US Army WW1 Overcoat M1917 EM/NCO 85th (Custer) Division

the M1917 Overcoat. This differed from the M1904 by having only a half length cotton liner and straps on the cuffs. The straps served no purpose and were to be eliminated from later overcoat patterns. This overcoat with a contract tag dated April 1917 is a later pattern that was shortened versus the original longer pattern that extended well below the knees. The coat's liner stops at the waist vs. the bottom of the coat as found on later earlier patterns.