Vintage Style Shooting Sweater Purchase.....
 

We have an opportunity here, and I wanted to test the waters to see who might be interested. Anybody who’s ever studied old shooting photos has seen the great shawl collar cardigan sweaters that were often worn on the trap range and in the field as well. Things like this just aren’t made anymore, at least not like those. I’ve wanted one myself for years.

I’ve been working with my friend Simon James Cathcart in England to possibly bring something like this back into the world. Simon runs a company that recreates vintage garments in modern sizes using classic methods and proper materials through British manufacturers. I have absolutely NO financial stake in the project, I'm just trying to get enough of an order together to make this possible.

He’s got in the works a two tone sweater of the aforementioned style, made of three gauge English Wool in one of the last old school English Woolen Mills in Leicestershire. And none of this modern open weave either, they’ll be done like the originals with some real heft. Produced on a vintage hand loom which allows for much more control, giving it a tighter weave, better angles, and curves for a finer fit. Buttons will be actual antique corozo nut from the 30’s, old stock found recently and absolutely perfect for the project.

He’s doing a limited production run in a full range of sizes up from Small to 5xl. The colors we’ve chosen for the shooting sweater are British Army Green (OD) and Dead Grass Tan for the stripes on the collar. The picture I’ve loaded is the sample sweater in black and white, this is the prototype. The only difference between this and the production model is it will be slightly longer. I’ve also loaded another picture of the yarn samples for the actual shooting sweater so you’ll have to use your imagination a bit. The mill sent him this photo and it's not what you'd call high definition, but they're old school as I said. Take my word for it, the colors will be perfect and quality top shelf.

But here’s the rub.

Simon needs to buy these specific colors of yarn and the minimum order equals 25 sweaters. I’ve committed to buy two, one for me and one for my father. The price is going to be $295 plus shipping, not a casual purchase I know. But this is what I call a Lifetime Garment, meaning if you buy one you’ll use and enjoy it for the rest of your life and then pass it on to somebody else who will do the same.

I can’t say enough about the quality, this is the sort of thing that Abercrombie and Fitch / VL&A were importing in the 30’s and 40’s to sell under their label.

Below is a link to Simon’s website so you can see some of the other products he’s putting out. I ordered two of the British Navy Sweaters as Christmas gifts this past year and have a pair of the two tone Balmoral Boots on order right now.

http://www.simonjamescathcart.com/

Orders will have to be paid before production begins, then the sweaters will be shipped in the fall. He's not taking money yet, I'm just working to see if I can get enough interest to move forward another step. You've got the best shotgun there is, a Parker, now you need a sweater of the same quality to wear while shooting it. Who's in?

Destry, best of luck on your sweater purchases. Not my style of sweater but they look really nice and with the quality should sell well. :)

I dunno, I guess we'll see. I've got five sold so far, none on here at all. I was thinking I'd at least get a couple interested parties from PGCA.

sweaters
 

Destry...There were, a few years ago, some gals up in Maine, I believe, making Baseball team sweaters similar to what you are showing for the Mitchell and Ness Co. For a while they did special orders. then...I believe, they stopped, but I believe your quality will be even better... and $295 for a sweater like that is very fair ....Would it be possible to order an OD sweater with solid dead grass collar? If so I am in.

No, this is the only pattern that's going to be offered. I think Simon has to work with what the mill has setups for. The beauty of these folks is they'll do a single of any size as long as the color quantity is there. I'm guessing I'm going to be the only 4xl but that's not a problem. Most other places, you'd have to have a production run of every size because they're made on a different kind of loom.

Some 1901-vintage styles --

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ps8tgfmjyk.jpg

Do you have a vintage photo of someone wearing one like it? I'm just curious as it's not a sweater I recall seeing..not that I study old clothes a lot, admittedly.

Looks like they had hoodies in 1901!

I had a great photo of some brothers from Chicago in a live pigeon match wearing shawl collar cardigans but I'd loaned it to EDM before he passed away and just never approached the family about getting it back.

Did a little Google searching and did turn up one of The Babe in his two tone cardigan.

And here's another of a late 40's curling team in their striped cardigans. If I run across a shooting related one I'll post it.

I wish I'd have kept photos of a vintage one I owned at one time. It was a "No Sag" brand. The pockets were lined and then the chest was backed to the shoulder with heavy cotton fabric so the pockets wouldn't sag down with the weight of the shells. And of course there's the famous Skookum Shooting Sweaters. The real early ones has a short shawl collar and buttons, but of course I can't find a pic of one of those either.

Well, it's a way cool sweater nonetheless!

But do you want one???!!! I have five confirmed parties thus far.

DLH

Count me in!! Let me know details.

Scott

That's six! If I can hustle up enough orders I'll let everybody know further details. I have a list going.

DLH

Not really my cuppa. But cool.

The stripped collar seemed to be holding a few guys back. I talked to Simon about it and we've decided to do away with it all together. The sweater will be just the British Army Green with no dead grass details. I have a few guys committed but need a bunch more to make this happen. Please don't hesitant to get in touch if you're interested.

I am still in, working on others.

I'm in.

Destry: I want one. What's the status on this project?

Russ,

I'll add you to the list, but it's not looking good.

I have to get 25 order to make it possible and I'm up to seven I think.


Destry

Just did a head count, we're up to 9 actually.

Still a long way to 25.

I'll take three, pretty daughter, understanding wife and yours truly. Perfect for wearing around the house during those cool southern winters.

Spin

Ok, a few guys were interested on here, so I wanted to give an update. The prototype of the sweater (in black with the patch) has arrived and he's posted it to be ordered on his website. Ours will be army green (olive drab) obviously. And we've dropped the tan stripes off the collar by popular demand, so it will just be solid green.

Simon said if I could hustle up 13 orders he would post it as a standard color and try to get the rest of the sales needed through his website.

So now is the time to really speak up. If you want one you've got to commit and give me your size, money will come later. I'll post a link to the order page so you can see the sweater and read the description. As I said, it only shows black, ours will be the same but in OD green (brown buttons) and will not have the skull and crossbones patch:

http://www.simonjamescathcart.com/knitwear/boneshaker

Price in US is $225 plus $20 shipping from the UK.

I am still in xl.

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Destry I would like a medium if the measurements are in inches? Thanks,Herb

Yes, size measurements are in US inches.

Keep them coming guys.

And please keep commenting on the thread rather than via PM.

It will make it a lot easier for me to keep track of when the final deal comes down.


Destry

Destry, I wonder if Kay Ohye, the original marketer of the Snookums sweater, still has a few hanging in the closet? It would be worth asking.

The modern Skookum sweaters are zip front and have no shawl collar.

Hmmmm, front row, fourth from Left is ringing a few bells?" :bowdown:
And how about the ubiquitous, Frank Finch same row, farthest Right???

I'll take one in XL

Ansley is very proud of his Winchester 1897, but Frank Finch is ashamed of his LC and is covering up the receiver with his hand. Don't know why, since he ran a straight.

The gent in the front row, far right, is C A Lockwood of Jamaica NY, who was shooting a Riely [sic] gun.

Destry:

will still take 3, small, medium and large

Spin

I'll take an xl. Please let me know where to send payment.

*Edit: I just checked sizing. My chest measures 46.5", I'm 5'11, let's call it a robust athletic build... It looks like I'm between XL and XXL. I might need the proprietor's recommendation when selecting the appropriate size.

Thanks for putting this together.

Sweater order
 

Destry. I'll take an XL.

Bo

sweater
 

Destry,Any chance of having suede elbow patches added at additional cost?

The sweaters are all I can offer, but you can get patches easy enough and have them added by a local seamstress.

Ok boys, we're up to 11 thus far.

I need 15 orders before he'll add the color to the web page and try to get the remaining 10 orders from there.