Have worn and enjoyed my authentic lambskin Wested pretty much every day since March when I bought it but the weather's getting cooler (that's my excuse for treating myself to a 2nd Wested anyway ) and I'm thinking of ordering a horse hide jacket...
To the Wested HH owners, how do you find the drape compares to the lambskin and any pictures, especially of recent examples would be fantastic. Is it a touch darker than the lambskin?
The horsehide is quite a bit heavier and stiffer than the lamb. The drape is different and it doesn't react and flow like the lamb. I'm not sure if it's actually THAT much warmer, but it sure is a sturdy jacket. I've actually gotten compliments on the leather itself.
My HH Wested wasn't really warm enough for cold weather (and I love being cold). The HH is way too thin. Although like you I also make any excuse I can to get new stuff!
Actually where I live the winters aren't that cold so it's a very feeble reason to buy another jacket . Truth is, I just fancy another one and I think I'm just kind of leaning towards the HH because it's the other end of the spectrum from the lambskin. So I get the same nice fit and style but in a far sturdier leather.
I've seen some great examples on here but any pics of recent HH jackets would be interesting...
You might have seen mine before. It a couple of years old and I've put it through a washing machine. You'll find it's very, very different to wearing a lamb. It feels much heavier and stiffer really. But definitely more substantial.
It's a mid to dark brown colour, so you won't have any of the milk chocolate colour some people don't like with authentic brown.
Thanks, kt. That's a really handsome jacket and I like the slightly darker tone. Yes, looks a lot thicker than the lambskin. Different enough I think to warrant a purchase
If anyone has any further pics to prod me in the right direction that'd be great...
Cheers Indiana Strones. Crazy how much that LC jacket looks like a Crystal Skull jacket...
And thanks, holt. That's great for comparison. Now can I see both jackets with the karate chop hands?
Confused now. I really like the Raiders jacket but the LC in HH makes it sufficiently different from my Raiders lambskin to justify (to my wallet) the expense of a 2nd jacket - if that makes sense. Think it's gotta be HH either way though...
I love the kung fu grip, means you're ready for action at the drop of a hat. BTW, where in Norway are you? My grandmother's mother came from Farsund. Don't know if any family was left behind. Would be nice to find out if there's any family there. Beautiful country. Sorry for being OT.
Back to your normal programming.
Rather than start another horsehide topic, I hope you don't mind if I add a question directed at horsehide owners, and more specifically, motorcycle riders:
How would the horsehide hold up as a motorcycle jacket?
afrayedknot wrote:Rather than start another horsehide topic, I hope you don't mind if I add a question directed at horsehide owners, and more specifically, motorcycle riders:
How would the horsehide hold up as a motorcycle jacket?
I don't think it should be used as a motorcycle leather. The type of leather people choose for bike leather is selected for strength, abrasion resistance and often weight. The leather for these jackets is chosen for drape, colour then weight, they are made from a 'fine' quality leather, Bike leather first and foremost chosen on strength.
So, even though it may be a surprise to some, I cannot support any of the Wested Indy jackets as a bike jacket. Better to have a specific jacket for that plus all the armour a modern jacket includes too.
Of course there have been jackets that have survived tumbles and been praised by there owners over the years too!
afrayedknot wrote:
How would the horsehide hold up as a motorcycle jacket?
Horsehide is probably the most sought after hide for quality motorcycle jackets, and HH moto jackets demand some high dollar too. The qualities of water resistance, abrasion resistance, and the fact that HH is said to mold/form to your body with long-term use better than any other leather make HH great for riding (and there's the whole nastalgia thing too).
With that said, I agree with KT that Westeds are not suitable for motorcycle riding. Will they handle a 10 mph crash? Sure, but I wouldn't want to slide even 20 ft in one. Heavyweight moto jackets are usually 4+ ounce leather, and although I have no stats on the weights of Indy jacket leathers, the three different Westeds I've handled (all of different leathers) don't even come close (even my HH & Novapelle).
So HH as a moto jacket.. definitely... but a HH Indy as a moto jacket, nah.
I love the durability and toughness of Peter's horsehide. It's a real adventurer's jacket and yet the color is very, very s.a.. However, as for owning something that is a close as humanly possible to the real deal an authentic lamb that has gone through some good beating is very tempting as well.
I never knew you could wash a leather jacket in the washing machine.my dad always told me to clean a leather jacket take a damp cloth and wipe it down, does washing it make it wrinkle like the picture or does it come out clean and can you hang dry it and does it look good as new?
morganswift wrote:Wow, you're brave, Kt. Looks pretty cool. Is all that weathering due to the wash? is that rust on the D rings? Did it shrink?
Obviously I'm not the first person to wash their jacket, we've been told that some of the film jackets were washed to start with too.
All the wrinkling is from the washing and the shine is knocked back. You may get some areas where the leather turns white or grey, I'm told that's due to the fats leaching out. Hit it with pecards and it helps it from getting too dry. The weathering on the edges is all natural.
Not rust, those D's were pretty much copper coloured to begin with.
It didn't shrink... I was trying to get it to shrink a little to be honest. But other people have reported shrinkage.
Jacksdad, after washing, it isn't new anymore! Your dad was absolutely right... were bad bad people.
Here's my ROLA special that I put through the machine. Cold wash/cold rinse, medium spin in a front load washer. I let it air dry until damp and put it on. That was a big help because, even though you can't really see it in the pics, the sleeves have some nice wrinkling and the sleeves even curved a bit into the shape of my arms. I don't really think the wash, itself, did all that much except knock off a little shine.
And to get myself a little back on track. I ordered a custom HH from Wested yesterday. I really have high hopes for this being MY definitive Indy jacket.
crismans wrote:
And to get myself a little back on track. I ordered a custom HH from Wested yesterday. I really have high hopes for this being MY definitive Indy jacket.
) and I'm thinking of ordering a horse hide jacket...
AWESOME grain Kt!!! Just AWESOME!!!
Did it shrink?
Your dad was absolutely right... were bad bad people.
