Questions About the United States Navy Peacoat

Peacoat · Dec 28, 2017

Your BR "heavy" N-1 may be more coat than the original. I have a mid 60s model, and it is warm with the Alpaca lining. I believe it has a drawstring waist, which helps tremendously. I can't imagine how warm that Transport coat is, though. You will need it when you are out New Year's eve. I saw your forecast this morning and it will be colder than normal. When I spent time in the City, all I had was a peacoat. It did me well as we walked everywhere when above ground. I wish I would have had a sweater to wear under it, but somehow that didn't happen.

Stay warm. PC

EmergencyIan · Dec 29, 2017

Peacoat said:
Your BR "heavy" N-1 may be more coat than the original. I have a mid 60s model, and it is warm with the Alpaca lining. I believe it has a drawstring waist, which helps tremendously. I can't imagine how warm that Transport coat is, though. You will need it when you are out New Year's eve. I saw your forecast this morning and it will be colder than normal. When I spent time in the City, all I had was a peacoat. It did me well as we walked everywhere when above ground. I wish I would have had a sweater to wear under it, but somehow that didn't happen.

Stay warm. PC

It’s very cold here, right now, and will be for the foreseeable future. I mostly welcome it.

Generally, during the winter in NYC, the Pea Coat with a scarf and gloves is more than sufficient. With a thick sweater, you’re almost always good to go. Back to those inner pockets, they’re swell when your a pedestrian in NYC.

It’s just that right now we’re getting near upper Midwest winter weather, at least for 10 to 14 days, unless it decides to stick around longer. So, things like the transport coat and the rough and ready “heavy” N-1 are go to’s.

- Ian

Peacoat · Dec 29, 2017

Better you than me, Ian. These days I don't handle the cold like I did back when I was a youngster doing the clubs in the Village and falling for the girls next door at NYU. Those were good times.

EmergencyIan · Dec 29, 2017

Peacoat said:
Better you than me, Ian. These days I don't handle the cold like I did back when I was a youngster doing the clubs in the Village and falling for the girls next door at NYU. Those were good times.

I can imagine so!

- Ian

triple-d · Jan 3, 2018

Peacoat said:
Well, I just saw the "Upload a File" in the bottom right corner of the screen. I think I can upload the photos directly from my hard drive. Let's see if this works.

Good to see you still around Peacoat....lol.......your peacoat knowledge is wonderful !!!!

Salem · Jan 14, 2018

Hey guys,
I've noticed when I use a sticky lint roller, a lot of the blue wool comes off with the lint and it seems to me that this will wear down the wool if done repeatedly overtime.
Just wonder what you guys think is the best way for removing lint off your peacoat?
Thanks.

Peacoat · Jan 14, 2018

I use a fabric lint brush, the type that only picks up lint in one direction. The sticky roller is probably easier on the fabric than what I use, but yes, anything that picks up the blue fabric will take some of the shell with it. In 10 or 15 years of daily brushing, it might be noticeable.

@triple-d: Thank you.

Salem · Jan 26, 2018

Hi Peacoat,
Thanks for all your help and guidance so far.
I've been reading some other forums on the peacoat and there seems to be some peeps who complain about the circumference of the arms/ sleeves - that they can be too big. Of the three peacoats that I have, two have large sleeves but I felt it was just part of the design for a vintage peacoat so it has not really bothered me. It's just par for the course. I don't plan on having mine altered but I was wondering if you ever did or do you feel the same way?
Cheers.

Peacoat · Jan 26, 2018

They are a bit larger than I would like. A slimmer version would look better, IMO.

Salem · Jan 27, 2018

I agree that a slimmer version would look better but 1) To do so would alter the original vintage design and 2) Alteration do not always work out as hoped in my experience.
I'm willing to live with mine as they are but did you ever alter any of yours?

Peacoat · Jan 28, 2018

No, because of your reasons 1) and 2). Never even considered having them altered.

Dr H · Jan 28, 2018

I bought a Ralph Lauren pre-War, 10-button version of the peacoat from an FL member a couple of years ago for a very good price. It doesn’t have the absolutely obsessive attention to detail of the Freewheelers or the Real McCoys versions, but at less than a 10th of the cost, I’m happy to live with the minor deviations. I’ve absolutely lived in it for the last couple of months in an around Bristol. Extremely warm, phenomally practical, very stylish. On the wettest day’s when it’s been squally, I have been swapping this for my Excalibur deck jacket (a Spiewak patterned on the N-1 using very similar materials for the civilian market in the 1940s or 1950s). Topped off with a watch cap, both work really well.

Salem · Feb 2, 2018

Hey Peacoat,
Are the collars on the WWII 10 button coats too large to wear around slipped up like the eight button versions?
Thanks.

Peacoat · Feb 2, 2018

No, the collars on all of the peacoats, going back to the beginning of time, are made to be worn in the up position (flipped) when needed. The WWII coats have large collars for that very purpose.

Dr H · Feb 2, 2018

Peacoat said:
No, the collars on all of the peacoats, going back to the beginning of time, are made to be worn in the up position (flipped) when needed. The WWII coats have large collars for that very purpose.

I echo this. Definitely not too large to wear up or down. Currently wearing my 10-button jacket today and it’s very practical.

Spoonbelly · Feb 2, 2018

Salem said:
Hey Peacoat,
Are the collars on the WWII 10 button coats too large to wear around slipped up like the eight button versions?
Thanks.

Most collars on post war dark blue Kersey coats are approx. 2 1/2 - 2 3/4 - 3 inches high (wide). My WWII coat is 4 inches and also has the throat/chin strap under the collar. My 2 black Melton coats are 2 1/2 and 2 3/4. The WWII coats are very warm when the throat latch is buttoned.

Doctor Damage · Feb 10, 2018

Here's the mil spec document for peacoats, dated 1988. Go to the site in the link below and click on the orange "download file" button to download the pdf. I've done this and had no issues. Peacoat, you will find this document useful.

http://everyspec.com/MIL-SPECS/MIL-SPECS-MIL-O/MIL-O-2414H_33708/

Peacoat · Feb 10, 2018

Good find, Doc. One thing I am interested in is the color specified by the DOD for these current issue peacoats. Sterlingwear says they are of the darkest blue available, but I have had a hard time seeing any blue I them. Yesterday I was at a buddy's house. A number of years ago I had given him a current issue peacoat. I compared the shell with a known black object, and maybe I perhaps saw a bit of blue in the fabric. Difficult to tell. The lighting wasn't the best, so I'm not sure. I would like to know how the color is speced. If you have seen it, please let me know the page number. If not, I will keep searching.

Bushwalker · Feb 10, 2018

The spec is on page 4, 3.3.1 Basic Material.;

“The basic material shall be 22 ounce wool melton conforming to type II, class 4 of MIL-C-16290 shade blue 3346.”

Doctor Damage · Feb 10, 2018

Peacoat said:
Good find, Doc. One thing I am interested in is the color specified by the DOD for these current issue peacoats. Sterlingwear says they are of the darkest blue available, but I have had a hard time seeing any blue I them. Yesterday I was at a buddy's house. A number of years ago I had given him a current issue peacoat. I compared the shell with a known black object, and maybe I perhaps saw a bit of blue in the fabric. Difficult to tell. The lighting wasn't the best, so I'm not sure. I would like to know how the color is speced. If you have seen it, please let me know the page number. If not, I will keep searching.

I think the "blue" is b.s. and it's actually black, ha ha. And black comes is different shades believe it or not. Also that spec document I linked above is from 1988 and I imagine they've changed it since, but I haven't tried to find a newer spec (on the other hand, sometimes these things don't change for ages).

Here's the spec document for the cloth:
http://everyspec.com/COMML_ITEM_DESC/A-A-55000_A-A-55999/A-A-55198_50107

Using that site you can look up the documents for each of the components, if you're particularly keen.

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