Blanket jackets, I just don't get it?

[vestlenning]

Goods made under Socialism/Communism were and are of a much, much lower quality.
If you are old enough you might remember the imports from the Eastern Bloc?
Tools, cars, kitchen implements. Pure crap. The only decent products were guns. Shotguns, rifles, pistols. Plus the AK's of various models.

Do not forget China is still ruled by them, as is Vietnam. I am yet to see a product made there which is of a high standard.

Chinese factories make stuff according to specs, if given specs for quality products they are just as capable as anyone else.

As for "Goods made under Socialism/Communism", how about coughing up more nuance? Ukraine used to make all sorts of stuff, both quality and lesser quality just like in the west.

 

[sunndog]

Yup, don't laugh at the chinese for making garbage......they are already laughing at us for buying it!

They will make anything you like, to any quality you like

 

[Janne]

Quality goods from Ukraine?
Ukraine was an integral part of Soviet Union. Which goods?

The crap I foolishly bought from SSSR when I was young and a poor student was all stamped SSSR. No clue if it was made in Ukraine. Or Uzbekistan.


They did produce good Wheat in Ukraine though. They did import wheat from Canada and US for the higher quality Vodka production though. Not sure why though.

I think we are posting political stuff, so maybe we should not?


What makes me most angry is that modern goods can not be repaired. My daily driver is a MB C 300. Wife broke the interior door handle. Estimate was around USD 2000 to replace the WHOLE INSIDE DOOR including the integral speakers.

It took me 2 hours of work, some thin orthodontic wires, composite resin filling material and my tools to fix it. Still good 3 years later!

Repair took 5 minutes. Removing door and putting it back the rest, I have never done that model before.

Making a dry weather jacket or coat from a blanket (or other fabric) has another plus. As it is 'custom made' it will fit exactly as you want it, and have the pockets, hood, whatever you want. No compromises.

 

[Robson Valley]

Don't ever forget that somebody on this side told the Pacific Rim people what to make and of what quality to sell to us.
Those partnerships are mostly monopolies and doing very well, even if they aren't. Reverse engineer the product so it can't last is the top prize.
I see this in small power tools (drills, table saws, sanders and so on.) Switches break, bearings smoke off in no time.
In fabrics, I see best buys in cottons from India, woolens from Britain, synthetics from the States.
As a bird hunter, I'm swinging Baikal shotguns. I carry a small selection of gunsmithing tools
as pieces are forever falling off.

The whole notion of a blanket coat seems an act of preservation. I need one today, 2 layers thick.
Sunny, +5C and breezy. Snowed a lot up top in the night. Winter is tuning up.

 

[Janne]

Blue Locktite is your friend!

Guns were good. Are even better now!
CZ has some fantastic stuff now in production. Try out the new CZ Shadow 2. Awesome. trigger good enough to be comp ready straight from the box.

If you create a 2 layer blanket coat, would you place an insulation inbetween?

 

[Robson Valley]

CZ firearms are great. Good quality all around. Narex steel in their chisels is a pleasure to use.
Some Baikal screws and bolts shoot loose. Just sloppy tolerances, I guess.
I need to strip the guns if I've been out in the rain so no glue.

If the blanket was a fairly tight weave, I don't think I'd consider even a wind barrier in the coat. The wool is the insulation.
Sprung (Calgary) and Carhartt both use wool blanket liners in some coat models. They're OK until they wear down.
My new Carhartt has some sort of thick quilted synthetic liner which is cozy.

 

[Nice65]

Blue Loctite isn't glue, just very viscous. It allows for screws etc to be removed, but holds them in place. Widely used on knife pivots.

 

[vestlenning]

Quality goods from Ukraine?
Ukraine was an integral part of Soviet Union. Which goods?

The crap I foolishly bought from SSSR when I was young and a poor student was all stamped SSSR. No clue if it was made in Ukraine. Or Uzbekistan.


They did produce good Wheat in Ukraine though. They did import wheat from Canada and US for the higher quality Vodka production though. Not sure why though.

I think we are posting political stuff, so maybe we should not?

Politics or not, nuances never hurt.

 

[Robson Valley]

Must go to the hardware store today for lightbulbs, will ask about Blue Loctite.
I used many little bottles of Yellow (CA?), decades ago.

Likely try to blast a bunch of chickens (aka Ruffed Grouse) this coming weekend.
See what shoots loose!!!!

John Fenna has likely forgotten more about wool fabrics than I will ever learn.
If and when the time comes, I will act on his advice.

 

[John Fenna]

Must go to the hardware store today for lightbulbs, will ask about Blue Loctite.
I used many little bottles of Yellow (CA?), decades ago.

Likely try to blast a bunch of chickens (aka Ruffed Grouse) this coming weekend.
See what shoots loose!!!!

John Fenna has likely forgotten more about wool fabrics than I will ever learn.
If and when the time comes, I will act on his advice.

Ask Toddy - not me!
Toddy has forgotten more than I will ever learn
My wool blankets (for heavy shirts of classic design and my "Bush Shirt") have all been from Charity shops or Dutch Army Surplus - I love my Merino blanket shirts for real winter wear and my Bush Shirt (Dutch Surplus - as seen in my avatar) is almost windproof as it is so felted.
I also have a couple of real Welsh Flannel (made to my design by the mill that is the last remaining producer of Welsh Flannel... conveniently close to home!) shirts that are great for Autumn or early Spring.
I really DO get the blanket Jacket thing - extreme comfort and protection, the joy of recycling, the thrill of designing and making a unique garment that is just how you want it, eco-cred and affordable - plus they look good in a "Bushcraft Uniform" kind of way
There are few commercial garments that I really thing "have it"... today I was out in "normal" society but wearing home made canvas trousers, home made gilet (from East European ponchos) and a home made jacket roughly based on a 1960s SAS smock ... it was too warm for the woolens!
I can go out fully equipped for a weekend (even in moderate to poorish weather) from bed to boots, hat to haversack, socks to sleeping bag, kettle to knife - all home made ... I like making stuff and recommend the practice to anyone!

 

[Janne]

Politics or not, nuances never hurt.

Answering a question does not hurt either!

Which goods Made in Ukrainian Sovjet Socialist Republic were the better (or same) as the ones made in Free Europe or North America?

I can mention some more very nice products: Tatra cars and Bohemia canned Praque ham. Beer. Syrecky cheese. Made in CSSR.

Super products made in SSSR (all of it) were:
Chatka crab cans ( Vladivostok?)
Smoked Sprats cans ( Baltic state, forgot which)
Vodka
Georgian wine, including (Champagnois method) sparkling

Chatka crab cans - had to go Harrods to get it to show my Gourmand son how a crab can should taste. $$$$$$

 

[Toddy]

Hemp and linen fabrics, and threads. Superb stuff, and they make, and made, good rope too.

M

 

[Janne]

Forgot that!
We bought some fantastic linen table covering and napkins. Well before the political change.
Still have them, used a lot.
Also Porcellain.
All from CSSR. Todays Czech Rep.

Hemp and linen fabrics, and threads. Superb stuff, and they make, and made, good rope too.

M

 

[walker]

??? eh woolen jackets are great if made stylish but some home made period type looking things you have to admit make dare i say it some people look like re enactors

 

[crosslandkelly]

A simple garment that serves a practicle purpose will look the same, regardless of era and fashion.

 

[vestlenning]

A simple garment that serves a practicle purpose will look the same, regardless of era and fashion.

Hear, hear!

 

[richardhb]

I started this thread with a question, and think it's been answered. My observation is the idea of a blanket coat is a romantic one. I mean saying they are great for sitting around a pit fire and not getting the coat on fire,(how many times a year do you do this be honest) is such a statement, romantic, and maybe a bit of a blur between reality and perception. I can get romance but cannot get sitting around in a stinking old wet blanket when I have a Paramo in the cupboard, forgive me just having fun guys.

Oddly a few years ago I found whittling wood a nice winter hobby, so maybe there is a parallel there, making something from almost nothing maybe.

 

[Toddy]

I think it might surprise you just how often a lot of folks do sit round a fire

Not all 'blanket' jackets are only used to sit around a fire though. My husband wears his 'hoodies' day in day out from about now on until May. I admit only one is made from a blanket (a Belgian army one, brand new and superbly comfortable and warm) but the rest are just made from wool cloth.

Paramo isn't up to his walking and wandering, he wrecks clothes, yet his 'bushshirts' are now several years old and still going strong

M

 

[Robson Valley]

I've been carving my winters away for quite some time now.
I can even notice the pleasant improvement in upper body strength.
No spoons any more. No kuksa. Just what I see in the wood.

Hoodies are good. I prefer a front zipper, given a choice. Just me.
Need pockets, too.

Whether you can "sit around" an open campfire probably depends on where you live.
Here, it's accepted practice. Wool won't burn from popping conifer sparks.
Holes? Yes but flames? no. Not like incendiary synthetics.
Clean blankets don't smell, even when wet, and the rain will chase me under cover in no time flat.

Trivia: insurance for pyrotechnicians here is void if we get caught wearing anything but cotton. Static electricity. Huge burns.

At least even second house in this village has a stone or steel fire pit in the back yard.
I'll bet they get used at least once a week. Many cook over the open fire (moose/elk/venison/bison.)

Every house in the village owns and uses at least one gas BBQ. I use 3 (2 smokers) as well as a charcoal BBQ.
We all cook outdoors down to -10C at the very least. One is outside the front door, one outside the back door
and the third one is up on the balcony, off the dining room!

 

[MartinK9]

I use mine around the fire, and part of a layering system:

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=145572