Help Identifying WW I Overcoat

[world war I nerd]

A WW I era overcoat style I've never seen before.

 

The photo was taken at Camp Custer, Michigan in either 1917 or 1918.

 

Aside from the knee high, lace front "aviator" style boots, the seated soldier is wearing typical training garb for a northern state without any insignia, except for what looks like an artillery hat cord.

 

The two young recruits are wearing mush heavier overcoats than the Army's regulation wartime issue overcoats, which were the 1913, 1917 & 1918 pattern overcoats for enlisted men. These overcoats appear to have been designed for wear in extreme cold such as Alaska. The caps worn by the two trainees are 1907 Winter Field Caps which are here being worn with the visor to the back in order to mimic the AEF's Overseas Cap, which was not authorized for wear in the United States. Wearing the winter field cap backwards was a common practice in stateside training camps.

 

Written on the reverse of this photograph is: "I had this taken with my working coat on and two of our boys with me. Camp Custer Base Hospital.

 

Can anybody identify this particular style of overcoat? Or care to take a guess?

 

Thanks for looking ... World War I Nerd

[world war I nerd]

Close up of the unknown overcoat details.

 

I should also mention that these coats are similar to, but not identical, to the sheepskin lined overcoats that were used in Russia.

[jprostak]

Maybe one of these?

[world war I nerd]

Jon that's exactly what they look like. Is that the old 1893 Blanket Lined Overcoat? It occurred to me that those coats might be the blanket lined overcoat, but I ruled that one out because of the dark color. I'm thinking now that was a mistake on my part.

 

Do you know the specification number for that one?

 

I always thought the outer shell of those were made from tan cotton duck or canvas.They look olive drab in the photo, but the outer shell sure looks to be canvas though.

 

I think you're right Jon.

 

WW I never ceases to amaze me!

[illinigander]

Bound for Russia? The 85th Div. trained at Camp Custer and provided a lot of North Russia Troops.

Illinigander

[Cote_1918]

I see what you mean when you said they look olive drab in the picture. I always thought the m1917 was olive drab too but turns out they had a more tan/khaki version and a more pea green color.

This one being tan/khaki.