Hey guys!
A few weeks ago i sold my too small for me Bill Kelso jacket. I was in the quest for my new Indy Jacket!
So, i was ready to order a Wested Hero, but the lack of communication at Wested and them vaguely answering my questions about my size concerns made me change my mind and not place any order.
I saw a post by Indy Magnoli in the Vendor Announcement offering a jacket in a grainy Cowhide. I fell in love and contacted him. Three weeks later, BAM! Here it is.
After a little water/acetone/sandpaper treatment (i hate wearing new jackets), i'm happy to show it to you guys!
Details of the grain on the left arm and shoulder
Me wearing it :
(happy face)
Indiana Jones and the lost Selfie (please admire my AB Henry with freshly applied Hat Stiffener treatment) :
In a few words, Magnoli is good. Top quality, and i can smell the love of Indy Magnoli for that design.
Not a 100% screen accurate, because the Cowhide doesn't drapes like Lambsking. But i love it, perfect for the cold french weather.
I'll try to make some better pictures later!
Thanks again Magnoli!
ltfoley wrote:So, i was ready to order a Wested Hero, but the lack of communication at Wested and them vaguely answering my questions about my size concerns made me change my mind and not place any order.
Peter went the extra mile to lose your business too, huh?
Beautiful jacket, Foley! Please tell us about your fedora and other leather gear as well!
ltfoley wrote:So, i was ready to order a Wested Hero, but the lack of communication at Wested and them vaguely answering my questions about my size concerns made me change my mind and not place any order.
Peter went the extra mile to lose your business too, huh?
Beautiful jacket, Foley! Please tell us about your fedora and other leather gear as well!
Fedora is an AdventureBilt CS rebashed Raiders style. Bag is a original MKVII, sling was found on eBay, and gunbelt with holster was found on eBay too. Shirt is a WPG. I have to found a good pair of pants to finish the outfit.
Texan Scott wrote:That's a great looking jacket and the fit to a "T". Better hang on to that one!
How is the weight?
It quite heavy and thick. The package was declared 1.5kg... But i love it, and, it's strange but i think heavy jacket are more historically accurate than a lambskin jacket.
Holt wrote:Magnoli has one of the best jackets out there! Sturdy and SA.
Love mine as well!
Great jacket!
btw, love the Amsterdam picture on the wall. It's brother is hanging here on my wall too!
yeah but you have to live somewhere with big walls to be able to hang it! ^^
ltfoley wrote:
It quite heavy and thick. The package was declared 1.5kg... But i love it, and, it's strange but i think heavy jacket are more historically accurate than a lambskin jacket.
I'd say that's the only 'complaint' I'd have to say about the material. It's an amazing cowhide, but the weight really limits the amount of time you can wear it during the year.
ltfoley wrote:
It quite heavy and thick. The package was declared 1.5kg... But i love it, and, it's strange but i think heavy jacket are more historically accurate than a lambskin jacket.
I'd say that's the only 'complaint' I'd have to say about the material. It's an amazing cowhide, but the weight really limits the amount of time you can wear it during the year.
Regards! M
That depends on where you live. In France it's too hot three months a year, rest of the year it's okay.
ltfoley wrote:
It quite heavy and thick. The package was declared 1.5kg... But i love it, and, it's strange but i think heavy jacket are more historically accurate than a lambskin jacket.
I'd say that's the only 'complaint' I'd have to say about the material. It's an amazing cowhide, but the weight really limits the amount of time you can wear it during the year.
Regards! M
That depends on where you live. In France it's too hot three months a year, rest of the year it's okay.
Perhaps at Lille but not near Montélimar... So I'm glad my Indy jacket is lambskin I can wear it more often than a cowhide jacket.
By the way your jacket is quite beautiful, congrats!
ltfoley wrote:
It quite heavy and thick. The package was declared 1.5kg... But i love it, and, it's strange but i think heavy jacket are more historically accurate than a lambskin jacket.
I'd say that's the only 'complaint' I'd have to say about the material. It's an amazing cowhide, but the weight really limits the amount of time you can wear it during the year.
Regards! M
That depends on where you live. In France it's too hot three months a year, rest of the year it's okay.
And in the UK you can wear it pretty much all year, bar the odd day or two!
chuck2003 wrote:I love Magnoli....He makes some great stuff. I've been dying to get a last crusade jacket from him! Your jacket looks great wear it proudly
The reason i'm thinking about selling it is i don't have the raiders feel. I may be dumb, but i ordered a raiders and ended up with a generic indy jacket. It may be my fault because i ordered a very thick leather that doesn't drape like in Raiders. It Is a perfect jacket, built as a tank, and as you say, a work of art. Plus, Magnoli is a top guy.
But i think i'll be happier with a SA jacket.
If someone here is interested i'll sell. If not i'll keep it and order a Hero later.
Thing is, if you're not used to the 'off the shoulder' pattern of a 'real' Raiders jacket, you're going to be very disappointed, as you're right, the Magnoli is a 'real world' pattern for 'real world' wear.
The actual Raiders pattern is a costume pattern that looks great on film, but actually feels pretty odd until you get used to it...IF you get used to it.
I'm one that never got used to it, and have constantly fought to keep the jacket design up on my shoulders when unzipped. Some folks like that as it IS SA. I don't. I'm not trying to be 'Indy'. I'm looking for function over form. I have 3 in my closet in the SA Indy pattern that rarely see the light of day anymore......but that's just my experience and opinion.
That said, good luck in your quest. It's a long road that some people NEVER find the end to....and there's nothing wrong with that either.
Thing is, if you're not used to the 'off the shoulder' pattern of a 'real' Raiders jacket, you're going to be very disappointed, as you're right, the Magnoli is a 'real world' pattern for 'real world' wear.
The actual Raiders pattern is a costume pattern that looks great on film, but actually feels pretty odd until you get used to it...IF you get used to it.
I'm one that never got used to it, and have constantly fought to keep the jacket design up on my shoulders when unzipped. Some folks like that as it IS SA. I don't. I'm not trying to be 'Indy'. I'm looking for function over form. I have 3 in my closet in the SA Indy pattern that rarely see the light of day anymore......but that's just my experience and opinion.
That said, good luck in your quest. It's a long road that some people NEVER find the end to....and there's nothing wrong with that either.
HIGH regards! Michaelson
That's all my problem. I had a Kelso that was great but too short. I really loved it but was odd to wear because of its shortness. I sold it and bought the Magnoli. I really like the SA pattern and miss it. But everyone here is trying to tell me that this jacket fits me good. So. Maybe i'm victim of a whim.
If you would accept a 'word to the wise', keep this one and get yourself a SA versionyou like, as this one DOES appear to fit you perfectly from every angle.
That's rare around here. There's usually SOMETHING that's a bit 'off'. Not this time.
If you do that, at least you'll have a choice rather than regrets later.
I think it takes awhile to really get to a place where you find your niche. Too bad there is not a retail 'store' somewhere, a place to visit and try on jackets from different makers and then decide. Also, when trying to replicate a film jacket, there are different variables, such as skin thickness, texture and color, specs, quality construction, etc., several different variables for just one jacket. Some like the quirky pattern and some don't. I have found that for me, I liked the RoLA pattern better than I thought, because it is a more, "correct fitting" pattern than one that strives for SA as nearly as it can be made. It's not for everyone, but the long quest for me is over, with the Raiders jacket. I have one that I am very happy with. The worst thing that can happen is you have this idea in mind, and when you receive a new one, its cool to have a new jacket, but if reality does not meet expectations, then it's disconcerting and the hunt starts over. Best to get as near to exactly what you want as possible.
A few years back, I thought the leather that Todd sourced for his jackets was spot on, most nearly like what I saw in the movie, this was a semi-thin ribby lamb, not the super thin stuff he originally used. Yet, as time went by, the specs deviated slightly. The BK is a high quality, very good likeness, but I could not justify keeping a jacket like that for the price I paid. It was just my own take, so I sold it. As I shrunk a little, it had become to large for me and they would not do alterations, because it would require a serious overhaul. Yet, to date, I don't think anyone has been able to produce such an accurate and well made repro. There were a few TN's, and occasionally a Wested will appear, but for my needs, I need quality and value for the money. Wested makes one of the best fitting repros out there, if you approach it the right way.
Another thought is why not consider a BK that is longer in the torso. Use the other as a template and make tweaks as needed. I found the sleeves on the BK to be on the wide side, but that too was a preference thing.
Part of it could be that cowhide is usually thick and it needs to be broken in. Some will grab onto the novelty of getting a thicker hide, such as cow or horse, for a Raiders jacket, and in the photos, you can't really tell its THAT much thicker. Yet the mind will kinda play tricks on you, that I have this Raiders jacket and isn't it supposed to be thin and light like the movie jacket..? Wear a thicker and heavier Indy jacket and isn't it supposed to be 'warmer' in cooler weather? Not necessarily. It gives you that impression by weight because the hide is thicker and heavier. You begin to think that it will be warmer, yet it does not have any insulation. Cowhide can be just a bit on the stiff side, initially, but once broken in, its great leather for a jacket. Yet we usually have this impression of what the movie jacket is supposed to be, and sometimes this image does or doesn't always meet reality.
Thing is, if you're not used to the 'off the shoulder' pattern of a 'real' Raiders jacket, you're going to be very disappointed, as you're right, the Magnoli is a 'real world' pattern for 'real world' wear.
The actual Raiders pattern is a costume pattern that looks great on film, but actually feels pretty odd until you get used to it...IF you get used to it.
I'm one that never got used to it, and have constantly fought to keep the jacket design up on my shoulders when unzipped. Some folks like that as it IS SA. I don't. I'm not trying to be 'Indy'. I'm looking for function over form. I have 3 in my closet in the SA Indy pattern that rarely see the light of day anymore......but that's just my experience and opinion.
That said, good luck in your quest. It's a long road that some people NEVER find the end to....and there's nothing wrong with that either.
HIGH regards! Michaelson
That's all my problem. I had a Kelso that was great but too short. I really loved it but was odd to wear because of its shortness. I sold it and bought the Magnoli. I really like the SA pattern and miss it. But everyone here is trying to tell me that this jacket fits me good. So. Maybe i'm victim of a whim.
ltfoley wrote:More pics! Taken outside after 2 weeks of intense wearing and distressing.
looks more pinkish on the pics than it is in person.
I love it!
I agree that jacket looks amazing! I would keep it and beat the heck out of it. It will SA , or at least very very close to SA in a while. Then have some one take your picture in full gear if you have it. I think you will be surprised how good it looks...BTW who did make your hat? It looks great.