1930s Red Head Brand half-moon hunting vest

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271492450158
This vest was made in the 1930s by Red Head Brand, a high end maker of hunting and outdoorsman’s garments. This style has come to be known as a half-moon hunting vest, after the shape of its pass through pockets into the game pouch. Period advertisements generally referred to this style as a sleeveless jacket rather than as a vest. This one has pleated, flapped patch pockets on the front, as well as two patch pockets on the lining. There is a roomy breast pocket, just the right size for a pack of cigarettes, The half-moons pass through to the roomy internal game pocket, which closes with a button.

The vest still has the original Red Head tag, shaped, appropriately, like a duck. The tag reads – “Red Head Fits The Sport. The Red Head duck signifies that this article is backed by years of experience in the equipping of sportsmen. It is your guarantee that nothing has been spared to assure you of satisfaction in the field – that the Red Head standard of quality, workmanship, and above all, the integrity of the Red Head Brand, known by sportsmen for over forty years, is the inimitable ingredient of the product. Play safe and look for this symbol when purchasing outdoor equipment – Red Head Brand Co. – Chicago”

Chest (pit to pit): 22″ (doubled = 44″)
Length: 27″

 photo IMG_0029-2.jpg

 photo IMG_0031-1.jpg

 photo IMG_0041-1.jpg

 photo IMG_0032-1.jpg

 photo IMG_0034-1.jpg

 photo IMG_0036-2.jpg

 photo IMG_0037-1.jpg

 photo IMG_0038-1.jpg

 photo IMG_0044-Copy.jpg

 photo IMG_0042.jpg

 photo IMG_0045.jpg

 photo IMG_0047.jpg

 photo ducktag.jpg

1950s Bullseye Bill fishing jacket

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281337372551
This vintage jacket was made in the 1950s and was sold under the “Bullseye Bill” label. I have had several of these jackets, dating from the 1930s-1950s, and other than the hardware and labels, the overall design barely changed. This one has a “Wiz” zipper front, where as earlier models generally had button fronts. There are pockets on both of the arms, wraparound pockets, a large rear game pocket, a breast pocket, fly rod loop and a sheepskin patch for flies. There is a D-ring on the back of the jacket to attach further gear to, and two internal patch pockets Most people who wear these as streetwear remove the fly pad. This one is made of light, summer weight canvas.

In case if you don’t know wher to buy water shoes for this part.

Chest (pit to pit): 23″ (doubled = 46″)
Shoulder to shoulder: 18″
Sleeve (shoulder to cuff): 24″
Length (base of collar to hem): 22″

 photo IMG_0168.jpg

 photo IMG_0170.jpg

 photo IMG_0172.jpg

 photo IMG_0173.jpg

 photo IMG_0175.jpg

 photo IMG_0176.jpg

 photo IMG_0177.jpg

 photo IMG_0178.jpg

Similar in cut to this “Snag Pruf” jacket

1920s high-neck buckle-back hunting vest

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271491035755
This vintage hunting vest was made in the 1920s. It is made from canvas, with thirty four closed bottomed shotgun shell loops. It has a high necked closure to keep out the elements, similar to the Browns Beach vests of the period, which were also designed for hunting. The vest has a buckle back. An ink-stamped canvas tag identifies this as a size 40.

Chest (pit to pit): 21″
Length: 19-1/2″

 photo IMG_0018-1.jpg

 photo IMG_0019-1.jpg

 photo IMG_0020-1.jpg

 photo IMG_0021.jpg

 photo IMG_0022-1.jpg

 photo IMG_0027-1.jpg

Hirsch Weiss White Stag hunting vest

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271449005161
This vintage hunting vest was made in the 1950s by The White Stag Mfg. Co of Portland, Oregon. It has knit shotgun loops on the front, a breast pocket, and a four button front.

Chest (pit to pit): 22-1/2″ (doubled = 45″)
Length: 21″

 photo IMG_0423.jpg

 photo IMG_0424.jpg

 photo IMG_0431.jpg

 photo IMG_0432.jpg

 photo IMG_0479.jpg

 photo IMG_0481.jpg

 photo IMG_0483.jpg

Active Sportswear Hunting Vest

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281306020882
This vintage hunting vest was made in the 1950s. It was sold by Sears under the Active sportswear label. Due to similarity in design and construction to their product, I would guess that this was made under contract by the Empire Mfg. Co. It has two large cargo pockets on the front with shotgun shell loops inside. There is a game pouch on the back.

Chest (pit to pit): 21-1/2″ (doubled =43″)
Length: 24-3/4″

 photo IMG_0415.jpg

 photo IMG_0416.jpg

 photo IMG_0418.jpg

 photo IMG_0419.jpg

 photo IMG_0422.jpg

 photo IMG_0429.jpg

 photo IMG_0430.jpg

1930s Red Head half moon hunting / fishing vest

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271420560900
This vest was made in the 1930s by Red Head Brand and was sold by the R.S. Elliott Arms Co. of Kansas City, MO. This style has come to be known as a half-moon hunting vest, after its pass through pocket. Period advertisements generally referred to this style as a sleeveless jacket rather than as a vest. This one has pleated, flapped patch pockets on the front and back, as well as two patch pockets on the lining. The half-moons pass through to the roomy internal game pocket, which closes with a button.

Chest (pit to pit): 22-1/2″ (doubled = 45″)
Length: 27″

 photo IMG_0137.jpg

 photo IMG_0138.jpg

 photo IMG_0140.jpg

 photo IMG_0141.jpg

 photo IMG_0150.jpg

 photo IMG_0149.jpg

 photo IMG_0147.jpg

 photo IMG_0151.jpg

 photo IMG_0152.jpg

 photo IMG_0146.jpg

 photo IMG_0144.jpg

 photo IMG_0142.jpg

 photo IMG_0148.jpg

1920s Canvasback hunting vest

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271420576862
This vintage hunting vest was made in the 1920s by Canvasback It is an early, high buttoning style, with 54 closed-bottomed canvas shotgun shell pockets. The bottom tier of pockets loops all the way around the back and sides of the vest. The label is worn, but has a great graphic of a canvasback duck, with the slogan, “King Of Them All”.

Chest (pit to pit): 18-1/2″
Length: 18″

 photo IMG_0153.jpg

 photo IMG_0154.jpg

 photo IMG_0156.jpg

 photo IMG_0155.jpg

1930s – 1940s Hercules sheeplined work vest

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271418501090
This vintage work vest was sold by Sears under their Hercules workwear label in the late 1930s or early 1940s. It predates the (R) on the label which would come after WWII. It has a high necked cut favored by work vests due to the greater warmth and protection it offered. The vest has two pockets and a full sheepskin lining. Construction and materials are similar to the shawl collared sheepskin mackinaws sold by Hercules at the same period.

Chest (pit to pit): 22″
Length: 22″

 photo IMG_0106.jpg

 photo IMG_0109.jpg

 photo IMG_0114.jpg

 photo IMG_0112.jpg

 photo IMG_0113.jpg

 photo IMG_0117.jpg

 photo IMG_0118.jpg

Repro Indian Blanket railroad vest

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281277739940
This vest was made by a company called Maxwear, in the style of a 1930s work vest, similar to the ones made by Brown’s Beach Jacket and the sleeved versions made by Woolrich. It is made of thick wool approximating the pattern of an Indian blanket. It has a five snap front, with patch pockets. The back has adjuster tabs. Snaps have a star design, continuing the western theme started with the material.

Chest (pit to pit): 21″
Length: 25″

 photo IMG_0016.jpg

 photo IMG_0017.jpg

 photo IMG_0018.jpg

 photo IMG_0019.jpg

Modoc Mfg. Co leather vest

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271416093981
This vintage leather vest was made in the small town of Madras, Oregon by the Modoc Manufacturing Company. It is made of what feels like buckskin, with a pile lining. The patch pockets are riveted, and the vest has a snap front. The logo is an Indian chief. I can’t find much on this company, other than they operated in the 1960s and 1970s.

Chest (pit to pit): 20″ (doubled = 40″)
Length: 23″

 photo IMG_0028.jpg

 photo IMG_0034.jpg

 photo IMG_0029.jpg

 photo IMG_0033.jpg