Todd’s Custom durability & stitching

Rundquist · Post by **Rundquist** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 1:18 pm

Since there is already a thread on the durability of a Todd’s standard, I thought that I would ask about the workmanship of his custom jackets. I’ve done some thread searches and from strictly a “looks” perspective the jacket looks really good as far as Indy details go (minus the slide buckle for me personally

). And obviously the lambskin version won’t be as rugged as its cowhide counterpart. But what I really want to know is how is the stitching and jacket construction? The custom is a completely differently made jacket than the standard. Cheers

IndyWannaBee · Post by **IndyWannaBee** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 1:36 pm

I just posted a follow up on the other thread about mysterious gouges showing up on my jacket with just normal everyday use.

The stitching is OK by a costume standard. On the end of the sleeves the stitching splits a little so you can see daylight shining through. I would have preferred double stitching instead of single stitching because it can get weak and fray.

Also I had my hand in the pocket and felt something sticky. Lo and behold I found glue along the edges of the pocket. This means that the leather was glued first and stitched meaning the stitching is more for show and the glue is supposed to hold it in place.

Also some Todd's Costume Standards have shown up on eBay and have slight tears in the areas behind the armpit due to stress placed on that area.

I have relenquished my jacket to costuming only and NOT everyday use. Out to get a Wested for everyday wear.

These jackets are obviously made inexpensively overseas and I am starting to wonder where? Singapore? China? Taiwan? Alot of costuming pieces are coming from the Far East.

Post by **Michaelson** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 1:45 pm

I can only remind folks that the standard and the Todd's custom are two different jackets. The custom's are made in the U. S. in their shop. IWB, we're talking about two different jackets. Rundquist is asking about the custom. Yours is the standard off the rack version, and lower priced jacket to boot. I'm sure it will have different experiences than with those who own the custom.

I own a custom calfskin, and have been more than pleased with it's performance in daily use, but have never had a standard in hand, and only know of it's existance by reading the opinions of those on this board.

What I find interesting is the custom has the 'softer' finish that allows the jackets to naturally distress over a short period of time, as REQUESTED of Todd when he was researching the 'needs' of those who wanted his jacket to be made.

It sounds like this is the same 'surface' the standard has had, so it's durned if you do and durned if you don't in the jacket business.

Regards! Michaelson

Indiana Croft · Post by **Indiana Croft** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 1:47 pm

I've had none of those issues with my custom Todds in Lamb, granted I'm careful when wearing it, but I wear it as much as possible and this summer when it gets hot/muggy up here in NH, I'm thinking I'll still be able to wear it.

But as far as construction, A#1,

no problems with stiching or glue. And I thought these were made here in the states, like in California at his studio.

It's also distressing very nicely on its own (which is what it's supposed to do)

Me, I'm a happy camper with mine. Hope Todd see this and chimes in with 2 cents.

Croft

Technonut · Post by **Technonut** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 1:54 pm

My Todd's custom calfskin has held up very well. The stitching is strong, and I have no doubts it will last.

The calfskin is broken in, and has developed a nice grain and character.

Indiana Croft · Post by **Indiana Croft** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 2:52 pm

Oh I'm so jealous of your Calf skin Todds, Technonut, by the time mine was ready to be made Todd couldn't get it any more. Very nice looking, have any pics of you with it on?

Croft

Technonut · Post by **Technonut** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 3:14 pm

Indiana Croft wrote:Oh I'm so jealous of your Calf skin Todds, Technonut, by the time mine was ready to be made Todd couldn't get it any more. Very nice looking, have any pics of you with it on?

Croft

Thanks Indiana Croft....

Here is one of my favorite pics of me wearing the jacket taken shortly after it arrived... I'll have to get some good ones of it broken-in one of these days...

r.deckard · Post by **r.deckard** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 3:20 pm

In the two months that I have owned mine I have not had any problems. It's a very well made jacket. Can't wait to get another. Todd makes a heck of a jacket. I know it may be a bit pricey but at least you get a pretty accurate Raiders jacket. Some folks have spent much more than that by ordering multiple jackets from another source trying to nail down specifics that they can't always seem to get right.

Rundquist · Post by **Rundquist** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 3:21 pm

Technonut wrote:
Indiana Croft wrote:Oh I'm so jealous of your Calf skin Todds, Technonut, by the time mine was ready to be made Todd couldn't get it any more. Very nice looking, have any pics of you with it on?

Croft

Thanks Indiana Croft.... Here is one of my favorite pics of me wearing the jacket taken shortly after it arrived... I'll have to get some good ones of it broken-in one of these days...

That jacket looks the part. With 4 Indiana Jones jackets it would really be hard for me to get another one. But that jacket makes a pretty convincing argument. Well there's no reason I couldn't go see Todd's outfit since I live in LA.

Indiana G · Post by **Indiana G** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 4:34 pm

that all depends what you are looking for rundquist. us authentic, wested, (and i am assuming g&b) all outweigh todd's jacket in the construction department. todd's jackets do not feel or look like a jacket that will transend the generations as it is not "bulletproof".

if i compare my todd's jackets to my us authentic, there is no doubt that the us authentic is superior in construction. comparing todd's to a wested, you can clearly see that the wested was built for commercial mass sales....there's no 2 ways about it.

but something that no other jacket vendor can touch todds custom jacket on is authenticity. what you see on the dvd is what you are wearing. in the same light, i'm sure if you compared the raiders hero jacket to the aforementioned brands, it would fall way short in the construction department as well (also considering peter had 1 weekend to put the jacket together iirc).......but it would be on par with what todd is offering

if you want your jacket to last forever, then g&b, wested, wings, us authentic, etc. would be good candidates. if you want a jacket that is so close to the hero jacket that the only thing that is lacking is ford's sweat......todd is your man.

my 2 cents.

Rundquist · Post by **Rundquist** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 5:01 pm

Indiana G wrote:that all depends what you are looking for rundquist. us authentic, wested, (and i am assuming g&b) all outweigh todd's jacket in the construction department. todd's jackets do not feel or look like a jacket that will transend the generations as it is not "bulletproof".

if i compare my todd's jackets to my us authentic, there is no doubt that the us authentic is superior in construction. comparing todd's to a wested, you can clearly see that the wested was built for commercial mass sales....there's no 2 ways about it.

but something that no other jacket vendor can touch todds custom jacket on is authenticity. what you see on the dvd is what you are wearing. in the same light, i'm sure if you compared the raiders hero jacket to the aforementioned brands, it would fall way short in the construction department as well (also considering peter had 1 weekend to put the jacket together iirc).......but it would be on par with what todd is offering

if you want your jacket to last forever, then g&b, wested, wings, us authentic, etc. would be good candidates. if you want a jacket that is so close to the hero jacket that the only thing that is lacking is ford's sweat......todd is your man.

my 2 cents.

Hey Indiana G, are you talking about a Todd's "custom" or "standard"? I pretty much already figured out that the standard was lacking in construction. To be honest, there’s already very little (if anything) that anybody could do to make a tougher jacket than a G&B. I just wanted to know if the customs were well made or not, because they look good. Like I said, I’m not really in the market, but I’m intrigued just because Todd’s jacket is the only major jacket that I haven’t owned and examined. Cheers

Indiana G · Post by **Indiana G** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 6:40 pm

rundquist,

i was talking about the custom. the standard imo is a costume jacket as it is almost like a shirt. actually i have a lambskin shirt which would fair better than the standard. it is a great bang for the buck to complete the indy outfit, but caution would have to be taken for day-to-day use.

the custom jacket can be worn as a normal jacket, will distress quickly, and give you the nice indy look far sooner than g&b, wested, us authentic, etc. when you buy todd's custom, you are buying a jacket to look like raiders, but giving up the tank like characteristics of a g&b of a comperable price.

don't get me wrong. todd does a fine job with construction....but alot of the non SA stuff that folks at g&b and us authentic account for just makes their jackets tougher.

Rundquist · Post by **Rundquist** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 7:32 pm

Indiana G wrote:rundquist,

i was talking about the custom. the standard imo is a costume jacket as it is almost like a shirt. actually i have a lambskin shirt which would fair better than the standard. it is a great bang for the buck to complete the indy outfit, but caution would have to be taken for day-to-day use.

the custom jacket can be worn as a normal jacket, will distress quickly, and give you the nice indy look far sooner than g&b, wested, us authentic, etc. when you buy todd's custom, you are buying a jacket to look like raiders, but giving up the tank like characteristics of a g&b of a comperable price.

don't get me wrong. todd does a fine job with construction....but alot of the non SA stuff that folks at g&b and us authentic account for just makes their jackets tougher.

Thanks "G". Thanks for answering that. That's exactly what I wanted to know. The pics of your jacket were some of the ones I was looking at earlier. I still would like to see a custom in the flesh for curiosity's sake. Cheers