Gibson & Barnes: Where the Buffalo Roam

Rundquist · Post by **Rundquist** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 5:38 pm

I finally got my Gibson & Barnes russet “water buffalo” Expedition last Friday. They did not disappoint. It’s a fine jacket. This is a bit more substantial jacket than my goatskin Expeditions in terms of weight, but it’s still not too heavy. The jacket still drapes, it drapes very well in fact. But the jacket does have a distinctly different feel than goatskin, that’s for sure. The hide is chrome tanned/full aniline with a light wax & oil finish. It takes very easily to natural distressing. It makes for bags of character. Beyond that, I’ll let the pictures do the talking as far as aesthetics go.

For years I’ve had a russet Expedition in my collection. They were always very “non-standard”. I usually had to finagle to get them. But they were always among my favorite jackets. I’ve let them all go for various reasons, none of which had anything to do with the quality of the jackets or my satisfaction with them. Anyway, when I heard that Gibson and Barnes were contemplating offering this new jacket, I knew I had to have one (after checking out a leather sample).

So here are the details. The jacket’s price is $588. I heard that the hide costs a bit more. I can tell why. It comes with a nickel zipper with an American side (right) zipper pull. The best way to describe the jacket is a standard “non standard” item (a term I just invented). What that means is that anyone can buy this jacket, but once you do, it is non-returnable/non-refundable unless there is a workmanship issue. What this means is that you better be very sure of your correct size if you fancy getting one of these. If I were a new G&B customer, I’d go the route of having them send me a regular expedition first for sizing purposes.

This jacket is obviously not for an Indiana Jones “purist”. It’s for those that want something a little different. I’d call it an Indiana Jones jacket for the “real world” & not the “reel world” (get it?

). At the very least, it’s a great excuse to buy another jacket.

Cheers

These pics leave a lot to be desired. I tried to capture the correct color by not shooting in direct light and failed. I will try again later. The “self shots” are obviously only intended to show the fit. I’ll see if I can get some proper shots up tomorrow.

http://images36.fotki.com/v1296/photos/ ... 025-vi.jpg
http://images40.fotki.com/v1263/photos/ ... 028-vi.jpg
http://images41.fotki.com/v1265/photos/ ... 030-vi.jpg
http://images36.fotki.com/v1296/photos/ ... 029-vi.jpg
http://images40.fotki.com/v1261/photos/ ... 021-vi.jpg

PSBIndy · Post by **PSBIndy** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 5:49 pm

That buffalo looks delicious!

......congrats, looks great! I love that color!........definately not your "typical" Indy jacket but it's very unique and it's something not everyone will have........I would bet it would make a great winter jacket.

Doug C · Post by **Doug C** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 6:17 pm

I love the graining and it certainly doesn't look near as stiff as some of us thought it would. Looks like and awesome jacket! congrats..

Doug C

Raider S · Post by **Raider S** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 6:31 pm

Hope nobody caught you in those stalls taking photos!

Looks like a "real" jacket! Impressive. You can tell that's a quality leather from the photos. I'd like it darker but yours sure is unique.

Weston · Post by **Weston** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 8:17 pm

Very sharp! I bet it could stop a bullet or a fast moving truck, but probably not a Plains Indian arrow.

Weston

BlueSkyz · Post by **BlueSkyz** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 8:26 am

Beautiful jacket! It will age really well from the swatch I got also. The texture and grain is really nice..I like. Did you ask for the nickel/rh pull zipper? I agree about ensuring the fit prior to ordering.

Road Warrior · Post by **Road Warrior** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 12:42 pm

That's a very cool jacket that looks very well made and should last a long, long time.

It's nice to see an Indy jacket that isn't necessarily looking for screen accuracy, but just looks great. Congratulations on your investment in a jacket that I'm sure you'll get a lot of comments on.

Lao Feng · Post by **Lao Feng** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 6:27 am

That is one beautiful jacket! Recently, I was able to see-touch-feel-abuse-enjoy a swatch of this hide, and it is as impressive to the touch as it is in phtose of this jacket.

Montana Hannah · Post by **Montana Hannah** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:57 am

Wow, that really is a gorgeous jacket. The grain and colour really give it an authentic vintage look, and I love the shape of the collar.

agent5 · Post by **agent5** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 11:15 am

TATANKA!

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 11:46 am

We will call you "Dances with Jackets."

FLATHEAD · Post by **FLATHEAD** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 12:52 pm

The grain and colour really give it an authentic vintage look,

Thats the nice thing about buffalo hide. The surface varies from smooth
to very deep and grainy all within a few inches thoughout the hide.

This causes the extreme differences all over the jacket, giving the jackets
a very vintage look right out of the box.

As a matter of fact, thats why Aero Leather uses it, and even mentions
this on their website for the items they make from buffalo hides.

There is no embossed grain patterns on this baby!!! Its all natural!!

Nice

Jim

Post by **Michaelson** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 1:12 pm

What weight hide can you compare it too? Physical weight, that is....?

Regards! Michaelson

PSBIndy · Post by **PSBIndy** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 7:18 pm

I like to see someone do a "gator" or "python" Indy jacket.....now THAT would be cool..........hey Magnoli, are you listening?

hovitos loincloth · Post by **hovitos loincloth** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 4:34 pm

Hmm.Pimp my Indy Jacket...

Kokopelli · Post by **Kokopelli** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 8:49 am

Ostrich!!

rrhanselka · Post by **rrhanselka** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 6:47 pm

Very nice, indeed.

Unless I'm mistaken, this jacket has leather facings. Am I right?

How do I get one? Every time I talk to Travis, all he says that are available are the standard hides and colors.

Many Thanks
Randall

BlueSkyz · Post by **BlueSkyz** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 6:59 pm

Travis is no longer with G&B................and I am not sure but I don't think they are available to the 'public' yet.

Rundquist · Post by **Rundquist** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 1:26 pm

This jacket has no leather facings. It is available to the general public for $588 with an "American" (right) sided nickel zipper. It's available "as is" with no alterations and is non-returnable. I would say that you could compare the feel of the jacket most to cowhide, but it does not feel the same. I've worn the jacket a bit now (mostly at night) and it's a winner. The more it breaks in, the better it gets. In a few weeks I'll post more pics. Cheers

sphughes · Post by **sphughes** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 6:22 pm

After speaking with Jessica today I pulled the trigger on my own Buffalo Expedition. Taking the advice of multiple people, I am having a 50 Long shipped out to me to size and I will be able to determine if that will do or if I will need a 52 Long. I just hope I don't develop a need for the sample in Goat she is having made to send to me. My wife will have a hard enough time dealing with the new Wested HH and G + B Buffalo without me sweetening the pot further. All I can say is A+ for the customer service. OUTSTANDING.

-Scott

CM · Post by CM » Mon Aug 18, 2008 8:52 pm

sphughes wrote:After speaking with Jessica today I pulled the trigger on my own Buffalo Expedition. Taking the advice of multiple people, I am having a 50 Long shipped out to me to size and I will be able to determine if that will do or if I will need a 52 Long. I just hope I don't develop a need for the sample in Goat she is having made to send to me. My wife will have a hard enough time dealing with the new Wested HH and G + B Buffalo without me sweetening the pot further. All I can say is A+ for the customer service. OUTSTANDING.

-Scott

Their service is great but Jessica found it difficult to understand an Aussie accent, I noticed. I had to try and sound American to get my address across. It worked!

Raider S · Post by **Raider S** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 8:59 pm

Scott, I thought the largest they made was a 48. Was this a special order and therefore more expensive or would this be the same for any jacket in a non-standard size? Congrats on the jacket, looks like these will wear for decades and decades.

sphughes · Post by **sphughes** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 9:33 pm

The standard OTR is up to 48 but she said it will take ~2 weeks to make one for me to size. I asked for no alterations other than a larger size and she was very accommodating. The quoted price was the same at $588 with the amenities previously listed. Since they didn't have a 50 or 52 in stock, she is having one made for me as a sample to try on for size than once that is settled, my Buffalo hits the elf at the sewing machine.

I can't get over that they will make a sample for me and then accept it back just like that. I must show a little will power........

-Scott

sphughes · Post by **sphughes** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 7:15 pm

I got the swatch of Buffalo in the mail today and all I can say is WOW. The character of the grain is amazing. I am feeling confident that the jacket will be a favorite.

-Scott

Rundquist · Post by **Rundquist** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 8:06 pm

sphughes wrote:I got the swatch of Buffalo in the mail today and all I can say is WOW. The character of the grain is amazing. I am feeling confident that the jacket will be a favorite.

-Scott

In the evening I go to a coffee house right by the ocean. Sometimes it’s just cool enough out to get away wearing the thing. Mine is breaking-in nicely. I’m almost ready to post more pics. With all due respect to Tony Nowak and Bernie Pollack and Harrison Ford, they really “F”ed up by not contacting Gibson & Barnes in regards to CS. This could have been the new jacket. It smokes! It’s got more character than any Indiana Jones jacket that I’ve ever seen. Cheers

CM · Post by CM » Fri Aug 22, 2008 8:16 pm

Rundquist wrote:
sphughes wrote:I got the swatch of Buffalo in the mail today and all I can say is WOW. The character of the grain is amazing. I am feeling confident that the jacket will be a favorite.

-Scott

In the evening I go to a coffee house right by the ocean. Sometimes it’s just cool enough out to get away wearing the thing. Mine is breaking-in nicely. I’m almost ready to post more pics. With all due respect to Tony Nowak and Bernie Pollack and Harrison Ford, they really “F”ed up by not contacting Gibson & Barnes in regards to CS. This could have been the new jacket. It smokes! It’s got more character than any Indiana Jones jacket that I’ve ever seen. Cheers

Yeah, given that Harrison owns and wears a G&B, I can't understand why they didn't get the job. They even made the archive jacket that was used as Nowak's guide. "F" me, Harry could have worn a goat version for all I care... the design and manufacture is so impressive.