Club Obi Wan

hello all..

i've got all the measurement ready for my LC jacket, but can't decide on the leather.. HH or NP. HH seems to be a good choice, but i don't like the shine on the leather, and it looks rather thin. NP looks very nice, bu i'm not sure how durable the leather is.

for those who has both, how thick is HH compare to NP. also, how's NP holding out over time?

pete

Welcome aboard bullet08.

HH and NP are both considered heavy leathers. You may have the impression that they look thin, but if you were to compare it to a lambskin hide, would see the difference instantly.
Of course, it all depends on the batch the leathers they have, but generally they are thick.

Now you asked "how's NP holding out over time"
well... HH and NP are some of the toughest hides out there and they will last a LONG time. A really LONG time. They are extremely durable leathers. In terms of natural distressing, both those hides can take a bit before you start seeing any marks on it, so if distressing your jacket is something your considering, take note that unless you artificially distress your jacket, naturally will take awhile.

You mentioned you don't like the "shine on leather", do you want your jacket to have that aged-used look? There are techniques out there that fellow C.o.W members have perfected in order to remove that shine. I'm sure you'll find the answers to that question in the "Care & Distressing" section.

A hide that you may want to consider that works wonderfully for an LC jacket is a Washed Goat hide. It's thinner than HH/NP, a little thicker than Lambskin and has the toughness of HH/NP. The color of the jacket looks spot on to what you see on screen and as a plus because of the "Wash" processing of the leather it avoids any shine from the hide and allows all those "imperfections" from the hide to represent themselves better onto the final product. Better yet, that hide naturally distresses beautifully. Its a very comfortable hide and looks great for an LC jacket.

I'm sure other will chime in later on with more help for you.
Again, welcome aboard and Stay Away From The Light !!!

HH, personally. Not a fan of Novapelle, and thus, not a fan of the CS jacket. I just find the Novapelle looks a bit tacky. I mean years ago on this site we used to practically barf at predistressed hides. Now it seems that many are all about getting a jacket as such. JMO.

I'll try to be a succint as possible. Since I own both, I'll try to give an unbiased review. Of the two leathers:

If drape is more important to you, go with Novapelle! To me, it's the sweet spot between a lamb jacket and a cowhide jacket. (same with the previously offered vegetable-tanned hide, except this one is more towards the hard-wearing end of the scale, from what I've heard, since I don't abuse my jackets!) Compared to Novapelle, horsehide jackets tend to be too stiff for their own good, and even though my own horsehide jacket is approaching two years, it 'wears' me, as far as fit is concerned. Flattering in some ways, but it won't drape on you the way a Novapelle will.

If durability is more important to you, go with Horsehide! It's tough, it's reasonably water-repellant, and... it's tough as heck! My Wested horsehide jacket was my first purchase from them around Jan 2007, and even though I consider it my 'travel' beater jacket and have worn it in rain and snow, it still looks exactly the same as it did the day I recieved it! I'm not exaggerating either! Most folks would say that their jackets look the way it did when they got it, but... mine actually does! Compare that to a Novapelle, which after wearing it daily for about half a year, is wrinkled and looks as if I've owned it for years already...

So, both are excellent choices, but you've got to decide if it's more the fit you're after, or the longevity. Hope this helps!

Castor Dioscuri wrote: If drape is more important to you, go with Novapelle! To me, it's the sweet spot between a lamb jacket and a cowhide jacket. !

I think you mean between lamb and horsehide. Aren't Novapelle and cowhide the same?

Yes, they are one and the same.

Regards! Michaelson

maboot38 wrote:

Castor Dioscuri wrote: If drape is more important to you, go with Novapelle! To me, it's the sweet spot between a lamb jacket and a cowhide jacket. !

I think you mean between lamb and horsehide. Aren't Novapelle and cowhide the same?

Yep, Novapelle is predistressed cowhide.

When I said Novapelle was the sweet spot between lamb and cowhide, my point was that it draped almost like lamb, but was almost on par with an undistressed cowhide.

Ahhhhh. Whew, for a second there I was even more confused than normal.

I've got my specs for an LC too (I'm just waiting for my Raiders custom to get here so I can check the fit) and I'm really leaning toward the Novapelle. I think that it will really look the part of the LC (especially darknened a little with Pecards) and I've always seen the LC as a bit of a heavier looking jacket (which makes sense if it does, in fact, turn out to be cowhide).

Besides, I'm saving the washed goat for my ToD.

First-I do not own a Novapelle, but I do have a Wested HH from this year. I admire the Novapelle very much and think it looks great for a LC jacket. I have a cow LC jacket, and have always thought the movie jackets looked like cow. I don't think the horsehide is a great choice for LC because it's just so darned tough. Don't get me wrong, I love my HH, but prefer the cow for LC, and think I would like the Novapelle finish very much. I was SOAKED yesterday in snow and rain in the HH and 2 hours later you would have no idea it had been wet. It's very repellant. The cow soaks up water, so it also depends on how you will use the jacket.
-Ben

I use to own HH before I sold it.....it was a great jacket and very durable. However, I prefer my LC Novapelle by a mile....much better "look," better drape, and not as stiff. I personally believe Novapelle (along with the washed goat) to be the best leather Wested has ever produced.

I have a HH-LC. one westeds best LC's.

this Horsehide is REALLY soft.and it drapes like lambskin.I actually just noticed in this picture.the drape around the collar and chest drapes just like it does on film..


I say go for the Horse.its really nice.

sorry about my tired look.its work....

[img]

I hope that if/when you buy a Wested ToD that it fits and drapes just like that, holt! If it does... PERFECT!

yeah this jacket drapes pretty good for a HH.


I'll be getting my wested TofD very soon;)

I currently have Wested in novapelle, and used to own one in HH. As far as drape, the HH gets the nod. The novapelle is about 6 months old and looks like it is years old already, while my HH still looked new after a year. I think the novapelle makes an awesome looking jacket, but when it rains the hide soaks up water like a sponge (I've been soaked to my clothes a few times).

While I love the novapelle, if I could go back and do it all over again I think I'd go with the HH (I'd just make sure it fit right this time.. I sold the first one because of fitment issues).

LJ

Louisiana Jones wrote:I think the novapelle makes an awesome looking jacket, but when it rains the hide soaks up water like a sponge (I've been soaked to my clothes a few times).

That's why after being soak one time, I put pecard on it, I love how the color turn a shade darker, KT has good photos of his after some pecard treatment.
I was in the rain this afternoon with my NP and no soaking ;-)

I love this leather as much as my washed goat

i locked myself out of this forum by changing my email address.. but now the access has been granted again.. anyway, after looking at some of the members pictures in the forum, i think horsehide would be the best choice for me.

one question.. how long does it take for horsehide to break in and be comfortable to wear? i really don't care about having the jacket looking like well distressed indy jacket, but i do care about how comfortable that jacket will be. i keep hearing people saying that horsehide is rather 'stiff'.

pete

Are there any pictures around of a LC in washed goat?