Thanks guys. Curiousity may kill cats, but I'm sure no animals were harmed in this discussion.

Except maybe a couple herds of lamb, goat, and cattle that have been made into Westeds for benefit of a few recklessly adventurous, gas-guzzling, snake-stomping, whip-crackin' first-world consumers.

I had an overshirt I used to wear that had press studs instead of buttons, and these studs were really noisy, so I dropped a tiny glob of silicone in each one on the metal ring, just to take up the slack. That's a really good idea Merrick: issue vaporized! Now I have one more reason to toss a coin....

That's fascinating intelligence, _. Do you know if he sells skins to individuals (if one were able to find the right tailor...)? Kangaroo lurks in the shadows of this forum mainly because of cost and screen accuracy, and the fact that the Indiana ‘Roo market is cornered by one-size-fits-all US Wings...

I've been considering either a Wested ToD or LC in distressed cowhide for the last couple of weeks. While mulling over which one to get, I began thinking about the non-Indy jackets I've worn in the past and remembered having a jacket as a kid that had 'press studs' that made sneaking around or walki...

To satisfy my burning curiousity, I sent an email to Wested when we were discussing the possibility of sending Wested your own kangaroo or bison hides for an extra-special custom made an Indy jacket and got the following response: "Sorry, but we like to adhere to that which we know works best. ...

it'll have to be a distressed cowhide, because that is their BEST leather hands down, IMO Have you seen Wested's distressed cowhide in person, Indydawg? I really admire the leather swatch on their website, but I just want to be sure that the color's right. Does it really look like that picture with...

If page views are any guide, a whole lot of you have been following the USW Kangaroo thread. Anyhoo, I've decided to go with a custom-made Wested. I've been really impressed by Shanghai Jack's goat - beautiful - but I've also been looking for some info on the distressed cowhide, as I know a few of y...

Thanks, Michigan Smith. That's a great suggestion, and if I have the time and patience I'll try and crack the US Wings customer service enigma for the public benefit and post any findings here. Others are more than welcome to take up the torch though. But I'm afraid, even with the cotton lining (lik...

I happen to think my time is worth something. And if I can get a custom made, just for me jacket, for about a hundred or so dollars more, that I don't have to fuss with it and waste my time trying to fix it after it arrives, then I think its worth it. But thats just me... Thanks for all your advice...

Finally got the pictures taken. Unfortunately it rained today, so lighting inside my place wasn't that great. But I know you guys want to see something, so I did my best. I tried to think of everything, but if you see something missing or if you want larger pics, let me know and I'll try and make it...

After what seems like an eternity of waiting, it’s finally here, the US Wings Kangaroo Indy. Does it live up to the hype and my expectations? In some ways it does, and in one very important respect it doesn’t. I haven’t yet decided if it’ll be a keeper, I’m going to notes with my significant other b...

SUPRISE UPDATE: I just found a UPS delivery attempt notice that had fallen off the door (delivery required a signature). There will be another attempt made this afternoon (Tuesday) between 1200 and 1800 Eastern (GMT-5). The strangest thing is that I never got a tracking number from either UPS or US ...

Thanks Michaelson for crystalizing the discussion, and managing to squeeze in a sentiment I can imagine cold war marketing jargon capitalizing on: "...a jacket for your children's children...if they survive the nuclear winter." All I want is a well made jacket that will last without emptyi...

What if we compare a Wested and a 'mil-spec' US Wings: both are priced similarly at around $300. Can we think definitively about which is better manufactured (styling/fit issues aside) in the following way: If Peter Botwright already uses cotton-wrapped nylon thread in his Indy jackets (as I believe...

The infamous issue of reproductions, relative toughness, build quality and military specifications has been discussed in greater depth here: http://www.indygear.com/forum/viewtopic ... t=mil+spec

Thanks for the great post Flathead. I take it that authentic reproductions aren't simply 'mil-spec' like US Wings jackets, they mimic the materials and styling of the originals, for which you pay a premium? I wonder if reproductions of old jackets are tougher than current 'mil-spec.' I think Axel (p...

This seems to 'clarify' the buffalo/bison controversy:

http://www.gwinnettcitizen.com/Editoria ... ining.html

You could actually make a few bucks off the "tenderizing" if you advertise it as 'stress management': just lock your customers in a room with baseball bat and the jacket, tell them to beat it until they feel as docile as hindu cows. It would work wonders for both, that is, if your stitchin...

Flathead, that's an amazingly stiff buffalo hide jacket! I don't think my buffalo work boots are even that thick. When I get a new pair of bison leather shoes, I normally work them with my hands for a few hours before even walking in them, since your feet have to do the breaking-in if your hands don...

H.S. Trask makes bison leather footware and sells 'buffalo butter' that claims to preserve, protect and condition all full grain leathers. I use it on some buffalo leather shoes and boots I own. I use it only occasionally, when my shoes need it, so I'm not sure of the long term effects. From what I ...

As an Indy jacket (screen accurate, etc), the alleged redness may not be desirable, but outide this community, people seem to have much higher tolerance for deviance. As a simple jacket, it may truly rule. If kangaroo leather had been available in the 1930s, Indiana Jones might have picked some up d...

Yes, 10% is not much discount, but some things can't wait forever. Aero does make really nice jackets, despite not being indys (the grail here). I use a leather condtioner that seems to have many of the features of Pecard's on some leather shoes and boots I own. H.S. Trask makes bison leather footwa...

Google lead me to the USW Indy jackets before I stumbled headfirst into the gargantuan snakepit of wisdom here at indygear. Since then, I've read and re-read many of your detailed posts that had anything to do with the hubris surrounding kangaroo leather. My curiousity got the better of me and I ord...