Club Obi Wan

Illinois James

The shortened barrel is a mod as are the sights. The specs were the same on S&W’s and Colts per contract. Yeah, I understand that they were modifications and the guns weren't issued that way originally. I just wonder if those modifications ever showed up historically, or if it's just an Indy th...

Illinois James

The shortened barrel is a mod as are the sights. The specs were the same on S&W’s and Colts per contract.

Illinois James

The original Diplomat that was released in, maybe 2015 was a near Alden clone-other than the number of eyelets I believe. Wish I’d tried a pair before they went with the current design.

Illinois James

Good article!

Kokopelli, you make it to Nashville very often? Lol!

I’m near Chicago-I see a shop in Peoria on that list.

I’ve read good things about Pekin Shoe Repair (Illinois) but nothing first hand.

Also, there are so many sole options available that you won’t find with Alden service.

Illinois James

I’d recommend looking into other cobblers to resole your current pair. If you really want new ones I’d recommend hunting eBay for a bit to find one in your size for about half the price of a new one. Definitely this. With your larger size, if your uppers are still good, I think it would be worth it...

Illinois James

Maybe war surplus?

Unrelated-the little guy on the left is sporting some Alden ‘close enoughs’!

Illinois James

Very cool that you can just ‘throw together’ this gear and take shots like this-but it’s a testament to the level of detail and work you put into every piece. It looks like a natural progression of the costume even with little variations of the gear (which only would be noticed here lol). I’ve never...

Illinois James

Of course there is always the Wested cotton Indy jacket. They currently sell it in dark brown and black. The Wested cotton jackets are nice. I have an older one with cotton lined sleeves, which is fine over a short sleeve shirt. Also have the newer one with satin sleeves. They’re fine but in cooler...

Illinois James

R The M-421A does make me long for the old khaki cotton Indy US Wings produced way back. I’d like a cotton Indy in khaki and olive drab with a thin liner! I have a Wings cotton in size medium hanging in my closet. Regards! Michaelson I was pretty sure you did. I’ll admit I was fishing for that! :ro...

Illinois James

Right. Basically an A2 with no knits to allow for the bag underneath, and the gun belt/whip.

The M-421A does make me long for the old khaki cotton Indy US Wings produced way back. I’d like a cotton Indy in khaki and olive drab with a thin liner!

The M-421A is a cool jacket.

Illinois James

Nailed it!

Illinois James

It is a fantastic cowhide.

Illinois James

Temple_runner, how deep is your center dent? I have a rabbit AB that’s pretty tall for my liking. I put a really deep center dent in there so that it barely touches the top of my head when I have the sweat sitting where I normally wear my hats. This may be obvious to you already, but i thought I’d m...

Illinois James

I believe they’ll do either lining in the sleeves. I like satin. Cotton drags and makes the jacket seem too tight. Just me.

Illinois James

Yeah, seems it would've made sense to have had the US made Legends in the Signature Series all along, like the A-2's and the others. Unless maybe they were but I didn't notice! I always associated 'Signature Series' with the Indy pattern, but there are other jackets in the line. So, no more Legends ...

Illinois James

The camel is a beautiful color. As soon as I saw the first camel Indy hat he made, I ordered one. I think that was before he gave it a name!

I already have a moss Penman. I think it's the most versatile hat I own.

Illinois James

The carbon grey Fed is a great color and certainly a bargain right now. Very nice hat there, Clipper. Yes, the crown is likely a better LC or CS shape but it pulls off the clipper nicely. And with a larger head size, I'd like a tad more on the brim, all around. Alex1152, did you go with steel or cha...

Illinois James

A charcoal rabbit Adventurebilt with the dark brown Indy ribbon is one of the most versatile hats I own. Goes with nearly everything. A moss Penman is a close second. I'm very interested to see what Jack has to say about the felt color he's selected for the HJ reboot clipper hat. Unless he' already ...

Illinois James

The carbon gray Fed is a nice color. A little too dark for the Clipper probably but nice. I still don't know why they don't offer it in the better felt but I'm sure they have their reasons. The moonstone does seem too light for a proper clipper color, too. Gray is one of those colors. When you look ...

Illinois James

Crazyc,

Ridgerunner is correct.

The Legacy will be worth it. And you will be happy with the one you have! Lol!

Illinois James

A 44 should measure somewhere around 24" pit to pit. That's pretty common for most of our jacket makers, for a normal fit. It does vary a little.

G&B's got very generous at the end there, though. Some Wested Raiders might go 25".

A 21" pit measurement is more like a 38 I'd say.

Illinois James

I have one of the S&J earlier merinos and it's fantastic. But their LC looks amazing. I'm considering one in a more durable hide.

Illinois James

I'm a little embarrassed to say 27 that I can think of without them being nearby, including one on order, which may never come through. Over a third are Westeds. Probably soon to be 28. Anyway, way too many for one man, obviously. Many are not brown. I grew really tired of all brown jackets. There a...

Illinois James

Yeah, last I checked Todd's wasn't offering them anymore. I can't remember what I paid for mine. It's well put-together, though.

One Linder seller did offer a little discount on the Hunter with some slightly defective bone handles.

Illinois James

I don't think the 'Raiders' knife is made in Solingen any longer, and I believe it probably has not been for some time. Mine did not indicate it was made in Germany. I purchased it about 8 years ago. Linder does still have a 'made in Solingen' line of knives, though. Unfortunately, its a similar sit...

Illinois James

A rabbit/hare hat can be made to be very taper/shrink resistant. John and Steve have their way of doing this, (I suppose most hatters have their methods) and after a reblock or two, generally they basically don't taper anymore. But it also depends on the batch of felt, I think, too, meaning you migh...

Illinois James

I really think the main difference between vintage and modern hats is in the finishing methods. Many good and bad felters are gone. And many bad hats were made in the past. I like vintage hats. They're beautiful but I don't own any. I'm just not interested in wearing and possibly wrecking one, with ...

Illinois James

Tex, weathered brown in what hide, lamb?

Good to see you!

Illinois James

You got a bargain there on a what looks like a good US made pair of boots, close enough or not!

I can't make out the brand and I'm not familiar with the logo, but they look like a Goodyear welt.

Congrats!

Illinois James

Sounds like you're mainly sticking with the Federation 4, but the most versatile color I own, outside of wearing with a suit, is dark moss with a slightly lighter green ribbon, with very little contrast. It's perfect for any leather jacket combo, really. After that, probably a carbon gray rabbit sea...

Illinois James

I always assumed that's what Wested meant by the hidden gusset, that is was incorporated into the panel shapes at the underarm joint to have the effect of the extra material of the visible 'football' shaped gusset.

And, Hi Dan!

Illinois James

I'm glad to hear about the members here who are getting dialed-in on sizing. It really isn't easy through the mail if you don't know how the brand runs in size. The Brannock really does get most people close. I was at a Cabela's about 6 months ago and noticed a frustrated mom trying to size up her s...

Illinois James

I like the Powerstep 3/4 insert. It's a stiff orthotic-type. And you keep all the room in the toe-box. Lots of support and they last forever.

Illinois James

DG, try lining the pinch up with your nose looking in the mirror and see if you get the 'swoop' in the brim to your liking before you change it. If you have a roundish oval head, you may need all of that twist already in the hat to get the effect of the turn. If your head is very round, and not oval...

Illinois James

I've seen evidence of too much pressure being applied to the eyelets and hooks during the crimping process on these boots with the result being either the eyelet or the crimping tools cutting the leather, as well as the leather lining. But I've only seen this on the factory seconds. Personally, I ca...

Illinois James

That's a beautiful hat, indeed. I'm struck by the difference in color between John's photos and yours, although they were obviously taken in different lighting conditions. I didn't realize that silverbelly could look so different outdoors vs. a well lit indoor shot. Gorgeous hat in any lighting, obv...

Illinois James

Whip, thank goodness I invested in an awesome keyboard protector!!!

Hilarious!!!

I'd really like to see some of these boots from some of our members here from after a year of wear.

Illinois James

McQ7 is exactly right about where the ball of the foot rests. Thats one of the most important things regarding fit. Yes, shoe fit is a highly subjective thing. But I can't help but think that the guys who size down a whole size from tennis shoes or whatever for the 405 must want tennis shoes they ne...

Illinois James

Looks like the quality is all there on that pair.

Congrats!

Now go wear them out!!

Illinois James

Also, as far as treating, I use a silicone based paste on the welts and exposed parts of the leather soles. I use Redwing boot oil on the 405's when they get dry or after mild cleaning. I rarely put anything on the chromexels at all. They always seem to clean up so well with water and a brush. But l...

Illinois James

I haven't purchased any Aldens from the standard offerings for a few years now, but the special run boots I've received have all been top-notch. Which might be part of the problem. It's possible there are so many dealer exclusive special runs that may be backing up standard production shoes, it may ...

Illinois James

It's a roomier shoe. What basically makes it orthopedic is its bigger volume, to allow for orthotics and various inserts. That's basically it. The heel is orthopedic because of the shape, which adds stability to a foot that may be elevated by orthotics. Although I have many variants of the Trubalanc...

Illinois James

You needed some standard 405's anyway! If you wore an 11.5 D in all other shoes, the 11E might be ok, if you're on board with the 'size down' for the Trubalance last. But, if that's the case, you'd really be looking at an 11 D. If LSH is offering a substantial discount at all, then, like Michaelson ...

Illinois James

There isn't much difference in shoe length from one size to another. The size is mostly determined by width and overall volume, determined by the last, or 'buck'. The length has little to do with size, that is, until your toes touch the inside end! If they're too small, they likely will be too small...

Illinois James

I guess that depends whether or not you're one of the guys that likes to 'size down' for the 405 (or, really, the Trubalance last). I buy the size I measure on a Brannock, 12D. I can wear 11.5 E as well. Some guys are in the camp that since the Trubalance last runs a half-size large, they go down to...

Illinois James

Ridgerunner is right. They are worth it!

I always break in Redwings with the thickest sock I can wear in the boot.

Iron Rangers are awesome looking boots, but many guys find them ill fitting, often in the Achilles area.

Another cool boot I can't justify buying!

Illinois James

Yeah, they're basically the same as what's on your Red Wings. But they aren't standard offerings from the factory. I guess I wasn't really clear on that part. I've found these soles on special runs from Leather Sole Hawaii, Shoemart, Leffot, and Alden of Carmel, and I know there are more. The comman...

Illinois James

The Alden commando sole is a very shallow lug, probably no more than 1/8" deep. Not at all like the deep lug Vibram lug sole on the 404. In fact, the Alden lugs may even be more shallow than the 9029/30. They're no deeper, though. They're stitched right to the leather sole, just like the 9029/3...

Illinois James

I hear ya. But I will say that the 404 leather, and the tobacco chamois leather (Shoemart had them, dunno if they still do) are probably the best variant of the 405 as far as water and weather. They're 'oily' leathers and clean up very well. If you can find a pair of Ultimate Indys from Leather Soul...

Illinois James

I lucked upon two pair of the Redwings (9029 and 9030) a couple years ago from an online discount outlet for $270 a pair. They didn't suit me and at the time I was waiting for some Ultimate Indy's from LSH and some AF64's from Alden of Carmel which were already paid for. Both of those Indy boots had...

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