Received this right at the end of December. It is a custom 46L. The yoke is much smaller and higher than on my previous three raiders jackets. Which looks great when wearing it. It measures at least 1 inch higher. I swapped out the rectangular sliders for black tri-glides so that the straps will face the back panel. I didn't specify the inside pocket, collar/storm flap placement or yoke size but they all came out great. My only gripes would be the back panel not extending all the way out and the pockets being just a tad small (making it harder to fit my hands inside the side warmers). I think on larger jackets it is hard to find a piece of leather big enough to cover the entire back panel. Best jacket I've received yet! I'm happy with it!
Thanks for the input. The pockets do seem a bit small i think they are 6" x 7". The buckles are black in person but showed up blue in the photos for some reason.
Man, I can't believe that Wested doesn't recognize the need to make the pockets proportionate to the specific size jacket! That jacket is a 46,,that's pretty big,,the pockets need to be MUCH bigger to be to scale with the jacket.
Here's a question. How much taper should the back panel have from top to bottom? This seems to have more taper than previous jackets. It seems to look better when wearing it though.
Browncoat wrote:I actually like the taper. It probably looks really good if it matches the taper of your back especially with the straps pulled for a custom fit.
The pockets do look like ToD pockets.
I'd like to see a Wested with Tony's 6.5 x 8 pockets myself. I think larger pockets and fuller cut sleeves would really improve the Wested pattern.
My other 3 Westeds (98, 03, 04) have the 6.5 x 8 pockets. Weird how they are smaller this time. I did ask for the scalloped flaps so maybe they somehow assumed smaller pockets based on someone elses specs. I think this jacket actually has tighter cut sleeves which worked out ok this time as my last jacket was a little baggy in the sleeves near the wrist.
I wouldn't think the scalloped pocket flaps would have anything to do with the size (but what do I know?). If the pockets are too small for you to comfortably put your hands in without the risk of tearing, I'd send it back for bigger pockets. If not, you'll never be totally happy with it and end up getting another one with bigger pockets (or that's what I'd do anyway ).
crismans wrote:I wouldn't think the scalloped pocket flaps would have anything to do with the size (but what do I know?). If the pockets are too small for you to comfortably put your hands in without the risk of tearing, I'd send it back for bigger pockets. If not, you'll never be totally happy with it and end up getting another one with bigger pockets (or that's what I'd do anyway ).
Requested. It looks like they just shrank the size of the yoke which raised the seam by about 1" - 2". The arm seams seem to be positioned the same as in my other jackets.
Great-looking jacket, indy1936. I love the grain and color. Having said that, those cargo pockets indeed are tiny. Temple of Doomish. A bit of a hybrid jacket, I suppose.
Cheers.
I'd like to see a Wested with Tony's 6.5 x 8 pockets myself. I think larger pockets and fuller cut sleeves would really improve the Wested pattern.
Really? In the past the biggest problem with Wested is that the pockets have been way too big. 6.5 x 8 is common enough for Wested but they often go at 7 X 8.5 which is nuts. We used to call them clown pockets on this site.
Apart from this particualr jacket, then pockets on Wested are ususally okay these days for a Raiders. Forget their LC jacket - they never seem to get them right unless you send in specs.
I'd like to see a Wested with Tony's 6.5 x 8 pockets myself. I think larger pockets and fuller cut sleeves would really improve the Wested pattern.
Really? In the past the biggest problem with Wested is that the pockets have been way too big. 6.5 x 8 is common enough for Wested but they often go at 7 X 8.5 which is nuts. We used to call them clown pockets on this site.
Apart from this particualr jacket, then pockets on Wested are ususally okay these days for a Raiders. Forget their LC jacket - they never seem to get them right unless you send in specs.
It's looking more like there isn't a 'common enough' Wested Raiders pocket size.
too many requests for variations maybe. A vicious circle.
CM wrote:
Really? In the past the biggest problem with Wested is that the pockets have been way too big. 6.5 x 8 is common enough for Wested but they often go at 7 X 8.5 which is nuts. We used to call them clown pockets on this site.
Apart from this particualr jacket, then pockets on Wested are ususally okay these days for a Raiders. Forget their LC jacket - they never seem to get them right unless you send in specs.
Well 7 X 8.5 inch pockets would be oversized unless the jacket was a 60R+
Wested's pattern does need tweaking. Can you honestly say (leather excluded) from a superficial standpoint that the Wested pattern is more accurate than the TN? The TN has the larger pockets, fuller sleeves and shorter body pretty much everything opposite of standard present Wested.
As far as what has happened in the past, its funny that jackets made in the past and were possibly snubbed for their inaccuracies are now being relooked for their construction, hide, etc. One person's garbage is another's treasure.
It is a vicious cycle but its great that Wested offers that much customization for the low price point.
CM wrote:
As far as what has happened in the past, its funny that jackets made in the past and were possibly snubbed for their inaccuracies are now being relooked for their construction, hide, etc. One person's garbage is another's treasure.
It is interesting. As noted by others I have found some features on my 90s Wested to be similar to the TN. It also includes details that are now considered screen accurate but were later changed based on customer input. The pocket shape, pleat depth, collar/storm flap placement come to mind as matching some current ideas on accuracy. Also interesting how things such as the side straps and d rings were modified once delivered to the set. All of this has been discussed before though.