One of my great-greats was a farmer, small rancher, and occasional market gunner/blacksmith/gunsmith. In one of the pictures of him my grandmother had, he was wearing a wool-lined canvas coat. Typical box-cut, about 3/4 length (mid-thigh). The coat still hung in the barn when I was a kid, so I know it was split up the back far enough to comfortably ride horseback. And w-a-r-m!
When I was a bit older, I wore a slightly later version of the same coat when bringing in stock on cold winter days, forking hay out for the stock, etc. The canvas cut the wind, the wool kept me warm. Well, it's about 14 degrees F here, with gusts up to maybe 30 mph: calmer than last night, but still cold as a . . . well, it is just plain cold, and winter isn't here yet.
I'm thinking if I can find a pattern, I'll get myself a new coat made up this winter. Anyone know of a source?