US Army Parka ID?

Hello folks!
I have been handed this to sell on behalf of a friend, but im looking for some help ID'ing it. It has the US stamp inside the same as i have seen in other US army jackets, but no other info. It appeared the fleece was the original lining but has been mostly cut out except for the collar (i reached that opinion based on the tufts around the pits which are still attached to the original stitching)
My friend got it from a Vintage store in LA they said it was from between the 50s-70s but i havent seen anything like it, and i cant find anything online. its similar to the M-1938 but it has extra pockets and no belt loops at all.
more pics here,

https://imgur.com/a/uaGj1

Cheers for the help

Jonathan

It's not US Army unless it is from 100 years ago. US Navy? Perhaps, but I have never seen anything like it. Same styling as the WWI peacoat except for that odd pocket under the left lapel. Perhaps a train ticket pocket? The buttons appear to have been replaced, except for the top right button. Does that button have any markings? If that is an original button, and it has no markings, I would say not US military. But then there is that troubling US stamp on the inside of the shell. That would be an odd place for a stamp if the coat originally had a shearling lining.

Shell appears to be waxed cotton. That type of shell, with a shearling lining, would make for a waterproof and warm coat for deck duty in the US Navy.

Sorry I can't give you any more information. All I can tell you is that it isn't US Army—but then there is that troubling US stamp on the shell. That is usually used for only the US Army, not Navy, Marines, Coast Guard or Air Force. Glad it is your problem, and not mine!

Peacoat said:

It's not US Army unless it is from 100 years ago. US Navy? Perhaps, but I have never seen anything like it. Same styling as the WWI peacoat except for that odd pocket under the left lapel. Perhaps a train ticket pocket? The buttons appear to have been replaced, except for the top right button. Does that button have any markings? If that is an original button, and it has no markings, I would say not US military. But then there is that troubling US stamp on the inside of the shell. That would be an odd place for a stamp if the coat originally had a shearling lining.

Shell appears to be waxed cotton. That type of shell, with a shearling lining, would make for a waterproof and warm coat for deck duty in the US Navy.

Sorry I can't give you any more information. All I can tell you is that it isn't US Army—but then there is that troubling US stamp on the shell. That is usually used for only the US Army, not Navy, Marines, Coast Guard or Air Force. Glad it is your problem, and not mine!

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It gets even more confusing, i didnt think to look under the button the top left button seems to be the replacement, the remaining 5 have "real coralicorn" and a triangle with 4 dots in it. the only think im getting on google is a post from facebook which i will copy in here:- "I have had one of those excellent "Panzer" styled leder(leather)jackets...made in Prossnitz,Moravia.The reverse of the buttons is the same...as one I googled,the only one that appeared."Real Coralicorn" is the raised lettering there along with a triangle,made from Baklit,an early plastic.I need to find more of these buttons but these jackets are very scarce!German midget Sub-mariners leather jackets would be!The SS-Panzer korps also used these and others like them...rarely ever photographed"

The only other thing i can see for the buttons is from a Czech site which states :- "Today on the surface of the field. Real Coralicorn Button Button. According to Guglu, it was used on uniforms of American soldiers when landing on Omaha Beach in 1944. The same brand of buttons was used by the German Navy on submarines."

This requires some true detective skills i think haha

thanks for getting back to me by the way!

I'd bet that it is not from WWII, much less the 1950s-1970s. If it is U.S. military, it's pre WWII. If so, I have no idea whether it's Army, Navy or Marines. My guess would be Navy as it's similar to the pea coat design of the era and close to the WWII era US Navy Transport Coat (that shell was mole skin). But, it could be something that the Army or Marines issued. Or, it could just be that the "U.S." stamp on the inside is throwing us all off and it's a civilian jacket.

Regardless, it's a neat find.

- Ian

EmergencyIan said:

I'd bet that it is not from WWII, much less the 1950s-1970s. If it is U.S. military, it's pre WWII. If so, I have no idea whether it's Army, Navy or Marines. My guess would be Navy as it's similar to the pea coat design of the era and close to the WWII era US Navy Transport Coat (that shell was mole skin). But, it could be something that the Army or Marines issued. Or, it could just be that the "U.S." stamp on the inside is throwing us all off and it's a civilian jacket.

Regardless, it's a neat find.

- Ian

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I think thats the issue we are facing here. It is similar to alot of US gear, its so similar to the M-1938 but it has pockets instead of belt loops. i can see why you would say the transport coat, the main issue there is the fastening and material.. ill give it another google when i think of something new to search haha.

It looks like a regular 1930s mackinaw coat with those side pockets and no belt / belt loops. The remains of the lining suggest a red plaid lining originally.

The US military copied this type of coat as the M1938 'Jeep Coat'. I'm guessing that at the start of WWII the military didn't have enough coats and sourced civilian coats, which had the US stencil added to denote military usage, until they got the required numbers from official military contracts.

If I had to guess, I'd bet that it's civilian. If you watch Westerns (movies and TV) from the 40s through the early 70s, these same coats are all over the place. None of us were adults shopping in Men's wear /stores/sections back then, but I bet if we were adult men in the 1930s and 40s, we'd, instantly, recognize this coat as civilian mackinaw type. I think HanauMan is probably right on.

The reason I hesitate is because I can't say for sure, but that's my guess.

- Ian