Club Obi Wan

Does anyone know what the facing along the inside of the zippers on the Wested jackets are for? I don't plan on getting another Wested anytime soon, but this is a question that has bugged me for a long time. All it seems to do is add weight to the jacet. I know if I get another Wested I'm going to request that it be left out.

Originally they did not have the leather facing. My first two didn't. I think Peter added it because quite a few people were requesting it, as it just makes the jacket look more "finished" I guess is the word I want. But it's not screen accurate.

As I understand it, people kept getting their lining caught in the zipper. Wested modified this and then the problem was solved.

I think I remember that someone or a few people put a request for 'minimal leather facings' on their orders though...

It would be a good idea to check with Peter I think.

Regards,
Swindiana

My personal opinion here, but I feel that the facing on the inside also helps the drape of the 2 halves of the jacket along the zippier opening. Without it, it has more of a tendency to curl or go wavy, where as with the facing, it helps keep it straight.

Bjones wrote:My personal opinion here, but I feel that the facing on the inside also helps the drape of the 2 halves of the jacket along the zippier opening. Without it, it has more of a tendency to curl or go wavy, where as with the facing, it helps keep it straight.

I think you're right with that Bjones. The drape is very important to Indy look, and without the added weight on either side of the zipper it would distort and look terrible.

Tone,
Yup I have a ToD, but don't worry, it doesn't effect the look of the jacket. (Well other than the drape that other have mentined.) Its on the inside of the jacket so its not visible from the outside. Its really nothing to worry about. In fact it doesn't really bother me. The only reason I brought it up was because I was wondering what other thought of it.

Swindiana, I think your on to something. I looked at my other leather jackets and here's what I found. Both my G-1 and my St. John's Bay A-2ish jackets have it. I have an offical issue A-2 that doesn't have it. My issue A-2 fits and drapes very much like the Raiders jacket. I've thought about sending it to Wested and having them make me a Raiders jacket off of its measurements.

Bjones, Hemingway,

You both have good points, but I'm not sure if its vital for the Raiders look. The movies jackets didn't have it as far as I know.

It looks like a may be wrong. Indy's jacket looks like it does have the facing, just not as much as the current jackets. Although that may just be the lining.

http://www.theindyexperience.com/screen ... reen/8.jpg

http://www.theindyexperience.com/screen ... een/56.jpg

The Leather facing is a Modification I agree on, it just makes the Jacket more secure.

And the reason Peter changed it I heard is because the lining is directly stitched to the zip, their were times it became unsttiched. I'm not even sure the Screen Jacket wasn't like this anyway.

So is that the reason for the curved shape on Indy's right side? I've always wondered how to get that look(or if that was some thing that you DON'T want).THIS is the only image that I could find from theRaider.Net that shows what I'm trying to refer to.

Indy N.

As an aside, I was watching LC last night and the jacket, in the scene with his father on the motorbike deciding whether to go to Venice or Berlin, the jacket did not have the leather facings.

Please disregard my previous post. The original jackets didn't have the facing. I still can't understand why the facing has to be so big. On my Wested it goes from 2.5" at the bottom to 3.5" at the top.

Well, I know that many jackets have the larger facing, such as A-2's, and as a matter of use, I personally prefer it. The FS jacket is a direct copy of an original stunt Raiders jacket, and they don't have the facing. I've caught my lining on more than one occasion in the zip, where I never have that problem with ANY of the Wested jackets with facings. It's a very functional addition. Regards! Michaelson

Whats your opinion about a minimal facing of say 1" or 1.5"? Its seems that the facing is just to keep the lining out of the zipper.

1.5 would be the best, I'd say. I'm not sure why they're as wide as they are either, but having them really works. Regards! Michaelson

Yea, no doubt it works. And I would also think that it would help protect the lining from becoming worn by your belt buckle?

Having the leather there provides protection for the lining, as Michaelson said: snags, tears, etc can be caused by a zipper. I am sure we have all done this with other zippers in other areas at one time or another. I know I have had zippers on ski parkas hopelessly lodged into the nylon lining.
I like it there. I think it is a good look. Generally, the more leather the better.

Looks like we were posting at the same time Hemingway.

J_Weaver wrote:Looks like we were posting at the same time Hemingway.

It's weird when that happens. Usually, it is Michaelson and I and he always beats me!

Nah, HJ...I read yours first, delete it, then copy the information in my name. No biggie! 8-[ Regards! Michaelson

Almost certain I read somewhere here on this forum that Peter had changed from a minimal facing, like those found in vintage A2 jackets, to the wider facing because of customers catching the zips of the jackets on the linings & the area around the collar was wearing out to quickly.

Michaelson wrote:Nah, HJ...I read yours first, delete it, then copy the information in my name. No biggie! 8-[ Regards! Michaelson

Dastardly! Foiled again!

Skippy wrote:Almost certain I read somewhere here on this forum that Peter had changed from a minimal facing, like those found in vintage A2 jackets, to the wider facing because of customers catching the zips of the jackets on the linings & the area around the collar was wearing out to quickly.

That is correct. _ was one of the first to request these changes on his jackets, and Peter incorporated both into the pattern. Regards! Michaelson

Tone, yes yours has the leather facing. It is in your last picture. It is on the side opposite the storm flap on the inside of the zipper. It is that section of leather right inside the zipper between the lining and the zipper.


have a nice day.

Yup Tone, all Wested's have it. The facing is the 2.5" or so strip of leather that runs inside the jacket between the zipper and the lining.

Ooh, weird. I just discovered my jacket has not got any leather zipper facings at all. Zip seems to work fine.

http://public.fotki.com/KtTemplar/weste ... ocket.html


KT

How, long have you had the Jacket Templar.? It looks new to me very interesting, If a get another one, I'm thinking of doing the same.

Hi Cryptid,

Yes, it's still much too new, I've worn it at every opp but can't leave it wadded up on the floor, just can't!

What do you guy's think... six months natural wear before it's presentable?

I got this jacket about 4 weeks ago. It was an off-the-rack at Wested. As with most of these someone orders it and it does not fit them so ends up in the shop. Lucky me. The person who ordered this really seemed to know what he wanted, tapered sleeves, no facings on the zip and all satin lining.

I'd been hearing of people asking for minimal facings I thought they'd like to see one with none!

Oh, it does suffer from demon roll. So the jury is still out on what causes/cures that.

Regards,

KT

It looks good! Pesonally, I don't like the facing.