The NKVD is back in style, literally !

[Jeffrey Meffert]

I'll add the qualifier - "when it comes to something I wish to wear during the winter."

Now if you can let it go with the understanding that I just want a full length black leather coat cut in the design of the 1930s-40s for my own personal use, then we can get back to exchanging accurate information about Soviet awards, uniforms, papers, etc. I apologize to anyone who thought my individual preference in winter clothing had anything to do with historical accuracy. There is no need to turn this into a personal grudge match over something so simple as individual taste. When it comes to the "serious side" of my collecting, I am a fanatic about historical accuracy, and anybody who has bothered to look at my posts will see just that.

Phillip

Well, you came to the wrong place if you didn't want e-expert pontificating about meaningless minutia. Here you go: Mens Trench Coats. It will cost you $350 plus postage. (or more than 3K for the Versace)

[Will]

Well, it certainly seems that the early Chekists were fond of leather jackets based on period photographs, although they do not seem to have been regulation issue. But I actually have never seen a photo of any early Chekist wearing a "trench coat". All of the photos that I have seen show them wearing leather jackets that stop at about the point of mid-thigh. The jackets are double-breasted; have external patch pockets in many cases; and sometimes appear to be belted.

In other words, no fixed "regulation" style, but all do seem to be pretty close to what I believe was issued for Russian train personnel.

As for the color, it was black, although that was not an attempt to be sinister on the part of the railway personnel; it just didn't show the soot and dirt.

The SS of the Third Reich, on the other hand, adopted the Death's Head Hussar totenkopf to reflect that they constituted an organization that would demonstrate "the obedience of a cadaver." The patter of the uniform was quite simply that of the British WW I officer's uniform, right down to the Sam Browne belt. The black color was selected by Himmler because it was his stated intention to model the SS on the Jesuits of the Catholic church.

[deValcourt]

Well, you came to the wrong place if you didn't want e-expert pontificating about meaningless minutia. Here you go: Mens Trench Coats. It will cost you $350 plus postage. (or more than 3K for the Versace)

Jeffrey, my friend, we have been quite amiable throughout the past on this forum, trading information and what have you. What started out as a very, very simple question has caused all sorts of innuendos, insults and even practically hidden vermin to come out of the woodwork. Let us leave the matter where it lies.

Even Versace won't make me one cut with the lapels, sleeves and pockets of a 1940s Soviet overcoat. I missed my best chance in Moscow for unforeseeable circumstances and who knows, I may just get back there one day and have that tailor finish the coat.

As the Jesuits would say, "Peace be with you."

Truce?

Phillip

[ekclete]

What strikes me is that those 60 new leather jackets will cost about $1,775 per jacket!!! Nice to see otehr governments then my own overpay for most anything!