# Original RAF Coastal Command 'Irvin' jacket: Value? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 20, 2017, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-raf-coastal-command-irvin-jacket-value/791758 "2017-07-20T21:55:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2017, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-raf-coastal-command-irvin-jacket-value/791758/1 "2017-07-20T21:55:06Z")
I have an [original RAF Coastal Command ‘Irvin’ jacket](https://www.flickr.com/photos/27492458@N05/8339915525/in/dateposted-public/) that I’m thinking of selling. (Other photos if you click left of the linked one.) I think it’s about a size 38 (too small for me), and all of the zippers need to be replaced. The thing that makes the Coastal Command Irvins different is that instead of a ‘shawl’ collar, the collar is a yellow-painted hood. The idea was that it would keep you warmer in cold water, and would be easier to see. Anyway, does anyone have an idea how much I could sell it for? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2017, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-raf-coastal-command-irvin-jacket-value/791758/2 "2017-07-20T22:01:38Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I think it’s about a size 38 (too small for me)… > > Anyway, does anyone have an idea how much I could sell it for? The hard part will be finding the teen-aged girl who would be interested in having it. 😉 Great article! Looks like the one from the tunnel guy in _The Great Escape_ wore. What was his name? Willy? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2017, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-raf-coastal-command-irvin-jacket-value/791758/3 "2017-07-20T22:31:02Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > The hard part will be finding the teen-aged girl who would be interested in having it. 😉 I understand a common method of sizing is the number of inches across the shoulder seams. I’ll have to measure it when I think of it again (which will probably be soon, since there’s now a thread about it). > [@Gatopescado](#): > > Great article! Looks like the one from the tunnel guy in _The Great Escape_ wore. What was his name? Willy? I don’t remember any Coastal Command Irvins in _The Great Escape_. Since the pilots were shot down over Europe, it’s more likely they’d be wearing the more-common, non-hooded Irvins. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2017, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-raf-coastal-command-irvin-jacket-value/791758/4 "2017-07-20T22:35:45Z")
I was thinking of this one. Eh, I’m gettin’ old… > **[the great escape tunnel kings - Bing](https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=twDP9sZL&id=C8C4DF5C237CB47A09FE2E71F8ADD82CC393F22E&thid=OIP.twDP9sZLwB1J_tS5AYIUXwDkEs&q=the%2Bgreat%2Bescape%2Btunnel%2Bkings&simid=608048030781673191&selectedIndex=19&ajaxhist=0)** > > Intelligent search from Bing makes it easier to quickly find what you’re looking for and rewards you. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2017, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-raf-coastal-command-irvin-jacket-value/791758/5 "2017-07-20T23:16:47Z")
I see one for sale on Ebay for $800. [https://www.ebay.com/i/322474052761?chn=ps&dispItem=1](https://www.ebay.com/i/322474052761?chn=ps&dispItem=1) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-raf-coastal-command-irvin-jacket-value/791758/6 "2017-07-21T02:50:45Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > I see one for sale on Ebay for $800. > > [https://www.ebay.com/i/322474052761?chn=ps&dispItem=1](https://www.ebay.com/i/322474052761?chn=ps&dispItem=1) That’s what I was thinking of asking for mine. Looks like the one in the link is a later model, but I’m not sure. I think the leather on mine looks better than the leather on the one in the link. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-raf-coastal-command-irvin-jacket-value/791758/7 "2017-07-22T15:01:05Z")
[Here’s one](http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-WWII-RAF-Coastal-Command-Irvin-Flight-Jacket-Size-4-/142452041487?hash=item212acda70f:g:Cv4AAOSwlRpZZ7fg) for $1,175. Hm… Maybe I should ask $850 for mine… ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-raf-coastal-command-irvin-jacket-value/791758/8 "2017-07-22T15:58:34Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > [Here’s one](http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-WWII-RAF-Coastal-Command-Irvin-Flight-Jacket-Size-4-/142452041487?hash=item212acda70f:g:Cv4AAOSwlRpZZ7fg) for $1,175. Hm… Maybe I should ask $850 for mine… Some depends on how much time you want to spend selling it and if you really care where it goes. I shot a couple e-mails around some friends who deal militaria seriously and their call is $300-400 for a fairly fast sale (possibly to someone who is just going to fix it enough to wear it to death) or more around $600-800 if you want to wait a year trying to find the right collector. I’m in the same boat with a huge collection of Soviet stuff and considering the same options so I wish you much luck. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-raf-coastal-command-irvin-jacket-value/791758/9 "2017-07-22T17:08:38Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > I shot a couple e-mails around some friends who deal militaria seriously and their call is $300-400 for a fairly fast sale … That sounds extremely low, as reproductions (no Coastal Command ones that I know of) start at [$395](https://onlinemilitaria.net/products/1607-UK-RAF-Sheepskin-Flying-Jacket-Improved-run/). That price would _definitely_ be a fast sale for an original, especially for a Coastal Command! ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-raf-coastal-command-irvin-jacket-value/791758/10 "2017-07-23T06:52:15Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > That sounds extremely low, as reproductions (no Coastal Command ones that I know of) start at [$395](https://onlinemilitaria.net/products/1607-UK-RAF-Sheepskin-Flying-Jacket-Improved-run/). That price would _definitely_ be a fast sale for an original, especially for a Coastal Command! That needs work; professional work. Especially if you are restoring it rather than just fixing it up to wear to Bike Night at the old Quaker Steak. Its like with an old car or anything; once I own it how much more green is it going to eat? Maybe in person you see something I don’t in the pictures and YMMV (I call “fast” about a month with as little effort on my part as possible) but I asked around and that was what I got for you. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-raf-coastal-command-irvin-jacket-value/791758/11 "2017-07-23T12:46:28Z")
[Here’s](http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mens-Polden-RAF-Irvin-B-3-Sheepskin-Leather-Winter-Flight-Jacket-Small-Medium-/232411443539?hash=item361ccd3153%3Ag%3AWGQAAOSwPw1Zavnb&nma=true&si=CWWTicLcUaedPyn8FzbARj3GLGg%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557) one that sold this week for U.S. $227 out of England. No hood. You can ask big money but they don’t sell. The one that sold for about $1000 had one bid and was from the Ukraine. First off I don’t trust things that only get one bid. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-raf-coastal-command-irvin-jacket-value/791758/12 "2017-07-23T15:34:52Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > That needs work; professional work. Especially if you are restoring it rather than just fixing it up to wear to Bike Night at the old Quaker Steak. Its like with an old car or anything; once I own it how much more green is it going to eat? Maybe in person you see something I don’t in the pictures and YMMV (I call “fast” about a month with as little effort on my part as possible) but I asked around and that was what I got for you. It needs zippers, and the belt needs stitching. Granted, authentic zips can be expensive, but the work is minor. I was going to make the jacket a ‘wearer’ (not for me), but didn’t. By not altering it, I haven’t made it lose any value. Coastal Command jackets are somewhat hard to find. I found [this one](https://www.rubylane.com/item/802481-8036/WWII-RAF-Irvin-Flying-Jacket-Circa) for £650 (about $850). **Chimera** linked to one earlier for $800, and I found another one for $1,175. A [new reproduction](http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/product-detail.php?id=2374) (which I’ve only now discovered exists) is £750/$975. Original non-Coastal Command jackets are more common, and many sell for less. And of course, most of the reproductions are relatively inexpensive. I appreciate your asking around. I’d like to know where the respondents are finding original Coastal Command jackets so cheap. > [@samclem](#): > > [Here’s](http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mens-Polden-RAF-Irvin-B-3-Sheepskin-Leather-Winter-Flight-Jacket-Small-Medium-/232411443539?hash=item361ccd3153%3Ag%3AWGQAAOSwPw1Zavnb&nma=true&si=CWWTicLcUaedPyn8FzbARj3GLGg%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557) one that sold this week for U.S. $227 out of England. No hood. That’s a non-authentic reproduction (note the pockets). From what I’ve seen, that’s about the going rate for those.