Bill Kelso's Relic Hunter

Mulceber · Post by **Mulceber** » Fri Jul 07, 2017 3:55 pm

How long does it usually take to get a response from Andy? I sent a message on Sunday about sizing and haven't heard back.

Duck9000 · Post by **Duck9000** » Fri Jul 07, 2017 4:36 pm

Mulceber wrote:How long does it usually take to get a response from Andy? I sent a message on Sunday about sizing and haven't heard back.

Email or PM here?

Mulceber · Post by **Mulceber** » Fri Jul 07, 2017 4:46 pm

Both, actually. I sent a PM initially, realized that might not be his preferred mode of communication, and then sent him an email.

Glenville86 · Post by **Glenville86** » Fri Jul 07, 2017 5:36 pm

Communications I have had with him were fairly quick (within a few days).

Mulceber · Post by **Mulceber** » Fri Jul 07, 2017 6:03 pm

So give it a few more days then? I've been itching to order after seeing all of the phenomenal looking jackets in this thread, but I'm sure I can hold my horses for a few days.

edit: I decided to email him again using the sales@billkelsomfg.com email - previously I'd just used the "contact" form on his website.

xmasters · Post by **xmasters** » Sat Jul 08, 2017 3:25 pm

Does anybody to hand know what the backlength and sleeve length is for Relic Hunter size 40 R.

That would be an off the rack RH.

Duck9000 · Post by **Duck9000** » Sat Jul 08, 2017 5:35 pm

xmasters wrote:Does anybody to hand know what the backlength and sleeve length is for Relic Hunter size 40 R.

That would be an off the rack RH.

Size 40R
pit to pit 22.5
shoulders 20
back 23
sleeve 25.5

Frederick · Post by **Frederick** » Sat Jul 08, 2017 11:54 pm

xmasters wrote:Does anybody to hand know what the backlength and sleeve length is for Relic Hunter size 40 R.

That would be an off the rack RH.

This is the info that Andy sent me in May this year:

Relic Hunter size 40
--------------------
pit to pit 23.5
shoulders 20
back 23
sleeve 25.5

Mulceber · Post by **Mulceber** » Sun Jul 09, 2017 2:23 am

Anybody got the measurements for a 42? That's what I was emailing him about.

xmasters · Post by **xmasters** » Sun Jul 09, 2017 7:57 am

Thanks for the info Duck9000 and Frederick. Quite interesting.

The pit to pit measurement is greater than my 40" Wested Hero which has a pit to pit of 20.5

Seems like Wested are delivering slightly more tailored fits in their Hero sizing.

Duck9000 · Post by **Duck9000** » Sun Jul 09, 2017 1:01 pm

Mulceber wrote:Anybody got the measurements for a 42? That's what I was emailing him about.

Bill Kelso Relic Hunter 42

pit to pit 23 1/2
shoulders 20 3/4
back 23 1/2
sleeve 25 3/4

Mulceber · Post by **Mulceber** » Mon Jul 10, 2017 2:13 am

Thank you good sir!

Duck9000 · Post by **Duck9000** » Mon Jul 10, 2017 9:29 am

Mulceber wrote:Thank you good sir!

You're welcome!

Mulceber · Post by **Mulceber** » Tue Aug 01, 2017 12:51 pm

Just ordered from BK! $\:D/$

I should be receiving a new Relic Hunter Cairo in striated lamb in about a month...

...has anyone else ever notice that a month is basically forever?

CRB · Post by **CRB** » Tue Aug 01, 2017 1:00 pm

But aren't they closed for the summer or was it in stock already ?

Mulceber · Post by **Mulceber** » Tue Aug 01, 2017 1:01 pm

Their customer service and shipping were closed from July 15-30th. They're back open again.

xmasters · Post by **xmasters** » Fri Aug 04, 2017 6:14 pm

Are people mostly ordering the stock size jackets or going for custom measurements?

Mulceber · Post by **Mulceber** » Sat Aug 05, 2017 9:27 am

I sent my measurements to Andy, and asked him if he thought a stock size would fit me well. I get the sense that's pretty common. We ended up going for custom measurements.

Glenville86 · Post by **Glenville86** » Sat Aug 05, 2017 9:11 pm

xmasters wrote:Are people mostly ordering the stock size jackets or going for custom measurements?

I have ordered 3 of them.

The first was a SL Jacket but I used the sizing off another makers Indy Raiders jacket that fit me well. Needless to say I paid extra for the back length which ended up being too long. Sliders for the waist adjustment ended up being just below my belt as well........

I have since ordered 48 Long in seal goat and the house horsehide with basically just adding an inch to the pit-to-pit and a 1/2 inch to the back.

I had also done the same thing on the first Hero jacket I bought off Wested a few years back.

BK and the Wested Hero are sized differently than normal OTR ones. At least for me.

The stock BK in a 48 Long would work but I did not want a snug jacket and a little longer in the back works as I am pretty tall.

Frederick · Post by **Frederick** » Mon Aug 07, 2017 5:01 am

xmasters wrote:Are people mostly ordering the stock size jackets or going for custom measurements?

I'm in the process now and have ordered custom measurements.

xmasters · Post by **xmasters** » Mon Aug 07, 2017 9:27 am

Interesting, what are they out of interest?

Frederick · Post by **Frederick** » Mon Aug 07, 2017 11:38 pm

xmasters wrote: Interesting, what are they out of interest?

I ordered the Cairo Version: size 38 but with the back lengthened slightly and sleeves shortened slightly, the shoulders I'll be confirming with Andy soon. I'm going for a less overhang in the shoulders hence the changes.

xmasters · Post by **xmasters** » Tue Aug 08, 2017 10:29 am

I don't think the Relic Hunter has as much of an overhang as the Wested Hero, so make sure you don't make it too boxey shortening it even more.

Frederick · Post by **Frederick** » Wed Aug 09, 2017 3:02 am

xmasters wrote:I don't think the Relic Hunter has as much of an overhang as the Wested Hero, so make sure you don't make it too boxey shortening it even more.

Thanks for the tip.

Mulceber · Post by **Mulceber** » Sun Sep 10, 2017 8:17 pm

What's the shipping time for a BK jacket to the states? I haven't gotten a shipping notification yet, but I'm itching to see this jacket...

sharkboy · Post by **sharkboy** » Mon Sep 11, 2017 4:56 pm

when did you order?

when I got mine it took three months to make, then a week or so once it shipped from overseas.

Mulceber · Post by **Mulceber** » Mon Sep 11, 2017 9:11 pm

Beginning of August, although Andy estimated they'd be done in September.

A week to deliver from England doesn't sound bad though.

senorjacob · Post by **senorjacob** » Tue Sep 12, 2017 2:46 am

FYI... I visited the American Classics store in London a few days ago and they have a size 40 relic hunter on the rack waited to get snatched up.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Frederick · Post by **Frederick** » Sat Sep 16, 2017 6:59 pm

Mulceber wrote:Beginning of August, although Andy estimated they'd be done in September. A week to deliver from England doesn't sound bad though.

Exciting, I look forward to seeing it! I ordered mine at the start of the August as well. It will be travelling all the way to NZ. No telling yet on the ETA. Did you go for custom measurement or OTR?

Mulceber · Post by **Mulceber** » Sun Sep 17, 2017 10:32 am

custom measurements, after discussing my measurements with Andy. He even waved the 50 pound custom measurements fee because I ordered right then and there. Yourself?

Frederick · Post by **Frederick** » Sun Sep 17, 2017 3:15 pm

Mulceber wrote:custom measurements, after discussing my measurements with Andy. He even waved the 50 pound custom measurements fee because I ordered right then and there. Yourself?

That's very nice of him to wave it - I went for custom as well. Took me a while to settle on my measurements but happy now. Went for a modified 38 with slightly smaller shoulders.

Mulceber · Post by **Mulceber** » Sun Sep 17, 2017 3:18 pm

Frederick wrote:That's very nice of him to wave it - I went for custom as well. Took me a while to settle on my measurements but happy now. Went for a modified 38 with slightly smaller shoulders.

Nice! I'll look forward to seeing pictures when you get it!

Did you go for the Cairo variant or Peru?

Frederick · Post by **Frederick** » Sun Sep 17, 2017 9:38 pm

Mulceber wrote:
Frederick wrote:That's very nice of him to wave it - I went for custom as well. Took me a while to settle on my measurements but happy now. Went for a modified 38 with slightly smaller shoulders.
Nice! I'll look forward to seeing pictures when you get it! Did you go for the Cairo variant or Peru?

I went for the more conservative Cairo instead. I'm weary that from the measurements I've seen the South America collar might look a bit too large on me for my preference. You?

Mulceber · Post by **Mulceber** » Sun Sep 17, 2017 11:51 pm

Cairo as well: Indy spends more of the movie wearing that one, and I'm a fan of the Cairo hat, so I'd like to have a jacket to match.

Also, I already have a Wested Hero jacket, and it looks like they have the South America collar.

Frederick · Post by **Frederick** » Sun Sep 17, 2017 11:59 pm

Mulceber wrote:Cairo as well: Indy spends more of the movie wearing that one, and I'm a fan of the Cairo hat, so I'd like to have a jacket to match. Also, I already have a Wested Hero jacket, and it looks like they have the South America collar.

Awesome, yeah same here. I have a Wested Hero with SA collar as well so trying something different! $\:D/$

Mulceber · Post by **Mulceber** » Mon Sep 18, 2017 12:17 am

Here's hoping they both arrive soon.

Mulceber · Post by **Mulceber** » Wed Sep 20, 2017 12:26 am

Well, they told me it shipped last Thursday, and it’s been sitting in NY Customs since Saturday. Now for (more of) the waiting game...

Mulceber · Post by **Mulceber** » Mon Sep 25, 2017 7:34 pm

So, I got a package in the mail today...

After carefully opening the box without aid of a knife, I tried on my new striated lamb Cairo BK jacket:

Thoughts on the jacket:

-the fit is absolutely perfect. Other people have described their BK jackets as fitting like a glove, and they're not wrong. I was worried all through the wait that the fit wouldn't be good, or that my dimensions were too weird. Turns out, I needn't have fretted.

-the one thing that may be a draw back for some is the toughness of this hide. I know lambskin is never the hide to be worn for toughness, but the BK striated lamb is even thinner than the Wested lamb. I even got a couple of very light abrasions on the cuff when it brushed up against the teeth of the zipper. This isn't a fault of the jacket, and I have no regrets about going for striated lamb - it's the trade-off for having a jacket that looks like you got in a time machine and robbed Harrison Ford back in 1980-81.

-the flip side of this is that this jacket is also the most comfortable one I have ever owned: the lining is cotton, just like my Wested Hero jacket, but it is insanely soft cotton. The leather is also the softest stuff I've ever seen. My fiance (who took the photos for me) commented as she was brushing up against me that the feel was amazing.

All said and done, this is a spectacular jacket from a spectacular company. I wouldn't hesitate to buy from BK again.

Forrest For the Trees · Mon Sep 25, 2017 7:41 pm

Looks great! Tighten those straps a bit!

Mulceber · Post by **Mulceber** » Tue Sep 26, 2017 12:45 am

Done. Thanks for the tip.

davidafshar · Post by **davidafshar** » Tue Sep 26, 2017 1:22 am

All the photos look great, but that one with it zipped really highlights how perfect this jacket is, to me. Like you said, looks like you stole it off Ford.

senorjacob · Post by **senorjacob** » Tue Sep 26, 2017 3:58 am

Sweet jacket, dude. Perfect fit.

Marv · Post by **Marv** » Tue Sep 26, 2017 4:04 am

Looks really great and a superb fit, which version of the jacket did you go for as its a bit hard to tell from the photos.

Marv · Post by **Marv** » Tue Sep 26, 2017 4:10 am

Marv wrote:Looks really great and a superb fit, which version of the jacket did you go for as its a bit hard to tell from the photos.

Cairo version, just read through whole post

Mulceber · Post by **Mulceber** » Tue Sep 26, 2017 8:07 am

Marv wrote:
Marv wrote:Looks really great and a superb fit, which version of the jacket did you go for as its a bit hard to tell from the photos.
Cairo version, just read through whole post

Yep, Cairo version. I forgot to mention it in the review - I’ve edited it in now.

xmasters · Post by **xmasters** » Tue Sep 26, 2017 11:54 am

Looks great!

Frederick · Post by **Frederick** » Tue Sep 26, 2017 2:27 pm

Great jacket Mulceber - you look like a very happy chap there!! Well done, it looks great on you and you'll enjoy sleeping in it?

I believe my jacket will be the next one in line!

Out of interest how wide are those collars at the tip?

Mulceber · Post by **Mulceber** » Tue Sep 26, 2017 4:21 pm

Thanks, Frederick! Lol, the thought had crossed my mind. When I read that line about sleeping in a Relic Hunter on BK's website, I scoffed, but honestly, it is THAT comfortable.

I measured the collar on mine and it's 2 7/8 inches, or about 7.3 cm.

I'll look forward to seeing pictures of yours, and hearing how you enjoy it!

Indakin · Post by **Indakin** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 3:59 pm

great looking jackets everyone !

Just posted similar question in the Wested thread as well..... since those new hero jackets are looking pretty great.

But I'm feeling more of a pull toward getting a Kelso.

Ill have to check a few sizing issues for myself.... since usually my arms tend to need the longer size.

Whats the feeling for most of you... the kelso / the hero wested?

Mulceber · Post by **Mulceber** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 6:03 pm

I own both a BK in striated lamb and a Wested Hero jacket in their lambskin, and here's how I think it breaks down:

Price - obviously, the Wested Hero jacket has the edge here. ~$300 vs. ~$700.

Delivery time - Wested. Kelso takes about a month and a half, which is pretty good, but for an off the rack Wested, the delivery's a couple weeks.

Fit - Kelso. Wested is frequently wonky in their sizing: Mine has 26.5" sleeves when I asked for 25.5". The Kelso jackets, meanwhile, are tailored to you, and everyone I've ever heard from who's bought one (myself included) says they fit like a glove.

Comfort - Kelso. Wested's Hero jacket is a bit too much off the shoulders, which I find makes it constantly feel like it's about to fall off. The Kelso is a little off the shoulders (as any Raiders jacket should be), but not too much, and their lining is amazing. I don't know what they did to make the cotton feel so nice, but it makes for a really comfortable jacket!

Look - Kelso. Wested's NZ lambskin looks great, but not like the BK striated lamb. It's just perfect. With the addition of the Berman's and Nathan's patch on the inside, this is as close as you'll get to the original Raiders jacket in terms of look.

Toughness - it's a wash. Wested's lambskin is probably a bit tougher than the BK, but that's not saying much, and nobody in their right mind buys a lambskin jacket for its toughness anyway. If you're planning on buying a goatskin/cowhide/horsehide jacket, I can't say for sure, but it's probably still a wash - Wested and BK both have goatskin, they both have cowhide, and they both have horsehide. I don't know how BK and Wested compare when it comes to those leathers, but I'm guessing they're all pretty tough.

Now it all depends on which of these criteria matter most to you...