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 wearing Buzz Rickson's USN winter Deck Jackets, Pea Coats, work shirts, and these Watch Caps that were supplied in quantity.

The U. S. Navy often times found itself performing duties in some of the worst weather conditions imaginable, from stagnant boiling heat to cutting icy air.  During cold weather, various outer clothing was developed to protect and enable a sailor to perform his duties, one such item being the famous worsted-wool knit winter cap nicknamed the “watch cap,” because sailors, often times, stood their watches wearing these caps.  The “watch caps” of the 1930's and 1940's have a unique construction style and are made from a more dense worsted-wool knit than similar caps from the late 1950's to the present day.

Buzz Rickson’s has, yet again, done a masterful job of recreating this classic style, right down to the correct old-style USN quartermaster stores spec. label correctly sewn to the outside of the cap, and the proper weight wool with the narrow weave on the outer edge graduating into the thicker, heavier weave of the cap body.  This cap is every bit as warm and good looking as the vintage examples it copies, and its the ticket to round out a Buzz Rickson’s USN chambray shirt and Pea Coat.

Sizes:  One size fits all

Buzz Rickon’s products are imported from Japan

The USAAF A-3 Mechanic's Cap is one of those items of clothing from the 1940’s that is synonymous with the WWII G.I. Though designated for aircraft mechanics, the A-3 was just too comfortable, practical and sharp to not be worn by anyone in the USAAF who could obtain one. It was the perfect item of clothing that lent itself so well to personalization: caps were painted or inked with names, rank, pin-up and cartoon art, and worn at a jaunty angle or with the visor turned upwards in true 1940’s G. I. fashion.

Buzz Rickson's  resurrected this classic to their usual exacting standards: 8.5-ounce all-cotton herringbone twill in the early, light shade of olive drab, heavy stitching and reinforcing throughout, taped seams inside the crown, flexible visor, authentic label, and USAAF ink stamp on an exterior back panel.  The cap is given a subtle vintage wash by the factory so that it isn't starchy new in appearance.  A high-quality cap of true 1940’s character available again today!

Buzz Rickson's products are imported from Japan.

Sizes: 7 1/4 (Med.) & 7 1/2 (Lg).  Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.

The Type A-4 is a knit cap, made from an Olive Drab, 100% worsted wool.  Throughout WWII, these caps were used by aircraft mechanics and armorers when conditions were too cold for the Type A-3 Mechanic’s Cap.  It was also a cap sometimes worn by elite U. S. paratroopers of the airborne divisions, just as seen in the HBO masterpiece film series “Band of Brothers.”  Since the paratroops worked closely with USAAF air and ground crews due to the paratroops’ main mode of transport into battle being the airplane, USAAF personnel and paratroops often traded each other for select uniform and gear items, the A-4 cap being one such item.

The original A-4 caps have a unique construction style with the top forming six sewn segments and produced from a more-dense, worsted-wool knit than similar caps manufactured in the present day.  Buzz Rickson’s has, yet again, done a masterful job of recreating this classic style, right down to the use of vintage machinery for production and the proper-weight wool with the narrow weave on the outer edge graduating into the thicker, heavier weave of the cap body.  Outfitted with an authentic woven spec. label made on vintage looms, this cap is every bit as true to the vintage specimens as it is warm and good looking (and due to its extra-fine quality it's not itchy).  This is just the ticket to round out a Buzz Rickson’s parachutist’s or airman’s jacket – get your cap while stocks last!

Sizes:  One size fits all

Imported from Japan

The original Type A-4 is a knit cap made from an Olive Drab, 100% worsted wool.  The original A-4 caps have a unique construction style with the top forming six sewn segments and produced from a more dense worsted-wool knit than similar caps manufactured in the present day.

This offering is another joint effort between Buzz Rickson and William Gibson, whereby all of the original, classics details have been maintained, but the overall color has been changed to solid black.  The addition of the William Gibson name is your extra assurance that this item is the real deal, with quality that goes the extra mile.

Yet again, Buzz Rickson did a masterful job of recreating this classic style, right down to the use of vintage machinery for production and the proper-weight wool with the narrow weave on the outer edge graduating into the thicker, heavier weave of the cap body.  Outfitted with an authentic woven spec. label made on vintage looms, this cap is every bit as true to the vintage specimens as it is warm and good looking (and due to its extra-fine quality it's not itchy).  This is just the ticket to round out your cold-weather attire – get your cap while stocks last!

Sizes:  One size fits all

Imported from Japan

This is the B-2 cap introduced in 1942, thus crafted from sheepskins dyed in dark brown with buttery-hued wool. Produced from the correct quarter-inch depth sheep wool and sewn with 100% cotton thread, our B-2 perfectly mirrors the vintage examples. Ruggedly constructed, including strong zigzag cover stitch, horsehide trim and five-panel assembly, this enduring style is the ideal companion to any of our flying jackets. Fight off the cold winds of winter in an Army Air Force classic!

Sizes available: 7, 7 1/8, 7 1/4, 7 3/8 and 7 1/2.  Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.

Imported from England  

.50 CAL is a small range of specialized garments that are offered only in the Time-Worn finish. They are unique in spec. to any of the other similar models we offer, so they are not simply Time-Worn versions of our regular range. The colors, materials and finishes are purposely selected to create a subdued and rugged-looking vintage garment that will appeal to those who appreciate the nostalgic charm of a true vintage garment:  The Time-Worn process is entirely hand done, which takes hours to achieve; the result is a garment that is still brand new, but you get something that has a vintage, lived-in, patina that you can continue to add to from the first time you put it on. The .50 CAL B-2 is made from authentic vegetable-tanned, North American sheepskin with a broken-grain character and hand-dyed finish.

This model of B-2 represents a spec. that saw the transition from the earlier 'Redskin' to the later dark Seal Brown versions. And the color of the fleece is typical of a transitional model - it has a distinct brownish tinge, compared to the much brighter, off-white shade of later models.

Remember - there's no waiting for this one to wear-in before you get it looking like a vintage original - .50 CAL B-2 is ready for action!  

Sizes available: 7, 7 1/8, 7 1/4, 7 3/8 & 7 1/2.  Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.

Imported from England  

This B-2 cap is the pre-1942 version, thus crafted from that same gorgeous hand-dyed, vegetable-tanned, russet brown sheepskin with deep-hued wool found on our Rough Wear 17756 B-3 and B-6 jackets. Produced with the correct quarter-inch depth sheep wool and sewn with 100%-cotton olive drab thread, the Rough Wear B-2 perfectly mirrors those extremely rare pre-1942 originals. Ruggedly constructed, including strong zig-zag cover stitch, horsehide trim and five-panel assembly, this enduring style is the ideal companion to any of our flying jackets, especially a Rough Wear B-3 Jacket. Right down to the Rough Wear label, there's no distinguishing our cap from an original!

Sizes available: 7, 7 1/8, 7 1/4, 7 3/8 and 7 1/2.  Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.

Imported from England  

The B-5 is the definitive helmet USAAF airmen flew with in the thin, cold skies over Europe. This classic style dates back to 1933 and it is made in that same gorgeous, hand-dyed, vegetable-tanned, russet brown sheepskin found on our Rough Wear 17756 B-3 and B-6 Jackets. Assembled with olive drab all-cotton thread, russet brown horsehide trim, correct ear and chin cups, and Rough Wear label, there's no distinguishing ours from an original!

Sizes available: Sm. (7 1/8), Med. (7 1/4), Lg. (7 3/8) and XL (7 3/4).  Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.

Imported from England

Ball caps were very popular with the USAAF pilots of WWII. Archive photo evidence shows they were particularly popular amongst the fighter pilots in the Pacific theater, and we happened to obtain an original vintage example that belonged to a fighter pilot of the 39th Ftr. Sq. that is red in color, though not all of these caps were red; it’s quite possible that the caps were color coded to match the squadron colors, as the 39th colors were red.

No authentic detail has been over looked, which includes making sure the original form-fitting skull shape is retained. No components of this cap exist today, so every piece of our cap, from cloth to hardware, was custom made to our exacting specifications. The cap is produced from a lightweight, worsted-wool flannel in Grenadier Red with the crown having the correct six-piece construction, which helps tailor the shape to a close form-hugging fit. Please note these other authentic details found only on a true vintage cap of the 1940s that clearly distinguish our copy from any contemporary ball cap on the market:

•Custom-made, high-quality all-wool flannel fabric dyed a subdued-wash red

•Six-piece crown with cloth-covered center button

•Horsehide leather sweatband zigzag stitched to cap, exactly as found on vintage examples

•Custom-made cotton fabric that backs the under side of the visor

•Reinforced inside seams with black all-cotton tape

•Hessian fabric employed as a backing to maintain shape of the two front panels, exactly as found on vintage examples

•Four rows of reinforcing stitching on the visor, exactly as found on vintage examples

•Metal ventilation grommets painted red, exactly as found on vintage examples

Available in sizes 7 – 7 1/2.  Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.

Imported from England