American who loves cowhide-any one else Indy enough too?

[Cowboy]

I just ordered my 20 year in the making Wested. I got a non-distressed COW HIDE and not a Lamb (out here we call them sheep) or a Goat skin. I can stand the extra weight and think it will look great. I have not seen the threads (I am sure that they are there too) where any one has bragged about their Cowhide. Who dares to "take the leap of faith" and show their true affections via reply and or Photos. I bet those who have CH even enjoy a good cigar....

Long Ashes to all my compadres..... Cowboy

[Captain D]

I used to have an Indy cowhide. Cool lookin' jacket! I've been tempted to get one of em' pre-distressed Indy cowhides for awhile now .

Speaking of jackets in general, I'm going to get one of them western oilskin jackets in the short length after the holidays.

Congrats on your new jacket n' post pics please if you can!
Kind regards,
Captain D

[Cowboy]

Thanks friend. I have worn an "Outback" brand 1/2 length Butter scotch color for years. Tough as nails and cuts wind like no other. Just a bit of advise. If you do not have horses or ride em, do not get a full length. You will look like a dude and yes we can spot ya! What happened to your CH?

[Mola Ram]

I've worn my New finish Tod cowhide jacket pretty much EVERY day since i got it about 4 years ago. It's pretty worn in at this point, considering how i wear it. The lining is all torn up, and I've probably re- attached the side straps at least 4 times including once with tape.... I will probably need to get something repaired on it soon, as things are tearing a bit. But it almost seems like it hit the point where it became bullet proof, as I haven't really noticed any significant wear in the past few months. I wear It in all kinds of weather, this includes using it like a rain jacket. I just wipe it down with some lexol after it dries off, and its fine......It's very wrinkly and old looking. Honestly, its not a perfect fit, because I got a off the rack size, but when I bought it i was still "growing" so I tried to add in some extra size to grow into, so the jacket itself is a good fit. The only loose spot is in the waist measurement. I'm going to make it last me as long as possible.

[Cowboy]

Trust me (Indy would agree) you won't have the waist problem too long! Thanks for being Indy Enough! Happy Trails

[Michaelson]

I've been wearing my Wings cowhide, and have never had any problems with ANY cowhide Indy's I've owned in the past (including all the Wested cowhides. My personal favorite was his 'new finish cowhide', no longer available ).

Problem has always been the weight, considering where I live. I'm sure in Washington State I'd be a happy camper....but in South Central Tennessee, the weight really lessens the time the jacket can be worn. It's a perfect cool/cold weather hide....but above 55 and it gets uncomfortable, especially when there's humidity.

Regards! Michaelson

[Cowboy]

_, great looking piece of Art! Nothing beats a cowhide for smell and for durability, except for maybe HH. Hmmm, maybe next order.

PS. Sort of off thread, but who loves a good cigar?

[Michaelson]

In the durability department, goat edges out cowhide, and falls just below HH, but that's just nit picking on my part.

(cigar? I do, but I used to chain smoke them and gave them up when my first daughter was born 26 years ago. I still have one on occasion, though.)

Regards! Michaelson

[Cowboy]

With all due respect Michaelson my good friend, PROVE IT!!! In the real world, I bet ten to one the cow last longer and NO, you can not include the distressed induced models in the discussion! Respectfuly....Cowboy

[Cowboy]

Truer words have never been spoken...I am sure Indy would have liked Johny Walker (Raven Scene) and Wild Turkey ...two of my personal friends.

[Michaelson]

I don't have to. I'm quoting directly from two different leather companies, both jacket makers and tanneries, that have existed right here in Tullahoma, TN. That's how they rate the leathers to use for military and law enforcement jackets, and the other company is Wilson Sporting goods. They make baseballs and softballs here, and tan their own hides locally as well. This is the industry standard. Cowhide falls 3rd in the durability list on non-exotic leathers used here in the U.S.

That's also why the U.S. Navy uses goatskin instead of cowhide for their flight jackets. When horsehide supplies ran low, the next best was goatskin for it's durability, flexibility, and water resistance. Cowhide came in a distant third in the military tests. Goatskin is STILL the standard.

Regards! Michaelson

[Cowboy]

Trigger finger I guess! You are a Gentlemen and a Scholar... and there a re D$%N few of your sort left....Long Ashes

[Michaelson]

Thank you, sir. I tip my fedora to you as well!

It has been a pleasure to engage in discussion with you! Keep up the good work!

HIGH regards! Michaelson

[Snakewhip_Sable]

I find this durability ranking shocking. That soft, soft goatskin is actually more durable thatn cow and horse hide?! Just in general wear? Would it stand up to serious action? Not just the walkin' around and the weather, but say, occasionally-leaving-a-moving-vehicle sort of action? I would've assumed that goat would tear like an overstuffed garbage bag full of broken glass.

[Michaelson]

Since the military uses it exclusively for their flight and battle jackets, and have since WW2, would that fulfill the requirement of 'regular use'?

Regard! Michaelson

[Snakewhip_Sable]

Maybe irregular use.

[Captain D]

Awesome info there _ & Michaelson, thanks for sharing!

Kind regards,
Captain D

[Michaelson]

Maybe irregular use.

Yeah...there's that too....

Regards! Michaelson

[Ripper]

I took a pretty serious spill last summer on an ATV. Very Indy-like - except for the fact that I look like a moron in the home video my wife now loves to show anybody who will watch...

Ohhhhhh, tell you wife about youtube....Id love to see it.

[Michaelson]

Come now, _...it's out jobs as parents to embarass our kids as they grow up.

Regards! Michaelson

[Ripper]

Come now, _...it's out jobs as parents to embarass our kids as they grow up.

Regards! Michaelson

The main reason I have kids....well that and someone to support me when they hit it big......

[St. Dumas]

Hey, _. I think elsewhere you said you treated that Crusade jacket with Pecard's. In your opinion how water resistant would the pre-distressed hide have been without it? Did you prefer the look of the jacket better with or without Pecard's?

SD

[Indiana Johnson]

OK, I need to get a few answers here, because throughout this discussion there seems to be disagreement about whether goat or horsehide is more durable.
Firstly, a reference was made to jackets from the 1930's still being in pristine conditions, but HH gets brittle after 30 or so years. I thought the jackets from the 30's WERE made of HH, and goat was not used until the 40's. Am I wrong there?
Secondly, I own a goatskin G-1 from San Diego Leather Jacket Factory (www.leather.com). It's obviously less than top quality leather, but I've had it through four winters and going into the fifth. I wear it in the rain and snow, camping and hunting, and I have never treated it with any type of leather lotions or waterproofing. It's wrinkled and a bit brittle, but the color has held amazingly well. Plus I think it came from the factory a bit wrinkled and brittle to begin with, I don't think I've made it worse For this reason, I was planning to order my first Wested this spring, and was going to order Goat. With the recent announcement that goat is not available, I was considering HH instead. Would I be better off waiting for goat to be available, or would I be well served by HH, considering this will be a rough use jacket?
Any thoughts on the matter would be appreciated.

[Indiana Johnson]

I should also point out I need a jacket for cooler weather, the low temps right now in Salt Lake City are around 8-12 F, and It always gets below zero in January. Would Goat or HH be better for Cold weather?

[Michaelson]

HH tends to get pretty stiff when it gets cold. Goat stays more flexible. Cowhide stiffens, but not quite as badly as HH....at least that's been my experience with the 3 hides in cold weather.

Regards! Michaelson

[spiridon]

_, great looking piece of Art! Nothing beats a cowhide for smell and for durability, except for maybe HH. Hmmm, maybe next order.

Oh Great!.....just when I was about to decide for sure on ordering a Wested HH, and now I've got something else to think about!!

PS. Sort of off thread, but who loves a good cigar?

I Do!! .....what's your favorite cigar(s) Cowboy?

[Dr._J]

Michaelson, which hide do you recommend for SouthEast weather? I'm moving to Charleston in two months.

Regards,

Dr. J

[Michaelson]

Charleston, SC? Goatskin for winter big enough to layer under, lambskin and cloth for warmer weather.

Welcome to the South!

Regards! Michaelson

[Kt Templar]

Oh Great!.....just when I was about to decide for sure on ordering a Wested HH, and now I've got something else to think about!!

Whilst you're thinking here's some HH on top of some lamb.

[Mola Ram]

I've been wearing my Wings cowhide, and have never had any problems with ANY cowhide Indy's I've owned in the past (including all the Wested cowhides. My personal favorite was his 'new finish cowhide', no longer available ).

I own a legacy jacket?

[Cowboy]

_, great looking piece of Art! Nothing beats a cowhide for smell and for durability, except for maybe HH. Hmmm, maybe next order.

Oh Great!.....just when I was about to decide for sure on ordering a Wested HH, and now I've got something else to think about!!

PS. Sort of off thread, but who loves a good cigar?

I Do!! .....what's your favorite cigar(s) Cowboy?

Padron Black,La Gloria Cubana R series #6. Any good Maduro. And Yours?

[randystokes]

Here in Phoenix, it's lambskin all year long. Well, except for May through September, where temps are well over 100 degrees. (The good news for me is that we also have a cabin in the mountains at 7000 feet, so I can actually wear lambskin, at least in the evenings, all summer long.)

Randy

[Michaelson]

I've been wearing my Wings cowhide, and have never had any problems with ANY cowhide Indy's I've owned in the past (including all the Wested cowhides. My personal favorite was his 'new finish cowhide', no longer available ).

I own a legacy jacket?

If it's a new finish, yep! (grins)

Regards! Michaelson

[spiridon]

Padron Black,La Gloria Cubana R series #6. Any good Maduro. And Yours?

I like the Padrons & LGC R Series as well. I also enjoy El Rico habana, Hoya de Nicaragua Antano, VSG, La Luna, Torano, Camacho....and some others.

Does the HH have that great "heavy" leather smell like the cowhide does? ....and one other thing, I didn't notice HH as an option on the Wested site......is this a "special request" that you need to contact Wested about?

....and Randy, is your cabin up around Flagstaff area? I used to live in Flagstaff.....my favorite place in the entire USA!!! Gorgeous area.

[randystokes]

....and Randy, is your cabin up around Flagstaff area? I used to live in Flagstaff.....my favorite place in the entire USA!!! Gorgeous area.

No, our cabin is up in the mountains above Prescott, in what once was a mining town called Walker. However, my daughter is a sophomore at NAU, and my wife's parents have a second home in Flagstaff, so we spend a lot of weekends up in Flag visiting. It's just a two hour drive up, and we can stay at my in-laws' place for free, so it's a great setup. My son is four years younger than my daughter, and is talking about going to NAU as well, so we may have an excuse for another six years or so to keep going up.

Randy

[orb]

I just ordered my 20 year in the making Wested. I got a non-distressed COW HIDE and not a Lamb (out here we call them sheep) or a Goat skin. I can stand the extra weight and think it will look great. I have not seen the threads (I am sure that they are there too) where any one has bragged about their Cowhide. Who dares to "take the leap of faith" and show their true affections via reply and or Photos. I bet those who have CH even enjoy a good cigar....

Long Ashes to all my compadres..... Cowboy

Great to hear Cowboy. I also consider a standard db cowhide for my next Wested after two horsehide jackets. But I still don't know if I should get a third indy jacket or a TND Bond Jacket Drop in some pictures next year? when you got yours.
I have ordered another indy jacket on 4th november and at the moment I don't think that I will get the jacket before christmas

Regards

orb

[Captain D]

Dr. J - I'm envious that you're moving to Charleston, S.C. . That is one beautiful city! I love the ol' cobblestone streets near the Battery and old section of Charleston...I can't wait to go back!

Cowboy - Yea, I'm kinda a cigar guy, lol. I'm in Civil War reenacting and sometimes I light one up round' the campfire after a hard day's march and fighting!

_ - I always enjoy looking at your old LC Cowhide jacket! I'm glad you're all good after your fall...next time get a stunt man to do those type of stunts, lol,

Kind regards,
Captain D

[Cowboy]

I just ordered my 20 year in the making Wested. I got a non-distressed COW HIDE and not a Lamb (out here we call them sheep) or a Goat skin. I can stand the extra weight and think it will look great. I have not seen the threads (I am sure that they are there too) where any one has bragged about their Cowhide. Who dares to "take the leap of faith" and show their true affections via reply and or Photos. I bet those who have CH even enjoy a good cigar....

Long Ashes to all my compadres..... Cowboy

Great to hear Cowboy. I also consider a standard db cowhide for my next Wested after two horsehide jackets. But I still don't know if I should get a third indy jacket or a TND Bond Jacket Drop in some pictures next year? when you got yours.
I have ordered another indy jacket on 4th november and at the moment I don't think that I will get the jacket before christmas

Regards

orb

I ordered mine on the 4th too, long before I found this site. Gemma told me 28 days back then, and 10 days almost 2 weeks agao. I hope they are on time. And people say CONTRACTORS are always behind schedule!

[orb]

Cowboy Gemma told me exactly the same
So now we just can hope to have a wonderful christmas time this year

Regards

orb

[Cowboy]

It has been 31 days since the order notice and 35 days from when I ordered it on line. Maybe they have to get CH from the good ol W USA! (Who knows, maybe it was even one of our stock! How ironic would that be?? :!: :!: :!:

[K on the run]

In your opinion how water resistant would the pre-distressed hide have been without it? Did you prefer the look of the jacket better with or without Pecard's?

Not very resistant without Pecard.
I like the look the hide gets with the Pecard treatment,
each time I apply it the jacket gets better looking.
Here's an older pic with Pecard.


-K

[Indiana G]

that looks awesome k....very well aged!

[GCR]

K, that jacket is spectacular!

That settles it, my next jacket is gonna be one of them pre-distressed hides, LC style.

-GCR

[randystokes]

Yes, K, excellent looking jacket. I have one older Wested that a prior owner distressed, perhaps to excess. When I got it, I immediately hit it with the Pecard's brown weatherproof dressing, and that not only lessened the harsh effects of the prior distressing, but gave it a nice, darker color (not too dark, but similar to yours). Over the months since then, perhaps as the dressing has soaked in more, the jacket has lightened up a bit and looks as if it could use another dressing treatment. But it lends to a great looking jacket!

Randy

[K on the run]

that looks awesome k....very well aged!

Thanks, I gave it a treatment with a dish wash sponge when it was new and Pecard'ed it after. It ended up looking like a old, well worn, loved jacket.

[Forrest_Bell]

FINALLY , a well deserved Cowhide thread!

Mines a pre-distressed cow and just as K on the run said the jacket REALLY needed a coating of Pecards as soon as i got it, i think it stayed un pecarded for about a week after i got it, and it just got better after that with every new coating.

Heres two pics of mine, be aware that these were taken with the flash on so this color is not really accurate, its quite a bit darker in natural light.



And heres one of just the sleeve, LOOK AT THOSE WRINKLES :!:




This jackets about a year old, I have worn it almost every single day since i got it.

It does get pretty stiff in cold weather, i left it in the trunk of my car over night on accident and when i got it out the next morning it was molded into a little ball of Wested!

[Indiana G]

i didn't care much for the PD cow before i saw that one forrest. i always though the hide was not "rich" enough for my taste but i like the way the pecards brings that look out in yours. nice work.

[spiridon]

So many jacket choices........so little money.



Decisions, decisions..........

[mark seven]

Wow FB,that is a beautiful jacket! ,can I ask,did you use the brown tint Pecards or the normal stuff?

[Cowboy]

Boys, I ordered mine just plain natural CH-with no distressing. I look forward to letting it do so naturaly. I will send you photos once this has occured. To me, aging and distressing it by un-natural means is like having only a cast webley that does not fire.....THE REAL THING is so much more enjoyable..... To live it is far greater than to pretend....Long Ashes

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