WW2 USMC Reversible Frogskin Poncho (NOS)
Add this to the list of stuff we thought would never come through our doors.
Behold, the standard from which all ponchos were measured going forward. The Marine Corps going into WW2 did have a poncho, but it was quickly assessed as inadequate for the jungles of the Pacific Theater. Enter the Frogskin Poncho in 1942.
This badboy isn’t just waterproof (like seriously waterproof. While cleaning one off for pictures, it was holding puddles on top of it), but its TOUGH. Detailed information is scant, but we know these were made of a rubberized cotton canvas, so you get all of the toughness of canvas, but the water resistance of rubber.
These ponchos are in fantastic condition with only minor discoloration in a few spots from age. We highly recommend washing them with a hose as they are coated with Talcum Powder to ensure they survived storage in US inventory. We also recommend soaking them in hot water with dishsoap in your tub (after the talcum powder is off) in order to restore some flexibility as their folded storage since the 1940s has left them stiff.
These are in fantastic shape and not only round out any collection nicely, but honestly could still be used effectively, especially with their grommets allowing use as a shelter.
Add this to the list of stuff we thought would never come through our doors.
Behold, the standard from which all ponchos were measured going forward. The Marine Corps going into WW2 did have a poncho, but it was quickly assessed as inadequate for the jungles of the Pacific Theater. Enter the Frogskin Poncho in 1942.
This badboy isn’t just waterproof (like seriously waterproof. While cleaning one off for pictures, it was holding puddles on top of it), but its TOUGH. Detailed information is scant, but we know these were made of a rubberized cotton canvas, so you get all of the toughness of canvas, but the water resistance of rubber.
These ponchos are in fantastic condition with only minor discoloration in a few spots from age. We highly recommend washing them with a hose as they are coated with Talcum Powder to ensure they survived storage in US inventory. We also recommend soaking them in hot water with dishsoap in your tub (after the talcum powder is off) in order to restore some flexibility as their folded storage since the 1940s has left them stiff.
These are in fantastic shape and not only round out any collection nicely, but honestly could still be used effectively, especially with their grommets allowing use as a shelter.
Add this to the list of stuff we thought would never come through our doors.
Behold, the standard from which all ponchos were measured going forward. The Marine Corps going into WW2 did have a poncho, but it was quickly assessed as inadequate for the jungles of the Pacific Theater. Enter the Frogskin Poncho in 1942.
This badboy isn’t just waterproof (like seriously waterproof. While cleaning one off for pictures, it was holding puddles on top of it), but its TOUGH. Detailed information is scant, but we know these were made of a rubberized cotton canvas, so you get all of the toughness of canvas, but the water resistance of rubber.
These ponchos are in fantastic condition with only minor discoloration in a few spots from age. We highly recommend washing them with a hose as they are coated with Talcum Powder to ensure they survived storage in US inventory. We also recommend soaking them in hot water with dishsoap in your tub (after the talcum powder is off) in order to restore some flexibility as their folded storage since the 1940s has left them stiff.
These are in fantastic shape and not only round out any collection nicely, but honestly could still be used effectively, especially with their grommets allowing use as a shelter.
