ORIG'L, NR MINT SHEEPSKIN-LINED Parka Type Overcoat (Size 48!) SALE PRICED!

This is an ORIGINAL SHEEPSKIN SHEARLING-LINED PARKA TYPE OVERCOAT as worn by U.S. Army personnel in cold climates during WWII. The Army standardized the parka on 19 May 1941 and it was eventually superseded by a similar alpaca-lined parka type overcoat (currently available in one of my other listings).  Please see Charles Lemon's terrific treatise Uniforms of the Army Ground Forces 1939-1945, Volume 1, Coats and Jackets, Part II at pages 127-132 for further details regarding these parkas. Other than experimental ski parkas tested by the Quartermaster, this was one of the rarest parkas issued during WWII, given the expense and eventual abandonment of shearling clothing, such as AAF's shearling-lined flight clothing.

The parka is closed by a row of six buttons, a Talon zipper under the wind flap and a 2" wide removable waist belt. The parka has a hood which can be closed at the neck with two additional buttons, with an 8" Talon zipper which allows the hood to lay flat when not in use. As noted above, the coat is lined in white sheepskin shearling, while the sleeves are lined in dark OD 18 ounce wool.  The parka is mid-thigh length and has two slanted hand-warmer pockets on the chest and two flapped lower pockets. The parka is in NEAR MINT UNUSED condition and has all of the original buttons at the neck and chest (see images below). The parka has a QM tag in the right thigh pocket and another size tag in the neck (see images above). As indicated on the tags, the parka is a phenomenal SIZE 48, one of the largest sizes produced for army personnel.  The only defects are three very small separations in the shearling hide at the shoulders, where the shearling lining came in contact with a hanger previous to my ownership (see last three images below).  Since purchasing the parka on October 5, 1994, the parka has been on a pipe insulation padded wooden hanger when hung or stored horizontally in a large box.  The buyer will receive the padded hanger with the parka's purchase.

Here's an opportunity for the advanced outerwear collector to obtain a NEAR MINT and RARE early-War parka. The buyer will have my usual unconditional guarantee of authenticity and satisfaction and a five-day (not the 14-days that they insert in my listings without my consent) right of inspection and return/refund privilege, excluding postage. PLEASE SCROLL DOWNWARD TO SEE THE REMAINING 15 IMAGES!!