Denison tute

[Cubs]

Hmmm. Mine's got the elasticated knitted cuffs...

The MkI had the elasticated ribbed knitted cuffs, but I'm not sure if later models did as well. I can check in my lovely sourcebook if you like to check what to look for.

[Captain Blood]

Yeah, thanks Cubs. be interested to know... Sorry to derail the thread...
I picked mine up from Silverman's army surplus in the Mile End Road in 1978. I assumed it was more recent than WW2 - more likely a relic of Bloody Sunday than Arnhem, but who knows...
To be honest, it's been in a chest in the garage for the last 20 years. Must dig it out and take a couple of pics...
Might be useful first hand colour reference for the camo I suppose...

[julesav]

I have one with elasticated cuffs too! I bought it about 3 years ago at an army surplus store here in 'West Wales'. I assumed it was a post-war Belgian copy, but now you've got me thinking!

[Cubs]

Oh bum, I forgot about checking. I'll do that tomorrow.

I do remember that one thing you can see with the MkI Denison, other than the cuffs, is that the camo pattern often looks slap-dash and like it's just been randomly splashed on with a brush. That's because it was. Later Mk's had a regulated pattern printed onto the fabric.

[Cubs]

Okay, book open in front of me. Other than the randomly pattern applied with a big brush and the elasticated cuffs, which we've already talked about, other features of the MkI Denison are -

- a half steel zip going to the base of the chest (sometimes converted to go full length),

- two internal pockets, four external pockets (with brass snaps),

- the 'ape tail' crotch flap sewn at the back and secured with brass snaps at the front (although these were sometimes removed by owners for comfort after the jump),

- the base colour is more yellowy and sandy than later Mks, due to its use in North Africa and Sicily.

I hope this helps. Of course, if it's dated 1942 on the sizing label, then it's definitely a MkI (or a fake MkI, in which case you're on your own).