Questions About the United States Navy Peacoat

[eskvarla]

I found, what I think based on previous posts, is a WWII Peacoat. It's in amazing condition. I found it in an Antique/Consignment Shop in Fayetteville, PA on our way to visit Gettysburg in October. It was $40 originally priced with a 60% discount. If it's the real deal sounds like a steal. Fits like a charm, too. It has 4 buttons showing, 2 more hidden under the lapel. It has the Storm Flap. It has the label with the two anchors on the inside left pocket. The pockets are tan corduroy. There is also a smaller pocket on the right inside toward the bottom - looks about big enough for a pack of smokes. The one thing that is really throwing me is the cuffs. What I've read mentions about 3 inches, this one is maybe and inch and a half to two inches apart. Perhaps it was shortened? I'm 5'4" and it fits my arms perfectly.

Any info is appreciated!

I tried to post pictures but I can't figure out how to do it.

 

[Peacoat]

Sounds like the real deal to me. The sleeves may have been shortened, which would change the distance to the double row of stitching.

To post pictures, you will need to use a third party server, such as Photobucket. Scott posted instructions a while back, but in looking for them just now, I wasn't able to find them.

 

[Spoonbelly]

WWII Pea Coats

Hey Guys,
I could be wrong, but I think WWII coats have only one row of stitching about 3" above the row of stitching that is at the cuff. The two WWII coats that I have had were like this. Definitely sounds like WWII coat though. I think the two rows of stitching above the bottom of the sleeve started with the post war 6 button (total of 8) coats.

 

[Peacoat]

You are right, Spoon. I just checked my remaining WWII coat, and it has two rows of single stitching. One at the cuff and the other 3" or so above that. Good memory and eye for detail.

 

[pedalsteel]

Hey Peacoat, I just posted a about a WW1 era Navy wool coat. It's a long coat and I'm not sure if Peacoat is the correct term for it or not. Also some questions on Officer or Enlisted issue since there doesn't appear to be any shoulderboards for the rank to attach to. Maybe a fancy peacoat for extra formal occasions! Regardless it's a pretty sweet find.

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?74885-Dream-coat-WW1-era-U-S-Navy-wool-coat

 

[Spoonbelly]

You are right, Spoon. I just checked my remaining WWII coat, and it has two rows of single stitching. One at the cuff and the other 3" or so above that. Good memory and eye for detail.

I have immersed myself in these coats for the past few years so I have picked up a few things along the way.

 

[polocoat]

Love the weight of my vintage melton U S Navy enlisted mans pea coat. Now, I want a U S Navy Officers Bridgecoat because of its length however, I remember reading somewhere that the Bridgecoat is not as heavy as the peacoat. Can anybody comment on the melton fabric weight and warmth of the peacoat contrasted with the Bridgecoat? Thanks

 

[Peacoat]

Love the weight of my vintage melton U S Navy enlisted mans pea coat. Now, I want a U S Navy Officers Bridgecoat because of its length however, I remember reading somewhere that the Bridgecoat is not as heavy as the peacoat. Can anybody comment on the melton fabric weight and warmth of the peacoat contrasted with the Bridgecoat? Thanks

The peacoat is a very heavy wool of about 32 oz. The bridge coat is a much lighter wool, maybe a 24 0z.? They do come with a liner which increases the warmth. Many times the bridgecoats are missing the liner, such as mine. Without the liner, the bridgecoat is not nearly as warm as the peacoat. It does cover more of the lower body, however.

 

[polocoat]

Hi Peacoat. I think we communicated about flight jackets on another site. I noticed that a few Bridgecoat sellers are advertising that their Bridgecoats are 32oz. 100% melton. Would that mean it should be as warm, without liner, than the peacoat? Another question - Was there ever a time when the color of the Bridgecoat was changed from dark blue to black. When I inquired about a Bridgecoat being sold on Ebay (it was advertised by an ex-Navy person as being black) I was told that in the seventies the color was changed to black. Know anything about this? Thanks.

 

[EmergencyIan]

This is my 1940's WWII era U.S. Navy Pea Coat. I picked it up on ebay the winter before last. It's in nearly mint condition. It even has the, rarely seen, collar tag. It's tagged a size 38.

My wife took these pictures this afternoon as we were walking through Central Park. Since the coat is nearly black, you can't see too much detail, unfortunately.

https://scontent-b-lga.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1460069_3660952260624_1293349079_n.jpg

https://scontent-b-lga.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/1450252_3660954460679_60473763_n.jpg

https://scontent-a-lga.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1461354_3660955460704_932482950_n.jpg

- Ian

 

[Peacoat]

Hi Peacoat. I think we communicated about flight jackets on another site. I noticed that a few Bridgecoat sellers are advertising that their Bridgecoats are 32oz. 100% melton. Would that mean it should be as warm, without liner, than the peacoat? Another question - Was there ever a time when the color of the Bridgecoat was changed from dark blue to black. When I inquired about a Bridgecoat being sold on Ebay (it was advertised by an ex-Navy person as being black) I was told that in the seventies the color was changed to black. Know anything about this? Thanks.

Might be that the bridgecoats changed to the black Melton wool in 1980, just as the peacoats did, but I don't have any evidence of that. My bridgecoat is the midnight blue color, same as the peacoats.

Ian, great fit. Love the coat. I used to wear my size 40 post war coat in, and around, Central Park back in the 70s. In fact, acorns for the squirrels are still in the pocket. I have left them there for memories of good times.

 

[EmergencyIan]

Might be that the bridgecoats changed to the black Melton wool in 1980, just as the peacoats did, but I don't have any evidence of that. My bridgecoat is the midnight blue color, same as the peacoats.

Ian, great fit. Love the coat. I used to wear my size 40 post war coat in, and around, Central Park back in the 70s. In fact, acorns for the squirrels are still in the pocket. I have left them there for memories of good times.

It was perfect weather for wearing the Pea Coat around the park, yesterday. The temps didn't get out of the low 30s.

- Ian

 

[Doctor Damage]

http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmcp/EduTrain/GMDE/Documents/chapter3.pdf
Excerpts below, note sizing comments for peacoats. Go to pages 3-166 through 3-175 for clothing allowances for sailors, CPOs, and officer candidates.

39. OVERCOAT, BLUE
a. Description
Men Officers/CPOs
A double-breasted coat made of blue woolen fabric. May be water repellent treated and fitted with removable sleeveless liner. Extends one-third the distance from kneecap to ground, shaped at waist, held by a two section half-belt at back with the end of the belt overlapped and fastened with two 40-line Navy eagle, gilt buttons. There is a sword slit over left hip, a vertical slash side pocket on each front, and a single row of five 40-line Navy eagle, gilt buttons down each forefront. The collar is made so that the coat may be buttoned to the neck. There are two loops on each shoulder for hard shoulder boards.

41. PEACOAT (E6 and Below)
a. Description
A double-breasted, hip length coat made of dark blue authorized fabric with a convertible collar, a set-in pocket in each forefront, and a single row of four 35-line black plastic anchor buttons down the right front and three on left. Men's peacoat buttons to the right.
b. Correct Wear
Button all buttons except collar button. Collar button may be buttoned in inclement weather. Wear the jumper collar inside the coat. Sleeves are to reach about three-quarters of distance from the wrist to the knuckles when arms hang naturally at the sides.

42. REEFER (Officers/CPOs)
a. Description
A double-breasted, hip length coat made of dark blue authorized fabric with a convertible collar, a set-in pocket in each forefront, and a single row of four 35-line or 40-line buttons on Page 3-143 right front and three on left. Men's reefer buttons to the right. Two loops on each shoulder hold officer's hard shoulder boards.
b. Correct Wear
Button all buttons except collar button. Collar button may be buttoned in inclement weather. Sleeves are to reach about three-quarters of distance from the wrist to the knuckles when arms hang naturally at side. CPOs wear no insignia on outergarments.

 

[wquiles]

Newbie here!

I started looking to buy an authentic Peacoat and so far I have found this site to be the most valuable/informative, not only this thread, but also the one on peacot dating, which shows the real and fake labels - this alone has helped me weed out the fake ones on ebay:
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?35824-PEACOAT-DATING

I am 170 pounds, 5'8", and 34 waist size. My suit size is 40R, and I want to buy an older, made in the USA authentic peacoat.

I was able to drive around and found an Army Store that had an authentic size 40S peacoat, but nothing else. The other "similar" ones were newer imitations from Canada plus they were $150+. I wore a dress shirt, and a thin sweater, and the 40S felt "fitted", pretty much like my suit - which to me means that it looks great when walking, but it feels a little tight if I attempt to drive my car with my suit/jacket on. So it seems the sizing is fairly accurate. Here in Texas I normally don't see "really" cold weather, but of course with the recent ice storm here in Dallas, and high temps in the low 30's, the peacoat felt really nice. If I lived further North, and encountered even colder weather, I think a 42R would give me more room for layering, so I think the 40 is the right size. However, the sleeves in the 40S were like an inch or so too short - would the 40R therefore be more appropriate size for me?

Will

 

[Peacoat]

If your measured chest size is 40", then the size 40 peacoat ought to give enough room for a sweater. Sounds as though your chest may be a little larger than 40". The coat should be comfortable to drive an automobile in or it may be too tight.

There may be enough extra material inside the cuff to extend the sleeves about an inch, maybe a little more. A tailor can piece in an extra piece of material to get all of the available material out of the cuff to lengthen the sleeve.

 

[wquiles]

I did not get to sit down when I tried the 40S, but I get what you are saying. This one here, a 40R, which might be from about 1965 is the one I am looking at - does the year sound about right?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/221332831102?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

I don't mind the small hole/tear - it is after all nearly 50 years old!


I like the looks of the older one, but this one is a little newer (1970, right?):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/331081411567?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Will

 

[Peacoat]

Well, you have done your homework. Yes, I would say 1965 or perhaps a little earlier. The US NAVY tag was in use from about 1958, I believe, until 1965. And you are right about the second one as well--Pembroke, 1970.

I wore my 1965 coat (my favorite) yesterday and my Pembroke, 1968 today. Both days have been in the mid--30s, with ice this morning. Perfect peacoat weather.

 

[wquiles]

Well, you have done your homework.

You are the one who deserves the credit - you collected the information and shared with all of us. Thanks to you I was able to forgo a couple of fake peacoats I initially spotted on ebay, so I am very grateful for your hard work and excellent research.

Yes, I would say 1965 or perhaps a little earlier. The US NAVY tag was in use from about 1958, I believe, until 1965. And you are right about the second one as well--Pembroke, 1970.

I was born in 1965, so if I am lucky, I might end up picking that one later tonight.
EDIT: I did win that one. I will report back once it arrives

I wore my 1965 coat (my favorite) yesterday and my Pembroke, 1968 today. Both days have been in the mid--30s, with ice this morning. Perfect peacoat weather.

We have had around 20F in the mornings and mid-upper 30's for the high these last 6-7 days, so it would have been kind of nice to have a peacoat already, but I do hope to locate one before the cold spell

Will

 

[wquiles]

Coat showed up today, exactly like in the pictures. Fits me perfectly in the body, with room for a sweater. Sleeve length is perhaps 1/2" to 3/4" too long, but I am leaving it "as is" for now. Amazing that a coat almost 50 years old still can look this good - makes the $45 an incredible bargain!

Thanks much Peacoat

 

[Peacoat]

That is a good find at an excellent price. You are lucky to get a good vintage coat at that price.

The sleeves are an easy fix if you decide to have them taken up.

Congratulations on a good score. PC.