Jump to content

Overcoat, Wool, Melton, OD, Roll Collar, M1939


Greg Sebring
 Share

Recommended Posts

I have a heavy wool winter overcoat my dad had. It is in pristine condition with no signs of dirt/wear anywhere. It has been kept rolled up tightly in a metal can with mothballs and sealed with tape. He has the 82nd ABN patch on the left shoulder and the Allied Airborne on the right. I was once told these coats are of little value and might bring $20.00. Any ideas why these don't command a higher value?

 

post-118-1167584831.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've seen several overcoats with unit patches on them. I have one with a 3ID patch on it. I haven't located any definitive reference to the patches being authorized or not authorized for wear with the overcoat.

 

post-79-1167599825.jpg

 

The biggest problem with overcoats is displaying them. Like all collectibles its value is based on demand. Maybe not as many collectors have room or interest in the coats. I think your coat is worth much more than $20 though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Both patches and rank were worn on the WWII Overcoats (Horse Blanket), the one that followed it, not sure of the model number, OD with removable liner also had both. The Army Green overcoat had no insignia and if I am not mistaken the new black ones have only pin on rank.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

CNY Militaria

The one shown with the ABN patches would command a premium, if it were sold and had the history it does with it. Ordinarily though, unless its a coat with something unisual about it, or belonged to a high ranking officer, these can be had at bargain prices. I have several overcoats with insignia which may sell for a bit more than norma l- AAF 1LT's, Flying Tiger/CBI overcoat, and an early one with a multi-piece felt AAF GHQ pinwheel patch on it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree with the others that overcoats simply do not have the collector demand that other uniform equipment has. Of course, since this was you dad's coat it has no real monetary value anyway as money can't buy sentiment.

 

I find the overcoat interesting. The standard WWII overcoat was adopted 24 November 1939 and was not much changed from the 1927 or the 1918 style overcoats. There was one wartime change when the brass buttons were replaced with plastic buttons (to conserve brass as a strategic metal) during the war. The overcoat was often discarded by troops in the field as being too clumsy for use in combat. It was to be replaced with the Winter Combat uniform and was not sent to the ETO in any great numbers. These overcoats were sent to the ETO in the Winter of 1944-45 as an emergency measure because ETO HQ had underestimated the need for proper numbers of complete Winter Combat uniforms.

 

Here is an example of a fully patched overcoat for a Corporal of the US Forces Austria. Notice that this overcoat has the late war plastic buttons.

 

USFA_coat_corporal.JPG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The main reason these just don't command the premium they should is their sheer size and bulkiness. I love the old wool overcoats, but they pose a storage problem to anyone who wants to keep them as a part of their collection. Truly they are the WWII bargain of the day and can be had for $5-10; but if they are being shipped a long distance, expect to pay $12-20 due to weight. I guess a lot of collectors scoff at paying 2x-3x the article's value in postage alone. They are a great item though. I just wish they didn't take up so much room.

 

BTW, Greg, your overcoat would be one of the "Cadillacs" of the type. The patches alone put this item into a good amount of money. But the connection to your dad makes this one priceless.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have found as always, that the big ones sell the little ones don't. Of course Greg's fathers would bring big $$ just on the basis of the Airborne association. But Greg, please get it out of the moth balls, they will cause the plastic buttons to crystallize over time!! I would even get it dry-cleaned and hang it on a plastic hanger in a cloth garment bag

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Greg Sebring

I'll remove the moth balls as it is tightly rolled up and sealed in a can with good old duct tape. So, today's modern day dry cleaning chemicals won't do it any harm? The thoughts of it tumbling around in some chemical filled drum causes me to shudder. I like the idea of hanging it in a garment bag on a wide hanger to avoid a shoulder crease.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think one reason overcoats were never all that popular with collectors, is that even if they have patches on the sleeves, they don't have the "eye candy" appeal of say a badged-up Ike jacket. When my Dad returned from the war, he went back to farming and used his old GI overcoat as a work coat. He did shorten it to about the length of a Navy Peacoat so he could drive a tractor with it on cold days. I think that a lot of the old overcoats may have ended up as work garmets.

I still have my USAF overcoat from 1966 which was just about the same as the old Army "horse blanket", of WWII days, (except the color and buttons). I've even thought of replacing my chevrons that I cut off years ago and putting the coat in the "collection". But like some of you guys said, the bulk of those things discourage including them in many collections.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 16 years later...

When I used to haunt the rag mills (recycling centers of used clothes)  I saw many o/coats.  They seemed to not sell at the Goodwills, etc and would land up in the rag mills.  Many were totally empty of insignia, but some had everything on them.  They would have patches,  chevrons, enlistment/overseas bars, and yes even the ruptured duck.  I'm sure when guys were getting out depending on the separation post some would sew everything on them, and others would just let you wear as you please since you were now basically a civilian again.

Reminds me of when I got out of the Marines at Camp Pendleton.  When we would fall out for formation,  man, every type of Vietnam uniform from 65-70 was being worn.  Some guys had tigers, other green jungle utilities, others ERDL camo, some had sateens,  and some guys would even wear Ho Chi Minh sandals at morning formation.  However the day we were going to get our DD214's you had to be in the uniform of the day.   When you are two or three days from becoming a civilian again other things are on your mind!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 months later...
Obsolete_Battleship

My fathers overcoat has his PFC chevrons, 42nd ID SSI and a ruptured duck. He was coming home in winter so wore it from NYPE to Camp Carson where he was discharged, That patch was a ticket home, 

 

Overcoats to me are just as much of an iconic piece of gear as the OD field jacket or leggings...but just not as interesting as a service coat or ike jacket to collectors

 

Bigger ones seem to bring $75-100 today if in good shape, If patched nicely a bit more 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Obsolete_Battleship
On 12/31/2006 at 4:18 PM, SARGE said:

I agree with the others that overcoats simply do not have the collector demand that other uniform equipment has. Of course, since this was you dad's coat it has no real monetary value anyway as money can't buy sentiment.

 

I find the overcoat interesting. The standard WWII overcoat was adopted 24 November 1939 and was not much changed from the 1927 or the 1918 style overcoats. There was one wartime change when the brass buttons were replaced with plastic buttons (to conserve brass as a strategic metal) during the war. The overcoat was often discarded by troops in the field as being too clumsy for use in combat. It was to be replaced with the Winter Combat uniform and was not sent to the ETO in any great numbers. These overcoats were sent to the ETO in the Winter of 1944-45 as an emergency measure because ETO HQ had underestimated the need for proper numbers of complete Winter Combat uniforms.

 

Here is an example of a fully patched overcoat for a Corporal of the US Forces Austria. Notice that this overcoat has the late war plastic buttons.

 

 

 

Well known pic of the 2nd ID in the Ardennes, fellow 2nd from left appears to be wearing a overcoat with a big old 2nd ID patch

 

agreed though.... not sure if there was ever a regulation on it, course like most things WW2 GI- if there was was probably ignored to a degree, 

 

 

 

2id.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sort of off topic, but I do remember seeing South Korean soldiers wearing them during the Korean War.  We went to more of a sateen overcoat in 47, I think.  I'm sure they had tons of left over overcoats in the QM.  Since they were no longer regulation for the postwar Army I guess they sent a ton of them to Korea.  The picture I saw all the overcoats were bare.

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...