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USAF N-3B parkas - Let's talk about them!!

K

Kestrel452

New in Town
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5
Hi y'all.

As far as outer-shell blending goes...what are the most desirable and why? It looks like the modern production N3B's went 100% cotton for some reason. The others I've seen are 50/50 and 80/20 (cotton/nylon).

Based on what I have read, the 100% cotton shells have to be treated with some sort of DWR coating? Thanks!
 
D

DougO

New in Town
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3
I have just acquired a used 1980s Greenbrier N-3B (80/20 cotton/nylon) to replace my old N-3B (whose zipper broke). Unfortunately, the ruff is in pretty bad shape and I no longer have the old parka/ruff. I am looking to replace the ruff on the new parka with either real fur or a better synthetic fur ruff (which will probably be much more cost effective).

It seems straightforward, but I am having trouble sourcing alternative ruffs or finding companies that will do a good job.

Any advice would be much appreciated! Thanks!
 
Doctor Damage

Doctor Damage

I'll Lock Up
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4,269
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Ontario
Alpha Replica series (red tag) N3B which someone is selling right now on eBay. It's in NOS condition. I'm sorely tempted, especially since it measures out slimmer than the regular models (which are absurdly wide-bodied) but the price is a bit much for me.

999940 replica series.jpg 999941.jpg 999942.jpg 999943.jpg 999944.jpg 999945.jpg
 
Cornelius

Cornelius

Practically Family
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715
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Great Lakes
Kestrel452 said:
Hi y'all.

As far as outer-shell blending goes...what are the most desirable and why? It looks like the modern production N3B's went 100% cotton for some reason. The others I've seen are 50/50 and 80/20 (cotton/nylon).

Based on what I have read, the 100% cotton shells have to be treated with some sort of DWR coating? Thanks!
Click to expand...

For the me, the blended shells which have a heavier ratio of cotton than nylon are the only ones to get - as I believe I mentioned in an earlier post, the all-or-mostly nylon shells will have holes burnt in them by sparks from open flames.

Perhaps not a concern for most, but in the coldest Great Lakes winters here I'll end up at a bonfire party full of friends trying to purge cabin fever at least twice a season. Not a great place for flammable synthetics... I suppose this might also be an issue worth considering for ice fisherman [hut heaters] & smokers.
 
Doctor Damage

Doctor Damage

I'll Lock Up
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4,269
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Cornelius said:
For the me, the blended shells which have a heavier ratio of cotton than nylon are the only ones to get - as I believe I mentioned in an earlier post, the all-or-mostly nylon shells will have holes burnt in them by sparks from open flames.

Perhaps not a concern for most, but in the coldest Great Lakes winters here I'll end up at a bonfire party full of friends trying to purge cabin fever at least twice a season. Not a great place for flammable synthetics... I suppose this might also be an issue worth considering for ice fisherman [hut heaters] & smokers.
Click to expand...
hahaha yeah, the nylon has never made sense for aircrew... in a fire it would melt onto your skin, the only saving grace on the old jackets was the knits and insulation were wool which wouldn't melt... anyways hence the switch nomex to nomex by the USAF as soon as it was available
 
Doctor Damage

Doctor Damage

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it appears many of the photos I posted in this thread have now vanished since I used a third-party hosting service... will do my best to re-post a bunch of them
 
Doctor Damage

Doctor Damage

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the following photos in this post and the next post are from USAF cold weather training courses, as I recall... note how the fur ruff around the hood gets matted down with extended use (these are parkas that are borrowed for the course, obviously)

090225-F-1725G-006 - Copy.jpg 2014_02_140206-F-QE361-378 - Copy.JPG 130221-F-YW474-028 - Copy.JPG 130221-F-YW474-562 - Copy.JPG 090225-F-1725G-003 - Copy.jpg
 
Dumpster Diver

Dumpster Diver

Practically Family
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952
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Ontario
I'm wondering if anyone has a pattern for the hood or maybe a spare hood? I have a nice brand new parka (Canadian Military) that I scored but it was missing the detachable hood itself.
 
HPA Rep

HPA Rep

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New Jersey
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