There's a little item regarding the Raider's jacket in particular that's been at the back of my mind for a long time, and I figured it was time to get some opinions on it. I'm proposing that the cotton "heat" tape or liner tape ... or whatever it is that's used for reinforcement inside the jacket goes along way towards creating a jacket with lots of character, much like the jackets used in the Raider's movie. Those jackets, while being lambskin seemed to have a rougher look to them, particularly where seems and multi leather layers were. Of course some of that difference was the difference in leather thickness and tanning, probably most of it. But I think that the internal tape played a key part in that look too. Here is a picture that shows a very good view of what I'm talking about - the pockets were obviously surrounded (internally) with a backing tape and it's causes that area to appear rough when viewed from the outside:
There was a member here that used to post quite often in the leather jacket section named Erri who had a new jacket like this and really disliked it, though he admitted it was SA - I wander if he's still around and would post some pictures of how that area looks now. Here's a thread about it: viewtopic.php?t=16739&highlight=
My point of view, is that the most recent jackets seem to be missing something that's hard for me to put my fingers on - they just often seem bland and too smooth, done too neatly or something. This is the kind of thing that adds to the character in my opinion. I know some here would hate this in a jacket but are there any that would prefer it besides myself?
That's interesting Doug, you've got something there. If you want a film looking version of the jacket, it should be roughly made. I bet if we were sent one from Peter just like it looked in the film, some of us would send it back as "badly made".
Mind you, call me crazy, I like the look of a crisp new jacket and would prefer a sleek new Wested or G&B over one like the film version.
Yea, I hear you on that.. most would certainly send it back for sure, I think Erri was contemplating returning his too - wander if he did or if he had it locally "fixed".. anyone heard from him lately?
My old repro A2 did this exact same thing at the pocket after getting wet and me drying it near a radiator,trouble is it only cinched up on one side which kinda spoiled the look! How much of this reinforcement tape is used in the construction of the jacket?
I never see Westeds like this any more, so I'd say they use a whole lot less than they used to. You see it on pictures of particularly old ones I've noticed.
Doug C wrote:Yea, I hear you on that.. most would certainly send it back for sure, I think Erri was contemplating returning his too - wander if he did or if he had it locally "fixed".. anyone heard from him lately?
Doug C
I kinda... well ordered another one and made sure to ask Peter not to put that stuff behind the pockets.
He still did but this time it doesn't show up as it did in the previous one so I never complained.
This is my second jacket:
Thanks a lot guys, I ordered it with a list of specs that should still be around here in a thread I posted some time ago.
Anyway Doug C, if you have that problem too I heard that it is possible to solve it by letting a professional (don't do it yourself) open the lining and cut away part of that stuff. As I said before I never tried. On my jacket it became less severe once time passed and the leather naturally distressed a bit, I know it's not really a helpful information but this is my experience
Erri, thanks for checking in on this topic, and for the pictures of your newer jacket - it's really nice and an awesome fit too. Man, your pictures always remind me how boring Texas is! Anyway, I don't have the problem of your first jacket but actually I was looking at it as somewhat of a positive. I think some of these lambskin jackets I own (and have owned) could use some of that backing material to add a little life, personally.
_ - newspaper glued inside , I never would have considered that but I guess they had to make do at the time, very interesting.
and made sure to ask Peter not to put that stuff behind the pockets. 
, I never would have considered that but I guess they had to make do at the time, very interesting. 
