Club Obi Wan

Hey All,

It was requested yesterday that I post pics of my three year-old Flightsuits (now Gibson & Barnes) Raiders Jacket. The leather is Chrome Seal Goat. It is made to measure (which they don't really do anymore). The only modification I had made is the addition of a nickel zip instead of brass. Everything else is basically the same as if it was off the rack. Enjoy.















Regards, Dr. J

Dr._J,

Beautiful Jacket. I have 2 Lambskin Expeditions and they are great too.

Cheers,
G-MANN

That really is a beautiful looking jacket. I'm looking forward to getting one of these soon. Thanks for posting.

Dr J, if you don't mind, what is the measurment of the pleat depth?

I'm not Dr J, but my Lambskin Expedition purchased in Jaunary has a pleat depth of 1-1/2"



Cheers,
G-MANN

Great looking jacket Dr._J! Thanks for posting!

Now where did I leave that $400?

"Chrome Seal Goat" wow, what a beautiful leather.

It is a bit russet, like horse.

That is a very nice looking jacket.

That Chrome goat FS had a few years back was absolutely gorgeous.
You're right HJ, under flash and certain lighting, it definately has a russet hue to it, but in outdoor, natural light, it goes a very nice medium dark brown.
Check out my staff photo on the main page. It is the same hide. I got mine about 4 years ago. You can't go wrong with their goat.
Gota love that texture too!

what kind of gusset is that

Is that leather as supple as it looks?

It tends to be a bit stiff when you first get it. But after a few days of tossing it in the corner of the room after wear, it softens rigth up!
(Just the way it looks.)

I think the same can be said for the Wested can't it?


That is a beautiful leather jacket. Man, I wouldn't mind owning one of those myself.

Does it only come in that one style of leather?

Nope, you can get it in lamb also.

G-MANN wrote:I'm not Dr J, but my Lambskin Expedition purchased in Jaunary has a pleat depth of 1-1/2"



Cheers,
G-MANN

Thanks G-MANN!

Everything about this jacket, aside form the 2-piece gussett which may or may not have been automatically added by FS, just SCREAMS Raiders authenticity IMO. I WILL have have one; just gotta get that Morgan first.


EDIT: Tone, that avvy is just downright scary! ...

Alabama Jones,

For a jacket that comes straight off the rack it does have very screeen accurate features.

Cheers,
John

Can you still ask for samll mods like a custom sleeve length and a nickel zipper?

Nice lookin' jacket there & thanks for posting!

I have 2 Gibson & Barnes jackets (both goatskin), and they are tough for sure. The underarm gussets are 2-piece, yes, but they are rather small in construction. For instance, when I ordered my Wested with the 2-piece awhile back they were kinda large. When I received my Gibson & Barnes jacket, even though it had the 2-piece, they were maybe a tad larger than what a single underarm gusset would be on a Wested as far as size and proportion goes from what I could tell. So, the 2-piece gussets aren't very large at all.

Kindest Regards,
Captain D

Is that leather as supple as it looks?

It is NOW! Man, it took me a LONG time to get this thing as supple as I like it. The methods used are as follows:

1) Dryer (in a pillowcase) with NO heat.

2) Pecards leather gel liberally applied (until it was supple).

3) NEVER hanging this jacket on a hook or coat hanger.

4)I have stuffed it between my mattress and boxspring and slept on it.

5)Wadding it up in a ball and throwing it in the corner.

6)Sitting on it at work.

Finally, wearing it as much as possible.

Regards, Dr. J

Can you still ask for small mods like a custom sleeve length and a nickel zipper?

Now, THAT's a good question. I had those exact mods done on this jacket over three years ago. Longer sleeves and nickel zip. I've heard now, it's hard to get these (or any) mods. Chalk one more up for Wested.

Something else concerning the gussets. Remember, these were STANDARD on the FS before people were adding them to their Westeds as options. The FS pattern and specs were taken from a film-used jacket (which had been used by a Stuntman, I believe) provided by _. Wether or not, this jacket had two-piece gussets or one piece gussets I don't know

Regards, Dr. J

Dr._J wrote:

Can you still ask for small mods like a custom sleeve length and a nickel zipper?

Now, THAT's a good question. I had those exact mods done on this jacket over three years ago. Longer sleeves and nickel zip. I've heard now, it's hard to get these (or any) mods. Chalk one more up for Wested.

Thats usually the problem for me with most off the rack sizes. Depending on the cut I can wear a 42L or 44L. However according to their size chart I would need a 46L or 48L to get enough sleeve length.

1) Dryer (in a pillowcase) with NO heat.

2) Pecards leather gel liberally applied (until it was supple).

3) NEVER hanging this jacket on a hook or coat hanger.

4)I have stuffed it between my mattress and boxspring and slept on it.

5)Wadding it up in a ball and throwing it in the corner.

6)Sitting on it at work.

Finally, wearing it as much as possible.

At least you remembered the Picard's.

Here's my Seal Chrome Goat Expo right after I got it in 2002.



And here it is last fall at our local Ren Fest



Notice how in certain lighting, it's a very dark, almost black/brown. Others it's a lighter, more russetty (is that a word?) brown.

Minnesota Jones wrote:...... more russetty (is that a word?) brown.

I thought that was a sound.

Regards! Michaelson

44" Regular, huh? The only question I can think of is "May I have it?"

Beautiful jacket!

G-MANN, ignore that 'J' character....he likes his Aldens to get wet, so he's a 'silly person'. Send the jacket to ME instead. You'll feel a lot better about it, I assure you.

HIGH regards! Michaelson

I am touched by your willingness to take this awful jacket off my hands but I think i'll hang on to it for a little while yet. It may be too much for you to bear.

Cheers,
John

Believe me, my friend, I've got broad shoulders. I can handle the strain. Send it on down. You'll feel better, and I'll feel better just knowing I helped you in this small way. 8-[

Regards! Michaelson

Michaelson wrote:Believe me, my friend, I've got broad shoulders. I can handle the strain. Send it on down. You'll feel better, and I'll feel better just knowing I helped you in this small way. 8-[

Regards! Michaelson

"Coats in the mail"

Cheers,
John

I'm pleased I could do this for you....don't mention it.

HIGH regards! Michaelson

Whoooo!, dats purty! Look at that beautiful yoke and them shallow pleats.

What exactly is "chrome". Is it an option of some sort? For some reason I associated it with goat.

Would any of you "dual owners" ( Minnesota etc...) say that the regular dark brown FS is closer to the Wested dark brown or the authentic, or somewhere in between?

G-MANN, I'm also interested in the collar and pocket measurements if its not too much trouble. Thanks for posting.

Thanks for that, Tone. I was curious myself and I can only wait for Michaelson or _ to chime in for so long.

We believe in giving others a chance to respond these days, J.

Regards! Michaelson

The collar is 3"

The pockets are 6-7/8 top to bottom and 6-5/8 wide

The pocket flaps are 6-5/8 wide and 3-1/4 top to tip.

Cheers,
John

Indiana_Tone wrote:
TANNING
The raw collagen fibers of the hides must be converted into a stable product which is no longer susceptible to rotting. This is done by adding chrome tanning agents to the hides in a revolving drum. These tanning agents also significantly improve the hide's dimensional stability, abrasion resistance, resistance to chemicals and to heat, the ability to flex innumerable times without breaking, and the ability to endure repeated cycles of wetting and drying.

*Head Explodes Belloq style*

Thanks! That is good to finally know.

G-MANN, thanks for the specs.

All in a day's goofing off.

Cheers,
John

I've often wondered what chrome meant when refering to leather, also. I kept looking for a bumper or maybe a couple of mirrors.

Well, what the heck, here are my two prized Expeditions. I would say that I got my goat back in 2003 and the lamb back in 2004, I can't remember exactly, lol. These represent two of four jackets I own from Flightsuits.

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Bogie1943,

Nice, very nice.

It's great to see all these other G&B Jackets.

Cheers,
John

You want to see a beautiful (and totally unique) Flightsuits Expedition in Russet goat with military-style, olive-drab stitching? Check out this thread from Rundquist:

viewtopic.php?t=16759&highlight=

Now, THAT's russet! Makes me wanna eat a baked potato.

Regards, Dr. J

These represent two of four jackets I own from Flightsuits

What a coincidence, I was just about to start accepting donations of G&B jackets from people who have four or more.

Oh really, well I will speak with the fleet commander and see if we can spare one or not, lol. Yes, I love my jackets, three Westeds, two A-2's, a G-1, and my Expeditions. I know I will get more in the future, I still want a Wested Goat and Horse if they ever make it again. Anyone wanting to sell a Wested Goat?? Size 38 or 40?

Hi Josh,

I believe Wested is doing Horsehide again. _ just got one.

Regards, Dr. J

Wow, Bogie!!!! That's alot of jackets. How do you decide which one to wear????

looking good!

I agree, it's good to see a lot of pics of the Gibson & Barnes jacket. Thanks for posting!

Kind Regards,
Captain D

Yesterday I went over to Dr._J’s pad to show him some of my jackets before they went away. When I left I picked up my big pile of jackets and by mistake I took his Expedition. It’s a 44 Reg. I couldn’t resist taking these pics. I think that I’m going to go with 46 reg from now on. This is a “Raider” fit though, I have to admit. If I were 10 pounds lighter, I might even be able to pull this off. I like a looser fit anyway. Dig the “Raiders” collar. Cheers

Hey Rundquist, how the heck have you been man? It has been a long time bro!

DUDE! THAT'S MY JACKET!!! It would have been funny/surprising to see this thread if I hadn't noticed (yeah, right) that my Expo was missing. "Accidently" my butt! I bet that was your intention the whole time. The old "pile o' jackets" ploy! Lookin' good and thanks for returning it promptly.

Regards, Dr. J

Heee... eee... eee....yyyy Adam

How are you doing? You are looking well!! So what did we do to be be honoured with your presence on the forum again?

Ken

Bogie1943 wrote:Hey Rundquist, how the heck have you been man? It has been a long time bro!

I've been good. I'd come around more often, but no matter how many times I watch the Indy flicks, the gear never changes.

Indiana Ken wrote:Heee... eee... eee....yyyy Adam

How are you doing? You are looking well!! So what did we do to be be honoured with your presence on the forum again?

Ken

I'm selling jackets, what does it look like. (bwah)