Model 36 Army tunics - five or six button

[Alf]

Hi Guys

Not sure if this has been covered before but here it is !

I am currently looking for an Army M36 tunic but find that some have six front buttons while some have five.

The one I'm currently looking at has 6 and according to the dealer is a piece sourced directly from the family.

The reference books I have only talk about five button fronts.
Maybe my books are up the creek ?

Can anyone shed some light on this for me ?

Also, the item has the early pointed unpiped shoulder boards and collar tabs for the 1935 - 1938 period yet the tunic is marked M41. I have seen some photos of M43 tunics with the pointed boards so I'm not too phased but would like to know if anyone else has seen this.

Thanks

Alf

[Steiner]

Shoulderboards have nothing to do with the tunic. They could be (wartime) replaced. Since it has the stamp 41 it is a model 40 (or 41 if you please) and not M36 and could have 6 buttons. The bottle green collar could be taylor added.

So .........

Mehr sein als scheinen

[Mohawkwarrior]

The tunic is most likely an 1940 -41 made tunic some were made with Dark green collars.Larger men and tall men found five buttons to be unpractical so a sixth button was added for better closure.

[Dave Suter]

The change from 5 buttons to 6 was instituted officially on 26 May 1941. (Probably due to to a degredation in cloth quality.) It was not al all uncommon for individuals to have the bottle green collar facing added. This was done simply because the soldiers liked the appearance better.

[Alf]

Hi guys

Thanks very much for the info.

Tschuess

Alf

[lbsr]

Sarge,

Do You know if "leghtening" of breast pocket was institued with buttons change? Do You know # of order (HVBl Nr.)?

[Dave Suter]

The button change was 26 May 1941 (HM 41, No 558), so was well before they started messing with the pockets. In late 1942 the pocket pleats were abolished. In 1943 the pocket flaps went to the straight style. This is the modification that generated what we call the M1943 Pattern. Also in '43 the breast pockets were lengthened by 1 cm.