Here at Saunders Militaria our main focus is acquiring, researching, documenting, protecting, and sharing the important historic garments of the 20th century. The scope of our archive runs the gamut of Military, Workwear, Adventure/ Expedition Outerwear, Experimental designs, Mountaineering/ Search and Rescue/ Survival Equipment, Hunting Garments, and Extreme Cold Weather patterns.
We are always looking to acquire unique menswear designs and we will always try to pay top dollar (often well above “market value”) in order to preserve garments of interest, so if you have anything that might be fit the bill, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
-Any USARP (United States Antarctic Research Program), NZARP (New Zealand Antarctic Research Program), BAS (British Antarctic Survey) Parkas, Smocks, Jackets, Coats, Anoraks. Any Arctic/ Antarctica related equipment for that matter! Operation Deep Freeze USN/ US Army/ USAF garments, Operation High Jump, Trans Antarctic Expedition, Etc. Any old “Fairydown” or “Arthur Ellis” Parkas from the 50’s-70’s.
-Royal Air Force (RAF), Royal Navy Windproof/ Ventile Garments of the 40’s to 70’s, such as Extreme Cold Weather Parkas, Mk1, Mk2, Mk3 Cold Weather/ Fishtail Flight Jackets and Suits. Deck Smocks, Etc. The Arctic “White Ventile” Suits and Jackets used by the RAF stationed in Labrador/ Norway, the “Green/ OD Ventile” Parkas, Jackets, and Suits used by RAF Groundcrew, and the “Grey/ Charcoal Ventile” Parkas, Jackets, and Suits used by RAF Mountain Rescue and Aircrew during the 50’s-70’s. RAF Immersion/ Survival Suits (Mk6, Mk7, etc) as well as any of the RAF T.V. Rigger/ Aerial Erector Ventile/ Windproof/ Foulweather garments, especially those made by P. Frankenstein & Sons. Any jackets featuring the lovely angled “Map Pocket”. Anything by WINDAK, AQUAROCK, etc.
-Early Belstaff (B.I.L, and B.M.C.) British Military Contract Garments, such as their various Ventile/ Windproof/ Canoeist/ Showerproof Smocks and Anoraks of the Royal Navy, and Special Boat Service (SBS). Also the Royal Navy Submariner/ Foul Weather Nylon “Windys” such as the Mk1 and MK3 by Belstaff (Especially the early button front patterns in Navy, Olive, and Yellow/ Orange Nylon from the 60’s and 70’s)
-1950’s-1960’s US Navy Windproof Smocks/ Anoraks/ Parkas, specifically those sometimes referred to as “Byrd Cloth”. These were made in Hi-Viz Orange, Yellow, Blue, and Green (Not Olive, but more of a Royal Green). They were also sometimes modified with a full length zipper and fitted with an M51 Wool Liner with a USN Arctic Hood sewn in. These are sometimes referred to (In some Japanese Reference books) as “Catapult Officer Parka”. Seen frequently in photos from early US Antarctic Operations.
-WW2 USN (US Navy), USCG (US Coast Guard), Seabees Deck Jackets of all shapes, sizes, and designs. The Navy and Khaki NAF 1168 designs, the 1st pattern Zip Front, the 2nd pattern Hook Front, The hooded “Seabees” patterns made for Alaska, Blue and Khaki N-1 Deck Jackets, Anything in the “Jungle Cloth” or “Bedford Cloth” material, including 1930’s 37J1, 37J1A, and 37J1B Flight Jackets/ Suits.
-WW2 Royal Canadian Navy/ Royal Navy Waxed Cotton “Foul Weather” Suits by Barbour, and Lawrence Nedas & Co “Honorbilt” Waterproof Protective Suit Submarine designs. Often referred to as “Ursula Suit” or “Ursula Jacket”. These were hooded designs in both a 2 pocket and 4 pocket pattern.
-1940’s to 60’s RCAF/ RCN Jackets, Parkas, Smocks, Suits such as the blue E-1/ E-4 Flight Suits by “Deacon” and “SS Holden”, any interesting Groundcrew Cold Weather wear, Canadian Navy Hooded Deck Jackets (with the Corduroy Lined Hoods) from the late 40’s/ Korean War.
-The great British windproof Sledging Smocks of Robert Lawrie (Alpine Equipment Specialists in London). These came in a large variety of colours and designs. Most were a pullover smock/ anorak style, constructed of Ventile windproof material and used on a number of Mountaineering/ Arctic expeditions of the 50’s-60’s.
-Any rare, experimental, or interesting flight jackets of the USN, USAF, USAAF, RAF, RCAF, etc. B-15, B-15a, B-15b, B-15c, B-15d, L-2, L-2a, L-2b. Any of the Mod tagged or Sealed Pattern garments, AL-1, D-2 Smocks/ Parkas, B-9, any of the early Eddie Bauer Goose Down designs for the USAAF such as the “Geddes Suit” or the WW2 parkas of Ome Daiber (Daiber-Jensen Inc.)
-Any early Eddie Bauer Goose Down designs. 1930’s to 1960’s. Kara Koram Parkas (Blue, Red, Khaki, Olive Drab, etc), Blizzard Proof Jackets/ Parkas, Skyliner Jackets, Flight Suits/ Jackets, Experimental designs, Expedition garments, etc.
-British Army/ SAS “Windproof” Smocks/ Anoraks from WW2-1960’s including the “Windproof Camo”, Khaki, Olive Denim, Snow Camo, Olive 63’ Pattern, DPM Camo 63’ Pattern, etc.
-Vintage Filson or “Fil-Clo” Workwear/ Hunting Wear from the 1910’s-1950’s. Waxed Cotton/ Tin Cloth, Duck Canvas, Wool, etc.
-NASA/ Boeing/ USAF Test Pilot Flight Suits/ Jackets of the 1960’s (Flite Wear, Fruhauf Flying Apparel, Etc.)
-Interesting Duffel Coats/ Fearnaught Wool Designs of the British and Canadian Royal Navy WW2-1960’s. Anything with Wooden Toggles.
-French Indochina Vietnam / TAP Patterns, such as the OD 47/51 or 47/52 Lizard Camo Jump Trousers and Smocks, as well as the beautiful French Marine Commando Camo Smock.
-1950’s/ Korean War Canadian Army Nylons, such as the Modified 50 Pattern, X51A Pattern, X55b Pattern Parkas, Jackets, Etc. Also Canadian Airborne Nylon Jump Smocks.
-Early Burberry Windproof Gaberdine Smocks/ Anoraks/ Parkas, such as those used on the Shackleton/ Scott Expeditions (Not holding out much luck for these, but a Man is nothing without dreams!)
-WW2/ Post War British “Labrador Style” Windproof patterns. Often labeled as “ANARAK” yellow/ khaki material.
- 1910’s 1920’s 1930’s CCC/ US Army (Civilian Conservation Corps) Garments. Any of the Blue/ Brown Denim Work/ Chore Jackets, Shirts, and Trousers, as well as any utilitarian (not formal) Wool designs.
-WW1/ WW2 US Military (USN, US Army, USMC) Blue, or Brown Denim, such as coveralls, pullover work shirts, chore jackets, jeans, shawl collared jackets, etc.
