Traditional Archery Discussions on the Leatherwall


Pennsylvania Tuxedo

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Messages posted to thread:
Rotten: 16-Nov-19
George D. Stout 16-Nov-19
Rotten: 16-Nov-19
Tom McCool 16-Nov-19
Ross 16-Nov-19
BigHorn 16-Nov-19
B arthur 16-Nov-19
timex 16-Nov-19
White Falcon 16-Nov-19
BooBoo 16-Nov-19
George D. Stout 16-Nov-19
mangonboat 16-Nov-19
Deno 16-Nov-19
Gray Goose Shaft 16-Nov-19
Phil Magistro 16-Nov-19
Mike E 17-Nov-19
Desperado 17-Nov-19
Lenny 17-Nov-19
msinc 17-Nov-19
Nemophilist 17-Nov-19
HUMPY 17-Nov-19
Dale Rohrbeck 17-Nov-19
mahantango 17-Nov-19
Andy Man 17-Nov-19
The Lost Mohican 17-Nov-19
GUTPILE PA 17-Nov-19
The Lost Mohican 17-Nov-19
The Lost Mohican 17-Nov-19
smrobertson 17-Nov-19
mahantango 17-Nov-19
Tedd 17-Nov-19
Pa Steve 17-Nov-19
flyfish1 17-Nov-19
Babysaph 17-Nov-19
JHPope 17-Nov-19
Jon Stewart 17-Nov-19
jmdavis 17-Nov-19
RymanCat 17-Nov-19
Smokedinpa 17-Nov-19
Sawtooth (Original) 17-Nov-19
Nemophilist 17-Nov-19
hawkeye in PA 17-Nov-19
mahantango 17-Nov-19
Silverhead 17-Nov-19
shade mt 18-Nov-19
Wapiti - - M. S. 18-Nov-19
Bassman 18-Nov-19
Wudstix 18-Nov-19
Wapiti - - M. S. 19-Nov-19
Pdiddly 19-Nov-19
kstout 19-Nov-19
kstout 19-Nov-19
Silverhead 19-Nov-19
JFH 20-Nov-19
Nemophilist 20-Nov-19
HARRY CARRY 20-Nov-19
yellow eye 20-Nov-19
GUTPILE PA 20-Nov-19
Verdeburl 20-Nov-19
cut it out 20-Nov-19
Rotten: 20-Nov-19
Wapiti - - M. S. 21-Nov-19
mahantango 21-Nov-19
TrapperKayak 21-Nov-19
Jim Davis 21-Nov-19
westrayer 21-Nov-19
Will tell 21-Nov-19
Babysaph 21-Nov-19
MStyles 21-Nov-19
westrayer 21-Nov-19
Rotten: 21-Nov-19
BigHorn 21-Nov-19
heftyhunter 22-Nov-19
RymanCat 22-Nov-19
Gifford 22-Nov-19
Tekoa 22-Nov-19
Tom McCool 23-Nov-19
hawkeye in PA 23-Nov-19
RymanCat 23-Nov-19
Rotten: 23-Nov-19
From: Rotten:
Date: 16-Nov-19




Do any of you out there still hunt in a Pennsylvania tuxedo?

From: George D. Stout Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 16-Nov-19




I haven't seen anybody wearing one for about thirty years. I had one for a while but just too dang heavy anymore.

From: Rotten:
Date: 16-Nov-19




George, I agree. I have one, don’t wear it, also have the gray pants. Probably hem them up and use them for feeding/working cows this winter.

From: Tom McCool
Date: 16-Nov-19




Just the top half. :)

From: Ross
Date: 16-Nov-19




What is a penn. tuxedo?

From: BigHorn
Date: 16-Nov-19

BigHorn's embedded Photo



From: B arthur
Date: 16-Nov-19




I dont but my brother in law does. He inherited it from my Uncle. He loves it and he looks cool. LOL. I'd like to have one.

From: timex
Date: 16-Nov-19




not me my introduction into deer hunting was initially around the Richmond va area & everyone wore camo then we started hunting around Berkley springs WVA area and yes a few of the oldtimers wore either green or red usually woolrich clothing iv always been a camo kind of guy yes my winter time shirts are usually a plad flannel shirt but when hunting camo that notion that you got to where plad flannel of any kind to be a real HUNTER is a bunch of crap

From: White Falcon
Date: 16-Nov-19




I used my B.I.L.'s when I was a kid.

From: BooBoo
Date: 16-Nov-19




That has class and penache! I rarely wear camo. My really cold weather gear is camo....only because I couldn't get what I wanted without it being camo.

From: George D. Stout Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 16-Nov-19




A suit like that weighed about eight pounds when dry. When wet it weighed about 40 pounds so that was one of the reasons it went out of fashion. Well, that and the initiation of fluorescent orange in hunter wear that became a requirement. Nothing had anything to do with being cool, it was functional and kept you warm and most of the greatest generation wore them here in the northeast. Synthetics took over the outdoor clothing industry but some of use still love the wool. By the way, a suit like that would last you near a lifetime if you didn't blow up and outgrow it.

From: mangonboat
Date: 16-Nov-19




My Dad still has his from 1954.

From: Deno
Date: 16-Nov-19

Deno's embedded Photo



From: Gray Goose Shaft
Date: 16-Nov-19




I did well with wool in the woods, it was quiet and warm. The wind that I encountered while ice fishing on lakes cut through it though.

I use the gray wool Johnson pants from Vermont for snowshoeing. If I have to run the snowblower before the snow stops falling, I often wear the red plaid cap with the pull down ear flap.

Pennsylvania Tux.... good one.

From: Phil Magistro
Date: 16-Nov-19




I have two full sets in the basement. Mine and my Dads from the early 70s. Haven't worn them for years although I still consider wearing the jacket for everyday in the winter. Just keep them because they are only worth a fraction of what they cost.

From: Mike E
Date: 17-Nov-19




Penn. Tuxedo,,that's funny,, I only have a top half. Don't believe I've ever seen a matching bottom in that design.

From: Desperado
Date: 17-Nov-19




My dad wore one whenever hunting in the cold. In our cabin, after he passed away 11 years ago, I hung his Pa. tuxedo on a coat tree in the kitchen corner with his matching tuxedo hat and with his final hunting license in the holder pinned to the back of the coat. Every time I open the cabin door I see those and think of our days afield together. Nice post Tom !! Memories are priceless !!!! Des

From: Lenny
Date: 17-Nov-19




My uncle bill use to wear one of them he would put a large thermos of coffee a sandwich and a pack of pallmall cigarettes in the back pouch and we wouldn’t see him until dark. Great memories I never new they called it Pennsylvania tuxedo that’s funny!

From: msinc
Date: 17-Nov-19




Makes me think of a Pennsylvania machine gun....Remington 760. I still wear wool, in fact I still have the three Woolrich shirts I bought when I lived up there in 79-81. There is some very nice new synthetic gear available out there, but nothing works quite like real wool.

From: Nemophilist
Date: 17-Nov-19




Yep I wore the red and black plaid woolrich back in the 1970s and part of the 1980s. I wore it for bowhunting when the temerature dropped. In rifle buck season when orange first became mandatory I would put a orange vest over my woolrich coat. I also had a green and black plaid woolrich coat.

From: HUMPY
Date: 17-Nov-19




yep still have my 2 piece suit i bought in 1966 .... heavy weight wool bought it at Joe the motorist freind store in waynesboro,pa Fred Bears home town.

From: Dale Rohrbeck
Date: 17-Nov-19




Yes, actually have 2 sets of tops and bottoms that I was fortunate to find at a garage sale years ago. I love old Woolrich wool.

From: mahantango
Date: 17-Nov-19




I live about thirty miles from Woolrich pa. and the original mill. We used to make an annual trip to the factory store every Black Friday, but it's not quite the same anymore with most of the clothing imported and crazy prices. I do love my old Woolrich though, and have several shirts and jackets that I wear pretty much every day all fall and winter, including the top half of a PA. tuxedo.

From: Andy Man
Date: 17-Nov-19

Andy Man's embedded Photo



had mine on the other day

From: The Lost Mohican
Date: 17-Nov-19




Bowhunting Tuxedo! TLM

From: GUTPILE PA
Date: 17-Nov-19




Yes I have the full suit like new it's the warmest piece of hunting clothing I have that's what we wore in pa when I was a kid no bright orange

From: The Lost Mohican
Date: 17-Nov-19

The Lost Mohican's embedded Photo



From: The Lost Mohican
Date: 17-Nov-19




Above is a Filson Gray Balck cruiser and matching pants in 24 oz wool. I layer with the matching vest when temps dip into the teens. Pattern disappears when up against a hardwood tree. TLM

From: smrobertson
Date: 17-Nov-19




I too, have a full suit red and black Woolrich. The pants are fantastic and lined with something like flannel and elastic around the ankles.

From: mahantango
Date: 17-Nov-19




The coat is way too bulky to shoot a bow , but I often wear it in rifle season with a blaze vest - even if just for the nostalgia. Works great for slipping through the thick stuff with a scoped revolver in a shoulder holster underneath. My second favorite way to hunt!

From: Tedd Professional Bowhunters Society - Qualified Member
Date: 17-Nov-19




We call em "sock tuckers". Because the really old pants were short and cuffed for tucking them in your socks. I still see an old timer or two wearing them in rifle season. I have been to the town of Woolrich a few times. And hunted for years in wool pants and jacket. I never had red pants but did and and still do wear red jackets. My wool pants always shrunk in length and with suspenders adjusted, were way to short. But I began to see what the sock tuckers knew, that it was better for covering mountain ground without dragging a few extra inches of wet pants around. I now always get my modern hunting pants hemmed a little short for that reason but it looks kinda goofy. The last full woolrich tucked pants guy I talked to in the woods in rifle season, was sitting on a dead tree, eating cookies and drinking coffee from a thermos. His nose was bleeding, from the cold I guess. I don't know how he got so far in the woods, he was up there in years. After I left I was wondering if he was going to make it out of the woods! The next day I was hunting the same area and saw where he dragged a deer down from where he was sitting. Tedd

Tedd

From: Pa Steve
Date: 17-Nov-19




Great post. Sure brings back memories of when I was a kid and just couldn't wait to be old enough to go hunting with my uncles and older cousin.

From: flyfish1
Date: 17-Nov-19




Wore the Pa tuxedo for quite a few years.Was wearing my woolrich red and black bibs last week when I took a doe,Sorry no pics.

From: Babysaph
Date: 17-Nov-19




I remember my dad and uncle had one in the 60's and 70's. The wore them to deer camp for gun season. I remember watching them get ready to go before I was old enough to go. I can still remember my first trip to that cabin. Man I thought I was something. I can still smell the Hoppes. Love that smell. It says deer hunting

From: JHPope
Date: 17-Nov-19




Yes, Hoppes gun cleaning solvent is almost a man's cologne. Like the smell.

From: Jon Stewart
Date: 17-Nov-19




I have mine from the 70's and am going to give it to my 16 year old grandson. I am about done hunting anyway. No fun anymore. Gun or bow.

From: jmdavis
Date: 17-Nov-19




Never had the coat, but I wear,the green version of the pants and shirts in cold weather. I bought them years ago when they were on closeout at Cabelas. When it's really cold I add an Asbell blanket weight anorak.

From: RymanCat
Date: 17-Nov-19




I wish I still had mine after I grew out of it I sold it then wore my fathers and grew out of that also.

Nothing is better than to e best dressed and might I say warm and ok for standing but for driving animals way to warm.

From: Smokedinpa
Date: 17-Nov-19




The first year my wife hunted I bought her this exact outfit. It was so ugly she refused to wear it and decided to put some underarmour under a cotton outfit that looked nicer. One morning during the gun season it was in the 20s and after the wind it felt like single digits. I had a heavy Johnson wool coat on and some Woolrich pants on and was fine. She had a half a dozen pocket warmers and was not. The next season that ugly Woolrich suit I bought her for 70 bucks saw action every sit. Go figure.

From: Sawtooth (Original) Professional Bowhunters Society - Associate Member
Date: 17-Nov-19

Sawtooth (Original)'s embedded Photo



I got mine in a trade from a Waller. I still wear it sometimes. Way to hot down here most of the year.

From: Nemophilist
Date: 17-Nov-19




Dendy you look like a Pennsylvanian. "LOL" "LOL"

From: hawkeye in PA
Date: 17-Nov-19




Just had my PA tuxedo on a couple of days ago shoveling snow. It's getting near fifty years old and still in excellent shape. Good stuff for sure.

From: mahantango
Date: 17-Nov-19




Wore my dad's old one as a winter coat in high school ('70s). When I outgrew that I found a replacement in an antique store for $20. Still wearing that one - probably 60 years old.

From: Silverhead
Date: 17-Nov-19




We wore those often during gun season in Michigans UP. We called them Soo wools. As mentioned earlier when they were wet they were heavy. I also recall an odor of deer camp that was hard to describe...a blend of wood smoke, tobacco and bacon. Believe it or not we still shot some pretty good bucks Great Days...bye for now

From: shade mt
Date: 18-Nov-19




If I'm not mistaken when I first started hunting orange wasn't a law and most everyone wore red and black plaid. I still have my woolrich coat, fits me a whole lot better now than when I was 12 years old.

msinc... the PA 760 machine gun was my first deer rifle. worked all summer on the farm and saved up for it. paid 129.00 for it. Try and find an old Rem 760 pump with the straight grooves instead of checkering on the forearm for that now!

Man those were the days.

From: Wapiti - - M. S. Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 18-Nov-19




I wore that wool plaid from 1969 till 1975, when I was a member of a deer camp in Pike county Pa. I also worked to get my 760 pump it was $ 105.99 way back then.Sure miss them old days.

From: Bassman Professional Bowhunters Society - Qualified Member
Date: 18-Nov-19




I wore one for 20 years till I grew out of it. Gave it to a friend.My brothers still have may Dad's, and their own. Three sets total. Good stuff, but got heavy when wet.Wear like iron.

From: Wudstix Professional Bowhunters Society - Associate Member
Date: 18-Nov-19




My grandfather wore one of the jackets until he passed in 1996, don't know where it went.

From: Wapiti - - M. S. Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 19-Nov-19




They sure got heavy when they were wet,i do remember that.

From: Pdiddly
Date: 19-Nov-19




Silverhead...I grew up in Sault Ste. Marie (Soo) Ontario across the river from Soo Michigan.

Soo Woolens was a company in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan near the Soo.

There were lots of companies in Canada and also the US that made wool plaid hunting coats and pants back in the day. Deacon Brothers is one that comes to mind.

And up here they were called an Abitibi or Sudbury Tuxedo.

I wore them...my last was an all red wool coat from LL Bean with a big rounded collar.

I still wear wool pants but use modern fabrics up top...warm and dry.

From: kstout
Date: 19-Nov-19




I still wear a Woolrich red and black plaid coat, but have a pair of green LL Bean wool pants.

From: kstout
Date: 19-Nov-19




I still wear a Woolrich red and black plaid coat, but have a pair of green LL Bean wool pants.

From: Silverhead
Date: 19-Nov-19




Thanks Pdiddly; you provided good info to my past. I bet you watched the boats through the St. Maries...good place to grow. Did you ever see the Fitz? bye for now

From: JFH
Date: 20-Nov-19




I wear mine for gun and muzzleloader seasons. Still keeps me warm in the single digits for a full day sit....... have the dark gray malone bibs and the red/black woolrich jacket........ they just work

From: Nemophilist
Date: 20-Nov-19

Nemophilist's embedded Photo



Here is my two wool coats I still have. Had them a very long time. They're warm and quiet.

From: HARRY CARRY
Date: 20-Nov-19




I have multiple completed sets of the style that Sawtooth is wearing, and the version advertised in more recent Woolrich catalogs as "The Pennsylvania Tuxedo", which has a closer plaid design and is a bit "darker". I wear the coats most winters when afield, when walking for lunch, and for going to Church. I wear the trousers for Archery gatherings. Also have the Woolrich ORANGE wool coat, that actually looks OK with the black/red trousers. While walking, folks in town (some friends, some just passers-by) have called out "Hey Elmer Fudd". I have no problems with that. Grandpa Park wore the style, and he was OK in my book. (PS: Age 57, and all my Woolrich is 2nd hand.)

From: yellow eye
Date: 20-Nov-19




HAHAHA Had mine out last night, thinking of wearing it this year. Kind of tight now days, must have shrunk. Never had the pants but my dad did. I wore German wool pants.Remember Walter Matthau, in grumpy old men when my son seen that he almost peed himself seeing he had the same coat on.

From: GUTPILE PA
Date: 20-Nov-19




Does anyone know if Woolrich store is still there in Woolrich we used to camp near there and look for the bargains in the store a lot of the time you could get seconds for half price big savings

From: Verdeburl
Date: 20-Nov-19




I no longer have the pants, but I still have my big Ol' heavy lined coat. I wouldn't ever think of getting rid of it. Best hunting coats, and pants ever made for brutal cold weather.

From: cut it out
Date: 20-Nov-19




Bow hunting I wear wool a lot. Gun hunting mountains not as much. Gets heavy. That said do wear wool shirts and wool vests often gun hunting just not the heavy coat.

From: Rotten:
Date: 20-Nov-19

Rotten:'s embedded Photo



Here’s a pic of mine. I’ve never heard of a Pennsylvania machine gun, but evidently I own one of those too. Mine is in 30-06.

From: Wapiti - - M. S. Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 21-Nov-19




Nice looking pictures Rotten that brings back some memories. Some of the gentlemen in our deer camp wore those also just like they did the tuxedos.

From: mahantango
Date: 21-Nov-19




Store is still there, but no more seconds as most is made overseas. They run sales but prices are pretty high. Not like the old days.

From: TrapperKayak
Date: 21-Nov-19




Got my father's coat. Same pattern as yours Rotten:. Mice chewed a hole in the shoulder, the Bas+@&d$!!! It weighs a ton and I don't wear it, so it just takes up space. It would be good for ice fishing but I haven't done that in years.

From: Jim Davis
Date: 21-Nov-19




Never had any Woolrich, but still have a pair of G.I. WWI wool pants that were great cutting wood in deep snow in Maine. Never tucked the pants into the socks the "traditional" way because snow would melt and wick down into the socks. I left the pant legs hang down onto my Sorrels and my feet stayed dry and warm.

Here in Kentucky, we seldom have enough snow to matter and less reason to go out in it, but once or twice a year I use the pants.

From: westrayer
Date: 21-Nov-19




I know the Remington 760 as the Amish machine gun.

I still have a Woolrich coat in size 52. I had a friend pick it up for me but it is too large and sits in the closet unless it is really cold and I have a lot of clothes under it. And my wife bought me a new orange camo.waterproof coat a couple of years ago.

I would like to sell it but shipping is expensive.

From: Will tell
Date: 21-Nov-19

Will tell's embedded Photo



They make more than the tuxedo, here are two hunting coats, pants, grey coat, bronwn plaid parka and quilted shirt made out of Woolrich wool.

From: Babysaph Professional Bowhunters Society - Associate Member
Date: 21-Nov-19




I like camo to hide from other hunters .

From: MStyles
Date: 21-Nov-19




Back in the day when I was growing up, i would look through hunting mags and think having a Woolrich red plaid coat would be the greatest coat anyone could ever have. I had a hand-me-down red wool plaid coat, but it wasn’t Woolrich.

From: westrayer
Date: 21-Nov-19




I have a newer camo jacket that is waterproof. I use it for late biw season or raise y and warmer days in rifle season.

From: Rotten:
Date: 21-Nov-19




Will, that’s a good collection of wool!

From: BigHorn
Date: 21-Nov-19




will i have the same coat as the one on the right. it doesnt seem heavy to me. its got nylon and insulation liner. the wool is not very thick maybe 9-12 oz. i have a grey wolf parka thats 24oz and thats gets pretty heavy

From: heftyhunter
Date: 22-Nov-19




I still have my whole set including the hat. Lots of memories. The 760 was known as the spray and pray here. It was designed To go with the 870 both being pumps.

From: RymanCat
Date: 22-Nov-19




You all do know this suit is not legal in Pa. gun season without wearing orange vest over and a cap.

My father bought me my jacket when I was 16 and it was the new style not the oder style back then he had that was darker.

I told him I wanted his coat and he could wear the new style and he said no! Shut up and wear this jacket boy!

I then got the green wool pants and then a grey pair later on and I was the best dressed in our group of men. They said to me just wait till we get you down on those side hills you will beg us to let you walk the benches on the drives and clothes will get torn off you. Then so much for your best dressed ideer. LOL

If I saw a set FS in big boys size I'd pick them up in a heartbeat. BTW any one have a set in 3x look me up. LOL

From: Gifford
Date: 22-Nov-19




Yep, still got mine, got it in the late 60s and still wear it when it gets cold enough. These days, mostly snow shoveling and walking the dogs.

From: Tekoa
Date: 22-Nov-19




Great thread. Our shotgun season here in Mass starts in a week or so. If its cold enough I may need to pull mine out of storage. It does still get some use during ice fishing season.

From: Tom McCool
Date: 23-Nov-19

Tom McCool's embedded Photo



Half of my "Tux" for the PA bear rifle season.

From: hawkeye in PA
Date: 23-Nov-19




Nice picture Tom

From: RymanCat
Date: 23-Nov-19




Yeah man you look good Tom. I would have probably gotten more woolrich but if it weren't for some much KOM I have like thousands. And have 3X now.

Still have to wear orange vest and hat. Wills got some nice woolrich also.

Only problem is I don't want to go out in cold now though so what good are my wools doing me. LOL

From: Rotten:
Date: 23-Nov-19




Cat, that KOM wool is great stuff from what I’m told. I wanted some so bad when they were in Loveland CO.





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