Is this a fake?

 

I recently purchased a USMC P44 Tunic. Although the colors have faded slightly, the

background color is much more of a green than the M1942 one-piece that was a vet

donation, which had a more yellow tone to it.

 

Photo 1 shows the questioned item.

Photo 2 shows the sleeve of the M1942 on the left compared to the sleeve of the P44

on the right. Notice the background color difference. The P44 is green. Since

all the colors of the M1942 are less faded, then I don't see how the P44 could

have faded to a green hue. However, if any of you have original items that

are of similar color, then I can see it as a difference in dye lots.

Photo 3 It is more visible in person than in the photo, but the size is marked "#42" if

there had been a size S/R/L after that, then it's no longer readable. This is

stamped under the collar. There is a more faded ink-stamp (smudge) on the

inside back of the shirt.

Photo 4 One more color comparison.

Photo 5 The center and sleeve buttons are USMC, the 2 pocket buttons are black domed

and unmarked.

Photo 6 Unmarked pocket button (1 of 2)

 

If you need more photos of critical areas, then PM me and I'll forward them ASAP.

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END POST

Looks correct from What I can see.The weave is correct.

RON

I found a spare set of batteries for my black light... no irridescence.

Also notice the oxidation in the center of the button in post #5 .This typical on WW2 USMC buttons hard to duplicate in my opinion.

 

RON

There are many variations in Colors / shades of authentic P-44 Camo (& earlier WWII camo); as they were made by different contractors, in different months; with whatever dyes were available. It is difficult to find a matched set of shirt & trousers.

Here's a pic showing a mint, never washed original P44 jacket on the left compared to a mint P42 repro jacket on the right.

Hello, It is very common to see variances in shades of USMC camouflage items. Some have a markedly green hue to them while others exhibit a yellowish hue. I have many camo items that have both of these variances on the same item. I tend to find this on the later camo items than say on the early P42 items. From what i can see of your item it looks okay. Check the back of the domed snaps for a maker. This will be on the back of the male portion of the snap and give us the makers name if there is one. Check them all if you would. I also agree with Doyler on the verdigris or corrosion inside the buttons and on any snaps. This is a good sign. Most of the fakes have fuzzy look to the material. Some have a wobbly weave as well. The snaps and buttons are a good place to look when looking at USMC camo items. Feel free to send more photos..hope this helps.

"Scovill Mfg Co."

 

It appears on the back of only one of the two pocket snaps.

"Scovill Mfg Co."

 

It appears on the back of only one of the two pocket snaps.

This can be good or bad. I have seen repros with scovill as ell as originals with scovill snaps. Do they have a rather heavy,rough black paint on them? The modern scovill snaps i have seen usually have a very smooth look to them.. Can you post photos of the snaps?

I don't see anything wrong with that jacket. I was unaware they were even reproducing the 44's.

Scott

I don't see anything wrong with that jacket. I was unaware they were even reproducing the 44's.

Scott

 

Yes sir, P44 AND P42's have both been reproduced and are being reproduced. The Paramarine pattern camo has also been reproduced in the past. Camo shelter halves are also being cranked out. Expect to see more WW2 USMC stuff soon due to recent and ongoing Hollywood productions.

Looks legit to me. I had several USMC cammies in my collection of Indochina and I see nothing wrong with your jacket.

Per the request of USMC Raider.

 

Photos of the two pocket buttons

 

1st - Back of marked pocket button.

2nd - Front of marked pocket button. The color is closer to brown than black.

3rd - Back of unmarked pocket button.

4th - Both pocket buttons and one of the center buttons. All the center buttons are black.

 

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Last Pic in this series.

It a good original shirt.No worries.As stated before the hbt weave is original.Most of the fakes as stated will have a fuzzy look to the material.The USMC camo cloth is actually like the Army hbt pattern cloth,same weave.A lot of the older repos made the camo material from a true herringbone weave,looks like a seargent stripe in the pattern.Also the correct weave is a single angle pattern then the next stripe or pattern appears like checkering or cross hatching as your shows.Dont sweat the color differances.all the sets I have had really dont match and I have sets from vets.One pair of P41 trousers I have actually have two different colored pattern legs.The material was obviously from two different bolts of cloth or vat dyed by different contractors.

 

A friend of mine is a match freak and everything has to match in color and size.Never happens in real life.He hounded me for three years for a P41 shirt I had.It was a little faded at the shoulder and was a size 42-44.He traded me a shirt he had gave $1100 for at the SOS just cause mine was a closer match to his trousers.The shirt I got in trade was mint.Go figure.

 

Can you imagine goin up to the Gunny and saying I dont like these they dont match

 

Its a great find and the P44s are really gaining in value.

 

RON

I second Ron's opinion. Looks like an original to me.

Per the request of USMC Raider.

 

Photos of the two pocket buttons

 

1st - Back of marked pocket button.

2nd - Front of marked pocket button. The color is closer to brown than black.

3rd - Back of unmarked pocket button.

4th - Both pocket buttons and one of the center buttons. All the center buttons are black.

 

Looks good to go. Often times the black finish will be worn off the back of the snaps. This looks like a good one to me. Glad you got this for your collection.

U.S. Vic: All the other guys are right; what you have there is a very common (if any U.S. camo stuff can be called "common") example of an original Marine Corps 'flage suit. I've always taken these "mint green" suits as later production runs of the 1944 suit, mainly because the dye shade is identical to that on post-war helmet covers. Also, there are slight construction differences: horizontal buttonholes rather than the earlier verticals; web stripping reinforcements for the chest pocket snaps instead of camo material; belt loops and cuff drawstrings on the pants, in place of the old open cuffs and waist slits, as well as narrow rectangular pocket closure flaps rather than the larger "envelope" style.

 

You definitely didn't get burned- congrats on scoring a clean piece!

I wish to express my appreciation for all of you who have taken a few moments of your time

to assist me. It is the spirit of the individuals who comprise these forums that makes this

site so invaluable to collectors, like me, who have narrow areas of specialization, but large

gaps of general knowledge; as well as for neophytes to the hobby.

 

I have always been a collector of Title II weapons first and foremost. My initial foray into

militaria has been to collect WWII women's services: WAC, Air WAC, WAVES, SPARS, USMC/WR,

ANC, NNC, as well as a plethora of WWII era patriotic and/or paramilitary women's organizations:

WADCA, WATCC, ARC, AWVS, CAP, Cadet Nurses, WOWs, etc. I have posted a number of

items I own in the Women's Forum. Go back a few pages and you'll see it's a lot.

 

If I can be of help to any of you, feel free to PM me, or I'll chime in on one of your posts if

someone more knowledgeable hasn't already provided the same information that I could.

 

Once again - Thank you, one and all!

 

Msn