Greatcoat with the kilt?

[Riverkilt]

Thanks Bob,

My rememberer is usually on the fritz, but for sure I bought the union cavalry greatcoat from Grand Illusions back in the mid to late '90s for sure. I remember I thought they'd "forgotten" to hem the bottom...got some of my first polite education on authenticity when I called them.

Didn't do any reenacting, just liked to dress up and go shopping for fun. Even bought a pair of cavalry knee boots from Cavalry Regimental Supply (think that's their name). Would go to Home Depot in full cavalry garb like I was just off the post and in town for supplies.

Sooner or later a youngster would be staring at me. I'd go over to him and bend down and whisper in his ear, "Son, don't ever, ever ever join the Army...don't ever join the Army son." Wondering now, ten years later, if maybe I messed up the current recruiting efforts somehow.

Of course it was also a great "around the campfire" coat for camping in the mountains.

Would be cool if your friend sewed it up. Its very well done.

Ron

[James MacMillan]

"Son, don't ever, ever ever join the Army...don't ever join the Army son."

So that's how we got that spike in Marine enlistments........Now we know~!

[Riverkilt]

Okay, mine arrived today. Already put the first layer of Febreeze on them...whoa!

The Sweedish one is new and fits and has buttons on. Has a nice inside wallet pocket too.

The British is new but is a tight fit and I will have to sewn on the buttons. By the time I finish sewing and bleeding it'll look like its been in combat.

Ron

Fabric is nice and heavy

[Riverkilt]

So I get home from work tonight and look at the buttons I have to sew on and they have ANCHORS on them...go back to the Sportsmans website and sure enought if you enlarge the photos and look real close the buttons have anchors with a crown on top. They shipped what they said they would.

And, the coat is advertised as a "British Military Long Wool Coat." So most folks consider the Navy as part of the Military....

But dang it...when I'm done sewing on the buttons in MY view I'm gonna have a British ARMY greatcoat with British NAVY buttons all over it.

Does the British Army have a Navy or does the British Navy have an Army...for sure gonna be a real conversation piece. The coat does have epaulets. Maybe I should have some real fun and order up some British Naval Officer's rank shoulder boards and put them on the British "military" coat....or maybe really mix it up and put on some Royal Air Force shoulder boards....

It would be like Johnny Cash's old song about his '59, '60, '61 Cadillac that he smuggled out of the auto factory part by part in his lunch box.

An official British Army, Navy, Air Force greatcoat....

Well...the price was right...

Okay...the thing needs another spritz of Febreeze...my apartment is starting smell a lot like a Goodwill store....may need to try a bathtub soak in Woolite....

For what its worth if you're still considering one of these, the Sweedish Navy greatcoat arrived with buttons on, and sized as promised....at a higher price of course....

Ron

[Riverkilt]

So in the process of sewing the "Navy" buttons on my British Army greatcoat I noticed something I can't figure out.

Across the back of the greatcoat there is a wool belt-like thing that is sewn down on the left side and the right side but buttons in the middle, pretty common on greatcoats.

On this Greatcoat there is a slot, the width of the backside belt on the left side of the left half of the belt-like thing. Inside there is a wool flat that fits over the inside of the slot and buttons closed. One can unbutton the flap on the inside and slip something through the slit in the coat. Its not a pocket. Its a slit that can be covered on the inside with a button down wool flap.

I thought it might be for some sort of leather belt, but there is no corresponding opening on the right side of the coat...just the left. And its too small to fit a hand or a weapon through and its position is too awkward for easy access.

Best guess so far is a thing to stick a sword frog through onto an inside belt so a sword can be hung outside the greatcoat....??

Feedback welcome...thanks

Ron

[macwilkin]

There's no tags inside, but whoever owned this was a Lt. Col. (I took the rank insignia off), and served in Egypt

Those are regimental buttons -- the Sphinx with the title "Egypt" was awarded to a number of regiments for service in Egypt at various times, just as a dragon (as on the badge of the old Border Regiment) signified service in China.

My first guess as to which regiment these buttons are from would be the Lincolnshires, since they wore the Sphinx on their cap badges. I'll have to ask a buddy of mine who has some resources about regimental buttons if he can ID them.

So while the Lt. Col in question may or may not have served in Egypt, you can certainly say his regiment did.

Ron: the Royal Navy is NOT part of the British Army. Most likely Sportsman's Guide sent you what ever buttons they had lying around.

T.

[Riverkilt]

Well, the buttons have an anchor with a crown on the top...and now a bit of Macdonald blood on them. Suppose they could be from any country.

Is there such a thing as the British Navy?...would think the British Navy (what's called the Navy in Britain) is Royal Navy...but what do I know - I only went as far as the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets in high school....

Is this a great board or what? So much to learn.

Ron

[macwilkin]

Is there such a thing as the British Navy?...would think the British Navy (what's called the Navy in Britain) is Royal Navy...but what do I know...

Yes, Ron, there is a British Royal Navy:

http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/

T.

[Nick]

Ron, my coat also has that inside flap, but the slit has been stitched shut. Maybe it was seen as unneccessary.

Thanks cajunscot

[Archangel]

Go for it. You'll easily find lot of reference to kilts and greatcoats. Even pictured in Osprey on p. 22.

You'll almost never go wrong combining a military look with a kilt.