Jump to content

Some SEAL coats.....


Spike
 Share

Recommended Posts

I have been tracking the E-bay auction for the last couple of days sees if anybody would bid on the vest and to my surprises know one has put a bid for the jacket. Even thought the jacket is rare, I believe the price is a bit high? I don’t know too much on the subject since I just starting to collect and maybe I’m wrong, but not too many people are able to afford such item in today economy. .I would like some input from thus advance collector who have been collecting for years and know value of such item in today collecting market Thank you and have a great day

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think it's a stupid price, first $7500 now down to $6000.00. I'd NEVER pay that kinda money, ESPECIALLY to THAT seller. I know for a FACT that vest didn't have a bladder it and I confirmed this with my friend who owned it for awhile and got it from the vet, like I said, I had seen it before it went to my friend. Those vest bladders had a particular CO2 activater and I'd bet that bladder is from a deck vest worn on carriers but maybe he got lucky and found a correct bladder, doubt it though, notice he doesn't show the CO2 activater that is under the pad that IS pictured. They are rare but I'm not sure how many guys have that kinda money. Besides, the way the seller talks, that vest almost won the war, someone should ask how much it is WITHOUT all the stories, might be a few grand cheaper. I have some pics of the SEAL that owned it and he was using a Stoner his second tour and was wearing some custom black shirt which he gave me. I'll bet the seller will lower the BIN another grand before the end of the auction.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi,

 

The last time I saw the Seal ammo vest , it was priced at 5000$ in Bay State Militaria, I'm not sure if this is this model since I'm not Seal specialist. For starting your collection, I think it would be more reasonnable to buy Rifleman Jacket or Radioman Jacket (like some showed by Spike) from Natik... that is priced about 1500-2000$ in Ebay for the RipStop Version.

 

Cheers

 

I think it's a stupid price, first $7500 now down to $6000.00. I'd NEVER pay that kinda money, ESPECIALLY to THAT seller. I know for a FACT that vest didn't have a bladder it and I confirmed this with my friend who owned it for awhile and got it from the vet, like I said, I had seen it before it went to my friend. Those vest bladders had a particular CO2 activater and I'd bet that bladder is from a deck vest worn on carriers but maybe he got lucky and found a correct bladder, doubt it though, notice he doesn't show the CO2 activater that is under the pad that IS pictured. They are rare but I'm not sure how many guys have that kinda money. Besides, the way the seller talks, that vest almost won the war, someone should ask how much it is WITHOUT all the stories, might be a few grand cheaper. I have some pics of the SEAL that owned it and he was using a Stoner his second tour and was wearing some custom black shirt which he gave me. I'll bet the seller will lower the BIN another grand before the end of the auction.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

UDTDELTA, If you look for the vest for reenacting or Airsoft purpose, there was a guy in Thailand that sold repro Seal jackets made from real ERDL jungle jacket, you can get your size and the model you want, the price was about 150-200usd

 

 

I have been tracking the E-bay auction for the last couple of days sees if anybody would bid on the vest and to my surprises know one has put a bid for the jacket. Even thought the jacket is rare, I believe the price is a bit high? I don't know too much on the subject since I just starting to collect and maybe I'm wrong, but not too many people are able to afford such item in today economy. .I would like some input from thus advance collector who have been collecting for years and know value of such item in today collecting market Thank you and have a great day
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Copran, I know who owned that vest you talk about as well, I think I have pics of myself wearing that vest, THAT vest was complete. I'm just a cheap SOB so I think even the prices that these jackets get now is kinda lame though I understand it. I remember when they were going for $400-500 and everyone thought THAT was high. I've been lucky in getting these jackets fairly cheap.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Than you both spike and copran for you input regarding the seal vest I just started collecting items from the Vietnam War .Thank you both spike and copran for writing your thoughts on the subject

 

thumbsup.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

vintageproductions
Hi,

 

The last time I saw the Seal ammo vest , it was priced at 5000$ in Bay State Militaria, I'm not sure if this is this model since I'm not Seal specialist. For starting your collection, I think it would be more reasonnable to buy Rifleman Jacket or Radioman Jacket (like some showed by Spike) from Natik... that is priced about 1500-2000$ in Ebay for the RipStop Version.

 

Cheers

 

I think I should add something to this posting. You may find a rifle man jacket in the 2k range, but a radioman will be much much higher. We just bought a poplin grenadier and paid about 3k for it.

On the vest mentioned above from Scott's website, we were the original sellers of this when it hit the open market. A mutual friend of Spike's and mine owned that vest and the one that is for sale on Ebay right now. Our friend contacted me to sell the vest so he could raise money to start his personal website. We put the vest on our site for $4,2000.00. Within two days two buyers ( Andrei and I forgot who else it was) contacted the owenr to buy. The US collector got the money to the seller faster and bought it. That collector had it for a year or so and it was traded to Jason Hardy. I believe Scott bought it from Jason and then put it on his website.

The first one of the 1st pattern vest that hit Ebay was about six or seven years ago and it was sold by Sgt Hulka on Ebay. The buyer is a Japanese collector who owns a shop called LAZY CAT, and he made a limited number of copies. It sold for $3,600.00 then.

We still know where there is still one 1st pattern in a private collection that is the equal or slightly better then the one sold by Scott Kraska. It still has the bladder plus all the velcro straps for the arm pockets. We have offered the owner some heavy amounts and he just keeps shaking his head and says no. One of the members here on this forum is his son and can vouch for how cool this vest is.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The vest is very cool and came out of the San Diego area. And Bob will continue to ask to buy it and receive the no answer!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello all,

 

Being somewhat enthralled with this thread due to the magnificent items shown thus far ( as a UK based member there is virtually no prospect of seeing items like this in person for all the obvious reasons over here), are there any photos of the vest in question from the previous couple of posts that could be shared?

 

 

 

Patrick.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

vintageproductions

I have photos of Matterhorn's dad's vest. If he says we can post them we will, but I know his dad real well and I doubt he will want photos posted.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi vintageproduction I understand one has to respect wish of the owner of the vest. I hope he would consent to posting the pictures thumbsup.gif because I would love to see an Original example of the vest,

Thank you Vintageproduction God Bless

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Finally the e-bay auction finish for the seal vest and the reserve bid was not met. There were only 4 people who bids for the vest, I would think since is so rare that more people would have bid for. I think the might be a little surprise at the out come of the auction and dealer is not a happy camper at this time, but some body out their will buy vest in the future at military show. The final bid was for 1075.00 a huge drop from the entail amount he was asking for, it just goes to show you that even though are a rare piece of militaria not to many people are willing to pay that huge amount for it. I would like some input from the rest of the forum it would be greatly appreciate it God Bless

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I knew that vest wouldn't sell......he might have sold it for a $4000.00 Buy It Now, maybe guys are just wary of the seller. If it was in the original condition as it was issued it might have got his reserve but the way it is now it might have scared some bidders off. There is another version of that vest, a grenadiers vest, I have a VERY bad Xerox pic of this vest but I can't post it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi spike if have the chance to post the copy, it would be great to see another version of the seal jacket. spike how many jacket do you think are still out there in collection.Thank spike for all your help God Bless

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...

I know of 3 SEAL Coats in Australia.

A mate has 2. A modified Rifleman and a Radioman. I am unsure if they have bladders.

Another mate has a Mint Condition Rifleman. He post on this forum and we'll have to get him to put some pics up. It has the Bladder as I recal.

 

All 3 came from soldiers in the SASR who got them when working with the SEALs in Vietnam.

 

I also know someone who does not have one. Me :(

Link to comment
Share on other sites

C'est moi.

 

It was my first militaria buy off of the internet (pre-EBay) at the time and boy was I nervous as I never had spent so much on a piece of militaria before (AUD$1,000). Pretty much mint condition except for some small holes near the armpits (looked like some sort of bug had been at it) and no tag ('sterilized' it was advertised as ..) but it did come with the bladder (no gas canister - do they use the same ones as the UDT float collars?). It came out of Perth where our SASR is based and a few weeks later the same people were selling another mint float coat for US$1,000. I have heard of other float coats coming out of Perth and it leads me to believe that during Vietnam the SASR acquired quite a few of them. At least ONE VN period picture exists of an SASR operator wearing the grenadier's version.

 

I could post pics but:

a.) I'd have to find it

b.) You all know what one looks like anyway!

 

If anyone wants I will try and photo the bladder - the markings will not come out too clearly as it is black print on a very dark blue/grey nylon background.

 

As to value ... I recall Manions having a few of these in a short period a few years ago. I have always thought them to be the US$2-3000 mark

 

BTW, does anyone remember the article ' Military Illustrated' did on SEAL Float Coats in the late 1980's?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

hi Filupe them article on the seal coat was on Military Illustrated' issue 25 there is dealer on e-bay that has issue 25 for sale but it come with a number of Military Illustrated' issues I think the prices was for the different issues including the one about the seal coat is $149.00. I hope this helps you .

Link to comment
Share on other sites

All the cut down coats show use, one of the poplin Rifleman jackets has Velcro extentions sewn to all the ammo pockets to accept 30rd mags. One of the Grenadier jackets was used in VN and I think I have slides of the guy wearing it in VN. Both these jackets were given to my by the SEALs who owned them. One of the mint Rifleman jackets I got that still has a paper tag stapled to the from was given to me by a 2 tour SEAL who said he tried it on, didn't like it and threw it in his foot locker. A couple of other jackets show some sort of use, only a few are mint.

 

Hello SPIKE...rather new to forums and just found your thread. ABSOLUTELY AWESOME !!!!!!! JACKETS & STONER are beyond cool. I have a jacket, packed away, but as best I remember has the EXPERIMENTAL GARMENT / RIFLEMAN tag. Jacket is in poplin ERDL. PROBLEM....somebody NEATLY removed all the pockets. I got this out of the window of a surplus store in DC about 25 years ago.. Somewhere in all my packed up stuff is a manual FROM NATICK with the construction details for these jackets. GOSH, do I ever hate most of my stuff being in storage. I could probably find the jacket but no clue which tb the manual is in. Thanks for the photos and sharing with us. tankerman

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks. I have a copy of that document. I'd like to see that jacket.

 

 

Hello Spike---next time I'm at storage facility I will see if I can locate the jacket and send pics. Tankerman

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 months later...

Hi

I know this thread is old but these SEAL coats is just amazing. thumbsup.gif

Is there any good book were I can se more of these coats and vest´s? I have the book SEALs in Vietnam

by Eric Micheletti.

Thanks again and best regards, Martin

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 months later...
C'est moi.

 

I could post pics but:

a.) I'd have to find it

b.) You all know what one looks like anyway!

 

BTW, does anyone remember the article ' Military Illustrated' did on SEAL Float Coats in the late 1980's?

 

Well ... today I was moochin' around the shed and came across it, so here it is:

 

Float01.jpg

... and no, they ain't VC sandals ...

 

Float02.jpg

 

Float04.jpg

 

Also found that article, apologies if it has already been reproduced on these pages:

 

FloatCoat01.jpg

 

FloatCoat02.jpg

 

FloatCoat03.jpg

 

FloatCoat04.jpg

 

FloatCoat05.jpg

 

FloatCoat06.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...