Wool trousers

[swyn]

Several years ago I was at a place near Lampeter called 'Maximos' which specialised in surplus Army/Police/RAF clothing. I still have a pair of trousers 'fire fighting' in green felted wool material very similar to Swandri material but thicker that I purchased there.
These are warm in extreme weather and were a godsend when I used to live in that part of Wales and work in Bucks and travel to and fro by motorbike in all weathers.
Tony may know of this place if it is still in business.
Sorry can't be more specific.
Swyn.

 

[tombear]

What became of all the wonderful old trousers, battledress, serge? They must have come to the new world where I bought up every pair that fit. Come to think of it, the pair I'm wearing out right now is Canadian!

I come across 1949 Pat BD trousers quite often since I'm a saddo collector. Are they worth geting to use as well? You tend to hear just abuse about them over here from ex servicemen but when they came out BD was cutting edge design based on ski ware, rather like modern forces ripping off the latest outdoor persuits kit.

The jackets are far more common, there must be bales of size 13 floating about as I've seen them for as little as 3 quid a pop, but they are pretty short and I can't see anyone wanting to use them in the woods.

ATB

Tom

PS for those who object to khaki the RAF used BD for a awful long time as well.

 

[BlueTrain]

It has been a while since 1949 pattern BD was seen in stores in these parts (both blouse and trousers) but Canadian BD trousers are still surfacing, unissued, too. All the jackets except the '49 pattern are snapped up by reenactors and reproductions are what you have to settle for. The US Army evidently wore fairly nice wool trousers until quite recently, shirts, too, and lots of those have shown up in US surplus outlets. They are a thinner and harder finished serge than the British and Canadian variety, however.

There is a small scale manufacturer in Duluth, Minnesota, USA, called Empire Canvas that produces purpose made "snow-walking" gear like parka and so-called blanket shirts. They actually state that army surplus wool trousers are so good that almost nobody makes thick wool outing-type trousers and when you find some that fit, buy three pair! Actually there are a couple of manufacturers like Woolrich and Codet that make pretty decent wool blend work pants but they are hard to find anywhere outside the Northwoods part of the country.

Filson has them but theirs are frightfully expensive.

 

[tombear]

I will have to find me a beeeeg pair of '49 pats then although I think that it's unlikely that ones big enough for a fatso like me will be common.

The blanket shirts sound interesting.

Herself got "Smoke and Fire" to make me up a Whitney blanket capote a few years back and thats great. I'd tried making one from a pattern (still got thart somewhere) and a army blanket but things went to pot around the armpits.

ATB

Tom

 

[pierre girard]

It has been a while since 1949 pattern BD was seen in stores in these parts (both blouse and trousers) but Canadian BD trousers are still surfacing, unissued, too. All the jackets except the '49 pattern are snapped up by reenactors and reproductions are what you have to settle for. The US Army evidently wore fairly nice wool trousers until quite recently, shirts, too, and lots of those have shown up in US surplus outlets. They are a thinner and harder finished serge than the British and Canadian variety, however.

There is a small scale manufacturer in Duluth, Minnesota, USA, called Empire Canvas that produces purpose made "snow-walking" gear like parka and so-called blanket shirts. They actually state that army surplus wool trousers are so good that almost nobody makes thick wool outing-type trousers and when you find some that fit, buy three pair! Actually there are a couple of manufacturers like Woolrich and Codet that make pretty decent wool blend work pants but they are hard to find anywhere outside the Northwoods part of the country.

Filson has them but theirs are frightfully expensive.

Just bought a pair of Woolrich. They are decent, thick, and pretty cheap - 85% wool. The Swedish military are great, but getting harder to find around here.

I've purchased a number of items from Empire Canvas (we live just north of Duluth) and it is very good quality, but I wouldn't bother with a blanket shirt. Very easy to make your own.

If you have an old wool blanket that went through the wash by mistake - you're in business. Fold the blanket in half, make a horizontal cut and a "T" cut down from that. Put your head through the hole and pinch off where you want the fabric to meet on the side. Cut straight up each side. The left overs on each side can be sewn into a tube for the arms, a square for under each arm, and a collar. Very simple if you have any sewing ability.

 

[Mikey P]

These are the ones I bought, and my bother nicked
http://www.factsurplus.co.uk/10031.html

cheers,
Toddy

Are the leather straps at the bottom in case you get stomach 'problems' after drinking untreated water? They think of everything, these Swedes.

 

[Wayland]

Can anybody tell me if the army no.2 uniform trousers are wool?

 

[Greg]

The outer material is wool but I'm not sure what the liner is, polyester/cotton possibly, but from experience I personally wouldn't want to wear these trousers for bushcraft, they aren't particulary comfortable or strong. They are designed for the Parade ground not the play ground if you get my drift!

 

[Wayland]

I was wondering because there's a source here that's got them for £3.00

 

[Goose]

Can anybody tell me if the army no.2 uniform trousers are wool?

Not sure, I have my old twos in my cupboard(sad I know ) nothing on them to say apart from they are dry clean only. I took a couple of loose threads from the pocket and burnt them and it seems to be synthetic or a mix anyway. I think there will be different batches made of different materials too. These are dated 1980.
I can bring a couple of threads along at weekend for you to look at, the pocket has a lot of loose material.

 

[Greg]

Not sure, I have my old twos in my cupboard(sad I know ) nothing on them to say apart from they are dry clean only. I took a couple of loose threads from the pocket and burnt them and it seems to be synthetic or a mix anyway. I think there will be different batches made of different materials too. These are dated 1980.
I can bring a couple of threads along at weekend for you to look at, the pocket has a lot of loose material.

Aren't the pockets made from the same material as the liner?

 

[Goose]

Aren't the pockets made from the same material as the liner?

The pockets are nylon but where they attach isn't finished neatly so lots of threads hanging down. The liner is only around the top really, to stop rubbing on your waist?

 

[Greg]

I might be mistaken then Wayland, I always thought the trousers and jacket were made from wool, but I still wouldn't recommend them for bushcraft use!

 

[sam_acw]

When I was reenacting there were companies like this who made heavy wool trousers for reenactment. Probably limited colurs but cheap and cheerful. Weren't authetic enough for us though
The charity chop options get a lot less with a 35" inside leg