I've been wondering what I have here. I just bought this US Wings jacket on ebay for $50 & wondered if anybody had any further information about it, particularly age. Started looking on here & found a little on the "lottery jackets". Has a US Wings label, with a "Made in China" tag.
It's a 2X and fits rather loose, like when 2x's were 2x's in the early 90's. A bit large on me, but I hope with wear it will draw up a little. The most noticeable thing about it is the belts are sewn about an inch into the pockets. I've not been able to find any images of any makers having belts this long. I might have that altered in the future as it can get in your way when accessing the pocket. The leather doesn't seem especially thin to me.
It kind of looks like an early 90's distressing, where it feels almost like suede. I'm not real satisfied with the finish, it's got no color or contrast left & is pretty dried out, so I am doing a rework with some dark brown dye and neatsfoot oil. These pics show more color than in reality. I'll post photos when it's done.
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Would you happen to know if those long belts were early in their run, or when US Wings started to produce Indy jackets? The placement of that belt seems like too obvious a thing to mess up and I don't think I've seen it in older or even bad repro knockoff jackets?
I'm still hung up on the belts, though. I'm still not seeing any pics of anything with that front belt sewn where it is.
I'm beginning to wonder if it wasn't a factory second, I don't believe US Wings would give that location as an option?
blueoakleyz wrote:So are both the lightweight and the striated going to be from the same pattern?
I'd like the very soft lightweight one but I want it to be the accurate pattern (or at least one that's fairly accurate and no snaps on the storm flap)
As far as I know, the lightweight is going to be the standard Wings pattern. The striated is going to be off of Cooper's 25 year old pattern with the side straps going into the pocket edge similar to the Blue Label they produced a couple of years ago.
I seem to recall that way back when I was looking for my first Indy jacket in the year 2000 reading here that one of the jacket makers had really long side straps that some members would tuck into the hand warmer pockets. Seems consistent with what I'm seeing on those straps.
Yeah , the old Wings jackets had long straps, and there was a long standing debate on strap location between Wings owners and Wested owners. It just a piece of the great ‘jacket wars’.
At the time the biggest contact buyer of the USWings Indy jackets were (believe it or not) TVA and, of course, Disney Corp.
Well, I fell down a rabbit hole of reading threads while waiting on dye to soak in today. I'm still confused as to the exact vintage or what run this is, but the straps don't bother me as much now. I may just leave 'em there to be contrary.
Here's some "after" shots while letting it dry. It may be heresy for some to get rid of that rough look, but I just couldn't stand it. Thing was really thirsty. Here it is after 10 oz of fiebings and some neatsfoot oil. The flash is making it come out a little shiny and orange. Really happy with it now!
I have seen side straps attach like those ones on other older US Wings jackets that were sizes XXL and XXXL. Seems like they're normal straps when they're XL and below. I had a china-made blue label jacket just like this about 15+ years ago; great jacket, wish I hadn't sold it now.
