keith Posted January 7, 2012 Posted January 7, 2012 I found this at an estate sale here in the USA. I would like to know what the readers think of it and perhaps ID it. It is wool but the other side of the tag says the patches on the shoulders and elbows are 65% Polyester so this may be Vietnam War era? Thanks.
Mervyn Mitton Posted January 8, 2012 Posted January 8, 2012 Keith - Hi. An interesting item - which does unfortunately raise a question. I hope some of our exMilitary members will be able to help. The question I have is that the sweater appears to have had some use - you can see the knap on the wool is not flat. However, the flash and the sgt's stripes appear new ? Did you have any provenance when you made the putrchase ? Mervyn
keith Posted January 8, 2012 Author Posted January 8, 2012 NO, no history with it. It was an estate sale and was lying on a bed. It was one of those sales where if you want it you have to pick it up quick or else the guy behind you will. I didn't pay a whole lot for it so that is good. I did find out on another forum that it is "current" so that is in agreement with your assessment and I knew it wasn't too old judging by the tag. The paratrooper patch is what excited me at the time. Thanks alot for the help. keith
Chris Boonzaier Posted January 8, 2012 Posted January 8, 2012 Hi, I am guessing anywear after 1953 ... 60s or 70s or even 80s may be a good guess. Best Chris
PKeating Posted January 9, 2012 Posted January 9, 2012 The pullover looks like a pre-1980 design without the shoulder straps. Unusual to see the wings sewn on with untrimmed backing, although some fellows did it. The stripes look on the low side. The label isn't regulation. At a push, it could be for Cadet Force-issue but the label has a civilian look to it. I'd say this was probably purchased from an shop like Debora or Silverman's in the 1970s and the badges added subsequently. I don't see why a serving soldier, especially a Senior NCO, would buy a woolly-pully when indenting for lost kit would cost him less than their retail prices. We bought berets, windproofs, decent boots, bivvy bags and other non-issue kit from both Debora and Silverman's, as well as Survival Aids, but not this kind of kit. Given your location, I would say this pullover might have been bought by a US Army soldier or a US Marine, British pullovers being very popular at one point with your lads as unofficial field kit, and later enhanced by the addition of wings and stripes. As I said, I'd want to see those stripes about an inch higher. Wings should be four fingers of an average hand from the sleeve seam. Take the badges off and wear the pullover. PK
Mervyn Mitton Posted January 9, 2012 Posted January 9, 2012 Prosper - thankyou for such a detailed answer - it will help Keith a lot. Mervyn
keith Posted January 9, 2012 Author Posted January 9, 2012 Yes that does help me. And I think you nailed the source of this sweater; at this sale there was also a uniform and caps for a LADY U.S. Marine. I suspect now that this female marine acquired this pull-over and for some reason added the patches; maybe she had a British Soldier boy friend which influenced her designs or perhaps gave her the patches which she sewed on the sweater! Thanks for the expertise....keith
PKeating Posted January 9, 2012 Posted January 9, 2012 A pleasure! Mind you, she must have been a big girl! 46" chest? That's my chest size.
keith Posted January 9, 2012 Author Posted January 9, 2012 Whoa!! A pleasure! Mind you, she must have been a big girl! 46" chest? That's my chest size. hoa
PKeating Posted January 9, 2012 Posted January 9, 2012 However, I am a lesbian. I've been more attracted to women all my life, even if I am trapped in this body.
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