USN Denims (WWII)

[SammyT]

This pair came from a USN grouping I purchased directly from the vet. He was in the USN stateside at a naval air base during the final months of WWII. The shirt is missing the buttons but otherwise in mint condition. The pants have been definitely worn and have several field repairs.

 

Sammy T.

 

 

[SammyT]

.

[SammyT]

..

[SammyT]

....

[SammyT]

,

[SammyT]

,,

[capa]

Nice, I think the US Navy's uniforms (work and dress) of WWII were their best. I still really like the Cracker Jack look.

[doyler]

GREAT FIND.DENIM TROUSERS ARE TOUGH TO SOURCE IN ANY PATTERN OR CONDITION.

[sigsaye]

What you are calling a shirt was actually a jacket, officially referred to as a jumper as it started life as a pull over jumper type garment. By the 1930s, it became a button up jacket over the chambray shirt. The buttons were removable. These jackets continued to be worn up into the 1950s. Every one I ever knew who had these hated them. My father first left the Navy in '56' and several of these ended up with my uncles working the farms in Iowa. Any way, great set of honest used gear. That is what real dungarees looked like. Faded and patched.

[RustyCanteen]

Fantastic find! The buttons are fairly easy to source.

 

Sigsaye is right on about these jumpers. They were issued into the late 1950s.

 

That is what real dungarees looked like. Faded and patched.

 

And this is what they looked like right of out the seabag:

 

 

 

[Kurt Barickman]

The dungaree pants look the same kind I was wearing shipboard in the early 1980s. Could some informed person tell me how to distinguish WWII dungarees from later periods? I thank you in advance for your informed opinion.

 

Kurt

[RustyCanteen]

Hi Kurt!

 

I have dungarees from just about every decade from WWII-1980s. The big visual difference was the chambray shirt, but the dungarees's pockets changed after their reintroduction in 1978. Other more subtle changes were made though, you could see what I'm talking about if I had photos of all of them laid out alongside each other.

 

RC

[sigsaye]

Dungarees in the 80s had zippers and square pockets. The WW2 ones had the pickets you see and button flys. The pockets during WW2 were of various styles, and they pretty much went into the late 60s with only the manufacturer label to date them

[R Michael]

I know I sold a jacket with all the buttons last year for big money. The hipster people love to wear them I understand. I have two original buttons without the retaining rings if you need them.

 

Mike

[RustyCanteen]

Dungarees in the 80s had zippers and square pockets. The WW2 ones had the pickets you see and button flys. The pockets during WW2 were of various styles, and they pretty much went into the late 60s with only the manufacturer label to date them

 

 

I want to say the rear pockets on the 1980s dungarees also have rear patch-pockets with pointed bottoms.

[Corpsmancollector]

Great set - the jacket looks near mint! An iconic set of military work wear not often seen these days and hard to find in any condition.

 

Thanks for posting!

 

Will

[sigsaye]

Yes, the rear pockets of those in the 80s were pointed. So were those that I remember from the 60s, wore a lot of those as a kid from my dad

[etienne]

It's a fairly nice set of dungarees ... I wouldn't say they are really that rare, but they command high prices, particularly the coat

 

About trousers' rear pockets, I've seen square, more rounded or pointed pockets on ww2 models ... in the 60s appeared a button on the left rear pocket, easy to spot.

 

Regards, E

[29navy]

The trousers shown are the second WWII pattern with slash pockets rather than the patch pockets. The change was authorized by the Uniform Board in late 1943 and didn't come out til 1944.(if I remember correctly; I'll double check my dates when I get home.) Not exactly sure when they went back to the patch pockets,

 

Charlie

[sigsaye]

The front pockets on these are patch pockets. Just angel opening. The slash pockets with interior pocket bags were earlier. But these are great

[etienne]

The front pockets on these are patch pockets. Just angel opening. The slash pockets with interior pocket bags were earlier. But these are great

 

The trousers displayed by the OP have patch pockets, I agree ... but they seem to be internal patched pockets, feature of the late pattern seen from the beginning of 1944, as 29Navy wrote, until the end of the 50s.

 

From what I saw, before 1944, denim trousers had small external patched pockets with a slant opening and after the 50s, the external patch pockets came back, but then they were more squarish than the early pattern.

 

Happy to share with about dungarees, this subject is often overlooked although very interesting

[SammyT]

thanks everyone for the great info and comments.

 

I'd be interested to know if anyone might have 5 complete and original WWII era jacket buttons for sale. If so, please send me a PM. thanks.

 

Sammy T.

[jerry_k]

Hi Guys. Interesting thread I always like all of there USN denim stuff...

 

 

Here are slash pockets USN denim pants...

 

Cheers,

Jerry

 

 

 

White label with NXSX contract.

[etienne]

Hi Jerry_k,

 

your trousers with label are awesome ... I have several Navy trousers, but none with label

 

Regards, E

[RustyCanteen]

Nice dungarees Jerry! Looks like they are made a little later than the rolled pair I posted. (I carefully unrolled them to read the contract label. Very carefully since they have been rolled since WWII except once)