Wested's Antique Lambtouch Hide:

[Captain D]

Hi all,

Any takers of this particular jacket/hide? If so, any pics? Is the brown color lighter or darker than the Authentic brown goatskin?

Thank you for any and all replies,
Aaron

[Michaelson]

If it's like his regular 'lambtouch' cowhide, it's about the same thickness and feel of lambskin, but a hair stiffer right out of the box.

It's one of my favorites of his stable.

Regard! Michaelson

[Kt Templar]

It presents like a cross between worn look cow and copper novapelle with the thinness of lamb.... but is cow! i.e. it's a pre-distressed light weight cowhide.

[Captain D]

Thanks gents for the info, so, the color brown is kinda light or 'lighter' than the Authentic brown goatskin that Wested currently offers it seems. Hmmm, I kind of like my jackets a lil' on the dark side (no pun towards Star Wars, lol). I may really like to go for this jacket, but yeah, any outdoor pics in sunlight will help me make a decision. But if not, that's okay - thank you for the replies.
All the best,
Aaron

[Gorak]

Gosh darn it...if I could get Wested to trim that yoke panel, I`d be all over one of these. I really liked my US Wings Legend that had that same color hide but it was just too heavy for my climate. But now that this is a thin version, hmmmmm.....I`d love to see more pics too.....

[Michaelson]

It's a good weight cowhide for your neck of the woods, Gorak.

Regard! Michaelson

[Captain D]

I just checked out US Wing's 'Legend Steerhide' for a comparison if that was the one you referred to for color. If Wested's is close, than it may be okay after all perhaps. Just out of curiosity - if I went for one of these jackets, but attempted to darken up this particular hide somewhat - would it be possible and what could be used?

Thanks again!
Aaron

[CRB]

I'm off to Wested this week so will be able to see the hide in person, will let you know what the colour's like.

[Captain D]

Thank you CRB for taking the time to check out this hide in person for me/us - that was very kind of you my friend!

Although I realize that you may not be able to actually take the jacket outside of the shop first without paying for it to snap a few pics of it in the sunlight, any pics that you could provide to help us get an overall feel of its actual color would be great!

Thank you for your time and efforts and I look forward to your findings,
Aaron

[ProfessorHenryWJonesJr]

COW member "CRB", any information and updates concerning the Antique Lambtouch hide concerning your planned visit to Wested Leather last week?

[CRB]

Hi, yes don't worry I haven't forgotten. Things had a drastic turnaround this week so my trip had to be postponed. That and the fact I am now in possession of a Nowak Raiders, which was the jacket I was headed to Wested for. So now my trip is all about the LC jacket. Either way I will report back when I've been (now planned for next week!)

[ProfessorHenryWJonesJr]

Thank you for the update, "CRB". Much appreciated. And congrats on obtaining a Nowak "Raiders". Enjoy. Looking forward towards the report of your findings on the hide.

[CRB]

Hello, so I finally managed to find the time to visit the barn at Wested today, despite an awful awful journey (lorry catching fire on motorway etc.)

Anyway, it was nice to visit again and Gemma was as welcoming as always. Peter was around outside somewhere but I didnt speak to him. I was far too busy trying on what must have been half of the stock ! It was fund to try sizes that I knew wouldnt fit just to see how differently they behave, been at the Wested barn is like being a kid in a toy shop. They did have a very nice Magneto jacket that I'm still thinking of getting now. They also had a Hero Raiders in nubuck which was a one off jacket made as they had the bit of leather left over. It was a fraction too big for me but I still almost bought it, lovely finish on it. Despite all my trying on I didn't actually buy anything in the end mainly as I would always need custom to get an extra inch on the sleeves. I saw practically all of the leathers they offer, it is really is nice to see these in person than guessing what they are like on the net. If I had no Indy jacket and was buying one now I'd say the pre-distressed cowhide they do would be the best option - it looks great and holds together much better than the lamb products. It is heavy of course which is why I didn't buy one (it was even heavier than my Belstaff Indy jacket). They had a number of the recent shrunken lamb jackets - and they all looked exactly like the one I bought previously. I did see some leather samples that looked like a much smoother version of it but I didn't get round to asking them what it was (they may have been rejects or cut offs as they weren't that big).

Finally, yes they had some jacket made up in the new Antique lamb-touch hide. This was very similar to the pre-distressed hide I mentioned above, but it wasn't as distressed (more an antique look) and was a little bit lighter. A very good choice for a soft but durable Indy jacket I would say, but it is notably heavier than the normal lamb they offer.

Here's a couple of photos I took while I was there (these are of the Antique lambs-touch hide):





Hope that all helps !

C

[Michaelson]

.....and was a little bit lighter. A very good choice for a soft but durable Indy jacket I would say, but it is notably heavier than the normal lamb they offer.
C

I've been telling folks that for years, even wearing a prototype Raiders version to the second QM summit back in 2003 for folks to examine, but no one listened and the hide was discontinued for a long time. Peter even had to root around in his backroom to find me some to make a prototype 'Fedora' jacket a few years back.

Thanks for posting that. It's a great material!

Regards! Michaelson

[ProfessorHenryWJonesJr]

COW member "CRB", thank you taking the time to inform us on your findings, along with the pictures of the antique lamb touch cowhide, at Wested Leather. It is greatly appreciated.

Also, glad to hear you survived the trip over there.

[Captain D]

Yes, 'thank you' CRB for taking the time to help us out - that was very kind of you and is most appreciated!

Decisions, decisions, lol, but I agree - it must have been pretty cool and daunting to walk in to see all of those Indy jackets indeed! The lamb-touch hide seems, to me at least, almost like a really good Temple of Doom style of jacket - which, even though we didn't see it much during most of the film, I feel it really looked the most naturally worn-in jacket throughout much of the series.

High regards my friend!
Aaron

[whiskyman]

Maybe it'S the pics, but the antique lambtouch looks very much like the old washed goat in colour and texture.

[Captain D]

Having never seen a washed goat in person, that's actually good news for me since I would have loved to have a washed goat Wested Indy jacket. Its certainly tempting...

[Michaelson]

Pull the trigger, Aaron. No pressure....

[Texan Scott]

It's funny, but from the beginning, LC repro jackets were made from cowhide, an obvious choice for a thicker, broken hide type appearance. I like this material, and with some pecard, it looks like it would really do the look justice. Looks a whole lot like NP.

[Michaelson]

Yep, but a WHOLE lot less physical weight than the NP, Tex!

Regard! Michaelson

[Captain D]

Hi there Michaelson, no pressure, lol,

I'm torn between a washed goat from another member here and this particular hide. If they're that similar in color, texture, etc. than its no biggie with the exception of weight and the durability factors in comparison/contrast between the two types of hides.

The only thing that kind of made me a little weary was what CRB noted about the color when he stated, "This was very similar to the pre-distressed hide I mentioned above, but it wasn't as distressed (more an antique look) and was a little bit lighter. " If he was referring to weight, than that's not a problem but if its regards to the lightness of the color brown, I suppose I'm partial to darker brown rather than a lighter colored brown. But, the more I hear and see about this jacket, I'm kinda on the fence, .

All the best,
Aaron

[CRB]

Ok let me address that - I meant the leather itself was similar to the pre-distressed cow they do, but without all the distressing marks - this makes it look like a plain 'antique' look (personally my favourite). The brown is a bit darker in colur than the pre-distressed hide - obviously, as it hasn't been distressed. When I said 'lighter' I was referring to the weight. Its a lovely soft and supple lighter weight cow. Note I dont use the term 'lightweight' as its not - lamb is lightweight, this is cow. But for a cow leather it is a lighter version of that.

This is going to sound controversial but it's very similar indeed to Tony Nowak's 747 leather - in texture, weight, colour and general feel. I have a 747 Nowak and have therefore had the two in my hand. the 747 is a bit more worn looking, but I expect that will come with age anyway with the Wested. I like this leather so much that I'm almost tempted to get one too - even though I really dont need it !

In my photo of the jacket against the rail of jackets - the pre-distressed are the ones right behind the right shoulder of the jacket, to give you a small comparison.

[Texan Scott]

If you have any samples of the pre-D and lamb touch hide, please send them to me and I will pay the shipping, etc.?

[Captain D]

Hi there CRB,

"Thank you" once again for the description and clarification my friend! I apologize if I took the previous description off-target w/ regards to the jacket's weight/color, lol, I suppose I can be picky about the jacket @ times But thank you again for the clarification!

With all of this in mind, I can say that I am getting closer to pulling the trigger,
High regards,
Aaron

[CRB]

You're welcome. If I didn't already have two jackets in that weight then I'd be going for this particular leather. Not 100% sure which Wested pattern I'd pick (I've got issues with all of them) but the leather is one of the best I've seen them do.