French WWI Blue Wool Enlisted Overcoat, Foreign Legion Buttons
This item is listed for historical interest only. It was listed on our site previously but has been sold and is no longer available for purchase.
Sold for: $250.00

Original era manufacture. Of a pattern introduced in 1877 and worn by the French army until the change to Horizon Blue wool during WWI. This example is of a light weight wool material, with all of the buttons bearing the Legion Etrange (Foreign Legion) name. The coat is double breasted, of a thin wool material, with a white cotton partial liner in the body, and full cotton lining in each sleeve.Red wool bursting bomb insignia on each side of the collar, slip-on shoulder straps with rolled ends and operable cuff buttons.There is scattered mothing all over the overcoat, fortunately being of a dark color the holes are difficult to see. This example I feelmay be a Hollywood movie costume prop from the 1920's or 30's.As with many other examples of costume of that era, the costumers faithfully followed original examples for design, and included many details that were not necessary for film work. However,all ofthe buttonsmatch in design and style (16 in all), they are of a dished pattern with an attached brassshank loop. There is a blacked out marking on the body lining, and evidence of a label, or name tag being removed. Whatever this coat comes to be, it still is a great display piece, at a considerably lesserprice than a standard original blue overcoat. Size about a 40 regular.