ORIG VG-EXC US ARMY EARLY WWII M38 M1938 (NOT M41) FIELD JACKET DATED APRIL 1941

Description

This is a 100% original  U.S. Army pre-WWII M1938 (M38, M-38) combat field jacket (not the later M41 jacket), made under a contract dated April, 1941. It is made of a khaki (with perhaps a light greenish tinge, depends on the lighting conditions) cotton with a brown blanket wool lining.  The cotton cloth on this M38 has the much same appearance as the later M1941  field jackets, a kind of lightweight poplin.
The brown wool lining on this particular jacket is a also bit coarser and thicker than the wool used in the later M1941 jackets.
Based on the appearance and the contract date on the specification label, I believe this is one of the last M38 jackets ever made.  ********** This M38 jacket is the type of pre- to very early WWII
combat jacket issued to U.S. Army infantry and troops in the 1940 to 1942 time frame. The M1938 jacket was phased out in 1941, when the M41 jacket was approved. T
he principal differences between the M38 and the M41 jackets are that the M38 jacket has no shoulder epaulets, and the pockets of an M38 close with a buttoned flap. There are also differences in the weave of the outer shell and the weight of the wool lining, these underwent evolution over the years as the combat jacket design was tested and refined. Eventually the M38 jacket became the "Jacket, Field, OD," and was widely issued to US troops until the M43 OD cotton field jacket was introduced. The M38 jacket continued to be worn throughout WWII, you can spot them (rarely) in use until the end of the war.  ************* Everything about this jacket is original, it is an authentic M38 field jacket.  This jacket has its original white steel zipper, it is made by "Talon" and is so marked on the zipper pull.  This jacket has all of the original brown plastic buttons, including those on the pocket flaps. It has a loop in the neck for hanging, but there is no sewn or embroidered size label there as is typical of the later M41 jackets. Inside the right front pocket is a white specification tag, this is somewhat worn and faded but it reads: "BEST COAT COMPANY, Cont. W-669-qm-11673, Dated April 1, 1941, Spec. No. [illegible] Dated [illegible] 1941 [illegible] QM Depot [illegible] INSPECTOR." Pockets are lined with OD cotton twill, the zipper is attached to a khaki HBT cloth. I do not see a size label or stamp, probably was included on the faded part of the specification label, but the jacket measures 18 inches from shoulder seam to shoulder seam across the back, so it is a men's size 36. ************ The jacket is in very good to excellent condition, it was issued and worn.  It is intact with all buttons, epaulets, pocket flaps, button tabs, and zipper. The zipper is the factory original zipper and it works just fine. There are no tears to the shell or lining. The jacket
shows some soiling, slight fading and age toning, but no major stains or spots.
There are three small holes in the neck area (see photo) from wear, cuffs are intact and not badly frayed but each has about a dozen small wear holes scattered, these range from less than 1/16 inch to about 3/8 inch. There is a small hole about 3/8 inch on the back side of the left sleeve near the bottom.  The brown wool blanket lining is intact, not torn, but has some scattered mothing, I see about 20 small moth bites ranging from 1/8 to 1/2 inch, mostly along the bottom hem of the inside of the jacket. There are no names or writing anywhere, so the soldier who wore this remains anonymous. Overall the jacket has a neat appearance, displays well, and is in nice shape for such a rare, pre-WWII to early WWII item. *************  As always, please note, I do not sell these original WWII clothing items for use, they are collector's items so I cannot guarantee they will fit a 21st century man or woman. I can provide measurements, but I will not accept a return for size issues, this is a very rare jacket and it deserves to be curated, not worn. ********** This is the latest M1938 jacket I have ever owned or seen, it surely was one of the last M38s ever made.  Original M38 field jackets are quite scarce, my guess is that surviving M41 jackets outnumber them by at least 50 to 1, perhaps even 100 to 1 or more. ****************** I can ship worldwide. Free shipping to a US address, overseas buyers pay exact postage costs only.