I thought people might be interested in seeing some shots of my Wested horsehide, four and a bit years after I bought it. This was one of the first, if not the first, horsehides that Wested did. Back in a time when buying a horsehide from Wested was very adventurous and weird and definitely charting unknown regions. At the time, people were curious about the reddish undertones on the jacket, which are still present, and also the grain of some panels... in some places creating a contrast that some people love and others... well, aren't so fond of. I hardly wear the jacket these days as it's too small for me... I even tried selling it once... but it's still here. So enjoy the pics
I'm sittin' here right now in my 6 or 7 week old Wested HH. Your jacket looks great. I love the grain and color. Whether you particularly like it or not, (because some just don't care for horse, for whatever reason) a well broken-in HH jacket is different from any other hide.
I've worn mine in a few nice rainstorms, then wore it wet (well, damp) pretty much all day and night. It brought out a lot of grain, and knocked the edge off the shine.
I'd be really pleased if my jacket looks like yours as it gets broken-in. I'd keep it if I were you, unless you know that you'll never fit into it well again. You earned that jacket -- it'd be a shame to give one up after you got it looking so cool.
Yes, I know I should post pics of mine. I need to take some new ones, though, to do it justice.
Anybody else have pics of older Wested HH jackets? Post 'em up.
yes the HH gives alot of grain..and that is the grain I talked about in a other thread. the grain i didnt care to much about..but the hide is a really sweet hide..one of the best hides I have felt and feels like you can have it forever and the best part is..you can...
and I am getting used to grain it gives...so thats a good thing..
also I have been strugling with the dilemma about getting the washed goat or dark lamb.I couldnt decide so I did it easy and went with another horse..
I talked to Peter and asked about hides..then I told him I wanted the ultra thinnest Horsehide he had in stock to give a very good drape pluss some very special mods on it that hasnt been done on a jacket before which helps to cut the stiffnes and weight...so I am eager to see how it turnes out
Indiana Holt wrote:I talked to Peter and asked about hides..then I told him I wanted the ultra thinnest Horsehide he had in stock to give a very good drape pluss some very special mods on it that hasnt been done on a jacket before which helps to cut the stiffnes and weight...so I am eager to see how it turnes out
bests
Holt
I'm curious too to see that special jacket, don't forget to post some pics
citRon wrote:hey Rob- did it have the reddish undertones when it was new?
My recent (2-3 months old) HH Wested has more of a charcoalish gray tone to it.
Yes it did. People have called it, "the red one" since the day I got it.
I too have checked my new HH Wested under a lot of different kinds of lighting (sunlight, incandescent, fluorescent), and I don't see any of those cool reddish undertones on your jacket. Didn't see any charcoalish-gray, either. Just brown. The surface does seem to be developing that horsehide patina in places, however, and I love how the grain is popping out.
I guess you just got lucky with that early batch of horsehide from Wested.
Someone buy this off the man and WEAR it!
The 'reddish' undertones remind me of the desert scenes of the Last Crusade. Wow. Just incredible. What grain. Such character! If I was about a foot taller, I'd buy it!
Ahhhh...the RED ONE. This was the jacket that made up my mind on the HH. Rob's jacket was out of the "first" batch, none of the other jackets save maybe one other that I can remember (WConley ??) have those reddish tones.
My HH is about 3.5 years on, I'll try to post pics of mine soon.
She's held up quite well, and I have not babied here one bit other than 2 Pecard's rubdowns. I've had to stitch the lining in a couple of places but thats about it. The pics don't show it, but the edges in many areas are showing some wear...Other than that she has that deep brown color still.
I'm also wearing a HH (had a lamb and a pre cow before) and just love the look of it and the feeling that I'm bulletprooved with it. There is only one thing that I don't like about it:
it's quit hot all the time! There are few ocasions in which I don't feel to warm with it, even though the winter is comming soon.
Did you had the same experience with your HH and if so, did you got used to it?
Yeah its been worn, and not lightly either. Its very durable stuff. The only wear it shows is on main rub areas: end of the cuffs, some on the collar, a few places on the edges of the back panel, and down the storm flap from seatbelt rubbing. The interior portions of the hide are as pristine as when new as far as finish goes. Now some other differences are the grainy areas which have developed; Like the one I included under the side strap. Those popped out after it got worn in. Other than that, the sleeve has creased a bit, but its held up really well.
OK here it is:
