Our 32" Classic 32 oz. Melton Wool Peacoat, military anchor
buttons, hand warmer pockets, Two inside chest pockets,vented back and
nylon quilted lining. Our wool is 75 percent reprocessed wool, 25
percent nylon and other fibers. The contents are interlocked and
pressed together before the wool is cut to ensure maximum protection
against the elements. Made in the USA.
The US Navy Peacoat was
adopted during the early 20th Century, from Britain’s Royal Navy Reefer
Jacket. The Royal Navy's first regulations for uniforms for other ranks
were issued in 1857, a century after the regulations for officers and
this garment was originally used by Midshipmen ( Reefers ). These
crewmen had to climb the rigging and furl and unfurl, or ‘reef’, the
sails of the sailing ships of the era. The jacket was short, to allow
ease of movement through the rigging. It had a double-breasted front,
which displaced the buttons to each side. This helped reduce the chance
of them getting caught on ropes, as the wearer maneuvered the sails. The
pockets were often close to vertical, and over the flanks, rather than
horizontal and at wrist level. It was made of a very heavy wool, in dark
Navy blue, with a nap on the face side.
The success of the style is
proved by its singularly universal appearance throughout the Navies of
Europe. This may account for the US Navy's nomenclature as an
Anglicization of the Dutch ‘Pijekkat, being a jacket made of ‘Pij’ (a
coarse wool) cloth. Conversely, it may be from the shortening of the
Belgium Navies term ‘Pilot’s Jacket’ to P. Jacket, then being misspelt /
adapted to Pea Coat. The term ‘Pea Jacket’ is reputed to first appear
in the Oxford English Dictionary between 1717 and 1723. ‘Pea Coat’ does
not appear for another century.
Material: Melton Wool