“GREYHOUND Product: Buzz Rickson Deck Jacket, Zippered, USN First Model
The critically acclaimed 2020 Tom Hanks film "GREYHOUND" depicts warfare in the North Atlantic against German U-Boats in World War II. Tom Hanks is a very dedicated actor who holds great personal admiration and respect for the WWII veterans, and as such he is very driven to achieve high levels of authenticity. The production company for "GREYHOUND" hired our founder as a consultant because they were interested in the epitome of historical accuracy, and they purchased our Buzz Rickson's U. S. Navy items because these items are world renowned as the last word in quality and authenticity. If you see "GREYHOUND," our founder is credited on screen as a consultant and you will see nearly every minute of the film depicting the primary cast, including Tom Hanks, wearing Buzz Rickson's USN winter Deck Jackets, Pea Coats, and work shirts that were supplied in quantity.
The U. S. Navy's Zippered Deck Jacket from 1941 remains a classic. It was the first of the jacket styles adopted by the USN that would become iconic during WWII. In 1942, this style, along with the later hook-front and blue N-1 jackets, received a "U. S. NAVY" stencil in silver-gray lettering across the upper back, but the early-production jackets had no such stencil and this Buzz Rickson's version of an early 1942 model is 100% authentic in not having the stencil. All of these Buzz Rickson deck jackets utilize the same period-correct, heavyweight, corded-cotton fabric found on the heavyweight N-1 jacket, but blue was the only color the zippered style was originally made in; in every way, this is a jacket style that is faithful to the original design and materials utilized.
Buzz Rickson’s philosophy is always to reproduce an item as authentically as humanly possible, which means utilizing the original machinery of the era and making the item so it doesn’t just look the part, but producing the item so it can actually function in the same way the original item was intended, thus Buzz Rickson’s is never engaged in making costumes; they are engaged in recreating rugged, functional history! A cellulose plastic inner liner is sandwiched between the corded-cotton outer fabric and the blanket-wool lining to help keep cold winds from penetrating to the wearer's body, and heavy, military bar tacks are sewn at every key stress point specified and found on the original deck jackets, thus pocket corners and storm flap are constructed to function and endure in the same adverse, challenging conditions of combat that the jackets produced back in 1942 so did.
Please take note of all of these historically accurate features found on this Buzz Rickson’s masterpiece reproduction of the Zippered Deck Jacket:
- Exact copy of original USN contract label design woven on vintage shuttle looms
- Custom manufacturing of the correct, heavyweight, corded-cotton outer shell to precisely match USN specs. and correctly dyed in navy blue
- Cotton-thread construction
- Custom manufacturing of the correct, blanket-wool lining to precisely match 1940’s USN specs and dyed navy blue
- Two external “D-style” hand-warmer patch pockets lined with the correct cotton broadcloth
- Precise copy of a 1942 nickel-plated Talon zipper on correct, all-cotton HBT tape, not incorrect poly-cotton
- Waterproof, windproof celluloid plastic inner liner sandwiched between warm wool inside lining and hard-wearing
- Heavyweight, corded-cotton exterior, exactly as per the original design
- Sewn bar tacks on all major stress points as per the original specs., including pocket corners and placket front
- Large wind flap protector located behind zipper to keep cold air gusts out
- Custom manufacturing of the correct, two-ply 100% worsted-wool knit cuffs, collar and waist band
- Eyelet vents in armpits
Sizes available: 36-44 Regular in even-numbered sizes. The cut is generous, thus enabling us to comfortably fit chest measures up to 46" or even 48" with size 44. Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.
Buzz Rickson’s goods are imported from Japan
“GREYHOUND Product: Buzz Rickson Deck Jacket, Zippered, USN First Model
SIZING TIPS
About this Style: This is an extremely easy-wearing jacket style. Almost all customers prefer to wear this jacket style one size smaller than their chest measures, thus an individual with a chest circumference of 40” is inclined to prefer the size 38. By sizing the jacket down one full size from the wearer’s chest measure, the desired amount of room between the wearer’s chest measure and the jacket’s external chest measure is approximately 6”, though it's possible to wear this style with a little less room. Individuals with a 46" or even 48" chest measure should review the details for size 44.
Tip 1: Follow the instructions entitled “How to Use Product Measures to Obtain a Good Fit” listed under the PRODUCT MEASUREMENTS tab for this product. After finding no substantive conflicts with your body measures obtained from the tab entitled BODY MEASURING, order this garment with no less than 5” of room in excess of your chest measure if you prefer a trimmer fit in the chest and shoulders. If a roomier or longer fit is desired, then order the next available size after reviewing all relative measures that pertain to that size. The best trim-yet-comfortable fit is achieved for most customers by ordering a size that is one size smaller than their chest measure: Chest measures 40”, order size 38. Those whose chest measure falls on an odd number, such as 41” or 43”, will have to determine if they want less room or more room when selecting a jacket size.
Tip 2: Please note that your chest circumference measure is not necessarily the labeled size you wear in another jacket you may own from a different maker or even the same maker, so please take the time to obtain your true chest circumference measure so as to compare to our chart of jacket measures; this will enable us to perform a better job getting you the right size and minimize your chances in having to deal with the hassle and cost of exchanges.
Please ask us for fitting advice if in doubt.
Tip 3: Individuals who prefer looser fits and/or those with a waist measure that is nearly equal to or greater than their chest circumference measure may jump up one size in this jacket for comfort and desired fit (when we refer to waist measure we do not mean your trouser size; we mean the actual circumference measure of your waistline at its widest point). If you are unsure of the size to order we will assist you; please contact us with the following information: Height, waist circumference measure, chest circumference measure, body weight, and type of clothing to be worn beneath the jacket most of the time, as well as the type of fit you prefer: Trim, roomy or oversized.
“GREYHOUND Product: Buzz Rickson Deck Jacket, Zippered, USN First Model
PRODUCT MEASUREMENTS
The following table provides actual product measures. These measures are provided as an aid because, in conjunction with the information found under the SIZING TIPS tab for each product, they can sometimes be very useful when comparing the measurements from this garment to the measures of your body; however, acting as an armchair tailor should be done with caution, as well as with knowledge of other important areas of fit that are not displayed here. Armchair tailors frequently fail to take into account other significant elements that impact fit; following the information found under the SIZING TIPS tab for each garment on this web site is strongly suggested, which can be very useful in supplanting or supplementing the listed measures below.
Our measures were derived from averaging measurements taken from many garments of the same size from each specific size in the range of any given product, thus the measures provided are representative for each size but they may not be exactly what you will receive. Some fluctuation in size is normal and to be expected, especially in these garments that have been manufactured on the bench by hand. Size fluctuations are rarely encountered in the width measures and more typically encountered in length measures, and particularly with respect to leather jackets and jackets with knit cuffs and waistbands. Fluctuations in width measures are very rare, and when they are encountered, are typically insignificant: 1/8” – ¼”. Normal fluctuations of measure in sleeve and/or body length + /- a ½” is more common but still rare, and such fluctuations in that increment range are within spec. for jackets of the same size and style.
| Size | 36 | 38 | 40 | 42 | 44 |
| Chest width | 22" | 23" | 24" | 25" | 26" |
| Shoulder width | 18" | 18.5" | 19" | 20" | 20" |
| Arm length | 25.5" | 26" | 27" | 27" | 28" |
| Back length | 27" | 27.5" | 28" | 29" | 29.5" |
How to Use the Product Measures to Obtain a Good Fit:
1) Using the measurements listed for this product and information found under the tab entitled MEASURING GARMENTS to understand our measuring technique, please double the chest measure to obtain the total external chest circumference of this garment. For example: If the chest measure listed for size 40 is 24”, doubling this measure yields a 48” external chest circumference.
2) Measure your chest circumference as per the tab on this web site specifically addressing BODY MEASURING, then compare your chest measure to the chest measure of this product.
3) Many jackets are cut in such a way that the wearer requires no less than 4” of room in the jacket for a sleek fit that is also comfortable, while other jacket styles require the wearer to have more than 8” of room. If your chest circumference is 40”, a product with a 24” chest width has a 48” external chest circumference and would provide 8” of external room in this scenario (chest measures 40”, external chest measure of jacket is 48”, thus 8” of external room would be realized).
4) Again, using the measurements listed for this product and information under the MEASURING GARMENTS tab to understand our measuring technique, add half of the shoulder width to the arm length. For example: If the shoulder width is 20” and the arm length is 26”, adding 10” (half the shoulder width) to 26” (the arm length) will yield an overall sleeve length of 36” in this product.
5) Measure your overall sleeve length following the instructions on this web site under the tab specifically addressing BODY MEASURING, then compare your overall sleeve length to this product.
6) If desired, repeat the measuring comparisons for back length.
7) Compare your body measures to the listed garment measures and follow the advice found under the SIZING TIPS tab to obtain a good fit.
IMPORTANT: Because you need room in a garment for comfort, garments with a 44” chest circumference are NOT a size 44, nor are they intended for anyone with a 44” chest circumference. Tee shirts and thermal shirts tend to have the most body-hugging fits of our product offerings because these were originally intended to be undergarments, thus these can be ordered to stretch to fit if that is how you wish to wear such garments. Other shirts, sweatshirts, sweaters, jackets, etc. will all have some amount of room incorporated in their designs, thus these will all measure larger than your actual chest measure by varying degrees.
Sometimes-Problematic Way to Determine a Good Fit:
Due to differences in how even near-identical garments are cut by different manufacturers, it is not necessarily a good idea to compare the listed measures of this product to the measures of an existing, similar product in your wardrobe to determine the correct size to order in this product. Though such comparisons can indeed work some of the time, and maybe even most of the time, vast experience with and knowledge of the products we market has proven such practices will sometimes fail. This inaccurate measuring methodology doesn't factor in other key variables of fit relative to you and the garment that includes: Armhole opening, shoulder slope, high-point shoulder, high chest, width of sleeves at all points including the all-important elbow, waist measure, and the thickness, plumpness, and rigidity of the material the garment is made from, naming just some variables influencing fit that do not appear on any list of measurements for a garment or that a customer is likely to account for.
It is best to compare your actual body measures to the listed measures of this product AND follow our advice listed under the SIZING TIPS tab specific to this product to obtain a good fit in this style.
A Good Fit:
This is highly subjective - what one person may think is too big, another may think fits perfectly. Some garments are cut quite generously and others are cut quite trimly. If comparing measurements of one of our products to another you may own, some individuals will surely find that none or maybe only one area of measure is commonly shared or remotely close to being the same. Ultimately, chest measure is the most important area to properly fit, then all other areas of measure will have to fall into place. And some individuals who are extremely tall may find that body and/or sleeve length are more important to accommodate than even chest measure.
It is best to compare your actual body measures to the listed measures of this product AND follow our advice listed under the SIZING TIPS tab specific to this product to obtain a good fit in this style.
We strive to create a crisp fit between our products and the customer, and not a loose, sloppy look. If you prefer your clothing to fit more loosely, then we will do our best to work with you to that end, though, by the very nature of our product designs and fits it may not be possible to duplicate the slack looks found in many mainstream clothing brands even if you go up one or two sizes in our products.
