ATF's M1942 Uniforms: First and foremost these uniforms are not available from any other source. There are several other M1942 Para reproductions, but ATF's are specific to them and us. They are copied directly from mint condition originals as they provided the original uniforms- and the patterns. In 2009, they sent their unissued original 40R jacket and size 34 trousers, and the patterns they used when they made the uniforms there to their overseas manufacturer. They also have a mint condition 42R and 44R jacket to compare the size grade. These uniforms fit like the real thing. Besides having the correct fit, which most other copies do not, they used US Made zinc plated snaps. Zippers are genuine Talon brand. Belt buckles are also US made. So, they do not have the tin snaps and paper thin buckles common to most other imported jump uniforms that fail the first time you look at them. Fabric & Color: Yes, they are very certain that their uniforms are the same color as the real ones used in WWII. The 8 oz. 100% cotton twill is the same weight as used on the real WWII uniforms. Yes, some reproductions are made from heavier material (approaching denim) - but they're going by the original, not a copy. The uniforms are slightly long to allow for shrinkage. Their jump uniforms are not khaki- they are the same color as originals and that was (and is) olive drab no. 3. That is historical fact, not opinion. They pick their colors from original WWII uniforms. See comparison photo with originals. Reinforcing: They finally got it right. The olive drab canvas has 3-4 slightly crooked, stitch rows and the elbow and knee patches are actually in the right locations. (Some repros place them on the upper arms and thighs for some mysterious reason.) These are absolutely, positively NOT the same Sturm M42's sold by Sportsman's Guide and all the little vendors on ebay. These are contracted specifically for ATF, by ATF. Reinforced Uniforms in WWII During early airborne operations in North Africa and Italy, the M1942 uniform was found to be lacking in several areas, most notably strength. The fabric is relatively thin (originals were not made from denim as some characters assume) and some seams should have had extra material added. The knees and elbows wore out easily, the pockets sometimes blew out due to the opening shock of parachutes and the single stitch in the crotch seam led to an awful lot of "free balling". Sometime prior to Overlord, divisional riggers were directed to fix these problems. The riggers of the 82nd and 101st each came up with a similar though not quite identical fix. Heavy olive drab canvas was used to make elbow and knee patches, and reinforce the edges of the cargo pockets. Leg ties were added to the trousers to help compress the bulging hip pockets. Small variations exist in the way they are stitched between the 82nd and 101st, but they are essentially the same. Each paratrooper was to turn in one of his two issue sets for reinforcing prior to the Overlord jumps. Many paras did not receive them back in time for the jump, so some had them, others did not. In other words, either style is correct for the period.
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