I caught a snag inthe left shoulder of my lambsfin Wested from a barbed wire fence, (don't ask). It's not a large hole, it's about the size of a dime. Anyway here are my options:
1. sew it
2. get a swatch from Peter and patch it
3. make it bigger so I can have a bullet wound like the truck scene in Raiders
4. scrap it and get another Wested with a thicker hide
5. do nothing and chalk it up to bad karma
I'd take the thing out back, put a 9mm round through the shoulder for the FULL "ouch" effect, and take it as my Halloween jacket....then you can go swimming in it a time or two, drag it around your yard in the dirt a couple of times, and REALLY have an Indy looking jacket.
Heck, if worded right, I'd bet that thing would sell on eBay pretty well....
THEN, after you've done all that, you can call Wested and get yourself a new one!!!
I was beginning to get wishy-washy with trying to decide between lamb and goat last night as I was ordering my authentic-colored Wested.
I really wanted the new, thicker authentic-colored lambskin but, it's lamb. I just know that something, like what happened to Saw, is just waiting in the future for me so I'd rather have the authentic-colored goatskin and, well, that's what I ordered. We periodically hear these things happening to lambskin owners but the goat is just exponentially stronger that I have to go that route.
If you must know, I was being chased by a rather un-savory looking rottweiler. He had gotten into the lot at my shop and I was in the process of running him out when he decided that he didn't want to be chased anymore. So, in a sense, the hunter became the hunted. It's a good thing those rotts don't jump to well, 'cause I cleared that eight foot fence in a hurry, (aside from the left shoulder of my wested) and got caught in the barbed wire at the top. If only I had my whip! He eventually wandered out of the lot without much ado. He was a BIG boy!
As far as the jacket, I think I'll keep it as a true adventurer jacket, since it already has been wounded, and order maybe a goatskin later in the year.
Now I wouldn't want to do this, because it would ruin any clothes and you'd have to leave it behind, but I thought I'd share how you can scale a barbed wire fence quickly. As you are running, take your jacket or shirt off and toss it up over the barbed wire and climb over that. I would only do that if absolutely necessary because your clothing is now lost, but if being chased by an evil pooch, that is what you should do.
Magnum wrote:Now I wouldn't want to do this, because it would ruin any clothes and you'd have to leave it behind, but I thought I'd share how you can scale a barbed wire fence quickly. As you are running, take your jacket or shirt off and toss it up over the barbed wire and climb over that. I would only do that if absolutely necessary because your clothing is now lost, but if being chased by an evil pooch, that is what you should do.
Magnum,
Funny you should mention that because when my Dad was a cop in Cleveland he was chasing two guys on foot who had just tried to rob a store. The first guy cut himself up trying to get over the fence and they caught him but his buddy did what you suggested with his jacket and got away. The funny thing was, guess what he left in his jacket pocket. That's right his wallet complete with his driver's license.
Dad told me that story years ago and I laughed my butt off. Haven't thought of that story in 8 years, not since Dad's funeral.
LOL! Great story. Criminals think they are so smart, but they are really just idiots. Thanks for sharing that. My fedora is off to your father and all others in law enforcement. They are the best of the best.
I would take it to your local tailor shop....sometimes they have material there that can match the material ripped. Its usually not expensive and it still looks good because they perhaps can do a very good job with it. Best wishes and luck!
Hey Saw,
I got two holes in my Wested lamb. One was quite large on my right sleeve. I had it sewn at a local repair shop and it is just o.k. . It looks like it has a large scar with stitches though.
On my second rip, under the arm, which was a bit smaller, what I did was this.
1. I went to a local leather shop and got a small swatch of leather and some good leather adhesive.
2. cut the leather swatch into the size of a good patch that will actually go inside the hole.
3. Put glue on both surfaces. The inside rough side of the tear. On the tear flap and surrounding area, and on the rough side of the swatch that you will use as the patch.
Let them dry for the recommended amount of time.
4. Carefully, put the patch swatch into the hole. (you may want to do this on a flat surface where you can apply some pressure.) Press it down around the areas surrounding the flap and press them together. Then carefully close the flap making sure at meets on all sides and press together.
You made need to use a little leather dye to touch up spots. I did because my patch didn't meet on one side and you could see just a small part of the patch underneath.
I like the results better than the sewing. It just looks a lot better.
PS
When I called Peter at Wested and inquired abut how they would fix the hole, he told me that they would also use the second (patch) method. I think he said that they would use canvas though. This has been about fur years ago. My memory is fading.
I truly hope this helps. I know the sinking feeling you must have had.
Some great info on fixin' tears in leather. The method of patching from the inside is the best as I have used it along with the stitching method over the years. The stitching is the worse way to go if you want the repair to be practically unnoticable. You can use almost anything for the patch, keeping in mind that on a thin leather jacket, a thick patch might show up more than a thinner one. The last jacket that I patched was my goatskin A-2. I just took some stitches out of the lining, and pulled the leather through the opening, turning the jacket inside out. It is an easy thing to glue the patch in place in this way. regards, Fedora
I've decided to try and patch it. I just love this jacket too much to just toss it aside and get another one. Besides, my wife says it adds character to the jacket.
Anyway, I'll give it a go and let you know how it turns out.
saw, it does add character, and im sure that if indy' had been a real character, he wouldnt just throw a jacket away(or sell it or get rid of it or anything) every time he gets shot, or sliced at with machetes or anything, right? but cahracter is cool. dont sell, because as soon as you pacage it up and get ready to mail it, youll wish you hadnt.
Hey guy dont fret I have ripped my jacket plenty of times & sowed it up.makes it more rustick I think Im still trying to destroy the jacket sure it might get a tear in it but the thing just wont DIE Iv even spilt MEK on it got it covered in white paint wore out a brillow pad on cleaning that one up.Sure my jacket might look like you know what that got jedisoned out of a dog but hey its got style my style.Ok ok Enough said gotta go now & as I allways used to say wear in good health,Copper.
Iv even spilt MEK on it got it covered in white paint 
wore out a brillow pad on cleaning that one up.Sure my jacket might look like you know what that got jedisoned out of a dog but hey its got style my style.Ok ok Enough said gotta go now & as I allways used to say wear in good health,Copper.