A
Anonymous
Guest
I have read here many times that one should not trust the size label and must go with the measurements.
Indeed some makers have messed up the sizes so much that every meaning of size has been lost.
I making this post because I want to make some things clear.
There is no such thing that because men where shorter and smaller in wwii the jackets the jackets fit different than they should.
If your chest measures 40 and you try on a wwii size 40, it should fit, period. Thank God they haven't changed the inches since wwii.
At BK had some experiences where customers appear totally confused with sizes and altough their chest measures X they order size Y. Then they come back complaining about the fit. Same applies with the sleeve length. 90% of the customers won't have the regular sleeve length. They want to change it. And many times they end up with longer/shorter sleeves.
I want to say, after examining many original A-2s in various sizes from various WWII makers that the WWII A-2 patterns are brilliant. They are meant to give the correct fit, the way a uniform should fit, i.e. not baggy, AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET THAT IS TO ORDER THE NUMBER YOU SEE ON THE MEASURING TAPE WHEN YOU MEASURE YOUR CHEST.
Some folks also seem bothered with the shoulders span of the jackets. They find it hard to understand how they will get into a jacket with 17 inches shoulders when their civi jacket which they think fits them like a glove has shoulders measurements of 20 inches.
I don't have a documented answer for that (although, I am trying to find some evidence of how the shoulders length is calculated basis the chest measurement). What I can say now is this: The US military in WWII were not stupid to make jackets that wouldn't fit their men. Sizes are determined according to chest. So if chest fits so should the shoulders.
Some people come asking for the epaulet length. They apparently worry that they will get droopy shoulders. THERE ARE NO WWII A-2 JACKETS WITH DROOPY SHOULDERS. NONE FROM THOSE WE HAVE SEEN HAD THEM. This is another proof that the WWII patterns were CORRECT.
I have noticed that some makers ask the customer what epaulet length they want in the process of ordering the jacket. That can only make me thing that the outcome is a custom jacket that has little to do with what the original was.
At BK we have not done anything to "improve" the patterns. No little tweeks, no corrections, no adjustments, no nothing. WHAT YOU GET IS RAW WWII JACKET.
We notice that some patterns have longer sleeves than others, but we have chosen to leave them alone as they are rather than making them all uniform.
The only adjustment I could recommend, IF NECESSARY, when ordering a jacket is the sleeve length. IMHO everything else should be left untouched.
In short, the US Military guarantees your good fit, so when ordering a BK you don't need to think about sizing issues. Issues that were created by other makers who messed up the sizes, e.g. tagged 46 but fits as 42. You won't find this with BK.
Sure, as all patterns are different some will fit you better than others. THE GOLDEN RULE is that if you order your chest measurement you will get a good fit. Now, if you want the BEST POSSIBLE fit, my advice is look at the measurements of the jackets from all available wwii makers for the same size. Somewhere in there you will find the best fit for you.
The purpose of writing this is to help you guys avoiding getting the wrong size/fit and get disappointed afterwards (and then blame the maker for it).
I think I covered most of the issue, but not sure if I forgot something. I will be happy to answer any questions you might have to the best of my knowledge from the experience I got from studying various WWII originals.
One more piece of advice. NEVER take/use the measurements for a size that you see written on forums. Most of the times, they are wrong. ALWAYS ask the maker. It doesn't cost you anything to send an email enquiring. The maker, any maker, will be happy to answer.
Merry Christmas!
Indeed some makers have messed up the sizes so much that every meaning of size has been lost.
I making this post because I want to make some things clear.
There is no such thing that because men where shorter and smaller in wwii the jackets the jackets fit different than they should.
If your chest measures 40 and you try on a wwii size 40, it should fit, period. Thank God they haven't changed the inches since wwii.
At BK had some experiences where customers appear totally confused with sizes and altough their chest measures X they order size Y. Then they come back complaining about the fit. Same applies with the sleeve length. 90% of the customers won't have the regular sleeve length. They want to change it. And many times they end up with longer/shorter sleeves.
I want to say, after examining many original A-2s in various sizes from various WWII makers that the WWII A-2 patterns are brilliant. They are meant to give the correct fit, the way a uniform should fit, i.e. not baggy, AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET THAT IS TO ORDER THE NUMBER YOU SEE ON THE MEASURING TAPE WHEN YOU MEASURE YOUR CHEST.
Some folks also seem bothered with the shoulders span of the jackets. They find it hard to understand how they will get into a jacket with 17 inches shoulders when their civi jacket which they think fits them like a glove has shoulders measurements of 20 inches.
I don't have a documented answer for that (although, I am trying to find some evidence of how the shoulders length is calculated basis the chest measurement). What I can say now is this: The US military in WWII were not stupid to make jackets that wouldn't fit their men. Sizes are determined according to chest. So if chest fits so should the shoulders.
Some people come asking for the epaulet length. They apparently worry that they will get droopy shoulders. THERE ARE NO WWII A-2 JACKETS WITH DROOPY SHOULDERS. NONE FROM THOSE WE HAVE SEEN HAD THEM. This is another proof that the WWII patterns were CORRECT.
I have noticed that some makers ask the customer what epaulet length they want in the process of ordering the jacket. That can only make me thing that the outcome is a custom jacket that has little to do with what the original was.
At BK we have not done anything to "improve" the patterns. No little tweeks, no corrections, no adjustments, no nothing. WHAT YOU GET IS RAW WWII JACKET.
We notice that some patterns have longer sleeves than others, but we have chosen to leave them alone as they are rather than making them all uniform.
The only adjustment I could recommend, IF NECESSARY, when ordering a jacket is the sleeve length. IMHO everything else should be left untouched.
In short, the US Military guarantees your good fit, so when ordering a BK you don't need to think about sizing issues. Issues that were created by other makers who messed up the sizes, e.g. tagged 46 but fits as 42. You won't find this with BK.
Sure, as all patterns are different some will fit you better than others. THE GOLDEN RULE is that if you order your chest measurement you will get a good fit. Now, if you want the BEST POSSIBLE fit, my advice is look at the measurements of the jackets from all available wwii makers for the same size. Somewhere in there you will find the best fit for you.
The purpose of writing this is to help you guys avoiding getting the wrong size/fit and get disappointed afterwards (and then blame the maker for it).
I think I covered most of the issue, but not sure if I forgot something. I will be happy to answer any questions you might have to the best of my knowledge from the experience I got from studying various WWII originals.
One more piece of advice. NEVER take/use the measurements for a size that you see written on forums. Most of the times, they are wrong. ALWAYS ask the maker. It doesn't cost you anything to send an email enquiring. The maker, any maker, will be happy to answer.
Merry Christmas!