Gibson and Barnes lamb - how does it age over time?

bobjones · Post by **bobjones** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 8:45 pm

I am considering the lamb G&B, and want to get a sense of how it ages without manual distressing. This would be from normal wear, as I wouldn't want to intentionally do anything to it, like applying alcohol/pecards, etc.

Does the jacket distress like a cowhide over time, looking like the beaten-up jacket of the four movies? As I mentioned elsewhere, I seek a lighter-weight jacket, and this eliminates cowhide (though I did hear that the vintage cowhide at US Wings is very light...hmmm) and the lamb seems to fit the bill. I am curious to see how it would look over time.

FLATHEAD · Post by **FLATHEAD** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 6:59 am

though I did hear that the vintage cowhide at US Wings is very light...hmmm)

Who told you that?

Their vintage cowhide is not by any means light. Its thick, tough, and
easily weighs twice what a lambskin jacket weighs.

It does NOT get creases in it like a lambskin jacket, as its too thick for
that. There is no real "drape" to it, as its too thick.

Its a strong, heavy jacket that is made to be worn when you actually
want to do something other than just going to the mall.

"Very light", no way my friend. I have owned one now for over 5
years, and I can beat the carp out of it, and it just looks at me and
says, "Is that all you got punk".

Flathead

Indiana_Jonesing · Post by **Indiana_Jonesing** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 1:09 pm

I, too, would love to hear about (or better yet SEE) how the G&B LAMB ages over time. I've got a G&B goat and I wonder if I made the right decision all the time. It's been over four years now. . .

Anybody?

Best,
-Jonesnig

bobjones · Post by **bobjones** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 1:12 pm

FLATHEAD wrote:
though I did hear that the vintage cowhide at US Wings is very light...hmmm)
Who told you that?

Their vintage cowhide is not by any means light. Its thick, tough, and
easily weighs twice what a lambskin jacket weighs.

It does NOT get creases in it like a lambskin jacket, as its too thick for
that. There is no real "drape" to it, as its too thick.

Its a strong, heavy jacket that is made to be worn when you actually
want to do something other than just going to the mall.

"Very light", no way my friend. I have owned one now for over 5
years, and I can beat the carp out of it, and it just looks at me and
says, "Is that all you got punk".

Flathead

Hi Flathead. The US Wings's website description indicted that it was:

"It's also light in weight, making this a three-season jacket..."

The challenge I am having is that there are elements of not only different jacket hides, but different manufacturers, that are appealing:

- the US Wings CE edition has a nice chocolate color to it, and is durable as cowhide, but is heavy and might be a bit long. It is also about $100 less than the G&B.

- the US Wings lambskin is lighterweight and has a nice color, but posters here have indicated it is heavier than the G&B, and longer. And lamb might be too delicate.

- the G&B lamb is a lighterweight but might be too delicate. The G&B is a bit shorter than US Wings jackets I have heard also, which I prefer.

My solution might be to order both the lamb and goat G&B, and several of the US Wings simultaneously, and try them all on...this is all quite stressful and complex for such a simple man.

FLATHEAD · Post by **FLATHEAD** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 3:22 pm

the US Wings CE edition has a nice chocolate color to it, and is durable as cowhide,

Thats because it is cowhide.

Flathead

Post by **Michaelson** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 3:25 pm

Are you suggesting there is a corelation, Flathead?

Regards! Michaelson

FLATHEAD · Post by **FLATHEAD** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 3:30 pm

"It's also light in weight, making this a three-season jacket..."

Compared to what?

Cowhide is heavier than goatskin, or lambskin, or deerskin, but lighter
than buffalo hide, but not by much.

A statement like its light in weight is all subjective to what you are going
to compare it to.

But as an Indy jacket, its one of the heaviest of the bunch.

If you handle one, and then pick up a lambskin or goatskin Indy jacket,
you will know in about a tenth of a second which one is the heaviest.

The only cowhide Indy jacket that I have ever seen and felt that would
be considered "light in weight" would be the one that Wested offererd a
while back that the hide was physically thinner than the normal cowhide.
I can't remember what it was called at the moment, but Michealson had
one for awhile also.

Flathead

FLATHEAD · Post by **FLATHEAD** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 3:31 pm

Are you suggesting there is a corelation, Flathead?

Maybe...

Flathead

Post by **Michaelson** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 3:35 pm

bobjones · Post by **bobjones** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 4:37 pm

Flat, thats why I'm thinking it might make the most sense to order several at a time from both firms and try them on, even if it means my credit card might have a stroke for one cycle.

FLATHEAD · Post by **FLATHEAD** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 5:19 pm

Lambstouch cowhide!!! Thats what it was!!

I knew I would remember what Wested called their thinner cowhide.

It had the durability of cowhide, with a drape almost like lambskin.

But it was not as tough as the regular cowhide...

Flat, thats why I'm thinking it might make the most sense to order several at a time from both firms and try them on, even if it means my credit card might have a stroke for one cycle.

If you do this. Make sure you DO NOT REMOVE ANY TAGS OR PAPERWORK
FROM THE US WINGS JACKETS!!

Did that come across loud and clear?

Why? Because if you remove any of the tags that are put on the Wings
jacket with those plastic string things, you WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RETURN
THE JACKETS!!

Its Wings policy that once you remove the tags and other paperwork
from the jacket, the jacket is yours, and you will NOT get any type of
a refund.

I think what you are doing is a good idea if you have the money to do
it, not only for seeing which one is the lightest or toughest, but because
you will see for yourself just how different the fit and finish are on each
one.

Then you can deside which one you want to keep, or whether or not you
will have to go up or down a size to get the proper fitting jacket for you.

Just don't remove any tags...

Flathead

bobjones · Post by **bobjones** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 8:42 pm

FLATHEAD wrote:
If you do this. Make sure you DO NOT REMOVE ANY TAGS OR PAPERWORK
FROM THE US WINGS JACKETS!!

Did that come across loud and clear?

Just don't remove any tags...

Flathead

Wait, I can't hear you, what did you say, you don't "approve of stags"?

I got ya, as I checked both US Wings and G&B's return policies on their websites carefully before ordering. G&B is a fair, typical liberal policy, where you can return an item so long as it doesn't show any wear, i.e., like shoes, cannot wear it outside. US Wings is the same, except with respect to the tags, as you mention.

One of the advantages about being a fossil like myself (Indy dug me up once) is that I know almost immediately whether a clothing item like a jacket works for me, fits right, etc. But I am just not imaginative enough to be able to tell for sure without seeing them in person and trying them on.

Michaelson, maybe we need to start a travelling Indy leather jacket road show...