Club Obi Wan

I know this was touched on back in 2002 but wanted to get some more opinions. Where should the bottom of the raiders jacket fall? a few inches below the belt? to the top of your rear pants pocket?

i am 6'2" and the 44 regular length of 25.25 is just too short. i went with the 46 long this time which i think should take me lower than the top of my back pockets.

thanks,
harry

I think it's just a matter of taste, whatever feels right to you. By design this is a short jacket rather than a coat, but you need to feel comfortable wearing it at the end of the day.

I prefer a slightly longer jacket, ending more or less in line with the top of my jeans back pockets.

that would be a good length if it was a cocktail dress

Hi there,

I have relatively the same dimentions as you. I found ( when I owned my wested 14 years ago) the 44 long worked perfectly, but yes, still rode up a little in the back by about an inch. So the new extra inch there should help according to what I've heard.

IK

I'm 6 ft. tall and I got a 42 long and it fits perfect right at the top of my rear pockets. I also have an extra 1 inch in the front.

Luke

Man I am getting freaked out. After lurking for a year and getting to know all of you in a one way fashion, I took the plunge and ordered. My wife just ordered my raiders jacket for me with the measurements that I gave her pasted into the "special requests" section, but after reading this I am worried that my overall length is not going to be long enough. I told Peter in the email that my back measurement was 24 1/2" from my C5 vertebrae to my waist line measurement of 35 inches. I'm 6'2" and not short bodied. I hope the overall length of the jacket isn't made to that length exactly or this is gonna be right at the top of my belt when I wear it. Should I contact Wested and reiterate what I said in the beginning or just trust that they will get it right?

Welcome Fletch!

Congratulations on your jacket order. BTW, it might be an idea to contact Wested about your query.

Indeed, welcome! (Great avatar, btw)
What Canyon said. If in doubt, give Peter a call or shoot him a mail. Or take off and nuke the site from orbit.

Those three alternatives are the only ways to be sure.

Thank you both for the welcome and info. I just sent an email asking for the back length from the base of the collar to the bottom edge of the jacket to be 26 3/4". That should fall right at my back pockets. Jerry said it would be 28 days originally from start to finish. I had the jacket ordered 5 days ago so I hope that doesnt present a problem for them. I will be sure to post pics when I get it. It's great to finally be a vocal member of COW.

Cheers all

sounds like a good length. any thought to adding an extra inch to the front. i dont have a stomach but i still get the ride up in the front when zipped. i think my chest makes it raise up further

Yep, I most certainly did ask for an extra inch and a half in the front. I have another box cut leather coat, kinda retro 70's cowhide and though I am slim w/o a budda belly, that coat rides up something awful. Guess we are in the same boat. These are the specs I asked for.

Hi Wested Team,
I’m just another fanatic who thanks to Indygear.com, has another spec’ed out order for you. It is an extreme pleasure to be able to purchase from your fine shop. If any of these requests cannot be fulfilled or you truly feel they wouldn’t be wise just do what you feel is right. No need to contact me. I know I am messing with an already perfect product.

Ok, I would love a Dark Brown Goatskin Raiders jacket with the following details please.

Cotton Body, Satin Sleeve Lining
Back Pleat Elastic under the liner to aid in keeping the pleats closed
Gunmetal or Black Rectangular Side Fasteners
Two-Piece Underarm Gussets
Smaller gauge Zipper that extends as far down to the bottom of the jacket as possible w/o the zipper pull showing.
X-Box Stitching on the Side Straps
No inside leather facing on the right breast side
One Inside Left Breast Slit Pocket
1 ½” longer length in the front to overcome future ride-up.

The following additional details if possible:

Yoke – 1.25” shorter thereby bringing the bottom of the yoke seam up, towards the shoulders; arm seam should be 1.25” Below the yoke lower seam.

Collar – The collar that meets the storm flap should extend out ¾” past the storm flap seam. (for example, if the storm flap is 1.5”, then the collar should end midway in the storm flap.)

Thank you

We will see how it goes. I left some wiggle room for their own judgement despite my requests but I will be sure to post pics before commenting on receiving it. Thanks again to all who make this forum possible. I have loved learning more about my favorite jcharacter from my childhood and copied bits and pieces of your previous orders for my own ideal jacket.
The waiting for it is just as fun.

Now back to your jacket length questions

Harry,
I notice your saw my thread, but for the record...

My recent Wested was size 42, chest 38, shoulder 7, length 25, sleeve 25, and is I believe, after much reflect screen accurate in length. Check the scene in Raiders, when Indy finds the Nazis are digging in the wrong place (and monkey snuffs it).
You get some decent (non-action) shots of the length, front and back.

However I am also sure the sleeves should be longer - on mine.

As per other thread, for the taller Jones, I think you need longer sleeves & length.

I seem to be in the minority here in that my Raiders 42 reg appears to be a bit too LONG, especially in the back, coming to just below the top of my back pockets. Makes me wonder if I got a TOD jacket instead.

I'm 6'1, 175 and I think my next one will be a 40 reg for a snugger, tighter look, more accurate to the Raiders film.

Like mentioned, it's all about taste and what you think is right I guess. People can be of equal hight, but with different proportions.
I had a ToD jacket that needed to be sent back for alterations, being too short was one thing. I ended up adding 2 inches to it apart from the already one inch longer jacket. (I'm about 6'4" and the first jacket was I regular size I think, though I could be wrong.)
A good way to go as I see it would be to try on any jacket of some length, fold it to up a bit to compare it to where you would like your Wested to end and then use that measurement taken from collar to back, or such.

Good luck with your jacket, and welcome Fletch!

Regards,
Swindiana

I'm 5'10" and in 2003 I ordered a TOD 44 with no special instructions. The jacket fits fine as long as I am not wearing anything bulky underneath it (like a sweater). The length is between the bottom of my belt and the top of the pocket flaps. However I have yet to find a good fit in the shoulders. The jacket collar seems to have a gap at my neck which makes my shirt collar always longer than the jacket (if that makes any sense!?! ) I've just ordered another TOD and a LC jacket in a 46 hoping that the lager size will alleviate this problem. I used to work out 5 days a week, so finding clothes that will fit me properly has been difficult to say the least. Once I receive my new jackets, I put a post on the fit.

IJ1936--Hi--I commisserate with you about the "shoulder" issue. I am not a big guy by any means...5-10 about 145lbs...but I have worked out for years and the shoulder issue is a real pain. Frankly, I have found that the FS Expo has the same problem. Good luck with the larger size (which i suspect will also take care of the legnth problem as well). Cheers--L

For the length of the Raiders jacket I've always thought between 5 or 6 inches past the waistband of the pants. I've never thought it was as short as most believe. Sure, it rides up a lot in the movie. And Indy is almost always in motion. About the only time you see him head-to-toe and not moving around a lot is when he and Sapito first enter the main chamber of the temple. The bottom edge of the jacket seems to be down almost to his crotch. His bag is also worn with the top edge level to his waistband. The jacket covers about half of the bag. Outside the temple, as he's filling the bag, his holster is completely covered by the jacket. Except for the opening temple sequence he generally wears the jacket zipped up a few inches. A zipped jacket will ride up really easy and quite far. I hope this doesn't start a war or anything, it's just my observation. I don't believe the Raiders jacket is really all that short.

My lambskin Raiders reaches to the top of my back pocket. I like this length a lot.

This one always stuck with me when I was considering the length:



Yeah, I know he is fighting and the jacket has ridden up a bit, but it is not like there is that much jacket hunched up somewhere. I think most of the jackets I see are too long for a Raider's jacket. You should be able to hunch your shoulders and get the bottom of the jacket at your waistline. Maybe 3-4" below belt is about right?

Funny how we each have our own perception. Same movie...

rick5150 wrote:
I think most of the jackets I see are too long for a Raider's jacket.

I agree. ANd thats one of the photos I've always used for reference.

But ... in the "digging in the wrong place" scene, it looks like it comes down lower. So maybe different jackets used = different fit?


arggh its an obsession.

Rick---Great and classic photo! Not only do we get a back length reality-check, but as a bonus we get to see how far the pleats open up when really strecthed out, and how far-in HF had his side straps puled. Thanks! I've never seen this still. Lao Feng

My first Wested Raiders arrived today, and I finally get what all the fuss is about It feels much more luxurious and comfortable than any other jacket I've owned. I added a little extra to my measurements, so that I can wear a thick sweater under it on those cold Norwegian days. The length is half an inch below the top of my back pockets, which seems perfect to me...

As many have already said, the "bottom line" is that the best length sit he length you like and are comfortable with.

But...since we love to dissect the jacket details so much.....

...I am actually wondering if, regarding the issue of length, the placement of the bottom edge of the jacket is possibly the wrong "metric."

The way the IJ jacket is made, the critical measurement may be the point along the side of the jacket where the side straps are placed.

More specifically, just below the side straps is where you find the "V" start to open that separates the back panel from the sides.

The "real" waist of the jacket may be the apex or point where the jacket sides and the back are still all connected.

If that "waist" is too high, the the bottom edge will be too short and there will be a lot of ride up. If that point is too low on your waist, then the jacket will be too long.

Just some ideas.

Lao Feng,

I think you may have a very good point. My Wested is an authentic lamb with D rings. The side straps are right at the smallest part of my waist. All right, all right, even us old guys have a smallest part of our waist somewhere.

I have never even moved the D rings since the day I got the jacket, over a year ago. My D rings don't slip, my action pleats don't act crazy and I don't have the elastic across the back, and my jacket doesn't ride up more than what would be normal for any jacket.

I have not experienced any of the problems that some people describe. I think it has a lot to do with the side straps are at the smallest part of my waist and therefore there is very little tension exerted on them. Maybe I just have an adventure honed, Indy-style body. Riiiiiiight.

Because I too am one of those "older guys" I will swear on your behalf that the answer is because you indeed have an Adventure-honed body! Remember what Indy said, "It's the mileage." Cheers!

Buff...Lao...I agree with both of you. We're in pretty good shape...for the shape we're in. Regards. Michaelson

Hey, I'm in shape! (round is a shape!)

indy1936 wrote:i am 6'2" and the 44 regular length of 25.25 is just too short. i went with the 46 long this time which i think should take me lower than the top of my back pockets.

I'm 6' (6'1" in Aldens, and 6'13" jumping 1' off the ground while wearing said Aldens) with a 32" inseam. I opted for the ToD standard length (longer than Raiders by an inch) and I'm quite happy with the length.

Thanks for all the help everyone. I logged in to the forum today for the first time in weeks and was surprised to see one of my threads which has been dead since November being responded to in March. Not sure how it got dug up again. I ordered the jacket awhile back and have had it since november. Fits really well. I ordered a 46 long.

harry

Convinced more than ever that the Raiders jacket(S) were different size (fits), lengths and maybe even shades.

Notice how short and tight the first two...

http://www.theraider.net/showimage.php? ... ns/r79.jpg

http://www.theraider.net/showimage.php? ... ns/r50.jpg

Now Look how surprisingly long the second two are, especially when compared with other shots (see above pic posted by Rick) and the commonly perceived shortness of the Raiders jacket.

http://www.theraider.net/showimage.php? ... ns/r44.jpg

http://www.theraider.net/showimage.php? ... ns/r82.jpg


Also, there's a shot (can't find it, its People cover I think w. Marion) where the pockets are down closer to the hem (like my Leather Concessionaires jacket) I know, I know ... its an obsession.

Yea, I always thought that there were several different jackets used. Like you pointed out some scenes the jacket look tight and others it looks loose.

Yeah, he definately didn't wear the same jacket through the whole movie. That goes against everything we know about how film costumes work J_Weaver, for example, in your avatar your shoulder seams appaer to be right at your shoulders. This would indicate to me the prefered tailored fit most people see when they think of the Raiders jacket. But in the second photo posted above from the Raider.net how far off the shoulders the seam is. Also the sleeves are nicely wrinkled, his arm is bent and still the cuff covers the back of his hand. I know that's a publicity still, but I doubt they had costumes used exclusively for publicity shots yet did not appear on screen. I admit my perception is a bit off from most peoples'. Most people refer to the film itself for info. But I've obsessed over the gear since I was a little kid, long before I had a VCR and could watch the movie whenever I wanted. To me the gear in terms of both accuracy and over-all spirit is best represented in the series of photos I had back then from books, magazines, trading crads, etc. I have a sort of "idealized" image of Indy based on those images that are burned into my brain. From that image I mentioned above I thought for years that Indy's jacket was black, lightened by dust and age. I learned a long time ago that's not true, but because of that "perception" I still prefer a darker jacket.

Yep, my shoulder seams are pretty clost to being right on my shoulders. But my jacket is a ToD and it fits loose. I ordered a size larger. I would like to have another Wested in the shorter and snuger Raiders style though.

Speaking of color, my jacket is an auth brown goat, but it looks near black in a few pics.
http://photobucket.com/albums/v320/J_We ... oject9.jpg

http://photobucket.com/albums/v320/J_We ... ject12.jpg

J,
Now that I can see your whole jacket to my eye that's the right length for the Raiders jacket. At least it is for the jacket used in the temple scene. That one covers his holster and half of his bag. Great-looking jacket you have there!

Thanks! Like you said, its all about perception. To me my jacket is too long and loose fitting for a Raiders jacket. From the back it completely covers the pocket flaps on my pants. To me is a spot on for the ToD jacket. But thats what I ordered, a ToD jacket. I'm a combo Indy, Raiders fedora and a ToD jacket.
A Raiders horsehide does sound good though.

I think _ had a couple horse hides at one time. If I recall, from what he said, it's incredibly stiff and dang near impossible to break in.

Yea, I've heard that too. But I've also heard the same thing about the goatskin. My goat was so soft that I thought Peter sent me a lamb
at first.

J_Weaver wrote:Yep, my shoulder seams are pretty clost to being right on my shoulders. But my jacket is a ToD and it fits loose. I ordered a size larger. I would like to have another Wested in the shorter and snuger Raiders style though.

Speaking of color, my jacket is an auth brown goat, but it looks near black in a few pics.

Weaver,
That jacket does look black in some pics, but so did Indy's (if you look at that pic on the strap groove thread you'll see what I mean).
That is definitely a spot on TOD and it looks very nice.
Now, are those chalk marks I see on that rock next to you? And, if so, I hope they're yours!

Sorry HJ, but there not chalk marks. The rock I'm standing under is extremely rotten around around the bottom with a 30 cap that is as solid as concrete. If this rock is climbable its an aid job, may even take a few bolts. Of course if your real brave you could climb a tree to get on top of it.

Here's a pic for ya.
http://photobucket.com/albums/v320/J_We ... gect10.jpg

J_Weaver wrote:Sorry HJ, but there not chalk marks. The rock I'm standing under is extremely rotten around around the bottom with a 30 cap that is as solid as concrete. If this rock is climbable its an aid job, may even take a few bolts. Of course if your real brave you could climb a tree to get on top of it.

Here's a pic for ya.
http://photobucket.com/albums/v320/J_We ... gect10.jpg

Wow. Cool rock! Are you sure that's not chalk? It looks like someone was bouldering on there on the lower right side of that last photo. Nice setting though for showing off gear.

Its just the natural color of the rock.This particular rock is in a pretty obscure location. I'm one of just a few climber in my area. Like maybe 5 at the most. (no joke) And to top that off there are no established routes on any of the rocks. In fact most there is not even a trail to. With the exception of two that the Hatfield - McCoy Trail system runs by.

Here's a sentence I NEVER thought I'd be typing... "That's a really awesome rock!"

The really wild thing is that these mountains are full of rocks like that.