Club Obi Wan

Hello all,

I'm new to the forums, I have been checking out the site for some time. From reading some of the threads here, I am beginning to think some of you folks are right about this being an addiction: I found this sight a few months back, pretty cool. A couple more visits and my interest has peaked...maybe I should think about getting a jacket. A couple more visits and I start reading COW in depth. Then some more. Now I can't take it any more and must get an Indy. I'm dyin' here!

What threw me overboard was to learn that Wested is now making them in Horsehide. I have been reading up on this, and horsehide seems to be what I am looking for in terms of durability. And the fact that I have owned jackets of various styles in cow, lamb and goat makes me want to try something new. I have read here that a few of you have bought the wested horse. My only concern is the color. Peter specifies dark brown for the hide, but I have read that it may have a reddish(russet) tint? Im not sure thats what I want for color. I checked out Rob Irwin's page but the links for his pics are broken in the thread here in COW.

Do any of you have pics of the wested horse? I prefer a darker brown, and I want to be right on this..

As for what I plan on ordering:

TOD in Horsehide
1 pc gussets
elastic for the pleats
extra rh pocket
zippers for both inside pockets
buckle sliders
box stiching on pulls

I got professionally measured to be sure of my measurements, but from what I have read here, the jacket is a close fit; I am a 46L, but want a little xtra room, have many of you gone up a size for this reason? How is the fit? I plan on discussing this with them on the phone (their order form does not include the horse as a choice yet), but thought I'd ask around.

Some other questions i had that I could not find in the forums here:

What is the standard charge for adding zippers on the inside pockets?

Is the handwarmer and inside pocket lining satin or cotton? (I would prefer to get cotton)

Many thanks in advance for eveyone's input-it is truly appreciated.

-B-

The handwarmers are cotton. As for the color, even my lamb has that sort of russet brown color to it - as compared to the dark brown.

If you want to be screen-accurate, you have to take 2 piece gussets or no gussets. You may also consider the xbox sidestraps.

This was the best pic of Rob's to see the highlights:
<img src="http://tinypic.com/kysl4">

I tucked it away cause I was SERIOUSLY considering the horse myself. I only went lamb due to the extremely warm climate I'm in.

Remember, Rob pointed out that in most lights it actually looks very dark - if it's the same stock, this has a wide variation in perceived color based on the lighting. As an example, that pic is from when the sun came out. The pics he took only minutes before when it was overcast made it appear much darker, like the dark brown Westeds.

P.S. If you want that pic, SAVE it. My apologies to the mods, but I can't host it myself offsite and I couldn't make it smaller w/o making it useless. It's well under the pixel size limitations, but over on the file size. If too big, please delete it.

VP is right - the 2 piece gussets are the way to go if you want accuracy, they work better too.

Bjones wrote:What is the standard charge for adding zippers on the inside pockets?

Is the handwarmer and inside pocket lining satin or cotton? (I would prefer to get cotton)

I got zips on my inside ones. Another 5 pounds showed up on my invoice, don't know if it was that (for two zips) or something else, or just an increase in the base price, since their website is old. See this thread for more:
http://www.indygear.com/forum/viewtopic ... highlight=

Re: pocket liners, my inner pockets and handwarmers are lined w/ cotton. Just got this a week ago, so that should be current info.

Indiana Jerry,

THANKS for the pic. That has sealed my decision. Horse it will be.

OK....just got off the phone with Wested. So far so good. wasn't sure who I was talking to and forgot to ask-kind of went quickly.

We discussed the options and here they are:
TOD in Horse
rh pocket with zip (he reccomended leaving the zip off the lh pocket (for bulk)
buckle sliders
x-box stitching on the pulls
Press studs
No gussetts

Im a 46L and asked about wanting some extra room [going to a 48] and he said "we'll cut the 46L large", "don't worry, leave that to me". <--their confidence is comforting.

Anyways I was quoted 3 weeks. Updates to follow.

VP wrote:If you want to be screen-accurate, you have to take 2 piece gussets or no gussets. You may also consider the xbox sidestraps.

Peter will only do 1 piece gussets.

Are you sure Texas? I ordered my first Wested in Sept. and when I requested the two piece gussets Peter just took it down with the other requests I made.

Unless Peter has a new policy, Wested will do a 2-piece gusset.

If you don't specifically ask for the 2-piece, they will supply a 1-piece as standard.

Peter himself has stated on several occassions that none of the movie jackets had 1-piece gussets (they had either NO gussets or the 2-piece) so offering only the 1-piece wouldn't make much sense.

I sincerely hope that isn't the case.

I guess that was overlooked when I requested 2-piece on mine. Just like they overlooked the elastic. Peter even confirmed the order by typing in the return email: "wilst the gussets and elastics are no problem." I just figured he didn't do that any more. Now it kind of annoys me that these two things were ingnored. I really don't think I HAVE to have them, so no big deal, but still - why don't they get it right the first time? Who wants to send the darn thing back and forth across the ocean to get it done? And if I hear anyone say "oh Peter is just so busy with his movies and his this and that...." I am going to crack. I don't understand doing business this way, not at all, and never will. Ugh.

Don't get me wrong, I still love my jacket. I would recommend these jackets to anyone. Just don't count on your requests being honored and the communication to be there. Whether or not they are "so terribly busy and blah blah." Man, I need to lay off the coffee....

8-[

It's dissapointing when something gets missed like that - my first Wested jacket arrived with no press studs on the pockets, so I had to send it back - but it was easier for me to do that as I'm in the UK.

It doesn't help you now Texas, but for anyone else 'tuning in' might I suggest a follow up phone call to Wested a few weeks into your order, at which time you check that all your specs have been included before the jacket gets shipped. It's one way to be sure, although by rights the responsibility shouldn't be yours.

At Wested's end, they should really consider introducing a tighter quality control system to check the jackets against what was requested before each one ships.

Mistakes can and do happen, nothing will change that, but prevention is always better than cure.

You're not alone with your experience, Texas. I too think that they should look over their communication and logistics within the company, so to speak. I'm not sure how it is run at the moment, but making sure that three people have the same message about the specs of a persons jacket shouldn't be that difficult. Wested is a great company and the maker of a fine jacket and fashions, but with that said nothing tells me it all couldn't be done even better.
My 2 cents feedback from my own experience.

Regards,
Swindiana

ob1al wrote:for anyone else 'tuning in' might I suggest a follow up phone call to Wested a few weeks into your order, at which time you check that all your specs have been included before the jacket gets shipped.

This is a good suggestion. If I was quoted 3 weeks on the jacket, I'm assuming shipping is an additional 3-5 days on top of this. I plan on calling them back to confirm at about the 2.5 week mark when they would be close to wrapping up. While I appreciate them willing to get it right, I don't want to have to send it back over the pond for minor things like studs. If it doesn't fit...well thats another issue.

I'd call at 2 weeks, just in case any reminders to them make a difference in the cut of the pieces BEFORE assembly.

Can't help thinking this is a nice small mom & pop operation, and that trying to add the modern notion of quality control would have to be done carefully to keep w/ mucking w/ a formula that for the most part works extremely well! (Let he among you who is truly unsatisfied w/ your Wested cast the first golden idol...)

I'll do that for sure. I've got my list of xtras, so hopefully they can check them off for me while Im on the phone....I emailed them because I forgot to have them extend the zipper to the bottom of the jacket on my TOD horse. Gerry said they couldn't take it all the way down due to the design, but would extend it as far as they could. Is there a major difference between the TOD and LC jackets? The pic you put up Jerry of Rob's jacket shows the zipper all the way down to the hem.

Not a clue here. My understanding is the difference is the TOD is a bit longer, and the LC has large pockets, collar, and press-studs in the storm flap. But I think the LC-sized pockets are now the default on all three patterns.

As for the zipper length, from what I've seen extending the zipper down is always a special request, they typically end it a couple inches from the bottom.

And yes, I've heard before that the zipper can't go COMPLETELY to the bottom...can't remember exactly why, but I think it's because you can't sew the zipper into the very end where the leather is seamed for the corner. Might be remembering that wrong, though.

Smarter people want to jump in here?

Smarter, no...quicker, easier, more seductive, yes.

This thread might be helpful:

http://www.indygear.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10222

There is no difference between the Wested TofD and LC jackets aside from the LC collar being bigger and press studs on the top and bottom of the storm flap.

ob1al wrote:Smarter, no...quicker, easier, more seductive, yes.

This thread might be helpful:

http://www.indygear.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10222

Easier and more seductive huh? Not sure what to do with that

Thanks ob1al, the thread you referenced was actually what made me send the question to Gerry, I was just a bit confused by his response that he couldn't do it (but would take the zipper down as far as possible). Maybe Rob's LC horsehide is actually what Gerry is talking about, I can't tell if it goes ALL the way down, maybe it stops at 1/4" or so. I'm sure it will be fine.

And the wait goes on-I've actually hit the numb stage...not so pre-occupied with it anymore.