Dennison Smocks

[Gurkha]

Gents, not a badge, but can you experts tell me how to tell a genuine WWII smock from these repro ones around.
ta
Steve

[David Tremain]

You should check out the discussions on the Canuck site:
[url]www.canadiansoldiers.com
Over the last little while it's been quite extensive.
David

[Luc]

Have you been offered one Steve? Send me a PM and I'll gladly have a look.

[rubicon]

Hello Steve,
If you have some good pictures of the smock I can help you.
Cheers.
J-F

[Gurkha]

I'll try and get a picture, a guy has offered two, one with the hail zip.
Steve

[Gurkha]

Gents, thanks for the offers of help, my son turned up a collector who Id'd them.
Steve

[Arnhemjim]

Hi Steve,
Fundamental test is to obtain even a small piece of thread from the smock. Burn the thread, if it turns to ash (WWII vintage cotton or rayon) a good indicator. If it melts (Post-war synthetic fiber) not a good indicator. Check the underside of the top part (female) of any snap/button, the vast majority will be embossed (stamped from underside)"NEWEY PAT.201430-22", this being somewhat analogous to "PRESS THE DOT" on a lot of U.S. snaps. The zipper is stamped "MADE IN, the word DOT encircled, ENGLAND". Obviously the material of the smock should be heavy cotton, with a slight bleed-through of the exterior hand-printed camouflage pattern. In addition to the sewn label there is often a black ink printed stamp "W /|\ D with a three digit number below. If all these criteria are met there is a reasonable (not absolute) probability that the smock is righteous. Having collected Parachute Regiment at Arnhem militaria for over four decades, have the very good fortune to have three righteous smocks, 1/4 zip, half zip, full zip. If you have any other features you are concerned about I will certainly try to answer your questions.
Regards,
Jim

[Gurkha]

Jim ,
Your a star, I wish I'd kept mine (1970's)
Steve

[Jimbo50]

Gurkha, you said you wished you had kept your smock from the 70's, what would it be worth now?? I still have mine packed away somewhere in excellent faded condition.

[Gurkha]

If we think of all the kit that we chucked away in the past it would make you need to sit down. My Jump helmet went in the bin !!! Not many people were interested in what was current kit then. Suppose the smock and helmet nowadays would fetch about 80 GBP each now on E bay. Oh well.
Steve

[Unknownsoldier]

When my mate started at Hereford, the stores were burning these [WW2] smocks by the forklift truck/pallet load, each guy nabbed 3 or 4; one for 'best', one or two to wear on oppo' and one to "cut up" for extra ammo pockets etc..... dread to think what that lot'd be worth.....