Recently, the S&Graf shelter half, which had long been out of stock, was re-released, and I had the chance to obtain one.
So, I’d like to compare it with authentic shelter halves I have on hand.

To give the conclusion first, as a replica for practical use without worry, it is highly recommendable. However, when wearing it as a rain cape or connecting multiple sheets to build a tent, some adjustment of the cords is necessary.

Specifications of the Shelter Half

Since its adoption in 1903 (Meiji 36), the shelter half saw long use without major revisions. As a primary source on the shelter half, Shelter Half Regulations and Usage¹ is useful. It details the specifications of the cloth, poles, and pegs, as well as instructions on wearing it as a rain cape and constructing various types of tents. The diagrams at the end alone are well worth a look.

Shelter halves were used over a long period, and several distinctive features can be observed depending on the era.
Those from the Meiji period have a reddish, dark brown color, clearly different from the tones commonly seen in Shōwa-period examples.
As for the grommets, they were originally all made of aluminum. However, after the start of the Greater East Asia War, the four corner grommets were changed to steel. Furthermore, in the latter half of the war, examples with leather grommets also appeared.

In fact, when referring to the “Rain Cape and Shelter Half” section in the second volume of Army Clothing and Equipment Specifications², the wartime specification changes made during the Greater East Asia War are clearly documented.

• Shelter Half (Cotton Version)
  • Revised by Provisional Clothing Specifications No. 111, December 4, 1939 (Shōwa 14)
  • The shelter-half cloth was changed to “waterproof brown thick-woven cotton”(originally a cotton–hemp blend).
  • Due to this change in fabric quality, a gusset of one-third fabric width was to be sewn at the specified position.
• Shelter-Half Cloth (“Ro-gō” / Type Ro)
  • Established by Provisional Clothing Specifications No. 63, June 9, 1941 (Shōwa 16) / Revised by Provisional Clothing Specifications No. 89, September 11, 1941 / Revised by Provisional Clothing Specifications No. 90, September 9, 1942 (Shōwa 17)
  • The fabric was specified as either “waterproof brown cotton–hemp blended cloth” or “waterproof brown thick-woven cotton.”
    • When using thick-woven cotton, a gusset of one-third fabric width was required in addition to the two main panels, due to fabric width limitations.
    • The two (or three) cut panels were to be sewn together, and the seam allowances folded in two…
  • Leather scraps
    • At the four corners, around the edges, and on two sides used for connecting.
    • Thinned “Scrap leather” to 1–1.5 mm and sewn to the reverse side of the shelter-half cloth.

Normally, the shelter half is made by sewing together two pieces of fabric, but those made of thick-woven cotton appear to be constructed from three pieces, due to the shortage of fabric.

For shelter halves with leather grommets, some also use metal grommets; these are likely a variation of the “Ro-gō” model (as metal grommets would have been used while they were still in stock).

Size and Appearance

I have two authentic shelter halves in my possession.
One of them does not have an inspection stamp, so its exact production year is unknown. However, since the corner grommets are made of steel while the others are aluminum, it is believed to date from the early period of the Greater East Asia War. Prewar examples have all-aluminum grommets, which is how they can be distinguished.
The other was made in 1944 (Shōwa 19), with grommets made of leather except at the four corners. In the later stages of the war, due to material shortages, some or all of the grommets were switched to leather. This is the shelter half fabric (“Ro-gō”) introduced in the section on shelter half specifications.

In this article, I will refer to the former as the “early wartime model” and the latter as the “late wartime model.”

Regarding the specifications, the shelter half is described as “a square with each side measuring 1.50 meters,” but the actual measurements were as follows.

• Early wartime model: 141 cm × 149 cm
• Late wartime model: 148 cm × 148 cm
• S&Graf: 134 cm × 147 cm

The fabric of the shelter half is a cotton-linen blend, so the authentic items may have shrunk slightly. I’ve seen other reviews mentioning that the S&Graf version is “not a perfect square,” but in fact, my early type isn’t a perfect square either. It seems that the authentic shelter halves were made rather roughly. That said, the S&Graf version has a difference of 13 cm between sides, which is enough to clearly notice it is rectangular at a glance.

Regarding the fabric texture, the authentic shelter halves are quite stiff and rough. In contrast, the S&Graf version feels much smoother. Regarding the texture of the fabric, the authentic item is quite stiff and coarse. This is likely because it is a cotton–linen blend. In contrast, the S&Graf reproduction uses a much softer, smoother fabric—presumably made of cotton.

As for the color, I think the S&Graf version is very well done. A difference in color of this degree could easily occur due to the manufacturing period or location, or from fading and sun exposure over time.

The areas marked with red circles indicate missing cords. My authentic items were missing the ridge cord. As shown in the photo below, the ridge cord is the long string that runs across the center. When worn as a rain cape, it serves as a waist cord; when setting up the tent, it is literally used to stretch and secure the canopy. It can also be used to tie stakes together when folding up the shelter half. Since it is not fixed in place, it seems rather easy to lose.

The S&Graf replica is missing several elements: the neck cord used when wearing it as a rain cape, the ridge cord, and the cords at the center of each side. In addition, the cords it does have are noticeably thicker than those on the authentic version.

By the way, if you look closely, the neck cord is sewn onto the fabric, so there’s little risk of it being lost. The ends of the cord are treated in a special way—they are secured by wrapping thread around them rather than tying a knot.

Tie Cord

Each of two sides of the shelter half has seven cords. These cords are used to tie multiple shelter halves together, and in the specifications, they are referred to as “蹄係 / teikei.” The material is linen.

Linen cords are inherently more durable and resistant to rot compared to cotton cords. In contrast, the cords on the S&Graf version feel soft to the touch and have some elasticity when pulled, which makes them seem more like cotton cords.

The length of these tie cords is important—if they are not the correct length, the shelter halves cannot be properly connected. The tie cords on the S&Graf version are too long, so they need to be shortened for proper use. Below is a diagram from the specifications showing how shelter halves are connected.

The following shows a comparison of the lower left corner of the shelter half. You can see the differences in the texture and thickness of the cords.
On authentic examples, cords of slightly different thicknesses were used depending on their purpose: about 3 mm for the tie cords, and about 4 mm for the cords used to secure the shelter half to the ground or poles.

Detailed Comparison

Let’s take a closer look at the lower right section of the shelter half. From top to bottom: late wartime model, and the one made by S&Graf.
At this level of close-up, the differences in fabric texture become very clear. However, the color tone doesn’t leave a particularly bad impression. The fabric of the S&Graf version has diagonal ridge-like patterns running through it, known as twill weave, which is also used for denim and chino cloth.

Looking at the grommets, on authentic examples the large grommet is positioned in the center of the square, while on the S&Graf version it is shifted toward the upper left. Since this section overlaps when the halves are connected, this placement may make it more difficult to layer them properly.

I aligned the right edges neatly for comparison. The horizontal lengths are almost the same: 148 cm for the late wartime model, 149 cm for the early wartime model, and 147 cm for the S&Graf version. However, only on the S&Graf version is the position of the tie cord hole misaligned, making it difficult to connect with authentic pieces as is.

As for the way the cords are tied, the S&Graf version is also mostly accurate. In the photo, it looks like only the early wartime model　cords are attached differently, but this is actually correct. These cords use a special knotting method, allowing them to be pulled through to either the front or back side. When I obtained this early wartime model, they had been pulled through to the back, so I left them as they were.

That concludes the comparison of the shelter halves.
The S&Graf shelter half, while showing almost no visual inconsistencies, makes for a very good option as a practical, everyday piece you can use without worrying about getting it dirty.
However, the cord specifications are still a concern for me, so next time I’d like to try modifying them with replacements.

Footnote

1. “Shelter Half Regulations and Usage,” JACAR (Japan Center for Asian Historical Records) Ref. C08070626900, Meiji 36, Rikudatsu Collection (National Institute for Defense Studies, Ministry of Defense) ↩︎
2. “Army Clothing and Equipment Specifications, Volume II / Part I: Finished Clothing / Section 7: Rain Cape and Shelter Half,” JACAR (Japan Center for Asian Historical Records) Ref. C14010249600, Supplement to the Army Clothing and Equipment Specifications, August–December 1942 (Ministry of Defense, National Institute for Defense Studies). ↩︎