PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Post-May 1940 pattern, full length, double breasted style, rubberized, field-grey, cotton twill construction coat with a large, lay down, slightly mottled, field-grey wool collar. The coat has a distinctive front closure with dual buttons situated on each upper breast panel with dual corresponding button holes to the fold back, left lapel and a single button hole to the right lapel. The coat also has an extended, horizontal, button holed tab at each side of the waistline with corresponding buttons to the right exterior and the left interior. The coat also has a single metal hook and eye positioned at the forward neckline. The coat has a diagonally angled, slash, pocket to the right breast and two, diagonally angled, slash, hip pockets with scalloped, button down flaps. All three pockets have large, internal, kidney shaped, pocket bags. The raglan cut sleeves have four, small, vertical, tapering darts at the cuffs and a vertical slash to the interior cuff seams with an extended, horizontal, button holed, tab and dual, corresponding, fit adjustment buttons. The armpits each have an opened, ventilation, slash. The coat has the later, second pattern, (Circa May 1940-May 1945), field-grey wool construction, slip on shoulder straps with bright, silver/aluminum, diamond patterned NCO’s tress to all the outside edges and orange rayon waffenfarbe piping. The bottoms of the shoulder straps and the slip on retaining tongues are in a green/grey wool and the reverse of the slip on tongues have a ribbed greenish/grey, rayon reinforcement panels machine stitched in place. The shoulder strap fabric retaining loops and buttons are intact. The field-grey wool, lay down collar has no collar tabs or any evidence of any ever having been applied, as per regulations. The reverse of the collar has an extended, button holed, fabric tab with a single button beneath the left side with a corresponding button beneath the right side for a secure neck closure in inclement weather. The reverse of the coat has a darted, straight edged, partially opened, horizontal, ventilation shoulder yoke to the top and a vertical, tail skirt, vent from the waistline to the bottom edge with a three button closure. The left side seam at the waistline has a horizontally extended, waist belt with three button holes and the corresponding buttons, machine stitched in place. The belt was designed to wrap around the wearer’s back and button at either the right side seam or the front as required. The coat has a unique buttoning system designed to wrap and secure the bottom tail skirt portion around the wearer’s legs. The buttoning system consists of a single button hole to the bottom edge of each side of the reverse tail skirt vent and to either side of the front closure with dual, corresponding buttons positioned on each side of the front skirt and on the interior hip pocket bags. The reverse tail skirt was designed to wrap around the wearer’s legs and fastens to the buttons on the front of the tail skirt sides. The front opening was intended to wrap around the wearer’s legs and fastens to the buttons on the interior pocket bags. The design not only protected the wearer but keeps the tail skirt from interfering with the motorcycles operation. The interior of the coat has a light weight grey cotton mesh lining to the reverse of the external top yoke and glued seams with narrow stripes of reinforcing fabric. The yoke lining has a small white fabric label neatly handstitched in place with black printed size numerals and, "H.B.A. Erfurt", indicating Heeres Bekleidungs Amt Erfurt, (Army Clothing Office/Depot in Erfurt). The coat shows light to moderate age and usage toning through-out, a couple of small tears, small spots of moderate chafe wear and some surface cracking to the rubberized finish and three small glued patch repairs. The tail skirt vent and under the collar buttons are the molded grey bakelite type while the balance of the buttons are a combination of the pebbled, magnetic sheet metal and alloy types and most appear to have their original stitching. The coats were designed to be worn over the standard field uniform and equipment and were cut quite large as a result, with this example being roughly a size 44" chest.

GRADE ***                             PRICE $820.00