Club Obi Wan

Do FS and/or US Wings put leather facing behind the zips on the inside of the jacket lining ? I know FS shouldn't since it's supposedly based on a film used jacket, but haven't actually handled one.. also, what about US Wings?

Doug C

I believe Wings does, but not having my jacket with me, that's a good question. I believe they do, though....

Regards! Michaelson

My U.S Wings imported goatskin does have facings behind the zipper....

EDIT: I meant that it does have the facings...

There you go! I stand corrected!

Regards! Michaelson

You mean these right?

Yes, those....I stand corrected yet again back to the original post...and needless to say, stand firm on my answer....until it changes yet again....to something else.....or....er......

Regards! Michaelson

AWWW, I don't care for the facing behind the zips at all, I'd much rather not have it there (no offense or anything, just person preference). And I'm on the verge (was at least) of buying one of the US Wings in Antiqued Lambskin.

This is another reason I can't really agree with many who say that the US Wings is the best ToD jacket on the market :

-pockets look way too big to me,
-back panel is squared off and don't extent out to where they should,
-Collar tips aren't as round as the should be,
-There is leather facing behind the zips. This is a big one IMHO, because in the movie (ToD) the zips fold back on itself throughout to reveal the lining. It's a sloppy look maybe but that's the way it is in the film and also what I prefer actually.

Doug C

Hey BTW, thanks for those pictures.

Doug C

Regarding the pockets... My U.S Wings pockets are about EXACTLY the same size as my Wested LC jacket...

I guess the only reason I've been a fan of the facings is that I HAVE caught the zip in the lining before, and it can be quite aggrevating to get loose without tearing said lining, and that was on an FS too!

Regards! Michaelson

What in the Devil does this "Leather Faced" zipper reffering to?

It's the width of leather in the photo between the zipper teeth and the cloth inside liner that runs the length of the zipper. On the original jackets, there was no such leather 'facing'...just the zipper, the zip edge, then cloth lining.

Regards! Michaelson

Cowboy wrote:What in the Devil does this "Leather Faced" zipper reffering to?

The 2 inches or so of leather running the length of the zipper, on both sides, on the inside of the jacket. FS doesn't have this, but Wested and USWings does. It does help with keeping the liner from getting caught in the zip, as Michaelson stated. My brand new FS also has some slight "liner creep" poking around the zipper, exposing the liner so it is seen from outside the jacket. Bothers me, actually. About the only thing that does, on my F.S.
'Blues

EDIT: AND, what Michaelson wrote above. Beat me to the punch, lol.
'B

i hate leather facings on the zipper! makes the body of the jacket feel like cardboard.

Your explaination was a heck of a lot clearer than mine, Blues!!!

Regards! Michaelson

Leather zipper facings are a good feature designed to improve the performance of a leather jacket. The original Army/Airforce leather pilot jacket (the A-2) did not have facings. A few years after the A-2 came along, the Navy invented their leather pilot jacket (the G-1). It had the leather facings along with a bunch of other improvements over the A-2. Wings most likely added the facings because it makes for a better jacket. They didn’t realize they were breaking the hearts of fanboys all over the world.

well put rundquist. better in design yes. is it what SA indy fans want, no.

same with morgan in changing the design of his whip, hj losing their hat block, aldens changing the colour of their boots, noel and his raiders pocket flaps......the list goes on.

True, it may make the zipper not get hung up but I certainly agree that it stiffens up the zipper area and to me it takes away (some of) that rogue quality.. the slouchy look at the end of TOD or the Raven Bar sceen where the jacket is slightly zipped and popped open with Demon roll at the top half. I've owned two Westeds that didn't have it, both older ones that did not have the Facing and I've never snagged the lining with the zipper, least not significantly on either. To me it's a stray from originallity that should not have been made standard.

Doug C

Understood. At the time it was added by Wested, it was the effort to make the jacket less a costume item, and more an everyday use jacket.

Regards! Michaelson

Michaelson wrote:Understood. At the time it was added by Wested, it was the effort to make the jacket less a costume item, and more an everyday use jacket.

Regards! Michaelson

Does not bother me at all.

What doesn't bother you....the jacket having it, or not having it?

Regards! Michaelson

Michaelson wrote:What doesn't bother you....the jacket having it, or not having it?

Regards! Michaelson

Well, since I only have a Wested at this point, I am refering to "having it" does not bother me Thanks Michaelson, always looking out for us skulls full of mush! Cowboy

Hey, just another brother in arms, my friend....a brother in arms!

Just an observation from personal experience with both types...for an outdoors use jacket, the added facings do indeed add more strength to the jacket in my opinion. But that said, you're also talking about an addition 2 inch wide by around 3 foot long extra strip of leather on each side of the zipper, adding a bit more bulk and physical weight to the jacket.

If you're an 'urban adventurer' (like I am most the time), you'll find that a jacket with the facing tends to fold up into a larger 'package' when being stored in a restaurant booth, where one with out the facing takes a lot less space due to the reduced amount of material.

Probably totally useless information, but there it is for you amusement.

HIGH regards! Michaelson

Right, I've heard that before, and that's fine and I'm sure alot of folks wouldn't mind or even notice for that matter.. but I think you'd agree that it shouldn't be standard, only an option right? Unless you're not claiming to be using original patterns or an original screen used jacket. LOL, I just thought of something - I'm sure there will be a barrage of screen caps to come showing leather faceing through-out the movies-- that I've always missed.

Doug C

The answer to me is simple. If you want a screen accurate jacket, you don't want the facing. However, seeing it's better for the jacket, if you don't care so much about screen accuracy, then you definitely want it added.

agent5 wrote:The answer to me is simple. If you want a screen accurate jacket, you don't want the facing. However, seeing it's better for the jacket, if you don't care so much about screen accuracy, then you definitely want it added.

Especially since it's inside the jacket. Out of sight, out of mind, I always say.
'Blues

Guys don't get peaved at me or anything but I disagree. I don't think it's so much better for the jacket as the extra weight effects the drape especially on heavier leathers (non-lambskin) and it's also not exactly out of site, out of mind either..look at TOD, in most sceens you see the exposed inner linning where we now have leather, particularly the final village sceens. Plus the lack of faceing just makes the jacket feel much lighter and "wind-breaker" like, if only mentally so.

Doug C

I have a lambskin Wested without facing and a cowhide Wested with facing. The lambskin has a satin lining and the cow cotton.

I prefer the lambskin hands down, it's softer more comfortable and far lighter.

I like the cowhide but it feels like it's lined with lead. The facing seems to stop the zipper side from wobbling, but to be honest I've probably not worn it more than an hour or two. I don't notice a great deal of difference in how the front of the jacket feels, it may be the whole "my god this jacket is heavy" thing throwing me off.

This is only my experience, my next jacket will probably not have facing, and it wont be cow either. I may stay with the cotton lining, it is harder wearing.

i agree with KT. jackets that have the facings feel bulky and heavy. they do not drape very well and they don't move with you well at all. this is all personal taste mind you. those on the other side of the spectrum will say that non-facing jackets have sloppy zippers, the potential for the liner to get eaten in the zipper teeth and aren't warm enough.

but if i wanted something practical with the leather facings, i wouldn't want an indy jacket....i'd buy something else.

Michaelson wrote:I guess the only reason I've been a fan of the facings is that I HAVE caught the zip in the lining before, and it can be quite aggrevating to get loose without tearing said lining, and that was on an FS too!

Regards! Michaelson

I know they aren't SA, but I like 'em, they're practical. I hate getting my lining caught in my zip. There's only one thing worse than than getting your lining caught in your zip... but I won't go into that.

Regards - CM

franks or beans?

come on now....you can't use the practicallity arguement when it comes to buying indygear.

Come on guys, look at this picture and admit you too prefer a jacket withOUT leather facing..



Doug C

[quote="Kt Templar"]I like the cowhide but it feels like it's lined with lead. The facing seems to stop the zipper side from wobbling, but to be honest I've probably not worn it more than an hour or two. I don't notice a great deal of difference in how the front of the jacket feels, it may be the whole "my god this jacket is heavy" thing throwing me off.quote]

Well, when you are 220 lbs plus, believe me, you dont' know any different Now If I could only loose 25, THEN it would make a difference

I have a lambskin without the facings, and I kind of wish it had them. The jacket literally folds in along the line of the zipper edge is under the leather. I would expect this to be less of a problem with thicker hides, but the lamb just gives without a fight. If I get another lambskin, it will have facings, but if I go for predistressed cow, I won't.

Doug C wrote:Come on guys, look at this picture and admit you too prefer a jacket withOUT leather facing.. :)



Doug C

Sorry, no. I wish I were Harrison Ford.

CM wrote:

Doug C wrote:Come on guys, look at this picture and admit you too prefer a jacket withOUT leather facing..



Doug C

Sorry, no. I wish I were Harrison Ford.

Nah, he's about twenty years older than me..so no thanks! Plus my build closely resembles his (during that time), well actually a bit better

But, I can understand where YOU'RE coming from

Doug C