IHM-04 - Alpaca Lined N1 Deck Jacket - Olive, Black and Navy
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AFAIK the original WWII area N-1 deck jacket is the one with an oversized zipper and a 6 button storm placket. Later revisions removed the zipper in favour of a hook front because of complaints from servicemen. See this excerpt from http://historypreservation.com/hpassociates/detailpop.php?uniqnum=481
"The essence of the original Hook-Front Deck Jacket was to significantly improve on the functionality of the earlier Zip-Front version: during very cold weather conditions, any collected water spray on the zipper would immediately freeze, making the zippers very difficult, if not impossible to operate; likewise, deck personnel wore heavy gloves in cold weather, the wearing of which often made operating the zipper slide unduly hard, and if the zippers were ice-caked with frozen spray, more often than not they would simply fail completely. The solution to this problem was found in the typical fireman’s coats of the era. Naturally, firemen wore heavy gloves and were often coated in water from head to toe and, in winter, this water froze to their coats, yet they could fasten or unfasten their coats without great difficulty. The fireman’s coats, however, fastened not with zippers but with a metal hook-style clasp fastener that pivoted on a hinge pin and folded around and through a metal bracket. It was this same fastener design that the U. S. Navy incorporated into the Hook-Front Deck Jackets and that Buzz Rickson’s deftly recreates. Even heavy military bar tacks are sewn at every key stress point specified and found on the original deck jackets, thus pocket corners and storm flap, etc. are constructed to function and endure in the same adverse, challenging conditions of combat that the jackets produced back in 1943 so did."
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I'll echo the love for the Navy. Beautiful color with a depth that is difficult to capture in photos.
The alpaca is a lot warmer than it's weight and thickness suggest. It's really soft and dense. Downright luxurious, really.
Someone referred to this jacket as "inspired"; which I think is a fitting description. Amazing attention to detail.
I can say with great confidence that I will own this jacket for a very long time. Possibly for the rest of my days.
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Picked up some Nikwax Cotton Proof yesterday, and since it's a dry sunny day, decided to waterproof (technically rain proof really), my olive deck jacket. In hindsight I maybe should have tested it out on a small section to see whether it would alter the colour, but my thinking is that:
a) if I can't wear it in the rain then it won't get used very oftenand
b) as long as any colour change is consistent then it'll still look good
and
c) it's just a jacket, (albeit an exceptionally nice one), and I shouldn't get too hung up on this
To start, I placed the jacket onto a clothes horse and liberally sprayed it with water from the garden hose, then used a sponge to apply 50ml of this
It goes on white, so I used the sponge to work it into the face until it was no longer visible.
Here's some pics as it's drying in the sun; it looks darker, but I'm hoping it will lighten as it dries, maybe not fully back to its original colour, but we'll see…
I'll post some more pics once it's fully dry, and, since we're due rain tomorrow, I'll find out if it worked!
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Well done!
Nikwax is used to be washed in. To protect the wonderful lining, I wold even spray it on.
I use an old window cleaner container and mix Nikwax and water 1:1.
Experience has shown, that the jacket has to be near drip wet before.
I am genuinely curious to see your first water repellant report. -
Looking good, Simon.
This one was hard to resist, especially in the Navy.
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Excellent pic Simon!
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Was the navy version not released in Japan?
Only see black and olive here:
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Wish I had splurged on a Navy!
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We have one Navy XL inbound. Drop us a note if you "need" it…..
If a large ever pops up, let me know, though it sounds doubtful.
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Worn the jacket a fair bit now, absolutely love it - only gripe for me is the collar is a bit rough on my neck, hoping it will soften with more wear.
rough?! are we talking material wise or more like.. tightness? i find the collar to be very cozy, but unfortunately theres no way i can wear it with the throat latch buttoned.
