Mil-Tec US Navy Wool Peacoat

The US Navy Peacoat & Its History

The US Navy Peacoat is a classic piece of military wear. It's made waves (pun intended) in civilian circles too thanks to its incredible aesthetics, cozy warmth and fantastic utility. Its heavyweight 100% Kersey wool construction makes it one of the most weatherproof pieces of vintage military wear available. These coats also feature the iconic fouled anchor button design.

Wool coats like these have been used at sea for centuries. Invented by Dutch sailors and named "pije" coats for the type of wool used to produce them, the British Royal Navy took inspiration from Holland. This resulted in the English word "peacoat," an Anglicization of the Dutch. Both US and British sailors have worn peacoats since the 19th century. 

These coats are all of WWII vintage. But AP, how do you know? Well, there's one feature that make these identifiable as WWII-era: Tags on the interior marked "Manufactured by Naval Clothing Factory" and marked with two anchors. Pre-1965 made after WWII peacoats come with a black label and yellow lettering. Any coat older than the 1980s will be navy blue in color, as the USN switched to black that decade.

Mil-Tec Peacoats

These peacoats are made in China by Mil-Tec, as originals have become beyond scarce and can fetch $300 or more on auction sites like eBay. These coats are made of 50% wool and 50% viscose, a synthetic material that mimics silk in its properties. This provides a softer feeling to the wool outer fabric and decreases skin irritation around the collar.

These reproductions are created with the WWII-era US Navy Peacoat in mind, hence the iconic anchor-buttons. They feature two slant pockets on the front for warming your hands and a beefy collar to protect your face from biting winds.

The Short & Sweet:

• Made in China by Mil-Tec, not military surplus
• 50% wool, 50% viscose outer layer
• 100% polyester filling and lining
• Stand-up collar
• One interior pocket
• Two front handwarming pockets
• Double breasted, button-up front
• Six large front anchor buttons