The Few
The Few Type D-1 Sheepskin Ground Crew Jacket, Rough Wear Label Reproduction, Dark Brown Mouton, Size M
The Few Type D-1 Sheepskin Ground Crew Jacket, Rough Wear Label Reproduction, Dark Brown Mouton, Size M
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A Type D-1 sheepskin jacket by The Few of New Zealand, cut to the Rough Wear Clothing Co. pattern in dark brown mouton with a honey-coloured fleece and a 'Treated with Mitin' label.
The Type D-1, a jacket for the men on the ground
The D-1 was designed for the ground crews of the Army Air Forces, the mechanics and armourers who worked on open dispersal pans through English and Alaskan winters. It is a hip-length sheepskin with leather-taped seams, a zip front and a collar that turns up and straps closed, shorter and lighter than the B-3 bomber jacket.
Aircrew soon borrowed it. It was less bulky than the B-3, would sit over an A-2, and could be worn in a cockpit without fighting the harness, so the D-1 crossed from the flight line into the aircraft itself. The 'Treated with Mitin' label reproduces a wartime mothproofing mark of the kind sewn into wool and fleece garments of the period.
The Few of New Zealand
The Few is the New Zealand leather workshop that collectors know as RMNZ, the maker behind The Real McCoy's leather jackets before that company's restructuring in 2001. It continued under its own name, cutting reproductions for the Japanese market of a standard many enthusiasts still call the benchmark, and in 2015 it closed its mail-order business, citing freight, material and currency costs and earthquake damage to its premises. Every piece it made is therefore part of a closed body of work.
The Piece
This is a reproduction, made by The Few in New Zealand, and it is an exceptionally faithful one. The woven neck label reproduces a Rough Wear Clothing Co. D-1, Middletown, Pennsylvania, with order number 43-13615 and the legend 'Property Air Force U.S. Army', and beneath it sits the period Mitin mothproofing label. A 'Made in New Zealand' tag and The Few's own winged label are sewn inside.
The shell is a deep chocolate mouton with a glossy, crackled surface finish that reads almost black under studio light, edged with brown leather tape along every seam, the zip and the collar strap. Two angled zip pockets sit at the front, and the inside is a thick honey fleece with cream cotton drill pocket bags. The collar is broad and full and fastens with a leather strap.
It wears short and square, in the manner of the originals, and over a heavy knit or a flannel shirt it is a properly warm winter jacket rather than a costume. The finish will soften and the edges will mellow with wear; the fleece is dense and clean.
The Few's sheepskins were made in small numbers for Japanese specialist shops, and with the workshop no longer taking orders, a well-kept D-1 in a common wearing size does not appear often.
Details
- Maker: The Few Mfg. Co., New Zealand
- Type: Type D-1 sheepskin jacket, reproduction
- Label: Rough Wear Clothing Co., Middletown, Pa. · Order No. 43-13615 · 'Treated with Mitin' label
- Material: Sheepskin mouton with leather taping; cotton drill pocket bags
- Colour: Dark brown shell, honey fleece
- Made in: New Zealand
- Tagged size: M
- Measurements: Shoulder 50 cm · Chest (pit to pit) 53 cm · Sleeve 61 cm · Length 65 cm
- Included: Jacket only
Condition
- Graded A outside and A inside
- Glossy finish intact with only light handling
- Fleece clean and full at collar, cuffs and hem
- Zips and collar strap in good order
- No damage of note
Condition grade A on the Japanese scale; see Japanese condition ranks, explained.
Authenticity & Care
The labels, materials, stitching, hardware and construction are examined together and documented in Japan before dispatch; anything that cannot be confirmed is stated plainly in the description. Every piece carries the Japonista authenticity guarantee. Hang on a broad wooden hanger in a cool, ventilated place, keep away from rain and heat, and brush the fleece lightly when needed.
Delivery from Japan
Packed by hand in Japan and shipped insured and tracked by EMS or an equivalent express service. Import duties and taxes, where applicable, are payable on arrival. Every sale is final; please ask anything before you buy, and see our published policy.
Considered offers are welcome through Send an Offer, and each one is reviewed personally. Pieces over $1,000 may be reserved over several payments with Layaway Privilege™.
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From flight line to cockpit
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Collectors also search: The Few D-1 jacket · The Few sheepskin jacket · D-1 sheepskin jacket reproduction · Rough Wear D-1 jacket · RMNZ D-1 · D-1 ground crew jacket · mouton flight jacket · Type D-1 jacket size M · New Zealand sheepskin flight jacket · WWII D-1 jacket replica
