Ok....so this may seem like a small thing, but I will ask anyway.....
Has anyone else had a problem with the collars on their Wested jackets not laying down properly? Do they relax over time?
If you look at the picture of my new jacket, one side stands up and one side lays down flat. I don't think I really mind either but both kinda bugs me.
One thing I really like about my Cooper A-2 is the snaps in the collar that keeps them high and tight. Maybe they could do this to mine when it goes to get the sleeves shortened??
Do a search about collars, there have always been issues in this department, with many different solutions. Yes, they will relax over time, but high and tight? I'm not sure about that one. They tend to relax,curve and droop down eventually, which is actually the way the Raiders jackets are. As for snaps, if you want 'em you better act quick and let Peter know. I'm sure they would do it for you(for a minimal fee). They might even put 'hidden' press studs in the collar so they are somewhat invisible. This would definately keep them 'high and tight'.
I think the collar looks that way because of the storm flap.
If you look at your pictures, or pictures of others who have had the
same concern about the collar, its always the side with the storm flap
that stays up, while the other side goes flat.
This is just because since the storm flap on the Wested goes all the way
up even with the collar stand, that the front of the collar on this side can
not "droop" down like the other side without the storm flap.
On the Cooper/USWings versions, the storm flap ends at the bottom of
the collar stand, and in doing this, the collar is the same on both sides
of the jacket, and the collar can lay down flatter, and thus be more even.
Its just the nature of the beast to be as you are describing it. You can
really see it in your pictures. That, and the fact that your jacket is brand
new, and still stiff. Once the leather starts to loosen up over time, this
will help it look better.
What you can do in the mean time is, when not wearing the jacket, take the top of the
storm flap up near the collar, and bend it down with your hands to train
it to stay that way. It will take awhile, but eventually you will get the
collar on that side to look like the other side.
I think that I am just being too anal retentive about the collar. I am gonna leave it alone for now and try and train it down when it comes back from Peter.
I had a similar problem with my ToD goat, so after it had softened up a bit, I hung it in the closet with other coats and jackets on either side. I bent the collar down where I wanted it, then let the weight of the other coats impress the leather. So far, so good!
Also, another thing to do is, when the jacket gets wet (soaked)- first time in the rain or whatever, you can then form it the way you'd like. Maybe use something to hold it like a close pin while it dries. That worked on my 1940s horsehide jacket. When I got it the collar was spread with the tips pointing towards to top of the arm seams. I actually didn't have to use anything to hold it, I just kept working it with my hands while it dried. Now it looks and sits like the collars in the IJ movies.
My lambskin had the same thing when new. 3 months later the stormflap side has relaxed and both collars lay flat. The HH may need a bit of coaxing, I think. I recommend Pecards, clothes pegs and lot's of wear not necessarily at the same time or in that order!
Your jacket looks fab by the way. I have never seen asample of Wested horsehide in the flesh it's a great rarity you have there!
Another reason that the collar won't relax like the movie jacket is the inside facing along the zipper. This gives the collar even more support. On a soft leather like the lamb its not really that noticable, but on a stiffer leather like the goat or horse it is more obvious.
Hey, my Goatskin Raiders which arrived last week (trying to hold out till my TAG belts get here for pictures) looked just like that, I folded the collars flat and sat on them awhile, then fliped them over and repeated, it seemed to help a lot
It does work. Another variation to the above is what Lee Keppler did. You roll the whole collar as MK mentioned above and then band it with a rubberband. I need to take a picture to show it. But it does work.
It's a matter of getting the leather in the collar to relax. No need to shorten the collar.
With the collar that is.
