On the Hunt for Jacket

rbxb · Post by **rbxb** » Wed Mar 12, 2003 8:45 pm

Well, its time to retire the beloved Cooper "A2".
The elastic cuffs snag my watch & it hangs funny when not zipped....
I'm searching for a Raiders style in a 42 Reg. (NOT the rounded collar of the "LC")
I'm gonna take this real slow & scour this group & Ebay. After gathering all the great info posted here I think the Wested suits my tastes best
Who knows, maybe one of you guys has one for sale..
I may bite the bullet & just order one from Peter. Either way, I'm hooked.
I gotta get one....
Btw .......This is a really well done site! Full of great info.
Great job!

Band Director Jones · Post by **Band Director Jones** » Wed Mar 12, 2003 9:05 pm

rbxb,

First, welcome to the club. Second, I agree with your decision on taking your time on find the right jacket for you. There are many choices out there and you need to find the one that suits your tastes.

I see your location is "Heart of Texas." Where about in the “Heart of Texas” are you (South towards Austin, North towards Waco)? I'm in the Waco area myself. I've got two Wested jackets right now, and hopefully a third by this time tomorrow. If you haven't seen one up close and would like to, feel free to PM me. I'd enjoy meeting you and showing you my Westeds.

Once again, welcome to the club!

Band Director Jones

rbxb · Post by **rbxb** » Wed Mar 12, 2003 9:34 pm

Thanks for the fast reply & the welcome.
Actually, I'm right here in Waco myself
I've really tried to educate myself on these "Indy" jackets.
I've worn leather all my life but am new to the "indy". I was actually drawn to them by function first & form second. They didnt really catch my eye at first (no epaulets) but after this research I'm developing a strong affinity for the style too. Would love to see a wested for real.
I'm open to leather types, leaning more towards Lambskin but goat is a great all purpose.....Watching Last Crusade as I type....
Anyway, I appreciate your assistance in my quest.

Thanks. I'll be on for a while if ya wanna share some particulers re: Wested over the others

Mike

"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench - a long plastic
hallway where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs.
But there's also a negative side..." ~ Hunter Thompson

Indiana Texas-girl · Post by **Indiana Texas-girl** » Wed Mar 12, 2003 10:41 pm

Wow, I used to live in Waco (for 4.5 years). I still make it down there every so often to see my friends and to get my hair cut. Are you a Baylor student?

Maybe we can do a Waco summit. Any interest?

Indiana Texas-girl · Post by **Indiana Texas-girl** » Wed Mar 12, 2003 10:57 pm

I have a 42 LC style WEsted (goatskin) but not for sale. If you wanna hook up, let me know and you can take a look at it and check out the fit. I also have predistressed cowhide (size 44) in a Raiders style with a few LC features. Here's my email: wickie7@earthlink.net

rbxb · Post by **rbxb** » Wed Mar 12, 2003 11:23 pm

Sure thing Indiana-Texas girl. In your pic , you on the right or the left?

Band Director Jones · Thu Mar 13, 2003 12:20 am

I've only seen one other non-Wested jacket and that was Joe Peter's (Peter's Bros Hats) US Wings black goatskin. It looked and felt very sturdy and very well made. There are those on this board who love (and own) the US wings or the Flightsuits or the Wested or all three. I like the Wested because 1) it is a total custom job to your specifications, all handmade 2) it the made by the original maker from the original patterns and comes with the COA 3) it is the least expensive of all the options. The only problem that I see with the Wested is there are some things you need to be very specific about (pocket placement, hardware, etc). I was not specific about the pockets on my first jacket (a Last Crusade style) and they are a little low (about a 1/2" to low). Other than that, the jacket is great, and the pocket placement doesn't bother me that much.

As far as the leather goes, my first two are in the dark lambskin and my third will be the authentic-color goatskin. Peter doesn't have pictures on the website of this leather, as it is not a regular stock (yet?). From what I understand, all of Peter’s leathers are top-notch. Lambskin is the most screen accurate (as it was used in all three movies) and lightweight, but is the least durable. Goat is the most durable he offers but I believe it is the heaviest. I would imagine that the lambtouch cowhide would be the best of both worlds (durable, but not too heavy).

Then there is the lining decision (I think most of us here choose the cotton body and the satin sleeves), hardware choices (zipper color, 'D' rings or slides or buckles (for the ToD look), extra inside pockets, and the list goes on. With Wested, the choices are almost endless.

I live right here in Robinson and can show my jackets if you want (mine are 40 R and 41 R, so they might be a little small for you). Each has some different options on them and will give you an idea of there is to choose from.

rbxb · Post by **rbxb** » Thu Mar 13, 2003 1:32 am

Bandeader,
Thanks for the info. As I live in "Midway" we are almost neighbors.
Should be no prob to hook up & take a gander at your westeds before I take the plunge.
Good point re: pockets -I've no clue where they need to be.
theres a diff. between the Raiders pocket & the LC but I dont know what yet.
The storm flap on my A2 flight jacket is 1.5 & is just right (Wested default)
inside pockets would be handy
Actually I'm happy with the A2 except the elastic is not necessary in our Texas climate.
I'm really starting to dig the pleated back w/ the vents/straps those are cool.
Do ya teach band at Robinson Rockets?
I am drummer. Pro/semipro level. Currently retired from music industry.

Thanks again & good to meet ya,

Mike

Band Director Jones · Post by **Band Director Jones** » Thu Mar 13, 2003 6:51 pm

rbxb wrote:Good point re: pockets -I've no clue where they need to be.
theres a diff. between the Raiders pocket & the LC but I dont know what yet.

Pockets on the LC were original the largest of the three movies (to accommodate the Grail Diary), with ToD being the smallest. However, I remember reading on here that Peter makes all the jackets with the LC size pocket unless you request otherwise - more functional (someone correct me if I'm wrong about this). As for pocket placement, search for posts regarding the Chris King modifications. He did some exhaustive research on the subject and created what is arguably one of the most screen accurate Wested jackets made (the jacket is featured on the Wested website).

Band Director Jones

Pyroxene · Post by **Pyroxene** » Thu Mar 13, 2003 6:55 pm

I been saying that we need a Central Texas summit like Austin or Waco. I am in San Marcos and we all need to hook up.

I'm done, now.

Pyro.

rbxb · Post by **rbxb** » Thu Mar 13, 2003 8:47 pm

I'm game for a summit. Although not fully outfitted yet.

.....FYI - I found what u guys ( & gals) might call Indy shirts on Bluefly.com
They are Ralph Lauren / Polo 100% lightweight cotton light tan, dual flap pockets, Epaulets for only $19 bux. + shipping - great deal!
I got a couple & the're well made, comfy & imho sharp lookin'.
they arent Indy specs & the buttons are dark but good quality nonetheless.
I'll put this on the "Shirt" thread too......

Indiana Texas-girl · Post by **Indiana Texas-girl** » Fri Mar 14, 2003 12:54 am

Pyroxene wrote:I been saying that we need a Central Texas summit like Austin or Waco. I am in San Marcos and we all need to hook up.

I'm done, now.

Pyro.

If my schedule is open, I'd be up for a Waco summit. Keep me posted if y'all decide to do one. It'd be awesome to be able to crack whips on the Baylor campus! (just not near the bear pit...it might scare the bear...LOL.)

Cabinetman · Post by **Cabinetman** » Fri Mar 14, 2003 10:33 am

I, too, am narrowing my jacket decision. I just need to decide between the authentic lamb and authentic goat. Then again, I am still not sure if I want the Raiders or the additonal inch that the Temple provides (this is the only difference now isn't it? Anyone care to comment? Please?). In any case, I e-mailed Peter a couple days ago (to which I received an extremely quick reply) with questions as to how specific I needed to be when ordering my jacket with regards to, well, everything. I basically told him that after wading through the various threads and posts, I didn't really know how to proceed or what I would get if I ordered a jacket. What did I need to specify? He concurred that the more you read, the more confusing it gets. No kidding, I thought.

He said that over the years, he has received a lot of input from customers and has incorporated those changes into the designs of the jackets. He said that 95% of the time, the standard jacket (be it Raiders, ToD or Crusade) is ordered and the customer is happy. I saw the Chris King reference in this thread. Given that Peter has it as the Raiders jacket example on the Wested site, that is a pretty good indicator, I would say, of the jacket you are going to get. This further illustrates that Peter is using the input of his customers like he said he has.

And by the way, Mr. Moderator, this is a great site! Thanks.

Cab

On the Hunt for Jacket

On the Hunt for Jacket

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