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Amazing RAF WWII-Era Vintage Overcoat Find(with piccy goodness)

Augusto86

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My ebay-fu found me this amazing World War II overcoat that belonged to an RAF squadron captain and was tailored for him by Gieves(as in the first part of Gieves and Hawkes, I guess).

It's a really nice shade of grey and it's perfectly preserved, so that's really cool. The wool is not 100% best quality, but it's durable and it hasn't pilled much over 50 years. It's also got realyl cool brass buttons with the RAF seal.

And it can be worn normally or with the collar buttoned up for extra Equilibrium/Anime goodness.

Cost about 100 shipped, but well worth it. It will keep me warm and toasty on those really bitter New England days and nights.
 

j

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Where's the piccy goodness?
 

Augusto86

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Now with extra, real piccy goodness.

IMG_1425.jpg


IMG_1426.jpg
 

saint

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Great coat, but if you haven't earned the RAF buttons, you should really replace them with non-service related similar buttons. Its sort of like buying a Super Bowl ring and pretending that its yours. Its also the reason that regimental ties (from British regiments, or clubs, etc, for that matter), slope the wrong way, so no one will confuse the wearer with someone who deserves to wear it.
 

rnoldh

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Nice coat! It sure looks extremely heavy. Is it?
 

drake

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I don't think anyone actually cares about that.
Originally Posted by saint
Great coat, but if you haven't earned the RAF buttons, you should really replace them with non-service related similar buttons. Its sort of like buying a Super Bowl ring and pretending that its yours. Its also the reason that regimental ties (from British regiments, or clubs, etc, for that matter), slope the wrong way, so no one will confuse the wearer with someone who deserves to wear it.
 

Tomasso

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Originally Posted by saint
you should really replace them with non-service related similar buttons. so no one will confuse the wearer with someone who deserves to wear it.

rolleyes.gif
 

Arethusa

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Uh, if you're going to ***** about the buttons, you might want to start with, say, the rank bars on the epaulettes.

Nice coat, Augusto. Any chance there were more where that came from, or am I just going to have to camp out on eBay looking for old milsurp?
 

Augusto86

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Originally Posted by saint
Great coat, but if you haven't earned the RAF buttons, you should really replace them with non-service related similar buttons. Its sort of like buying a Super Bowl ring and pretending that its yours. Its also the reason that regimental ties (from British regiments, or clubs, etc, for that matter), slope the wrong way, so no one will confuse the wearer with someone who deserves to wear it.
If you know any members of the 1951 RAF who would object, I'd be happy to oblige.
Uh, if you're going to ***** about the buttons, you might want to start with, say, the rank bars on the epaulettes. Nice coat, Augusto. Any chance there were more where that came from, or am I just going to have to camp out on eBay looking for old milsurp?
Arethusa, this ebayer has stuff from time to time. The other search I did to find this was for "coat", "topcoat", "greatcoat", and "overcoat" in not the clothing section, but the Collectibles/Militaria section of ebay. For some reason that just where I found similar items. And moldh, yeah, it is a heavy SOB. But its warm and waterproof.
 

josepidal

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Congratulations. I agree that no one in New England would likely mistake you for a World War II RAF pilot.
devil.gif
 

Arethusa

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Originally Posted by Augusto86
If you know any members of the 1951 RAF who would object, I'd be happy to oblige.
For what little it is worth, I have to admit I'd feel rather weird wearing the officer's bars. If you're reenacting or deliberately wearing them ironically or even disrespectfully, that's one thing, but it's casually wearing that stuff that I personally find kind of objectionable. Not in that it's disrespectful to the RAF; mainly that it's sort of disrespectful to history. Not that any of this is a huge deal. Just saying. And thanks for the advice. Now, quickly, quickly! Delete it all before anyone else gets in my way!
 

Augusto86

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Originally Posted by Arethusa
For what little it is worth, I have to admit I'd feel rather weird wearing the officer's bars. If you're reenacting or deliberately wearing them ironically or even disrespectfully, that's one thing, but it's casually wearing that stuff that I personally find kind of objectionable. Not in that it's disrespectful to the RAF; mainly that it's sort of disrespectful to history. Not that any of this is a huge deal. Just saying.

And thanks for the advice. Now, quickly, quickly! Delete it all before anyone else gets in my way!


Well, the bars are staying on through Halloween, 'cause now I'm going to be an RAF officer! After that - we'll see if I take the time to take 'em off.
 

josepidal

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Augusto, think you can get away with using army-issue overcoats for use with more formal clothing? This RAF coat would certainly work, IMHO.
 

Holdfast

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I love the waist suppression. Very cool indeed!
 

Augusto86

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Originally Posted by josepidal
Augusto, think you can get away with using army-issue overcoats for use with more formal clothing? This RAF coat would certainly work, IMHO.

Yeah, if its a dress coat like this. After all, who has to look more professional and formal than a Royal Air Force Officer?
 

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