Best Navy Dungarees

Who makes the best reproduction navy dungarees?

Mike

I have not put together my dungaree uniform yet because I have not decided the exact date I am shooting for. I have seen accounts (and pictures to confirm) that civilian chambray shirts were worn by some as the dungaree uniform. The white buttons should have been replaced by blue ones but I have seen photos with very light colored buttons and pocket flaps along with ones with buttons that are close to the shirt collar and no pocket flaps.

Sorry I can't give a report on any suppliers. I am in the research phase on that one as well and I have found contradictory documentation that I am still sorting out. The posed news photos don't always jive with personal photos of people's relatives.

Best reproduction dungarees here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/US-Navy-Den...765?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ebfff4725

I tried contacting the guy on eBay but no reply, can't even ask due to "high volume of questions". Is this a new company? I would love a pair in my size????????

CBI said:

I tried contacting the guy on eBay but no reply, can't even ask due to "high volume of questions". Is this a new company? I would love a pair in my size????????

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Size 34 in stock, more on the way.

How do we find out about other sizes?

CBI said:

How do we find out about other sizes?

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Advise what size you need...will contact when next batch comes through. Don't know why eBay contact channel isn't working for you - other msgs coming through fine.

Considering how these are cut and shrinkage, a 38 would be best for me as I am really a 36. This has worked for me with every WW2 era pair of pants I have purchased. Let me know - thanks

Oh, this is what I get when I tried to contact the seller on eBay:

We're sorry we couldn't find an answer for you. Unfortunately, due to the high volume of messages this seller receives, they are unable to respond to your specific question right now. We suggest reviewing the item again to see if your answer is in the seller's listing.

Any word on this?? Where we can find these??? I"d like to have a pair of Bell Bottoms Dungarees... A photo of my Dad in the early 1950s, home on Leave From Korea in his Bell Bottom Dungarees:

Got it...will advise when new stock comes in. Will check into the eBay message problem.

Navy Dungarees

Highlander said:

Any word on this?? Where we can find these??? I"d like to have a pair of Bell Bottoms Dungarees... A photo of my Dad in the early 1950s, home on Leave From Korea in his Bell Bottom Dungarees:

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Those look like private purchase dungarees of the era. It is still possible to get new old stock bell bottom dungarees from the Seafarer factory in some sizes, but they are not your Dad's (or my Dad's) dungarees.

Seafarer has also announced plans to offer a new line of dungarees in both straight leg and bell bottom versions. They're behind schedule, but I'm assured it will happen...sometime.

In the meantime, I plan, on a more modest scale, to offer two additional throwback dungaree styles:

1. 1943 QM Army/Navy style, dungaree cut, with patch hip pockets, front slash pockets, long rise, button fly, and felled seams.

2. 50's - 70's aftermarket style with four large patch pockets, zip or button fly, straight or bell.

There is evidence that some issue chambray shirts were finished with white buttons. I'd suggest that matching blue-gray, or contrasting olive or darker blue buttons, are more representative. Period photos show sailors in private purchase chambray shirts in a variety of styles. To me the keys are pocket alignment with front placket, flared collar, gusset tail, and felled seams.

I'll offer some repro pocket flap style dungaree shirts, as shown in 1941 Uniform Regulations, in late spring 2013. All cotton chambray with corozo buttons.

1930artdeco said:

Who makes the best reproduction navy dungarees?

Mike

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Hi Mike,
You can try at WWII Impressions, here the link:
http://www.wwiiimpressions.com/usn.html

Brawler

Some observations on the WWII Impressions product: It isn't "wrong" to the extent that there is evidence that their pattern was in use during the period. Based on my research, their product appears to be derived from a private purchase pattern made by a California naval tailor. The extent to which this can be considered representative can be questioned for the following reasons: First, the pockets are aligned differently than most period dungarees (not to mention the example pictured at the website), in that the front patch pocket rear seam is not in alignment with the too-small, misshapen rear pockets. To me, this presents a "low rider" look that might be OK for a gangster impression, but is decidedly not OK for a representative version of the fighting uniform of the WWII US Navy. Second, the WWII IMP product has outer felled seams, which would be representative for a slash pocket design, but not necessarily for a patch pocket design. Some of the more fastidious living historians out there have complained about this. Third, the WWII IMP product fly is finished with 5/8" anchor buttons. Not wrong, but plain melamine or metal donut buttons would be more representative. Last and perhaps most importantly, people have complained that the fit isn't quite right, or not what they expected. I believe this is because 1) the cut is more of a modern jean cut, not a full high waist "Navy cut" characteristic of period dungarees and 2) they are advertised as straight leg but there is actually a distinct taper to the lower leg, as opposed to the 1940's Navy specification which called for a wider knee and leg opening.

Having said this, last year Orvis had some success selling dungarees that looked a lot like the WWII IMP product, were made in America like WWII IMP products, and were marked up in price accordingly.

In summary, I applaud the effort by WWII IMP to offer WWII-era USN uniforms, but I would like to see some improvements in terms of authenticity, fit, and quality. Admittedly my product isn't 100% yet either, but we work to improve the product with every run.

The more pictures I look at the more I think that if you are doing a 1940s group interpretation you should source dungarees from more than one source. most pictures I see with several salors have a mixture of styles. There does not seem to have been much uniformity to the uniform.

USN dungarees back in stock on eBay. Limited quantities. Search "USN dungarees".

I would not think there is much of a market for this myself. Doing land battles is one thing done a bit easier than doing sea battle scenes.

I'm not giving up the day job anytime soon, but these do sell rather well. WWII Impressions just updated its offering with a single seam version per 1941 specs. I bought an evaluation copy and it was very nice. Fit, cut, and pocket alignment issues resolved. Since their "new" pattern is only offered in sizes 30-38, I'm taking care of the bigger boys.

WWII Impressions without a doubt. I have their Army denims and love them!


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1930artdeco said:

Who makes the best reproduction navy dungarees?

Mike

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A lot has changed since this post was put up. Now higher quality reproduction WW2 US Navy dungarees are available from three sources: WWIIImpressions, SM Wholesale and soon to be from At the Front. All the sources now make the pants with the single felled seams (only on the inside leg) and all the chambray shirts are close to originals from the era. You can see WWIIImpressions dungs at http://www.wwiiimpressions.com/usn.html, SM Wholesales dungs at http://www.smwholesaleusa.com/ww2-us/usn-usmc and At the Fronts coming chambray shirt on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/At-the-Front-388629327914069/?fref=ts by scrolling down. I deal with all three vendors so I will not commit to an opinion as to which ones are best but am willing to discuss specific details if you're interested.