Higgins' clothing?

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JQH3-fan
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#11 Post by JQH3-fan »

Ice Pick wrote:You could try the famous Canadian company, Tilly Endurables, that makes dependable, outdoor, travel wear for exotic places. They also supply the Canadian military with their popular Tilly hat. Their stuff has, or used to have, that colonial safari image.

http://www.tilley.com
Leave it to Ice Pick... We all knew he knows everything and everyone!

I've got an update to this quest. I think the trousers are called "Ghurkas" but all the ones I've seen on the net have a double-strap at the waist, instead of the single belted-waist I think Jonathan's have.

I shall keep looking, what!

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Icepick
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#12 Post by Icepick »

I've done some research and I think what Higgins is wearing is a variation of the WWII era British Commonwealth KD(Khaki Drill) Trouser or a trouser loosely based on the British tropical KD trouser.

The typical KD Trouser in the early part of the war had belt loops and a front field dressing pocket, 2 on-seam pockets, with no back pockets. However in 1943 they came out with the Tropical BD Trouser for use in the Med and Southeast Asia which had 2 on-seam pockets, no belt loops, but retained a field dressing pocket, but not always. To not sound confusing, the KD Trouser and BD Trouser are essentially the same thing.

I'm emailing a couple of people to get some more info 'cause now it's really got my curiosity.

Higgins' trousers
Image
British Tropical BD(Battle Dress) Trouser introduced around '43
Jungle Green version
Image
a really large pic so here is the Khaki version without belt loops
http://i17.tinypic.com/7ynw5m0.jpg

JQH3-fan
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#13 Post by JQH3-fan »

Ice Pick wrote:I've done some research and I think what Higgins is wearing is a variation of the WWII era British Commonwealth KD(Khaki Drill) Trouser or a trouser loosely based on the British tropical KD trouser.

The typical KD Trouser in the early part of the war had belt loops and a front field dressing pocket, 2 on-seam pockets, with no back pockets. However in 1943 they came out with the Tropical BD Trouser for use in the Med and Southeast Asia which had 2 on-seam pockets, no belt loops, but retained a field dressing pocket, but not always. To not sound confusing, the KD Trouser and BD Trouser are essentially the same thing.

I'm emailing a couple of people to get some more info 'cause now it's really got my curiosity.

Higgins' trousers
Image
British Tropical BD(Battle Dress) Trouser introduced around '43
Jungle Green version
Image
a really large pic so here is the Khaki version without belt loops
http://i17.tinypic.com/7ynw5m0.jpg
Well done, Ice Pick!

Excellent photos, and some wonderful information!

This might be a solved mystery yet!

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#14 Post by grundle »

JQH3-fan wrote:I just watched the episode with Judith Chapman as "Sarah" (don't remember the name). The one where she played the niece of the woman who was killed, and also her ghost? It has the scene where Rick is digging in the planting shed, TC is standing over him, and TM comes in and startles them, the scene that's shown in the opening credits?

Anyway, there is one good shot, about 2/3 of the way into that ep that shows Jonathan's waistline, with those belted, pleated front trousers, very clearly.

That's "The Woman On The Beach" from season 2. It's one of my 10 favorite episodes.

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Tobi
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Re: Higgins' clothing?

#15 Post by Tobi »

He was attached to the regiment so I imagine the Gurkha trousers do the job:

https://therake.com/stories/style/a-his ... -trousers/

:higgins:

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Styles Bitchley
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Re: Higgins' clothing?

#16 Post by Styles Bitchley »

Awesome. Have to order myself a pair!
"How fiendishly deceptive of you Magnum. I could have sworn I was hearing the emasculation of a large rodent."

- J.Q.H.

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Steve
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Re: Higgins' clothing?

#17 Post by Steve »

Tobi wrote:He was attached to the regiment so I imagine the Gurkha trousers do the job:

https://therake.com/stories/style/a-his ... -trousers/

:higgins:
They are nice but a tad pricey for me......Perhaps this another clue that Higgins was Robin Masters :wink:

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Tobi
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Re: Higgins' clothing?

#18 Post by Tobi »

Steve wrote:
Tobi wrote:He was attached to the regiment so I imagine the Gurkha trousers do the job:

https://therake.com/stories/style/a-his ... -trousers/

:higgins:
They are nice but a tad pricey for me......Perhaps this another clue that Higgins was Robin Masters :wink:
Yes, neither Rake nor Rubinacci do budget very well

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Re: Higgins' clothing?

#19 Post by Sam »


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Styles Bitchley
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Re: Higgins' clothing?

#20 Post by Styles Bitchley »

I love the way Sam always shows up and just does the mic drop. Thanks Sam!

Isn't that the Seinfeld company?
"How fiendishly deceptive of you Magnum. I could have sworn I was hearing the emasculation of a large rodent."

- J.Q.H.

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Re: Higgins' clothing?

#21 Post by ConchRepublican »

Styles Bitchley wrote:I love the way Sam always shows up and just does the mic drop. Thanks Sam!

Isn't that the Seinfeld company?
Did someone call for Mr. Peterman?

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Reef monkey
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Re: Higgins' clothing?

#22 Post by Reef monkey »

Here are some very affordable options:

Here is a 1941 pattern for sale, Higgins wore a different pattern that probably came out in the post war period.
https://onlinemilitaria.net/products/12 ... 1-pattern/

Here is a 1949 pattern, that came to be popularly known as "Gurkha shorts"
https://onlinemilitaria.net/products/32 ... ha-Shorts/


Isn't it funny that magnum and Higgins embodied the very opposite extremes of shorts tailoring, often in the same scene?
My essay "In Country: Place and Historical Connection in Magnum PI", about the importance of the Honolulu/Vietnam connection in the show:
http://magnum-mania.com/Forum/viewtopic ... 850#p57850

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