Sourcing snaps for stormflap on a G&B?

[Dr. Nebraska S.]

I've had my G&B goatskin Expedition for about 8 months now and am just more and more pleased with it. (Here's the initial post about my jacket: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=43337&start=0&hilit=goat)

There's only one slight problem for me: I've been missing having snaps on my jacket's storm flap. I fully understand that snaps on a Raiders jacket storm flap are not SA. However, I'm much more interested in functionality.

Per Dave Marshall's suggestion, I've found that my local shoe repairman can install such snaps. The problem is that the shoe repair store only has very shiny brass snaps, which would not look very good with the Expedition.

Does anyone have suggestions of where I could get high-quality snaps for my Expedition's stormflap? I'm also waiting to hear back from Dave Marshall about if I could order some from G&B. But I wanted to see what some of the other options out there might be (especially if I can't get them from G&B).

Dave also sent me some close-up photos of what the positioning of such snaps would look like on the Expedition. I don't have time to post them right now, but the over-all picture would look quite similar to the size and positioning of the snaps on the U.S. Wings Lightweight New Zealand Antique Lambskin Indy-style Jacket: http://www.uswings.com/LWLIJfrontdetail.html
Has anyone here gotten snaps for their G&B's stormflap? I'd sure be interested in seeing some more photos.

Best wishes,
Nebraska Schulte

[crismans]

I'm sure there are snaps to be had online. If that doesn't pan out, could you possibly take the shiny brass snaps and lightly sand them with some fine grit sandpaper to take off the shine?

[Indydawg]

Try Tandy Leather...google it. I've gotten snaps from them before to replace snaps on my MkVII bags...and was able to get them in a non-shiny brass material...

Regards.
Indydawg

[Texan Scott]

I just had Wade Egan install 2 snaps on my novapelle. He did a great job! Since you are in CA, might be an easy transaction for you? Mostly, its about punching 2 holes in the right place and installing the new ones. My problem was that I had a hiden snap installed previously, so he had to remove it first.

Other than that, it comes down to what type of snap you want. I went with antique brass. It was really tempting to go with copper snaps on the copper nova, though.

[binkmeisterRick]

Just use velcro.

[Dalexs]

Aren't you close enough to FS? Maybe you can just run down and have them do it?

I can't image they wouldn't have the rigth type of snap.

[Kt Templar]

Go for dark antiqued brass snaps that have a plain and very slightly convex front with no ridges. Approx 5/8" or 15mm diameter.

[Dr. Nebraska S.]

Thank you all for the suggestions so far. Depending on what I hear back from Dave Marshall, I may see about having either G&B or Wade Egan do it. G&B is about 4 hours round trip, and they said it may take an hour or 2 to get to it, so that would be taking a day off to do it. Dave made it sound like shipping might be a bit pricey compared to having someone in the neighborhood do it, but that might be another option.

[Dr. Nebraska S.]

Just use velcro.

Rick, do you have any recommended sources for SA velcro?

Michael, thanks for the link--and Scott, that's a great looking job on that jacket!

I just heard back from Dave Marshall, and it sounds like I'll be getting some snaps from them soon. If it matches with what I'm looking for, I should be able to get them installed soon. I'll keep you posted.

best wishes,
NS

[Dr. Nebraska S.]

UPDATE: I received some great snaps from Dave Marshall at G&B and will be getting them installed soon. These metal snaps match perfectly with the color of the jacket, so it'll be a different look than the antique brass we see on the LC and CS jackets. I like their appearance and am excited to see how these look on my jacket. I'll post photos once they're done.

[Michaelson]

They'll look fine. They installed a set on one of my old Expeditions when it was in for a new zipper installation a couple years ago.

Regards! Michaelson

[Kittlemeier]

Sorry, a little late, but you can darken the brass by exposing it to vinegar vapor.

I have a great leather mail bag repro on which the strap buckles were just slightly more aged than the bag buckle and rings. Tried it and it works great.

[Dr. Nebraska S.]

Just got the snaps installed, and I really like the look of them! I have to recharge the camera batteries, so I'll try and post photos later. Thank you everyone for the suggestions!

Best wishes,
NS

[Long John Tinfoil]

I hope you're not touchy about this, but how much did the snaps cost you?

LJ

[Dr. Nebraska S.]

Here's some close-ups of the snaps. Sorry for the poor quality of the photos:




The color (which is hard to see) was called "rust" by the cobbler who installed the snaps. It's like a matte metallic version of the color of the jacket itself. I'm not sure how else to describe it. But I'm very pleased with the results! It's quite nice to be able to snap close the bottom. I've been in weather before where the top snap on my old jacket came in handy, so it's good to have that reassurance there in my new jacket!

I hope you're not touchy about this, but how much did the snaps cost you?

LJ

As a recent G&B customer, I'll just say it was minimal.

best wishes,
NS

[Texan Scott]

Looks like he did a good job, NS.

[afalzon]

I think the snaps you are looking for are made by PRYM, a German company.
They are called S-spring fasteners.

To find them, try www.prymfashion.co.uk, or
www.dritz.com for America



Andy
www.billkelsomfg.com

[afalzon]

Oops, sorry, I just read above that you finally found them.