"THE" Indy Jacket to get
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- Sitting Rabbit
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"THE" Indy Jacket to get
Hello all,
I'm still fairly new to COW, and after searching and searching for "THE" right fedora, I found AB's. So...I ordered one from both Marc and Steve. Now as far as "THE" Jacket, which one is it? Wested? US Wings? Another company perhaps? Which one would be most accurate historically? I've looked and searched through the threads, but I failed to find any that addresses this. It's probably been talked about before, so could anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks!
I'm still fairly new to COW, and after searching and searching for "THE" right fedora, I found AB's. So...I ordered one from both Marc and Steve. Now as far as "THE" Jacket, which one is it? Wested? US Wings? Another company perhaps? Which one would be most accurate historically? I've looked and searched through the threads, but I failed to find any that addresses this. It's probably been talked about before, so could anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks!
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It's all subjective.
Historically, it's going to be Wested if you're talking about the originator of the jacket in the first place.
As you say, there are several to choose from, and fans for every version. You'll get a lot of 'advice', some good, some bad....but the best thing to do is take your time and read read read.
Do your research. Heck, you've only been a member for week here, and there are PAGES and PAGES to read about this topic.
Regards! Michaelson
Historically, it's going to be Wested if you're talking about the originator of the jacket in the first place.
As you say, there are several to choose from, and fans for every version. You'll get a lot of 'advice', some good, some bad....but the best thing to do is take your time and read read read.
Do your research. Heck, you've only been a member for week here, and there are PAGES and PAGES to read about this topic.
Regards! Michaelson
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Thanks Michaelson. You are right. I need to read and read. I'm just finishing up finals in college, so I guess I'll have a lot more time on my hands to see what others have said. I was looking for a quick fix answer, but you are right, everyone has a different opinion, so I just need to keep reading until I find what I'm looking for.
!
Probably the closest I've seen is from Wested with the PLATON specs. This jacket is the best of both worlds...Original maker w/ SA specs. PLATON put together an absolutely nit-picky list of custom options that really make the wested great. However, I still think that it looks too short, so perhaps the PLATON seam and pocket specs on a TOD style wested would be the ticket.
Todd's is also darn accurate, but seems to have some variation as far as different sizes are concerned. Perhaps wait a year or so for this one to really become a fantastic jacket. Todd will absolutely nail it in all sizes soon!
C3
Todd's is also darn accurate, but seems to have some variation as far as different sizes are concerned. Perhaps wait a year or so for this one to really become a fantastic jacket. Todd will absolutely nail it in all sizes soon!
C3
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I'm not trying to start a fight, just want to hear all sides is all I meant. The last thing I want is to start is a fight. I'm just glad to be a part of this club, because there is so much info to learn here. If it weren't for this club, I'd be in the dark concerning hats, Indygear, and what not. One again, thank you all for letting me join this club of yours.
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Oh, I'm not trying to start a fight, either, but everytime someone simply asks "what jacket should I get?" all that usually happens is that folks throw in the name of their favorite jacket and leave it at that. Really, the best thing to do is take a day and read through the countless jacket threads and find the specific type of info you're looking for. And as far as "THE" jacket goes, a number of makers and people actually had a hand of some sort in the creation of the Raiders jacket, so it's not always as easy as saying "I want the jacket made 100% by the maker of the original."
Do you have a budget? Is there a specific type of leather you're looking for? Do you want a tailored jacket or one off the rack? Are you after a costume piece or something to wear every day for a lifetime? Once you start answering some of these questions for you, the solutions can lead you any number of directions. Again, there's a TON of info in the jacket section to read. Most people are bound to blankly tell you to get this jacket, or that hat, or these trousers without giving any specifics as to why. Sure, there's a lot of quality gear to be had these days, but it ultimately comes down to your own research and choice. Choose wisely, meaning, educate yourself and make an informed decision.
Do you have a budget? Is there a specific type of leather you're looking for? Do you want a tailored jacket or one off the rack? Are you after a costume piece or something to wear every day for a lifetime? Once you start answering some of these questions for you, the solutions can lead you any number of directions. Again, there's a TON of info in the jacket section to read. Most people are bound to blankly tell you to get this jacket, or that hat, or these trousers without giving any specifics as to why. Sure, there's a lot of quality gear to be had these days, but it ultimately comes down to your own research and choice. Choose wisely, meaning, educate yourself and make an informed decision.
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good point bink. but if you don't have time to read the bajillion posts on jackets. here's the breakdown:
1. wested: good price, original maker, SA is questionable on standard orders. custom orders can provide you with SA but is a gamble if you get everything that you spec.
2. us wings: awesome price (if purchased on the discount rack), was involved with indy productions from the grandfather company when they were cooper, not very SA at all.
3. flightsuits expedition: conceived from the forefathers of this forum, premium price, SA per the raiders stunt jacket and not the hero jacket.
4. todd's jacket: made by a indy fan based on what they interpret the jacket to be. fair price. very, very screen accurate.
these are the "big 3" or 4 if you like. we will probably get alot of opinions flying in from hereon in. this is my personal observations of what jackets are available. i have left out flightjacket as their standard jacket is not very SA and not very price friendly but i have one of these that was customized to SA. i find it to be a beautiful jacket all on its own. i'm probably going to embark on a flightsuits project if i can buy the tailor's time for some SA mods.
all in all, if you're a newb and want an indy jacket and aren't a stitch nazi like myself, agent 5, platon, etc...........go with a wested
1. wested: good price, original maker, SA is questionable on standard orders. custom orders can provide you with SA but is a gamble if you get everything that you spec.
2. us wings: awesome price (if purchased on the discount rack), was involved with indy productions from the grandfather company when they were cooper, not very SA at all.
3. flightsuits expedition: conceived from the forefathers of this forum, premium price, SA per the raiders stunt jacket and not the hero jacket.
4. todd's jacket: made by a indy fan based on what they interpret the jacket to be. fair price. very, very screen accurate.
these are the "big 3" or 4 if you like. we will probably get alot of opinions flying in from hereon in. this is my personal observations of what jackets are available. i have left out flightjacket as their standard jacket is not very SA and not very price friendly but i have one of these that was customized to SA. i find it to be a beautiful jacket all on its own. i'm probably going to embark on a flightsuits project if i can buy the tailor's time for some SA mods.
all in all, if you're a newb and want an indy jacket and aren't a stitch nazi like myself, agent 5, platon, etc...........go with a wested
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I will, once again, spoil a thread completely by being serious...
To me the big descission these days is not the maker but the hide. I have the impression that people want the jacket totally SA, but when they order they choose horse or goat because they want a durable jacket, and then a different vendor because the price is right.
But... The original was a Wested lamb. End of story. And they still make one h... of a fine lamb-jacket, so what is there to think about?
Oh... The old question, we know it drapes well, but can the lamb stand the time of a real Indy? May be, may be not. One argument in these days has been, that the goat of today resembles the lamb of 1980 more than the lamb of today. I cant tell if thats true, but after having owned a cow, a goat and now a lamb, there is no doubt to me that the lamb and goat are the only ones You can distress to a certain SA look. The cow was VERY durable, but didn't drape well and weighted too much to get the comfy look.
So my advice would be to choose lamb or goat, and if the origin is important, from Wested.
Cheers
To me the big descission these days is not the maker but the hide. I have the impression that people want the jacket totally SA, but when they order they choose horse or goat because they want a durable jacket, and then a different vendor because the price is right.
But... The original was a Wested lamb. End of story. And they still make one h... of a fine lamb-jacket, so what is there to think about?
Oh... The old question, we know it drapes well, but can the lamb stand the time of a real Indy? May be, may be not. One argument in these days has been, that the goat of today resembles the lamb of 1980 more than the lamb of today. I cant tell if thats true, but after having owned a cow, a goat and now a lamb, there is no doubt to me that the lamb and goat are the only ones You can distress to a certain SA look. The cow was VERY durable, but didn't drape well and weighted too much to get the comfy look.
So my advice would be to choose lamb or goat, and if the origin is important, from Wested.
Cheers
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IndyK don't forget the lambtouch. When you remove the shine of the jacket or you just wait till it distress naturally you will get a really good Raiders look. The lambtouch also drapes like butter. It's thinner as their lambskin but it won't look thin and is even more durable as the lamb.
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Much regards
orb
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Much regards
orb
- Michaelson
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Unless things have changed, I don't think Wested has brown lambtouch cowhide anymore, but black.
That's what I was told at the time they made my 'Abner/Fedora' coat last year.
If you DO order lambtouch, be SURE to include the word 'cowhide' after 'lambtouch', or they'll send you lambskin.
Regards! Michaelson
That's what I was told at the time they made my 'Abner/Fedora' coat last year.
If you DO order lambtouch, be SURE to include the word 'cowhide' after 'lambtouch', or they'll send you lambskin.
Regards! Michaelson
Forgot about that one, sorry... But now that You remind me, I think I've read they were discontinued anyway?orb wrote:IndyK don't forget the lambtouch.
Never mind, I have a new lamb now and the feel and drape, allready before being distressed, suddenly gives that Raiders-feel I've been searching for since 1981. But off course, as with the original shirt, one thing is movie-costumes on screen, another thing is real-life feel and durability.
BTW, why dont any vendors take up the challenge to make really SA jackets, distressed like the ones in Raiders?
I know it's part of the game to do Your own distressing, but all the "pre-distressed" jackets I've seen has had a totally different look, and not a good one if You ask me, because the hide is distressed before they cut the pieces for the jacket. Just an idea.
Cheers
Indy-K
- Michaelson
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From what I've seen so far Todd's cow hide looks very thin and drapey. Out of the box as it were, it looks more SA than a Wested IMHO.
Last edited by djd on Tue Jun 12, 2007 11:27 am, edited 1 time in total.
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I'd just venture a guess that the reason they don't do this is because that would probably take alot more time and effort as opposed to what is currently being done, and this personal attention would drive up the prices significantly?IndyK wrote:Forgot about that one, sorry... But now that You remind me, I think I've read they were discontinued anyway?orb wrote:IndyK don't forget the lambtouch.
Never mind, I have a new lamb now and the feel and drape, allready before being distressed, suddenly gives that Raiders-feel I've been searching for since 1981. But off course, as with the original shirt, one thing is movie-costumes on screen, another thing is real-life feel and durability.
BTW, why dont any vendors take up the challenge to make really SA jackets, distressed like the ones in Raiders?
I know it's part of the game to do Your own distressing, but all the "pre-distressed" jackets I've seen has had a totally different look, and not a good one if You ask me, because the hide is distressed before they cut the pieces for the jacket. Just an idea.
Cheers
Indy-K
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