Thought I would show you my newly purchased greatcoat. It´s former east german surplus armycoat. Got it for 19 euros. Had a seamstress do some modification: put on new buttons, (original buttons were shiny metal-ones), move the buttons to make it roomier for my heavy torso and add those upper handwarmer pockets.

Awesome deal and looks warm

My WWII wool Swiss great coat is one of my favorite peices of gear. It's warm, relatively rain-resistant, fireproof and doesn't heat up too much in sunlight. If I'm doing a long distance, multi-day hike in cool weather I use a down vest but in normal "night along Spring creek" trips it comes with me. I got it from the Sportsman's Guide about two years ago for $14

-Blast

Yup, very old-fashioned but incredibly warm and practical in a cold-dry climate.

I used to know a few oldtimers who wore a heavy coat like that all the time when working outdoors during the colder months. It was used both as a coat during the day and a blanket/makeshift sleeping bag at night. The only real disadvantage is that wool absorbs moisture so it's less than perfect wear for a rainy day. Of course, you can dry it over a fire any time.

As a kid growing up during WWII with most of my relatives serving in the Navy, I spent most of my winter months going to school or working on the family farms in Wisconsin in P- Coats. Even at 20 below, I was expected to do my chores and walk to school. I suffered no ill effects and actually enjoyed it. That memory never left me. Recently, I purchased a New black German Military Issue U Boat Commanders Great Coat. After searching, I found on the internet black leather buttons to replace the Brass German Navel Buttons. Luckily the black leather buttons matched the black leather shoulder, chest, and shoulder blade covering that the great coat had. The leather covering made the wool survive even better in wet weather. The coat weights 10.5 pounds. I still have the white silk navel scarf given to me by my father. If I have to attend another grave site ceremony in winter, I will both look good and be warm.

To complete the outfit, I purchased a black dyed blue fox fur from Finland that was assembled into a ushanka hat in the Russian Federation. It brings back memories of me walking the trap lines as I a kid.

P-Coats are all the rage with the kids now. We got one for my college-age son for Christmas and he absolutely loves it.

That is a great deal. It will last longer than you if taken care of and as has been stated, it can be given to a teen age family member who will keep it for their life.

http://www.varusteleka.eu/prebeo/showproductgroups.php?show=86
That is the webshop I got it from. Not much use to any outside Finland, I know, but show you anyway.

As a matter of fact, I have two of these coats. First one was too small. But because of the low price I did not hesitate to buy another one, larger.
Smaller one is right now at the sewingshop, being made into a waistcoat. Well, actually a bit longer than a normal waistcoat. I´m really excited too see what the result will be. When I get it next week I´ll put up photos of it.

A few weeks ago I bought from the same webshop a couple of american M/1951 woolshirts. Used but in good condition. Great shirt to wear under my TAD fleecejacket. Cost for those were only 9 euros/piece. So it seems I stumbled on a real wool-clothing goldmine.

Great looking coat!!

yup--i have the Swiss one also..it's my mid-weather dog walking jacket..not super cold but not warm enought for a car coat..in the cool,damp days it's my choice over a nylon jacket.
long enought so i don't have to break out the flannel lined jeans..i would assume the armys are dumping wool and moving on to
gor-tex and poly..