Club Obi Wan

I brought in a US Authentic Goat (it is a 40 and they run a bit big so my 38 will come today). Compared to the Flightsuite the goat is head and shoulders nicer, so nice that it is the only leather I would consider in their jacket, and the fit is very nice (I can imagine the 38 being perfect). Wonder why I have not seen more about them, I know they make an indy jacket, it is expensive, but their quality and the ability to customize seems to be, in my view, very desireable.

Since I am not a lover of epaulets I may have a custom made without these and with the addition of handwarmer pockets and an inside pocket. The upcharge for a custom is $100, still not bad for what I will be getting from them....they seem easy to work with. Anyone have any experience with them?

Well, I guess that would be because nobody here has had any experience with US Authentic/FlightJacket.com including me; but, I do have a question or two for YOU just for a change. If you do decide to keep your US Authentic perhaps perhaps YOU will be able to speak to your experiences with them in the future.

Do you actually own any of the jackets that you've been looking into?

What exactly makes the US Authentic goat "head and shoulders nicer" than the G&B (I assume) that you are comparing it with?

Rixter, good questions....What made the US Authentic head and shoulders above the goat I tried from FS was the feel, look and overall drape of the jacket. While I am between sizes, the 40 was a bit to big, overall including the length, the 38 was just too confining. I have not ruled out going to US Authentic (they are in NY State) and getting measured for a custom there. I have not seen their horsehide, but the goat was so nice I felt there was not a need to try that at all.

In addition, US Authentic has been very easy to deal with on the phone, answer questions and general good service...I liked that. My experience with FS was spotty, the CS was inconsistent, so there are some questions there.

I'm not sure why they aren't talked about here, as they do make an Indy jacket...

http://www.flightjacket.com/detail.aspx?ID=9

There is some info on them over at the Fedora Lounge. I recently purchased an A-2 goatskin from them and have found it a fantastic jacket. Very authentic down to the 100% wool knit waistband and cuffs. Also has a cotton liner, just like the originals. You have to order handwarmer pockets and an inside pocket as an extra, since the WW II jackets did not have these. The leather is wonderful, soft and supple. This is one of the nicest leather jackets that I have ever owned. I would imagine their Indy jacket is very good, but as far as it's screen accuracy, that's another matter.

Kaleponi Craig wrote:I'm not sure why they aren't talked about here, as they do make an Indy jacket...

If I remember correctly it is because their Indy jacket is not as accurate as the jackets offered by the "Big Three."

Rixter asked me awhile ago about the US Authentic and my expience...the A2 I ordered had the nicest goat I have seen but the 38 was too small and the 40 too big, in both cased the epaulettes did not lay flat, so if I do buy from them it will take a trip to their facility to make sure I get fit properly and have a custom made. I have had a jacket sent in from SanDiego Leather, a G1 and I am awaiting their G2 or what Flightsuit calls their raiders style. This jacket has a very good fit, the gussetts are not protruding as I found in the flightsuite which makes me think maybe I just got a bad flightsuite. I still prefer the G2 raiders stye, I cannot get used to epaulettes and have to let the A2 go. The G1 I got was with a leather color, so it is not authentic but that is not my hot button, I just want a good all around leather that will be tough as nails. The San Diego is in cow and looking at the pics on their web page the Raiders does not look as nice as the flightsuit ones, but when I have them in front of me it will be easier to tell. They will shorten sleeves for $20, so the fact that the sleeves are too long is a non issue. The leather (cow) seems fine, not thrilled with the big pockets but it is a nice fit overall and may end up being the jacket I keep...This has been a long ordeal to get a leather jacket that I like..too bad one can not walk into a shop locally and find enough variety and quality, but the net does indeed offer these things. I sure hope this next jacket is a keeper, I for one am getting tired of this, I am sure anyone following my thread is as well.

Tired? No more than us watching OTHERS on their personal quest to find the perfect item of gear....so the answer is, POST AWAY!!! Regards! Michaelson

Absolutely! Post away!!! Many folks here just have a knowledge of one, two, or possibly three of the usual leather jacket sources discussed here. It's always nice to see if anyone can discover 'new' sources and what their opinions of them are.

I'm a big believer that there are other jackets, hides, and styles out there that have yet to be discovered. The more information about these other sources the better, IMO.

Amen, Rix, and amen! Regard! Michaelson

Well here is an update. I had brought in a G1 with leather collar from San Diego Leather, found it surfing...it was pretty nice fitting, very inexpensive. In order to get a US Authentic the way I wanted I would have to do a custom...Not wanting the big patch pockets I tried the G2 from San Diego and also the Raiders in a 40 from Flightsuit. The Flightsuit leather is thicker, the gussetts uner the arms pertrude out, I didn't like that, the SD Leather ones do not pertrude, they are a bit different in styling but I liked it just fine...so I am ordering one from San Diego in brown cow (they sent a black for me to try) with fabric sleeves and waist. Since they have to make this up for me I asked that they make the sleeves 2 inches shorter than on the G1 I tried, which had fabric sleeves....so while I think the FS leather may be a bit nicer, the workmanship on the SD Leather is very nice, the styling meets my expectations...I don't think it is the general quality of the FS but the overall fit is better for me, and the price, at $200 is a steal....I would have liked to go with a US authentic but the cost of a custom would have been over $400, maybe $500...so I am pretty pleased with the results, but the process really took a long time, I have been looking since the end of March if not before. The pockets on the SD leather G2 are a bit different but not very different than the FS raiders, but if you are not really into the subtleties it would not be noticed. Quality wise I think the US Authentic has it over FS and SD Leather, but I think all are very high quality and for me and the way I will use it the SD Leather is a great deal and they seem easy to work with so far.