m/36 Summer Blouse (Kesäpusero m/36)

The m/36 Summer Blouse was direct continuation of the older m/32 Summer Blouse and m/32 Summer Blouse, older with minor changes. The colour was changed to similar steel grey colour as the m/36 Tunic and the cuffs were made in the same style as in the tunic. The Blouse also adopted the new m/36 rank system used in the tunic in favour of the older m/27 rank system. The epaulettes on the summer blouses had branch colour trims similarly to the m/36 Tunic.

In the beginning of 1941 the cuff was changed again and the cuff vent was dropped in favour of a regular, straight sleeve and cuff. Similarly, the branch colour trim was removed from the epaulettes. At the same time the rank system was simplified and ranks could be attached directly to the collar instead of the collar tabs. Men were also allowed to have the top-most button open on the field. The forces in the Karelian Isthmus were required to have a button sewn on their chest where the collar was then buttoned open, as seen on this photo.

There are no major differences between officer and enlisted men blouses. Officer's blouses often have coat-of-arms buttons when they are visible, where as enlisted men could have plain steel or aluminium buttons as well. Officers were only allowed to use summer blouses on the field, however exceptions can be found.

Timeline

The m/36 Summer Blouse was the dominant Summer uniform piece used from its introduction until well in to the 60's or so - they've occasionally seen OPFOR use in the early 2000's as well. The diagram divides the two types used in to m/36 and m/36-41. Of these the latter is not an official designation for the blouse, but simply a collector distinction between the two. Officially they are both m/36 Summer Blouse.

Description
Materials
Size Table
Markings
Photographs

Last updated: October 17th, 2017

Description

Colour and material: Cotton weave of steel grey colour.

Cut: Loose, shirt like jacket. 6 hidden buttons in the front. Two chest pockets with bleats with coat-of-arms buttons for Officers and plain steel buttons for other ranks. Back side has a 4cm wide, sewn belt that ends on the side seams. The side seams have two fabric belt loops that are closed with a small coat-of-arms buttons. Sleeves are loose and full length. The Cuffs have a roughly 12 cm long vent and two plain steel buttons that can be used to tighten it. There are three steel grommets in the armpits for ventilation.

Length: 5 cm from the crotch.

Collar: Stand-and-fall collar, 7 cm high in the front, 4 cm high in the back. A tab over the neck that is used to close the collar. Tab is closed with a flat metal button.

Epaulettes: Standard early m/36 epaulettes, around 5 cm wide on the shoulder seam, rounded point and attached with a small coat-of-arms button that is tied inside the blouse with a cotton string.

Materials

This is a translation of 1936 dated technical material report.

Summer Blouse fabric m/36
Technical report

1) Warp thread:	No 2/28 English +- 6 %
2) Weft thread:	No 9 English +- 9%
3) Warp density:	72 - 70 / 1"
4) Weft density:	56 - 54 / 1"
5) Weave:	Warp-faced broken twill
6) Width:	76 / 78 cm
7) Bolt length:	35 meters
8) Weight:	230 - 240 g / linear meter = 300 g / m² = minimum weight
9) Tensile strength:	Warp: 120 - 115 kg
9) Tensile strength:	Weft: 130 - 125 kg
10) Colour:	Warp thread, twisted black/white
10) Colour:	Weft thread black
11) Finish:	Calendered. Weight loss when washing 3% at the most.
12) Shrinking:	Warp 4% at the most, weft 2% at the most.

Size Table

This is a sizetable of wartime sizes. All sizes are in centimeters. Chest sizes are 8 to 10 cm larger than mentioned on the table. Other sizes are as mentioned in the table.

Soldiers Height	158-165	165-173	160-167	167-175	164-173	173-180	166-176	176-185	168-178	178-187	172-180	180-190
Size	46		48		50		52		54		56
Size	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B
Halfback height	41	44	42	45	43	46	44	47	45	48	46	49
Fullback height	64	68	65	69	67	71	68	72	70	73	71	75
Chest size	92	92	96	96	100	100	104	104	108	108	112	112
Waist size	82	82	86	86	90	90	94	94	98	98	102	102
Sleeve length	63	66	64	67	65	68	66	69	67	70	68	71
Collar size	40	40	41	41	42	42	43	43	44	44	45	45

Markings

Markings on the m/36 Summer Blouse vary somewhat in their content but follow the general rule: They have the "Int" stamp of the Army Intendants Department, length and width stamps. These are sometimes supplemented by the manufacturers stamps, the "SA" cartouche and "M" or other similar stamp to show that the blouse has been sold and removed from the army books. Variations of these markings can be seen and it is common for only some of them to be present.

Incomplete list of manufacturers below: