Help Designing a Great TOD Jacket

swright007 · Post by **swright007** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 8:48 pm

I would love to hear opinions and suggestions on what to ask for in a Wested TOD jacket. The options are mindboggling. What leather looks best? (I am thinking about authentic lambskin)... but is "Authentic" the actual authentic color or do I want a slightly different color ? Please post hints, tips, and suggestions. Also, if anyone knows how to contact Peter at Wested without having to make an international phonecall, please advise as I would love to make a purchase in the very near future. I trust your experience.

Scott Wright

CM · Post by CM » Wed Mar 14, 2007 10:40 pm

Nice idea, Scott,

There are heaps of links dealing with this jacket, plus the gear info at the start. I don't think there is all that much to add. Obviously the jacket has smaller pockets... The Wested TOD jacket doesn't look a thing like the movie version - nor does the LC version. You are definitly going to have to have a custom job made. One of the memebrs had one made recently with the right pockets - find that link and you'll be very close.

Colour? I ran a 35 mm print of the film a few years back and noticed that the colour of the jacket tends to a grey/brown - it almost looks like a faded black.

St. Dumas · Post by **St. Dumas** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 12:12 am

Wested's Last Crusade jacket looks quite a bit like the film jacket if it's not the 80s fit and you have the larger collar and give it a roll.

SD

CM · Post by CM » Thu Mar 15, 2007 12:33 am

Actually the LC Wested looks very little like the movie version. Those huge pockets and little flaps on the Wested are so different it may as well be in yellow leather.

Having said that, as a Raider's inspired jacket that is well made and durable it's just fine. I own one.

Indiana G · Post by **Indiana G** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 12:47 am

hey swright007,

my last wested was a TOD custom job. the only thing that i can see different on my jacket and the screen jacket is that i have d-rings instead of pronged buckles (very difficult to come by) and that the action pleats are not stitched up on mine.....and if you count the .5" difference in the width of the cargo pockets.

on the indygear site, the specs were researched by a gent named yurik and are still there if you go to the gear/leather jacket section.

its my favourate jacket so far and wested did an excellent job. here is the thread:

viewtopic.php?t=20106

i hope this helps.

cheers

CM · Post by CM » Thu Mar 15, 2007 1:05 am

Hey Mr G,

Your TOD jacket is fabulous. The pockets are fantastic!! I admired it when you first posted the thing. Would Peter still have your specs on file? Strangley enough those pockets are also similar to the Last Crusade pockets at the Smithsonian - the LC ones are a little wider, but the flap is very similar. Why can't that be the standard Wested TOD jacket?

Indiana G · Post by **Indiana G** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 1:23 am

thanks CM! i'm glad some folks can appreciate it....everyone around here tell me..."isn't that the same jacket? {referring to my previous goatskin raiders jacket}"

all the specs are listed on the previous thread that i posted....all you need to do is measure yourself up and apply the specs to it.

one small thing is that this custom work will make the jacket non-returnable and will also be charged at a premium

i do not know why this is not the standard for a TOD jacket.....maybe its because the screen version was indeed a non-wested and the ones that wested offers today are the ones that found themselves in the back of someone's van during production

regardless....the stories of the TOD jacket is almost as muddled as the ones for the raiders jacket.......which is my next project.....mooohoo ha ha ha ha ha {evil laugh}

cheers

Doug C · Post by **Doug C** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 11:59 pm

_, what do you mean by that about US Wings, I didn't think they sold a TOD specific jacket? Are you saying that their jacket is less like a RoTLA and more like a TOD, or do they produce one?

Doug C

Chewbacca Jones · Post by **Chewbacca Jones** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 12:38 am

Aside from the length, is there any difference between the Wested Raiders and TOD jackets? I've never been clear on that.
Chewie

Castor Dioscuri · Post by **Castor Dioscuri** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 2:34 am

St. Dumas wrote:Wested's Last Crusade jacket looks quite a bit like the film jacket if it's not the 80s fit and you have the larger collar and give it a roll.

SD

CM wrote:Actually the LC Wested looks very little like the movie version. Those huge pockets and little flaps on the Wested are so different it may as well be in yellow leather.

Having said that, as a Raider's inspired jacket that is well made and durable it's just fine. I own one.

Since I've always heard that Wested's 'standard' LC jacket is the most screen accurate, I'm just wondering if CM is indeed correct?

I just ordered a LC jacket for that very reason (being that people say it is very close), and hope someone can calm my fears!

So does anyone know if it is or isn't a good likeness?

orb · Post by **orb** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 7:36 am

Uhm I don't think that Wested's LC Jackets are the most SA accurate now. Wested makes a great Raiders Jacket if you request the right stuff.
The pockets of the LC jacket are totally wrong. If you order a LC jacket you mostly get oversized pockets! So I'm really staying miles away from a LC jacket in the next time. Maybe sometimes Peter will offer a more SA accurate one or someone knows the exact pocket size and placment.

I've found an interesting thread for you:
viewtopic.php?t=6763&highlight=twill

This is IMO the most screen accurate LC jacket I have ever seen!
The pockets are the real deal! Also the flaps. Just the collar is a bit too small if you compare it to the LC movie. Anybody knows these jacket specs?

Castor Dioscuri my first Wested was also a LC jacket in lambskin.
The first time I have ordered the sleeves a bit too short. So I gave it to my father. However all the westeds are great jackets. So if you not care about Screen Accuracy then forget this post

Much regards

orb

agent5 · Post by **agent5** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:41 am

if anyone knows how to contact Peter at Wested without having to make an international phonecall, please advise

I tired telepathy once, but I wasn't sure Peter had gotten my full order so I just went ahead and did what everyone else did, wake up early and make the phone call. It's just best to speak with him in person.

TOD jacket: Make sure you have smaller pockets, a much larger yoke than on the Raiders or LC and have the side vent stitched up about 2-3 inches from the bottom of the jacket. Someone else already mentioned the strap hardware, right?

Bingo!

CM · Post by CM » Mon Mar 19, 2007 6:25 am

You're right there, Orb.

I forgot about Stefan Hills custom Wested LC. It looks fantastic. Only improvement would be piped pockets. But I'd surrender them just to have a more accurate sized LC pocket. It'd be great If Peter could simply supply some of these custom jobs as standard. They're so much more screen accurate.

Has anyone out there gone custom for each of the three jackets?

Cheers - CM

orb · Post by **orb** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 7:22 am

My Raiders lambtouch was a custom order and it's really much SA. I also have placed a new order for a custom auth. lambskin TOD jacket. Will look like Indiana G's TOD jacket. Hopefully *g*

Much regards

orb

Doug C · Post by **Doug C** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 10:06 am

Aw, gotcha _, thanks for clearing that up for me.

Doug C

Doug C · Post by **Doug C** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 10:11 am

Orb wrote:

I also have placed a new order for a custom auth. lambskin TOD jacket. Will look like Indiana G's TOD jacket. Hopefully *g*

Hey orb, did you just tell Peter to make your new jacket like Indiana G's TOD, I mean did you reference him OR did you make up your own list of specs and give them to Peter? I think Indiana G's ToD look awesome too and those pockets are just right IMO.

Can someone post a picture of the TOD jacket showing where the side vents are stitched up a couple of extra inches. Agent 5 mentioned it's a TOD detail but I've never noticed it before and am confused by what it really means.

Doug C

agent5 · Post by **agent5** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 10:39 am

This is what it known as the side vent, the split between the front and back panels. On the Raiders and LC it's more open and ususally stitched at about the height of the side straps, but the TOD jacket has them sewn up almost to the bottom.

The pic below shows one of my Raiders Westeds and how the side vent differs.

Doug C · Post by **Doug C** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 11:40 am

Oh, Ok I never realized that..I have to say that I prefer the more opened vents of the ROTLA jacket, and like everything else about the TOD.

Doug C

Rundquist · Post by **Rundquist** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 2:16 pm

Dig the prongs on the buckles of that TOD jacket. Lee Keppler told me that the TOD jacket that he examined had two prongs on the buckles that dug straight into the leather. 8-[ If I were getting a TOD jacket, I think I'd get it without this feature (not that anyone offers pronged buckles). Cheers

Indiana G · Post by **Indiana G** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 2:30 pm

i think the world's supply of those pronged buckles are sitting next to the ark at this very moment.

the ones i've found were either too big or not the right color or not the right shape......

i don't mind having d-rings. i guess if i absolutely, positively needed to have it, i could get a metalsmith to do a couple up for me.

orb · Post by **orb** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 4:59 pm

Doug C wrote:Orb wrote:
I also have placed a new order for a custom auth. lambskin TOD jacket. Will look like Indiana G's TOD jacket. Hopefully *g*
Hey orb, did you just tell Peter to make your new jacket like Indiana G's TOD, I mean did you reference him OR did you make up your own list of specs and give them to Peter? I think Indiana G's ToD look awesome too and those pockets are just right IMO.

Doug C

I did make up an own list of specs for the Temple Jacket. But I haven't got any reply from Wested yet. I hope I will get an email soon and then I send them the payment. I want the pockets to be 6" tall x 5 1/2" wide
so an half inch wider as Indiana G's TOD jacket.

Much regards

orb

Doug C · Post by **Doug C** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 5:01 pm

Prongs, oh yeah I see them.. sometimes you learn more in one thread than you'd ever do if you tried. btw, those pronged buckles remind me of the ones on my cinch-back LVC 501 jeans, they were not pronged when brand new, you had to snip a small piece of metal that joined the prongs and before that was done the buckle was useless. I personally wouldn't mind having the prongs on a TOD jacket because I'm always having to retighten my d-rings, and I have the leather double back through too.

Doug C

Rundquist · Post by **Rundquist** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 5:07 pm

D-rings stink.

No problems with rectangular buckles though (ala Raiders). Cheers

swright007 · Post by **swright007** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 8:55 pm

Thank you for your hints and tips. I ordered my jacket at about 3:30 am this morning.. (wished I'd read more about the D-Rings) .... Thanks again.. Of the hints I couldn't afford to put into this jacket, I did make a list and they will be going into next year's purchase... Thank you very much.

Scott Wright