-1. The collar does not have a "USN" stencil, which is not correct for this model. The collar has the correct shape for a 55J14. The goatskin is quite soft and supple. With the correct stencil, I believe that it would be an exact replica.
New pictures of the WG g-1 repro. The 1st shows the back of the collar. Note the absence of the "USN" stencil. The 2nd is the arm gusset, The 3rd shows the wind flap w/o the punched "USN".