Club Obi Wan

I just got off the phone with Dave and was just informed that he can no longer sell just the slides because they are running short. He told me that it would be a long while before they will have extras to sell. So just a heads up to anyone who wanted to purchase some slides to make their Wested a little more accurate. Bummer.

Did he say what a long while is? Maybe they're just tired of everyone calling JUST for them. I hope not because business is business and if they wanna mark em' up, then so be it. I just want them regardless. If they can get them somewhere then why can't we find them? They gotta be made somewhere.

Frankly I am a little dumbfounded that FS willingly did this in the past. Think about it? Why would a vendor sell a piece of hardware, that would enhance their competitors product? I am not implying that is the reason for non-shipment of the sliders, but does it make sense?

In addition Agent5, FS bought them in bulk and you would have to pay quite more for only two.

But anyway, did you see my Donnie Darko post in the Lao Che thread after your mentioning it under the summer movies?

Do a www.google.com search for Roger Ebert's review of the film abck in 20901. His last sentence shows that his talent for reviewing films left him years ago.

...They made me do it,

junior

He made it sound like more than a few months. I didn't want to sound like a little kid saying "but... but" after he already said "no."

How different are the FS slides from what Wested offers? Does someone have a pic of Wested's black anodized slider? I just ordered one with these thinking I would like them better than the antique brass d-rings, but no doubt I could change this.

Thanks,

C

Someone correct me if i'm wrong, but i believe that the Wested only has one "rectangle" per side, but that one rectangle has a bar linked between the top and bottom that slides back and forth, while the FS has two rectangles per side, just like wested's d rings.

Cab,

Pinder is correct. It is different from FS' two "D-ring style" rectangular buckles, in that they are two rectangles working much like the d-rings do, but in a rectangular form (which works better for some on the lambs).

The Wested rectanular is a one piece construction. I showed a pic of the one on my old lambstouch on the board, but in interest of time here it is again:



If I were you (how's that cane coming, by the way? ) I'd stick with the rectangular slide you ordered. It worked great on my lambstouch.

Mike

Yeah, Mike, that's what I had pictured in my mind's eye. Thanks for posting that. Yep, gonna keep it as ordered.

I was thinking for the cane, perhaps sugar cane would be the material of choice - supports us when we need a little assistance, and sustinence when we get a bit shakier.

Cab

Sergei wrote:Frankly I am a little dumbfounded that FS willingly did this in the past. Think about it? Why would a vendor sell a piece of hardware, that would enhance their competitors product? I am not implying that is the reason for non-shipment of the sliders, but does it make sense?

I agree with Sergei. The fact that the FS even has them incorporated into the Expedition at all is indicative of its quality and the attention to detail that goes into them. Cheers

There was always something about my Wested that just didn't seem right. It finally dawned on me one day, the D-rings! Those D-Ring slides made all the difference in the world. So I drove all the way from Washington to FlightSuits in Southern California and slapped my four hundred and eight bucks on the counter for those black rectangular slides. I'm much happier now.

-Edge

I just don't see what the big deal is here? Why wouldn't they sell them for $3 a pair if they only (probably) cost less than a quarter for all 4. Mark-up's are mark-up's and money i$ money. If people want them maybe they can just tell us where they get them from so we can just go our own route. I'm sorry but as long as Wested is around I see no need for a FS jacket. It would be a blessing if Wested just got the right darn ones and if they don't think they're accurate for some reason at least they could carry them as an alternate.

The other day I saw an interesting sight. A young lady coming out of an office building wearing a slightly oversized hip-hop type black leather jacket. It had a waist belt with brass buckle and loops, barrel cuffs with buckled straps on them, and a vented slit type back, and on the sides, there they were, apparently semi-functional shiny brass D-rings. Knowing I had a jacket with shiny brass D-rings sitting at home, I felt so... so, 21st century.

The_Edge wrote:There was always something about my Wested that just didn't seem right. It finally dawned on me one day, the D-rings! Those D-Ring slides made all the difference in the world. So I drove all the way from Washington to FlightSuits in Southern California and slapped my four hundred and eight bucks on the counter for those black rectangular slides. I'm much happier now.

-Edge

Not to disagree at all, but the Expedition is much more than just those square buckles ! It’s a #### of an Indiana Jones jacket . Cheers

agent5 wrote:I just don't see what the big deal is here? Why wouldn't they sell them for $3 a pair if they only (probably) cost less than a quarter for all 4. Mark-up's are mark-up's and money i$ money. If people want them maybe they can just tell us where they get them from so we can just go our own route. I'm sorry but as long as Wested is around I see no need for a FS jacket. It would be a blessing if Wested just got the right darn ones and if they don't think they're accurate for some reason at least they could carry them as an alternate.

I guess you need to see one in person and wear one in your size. I own both (Wested and FS). In fact 2 Wested's. I think I may drop down to one Wested, but there really is a difference in wear and comfort. I am not trying to start an argument, but trying to clear up perceptions.

Be cool..
-Sergei

Serg,
I agree there's no reason to start an argument over opinions. We've seen time and time again how pointless it is. I have seen and looked over a FS last year and IMHO wasn't really impressed with it as an Indy jacket. It was the thick leather that did it in for me. However, their patterns cannot be disputed, neither can the fact that they use the correct buckles which is what I thought this post was about in the first place. Now, getting back to the main sunject here. If FS is getting tired of us calling on them for the correct buckles, why can't we just find out who they get them from. Problem solved, right?

agent5 wrote:Serg,
... FS last year and IMHO wasn't really impressed with it as an Indy jacket. It was the thick leather that did it in for me. However, their patterns cannot be disputed, neither can the fact that they use the correct buckles which is what I thought this post was about in the first place. Now, getting back to the main sunject here. If FS is getting tired of us calling on them for the correct buckles, why can't we just find out who they get them from. Problem solved, right?

Whoa, whoa... Thick leather? I have a Wested Goat and a FS Goat and they are identical in thickness. But I could really get my caliper out to keep it more scientific. Differences in different batches might explain different thickness. You didn't compare a Wested Lamb to a FS Goat by any chance? That might explain different thicknesses.

I have seen and touched, and worn FS Lambs. The drape and thickness were the same as a Wested. You have to remember around the So. Cal area there are guys always gettting jackets around here as well as a steady influx of visitors that stop by, so we are constantly seeing other vendor jackets in all the different hides. BTW, this has been brought up before, but there doesn't seem to be any FS jackets that have been shipped to the Chicago area. Who's jacket did you see? And again, you have to wear it too and see the fit. Again, just trying to clear up misperceptions. I want to make sure that readers here on this thread, don't misinterpret from your comments that FS jackets have thicker leather!

Take Care...
-Sergei

Rundquist wrote: Not to disagree at all, but the Expedition is much more than just those square buckles ! It’s a #### of an Indiana Jones jacket . Cheers

LOL! You don't say?!

I don't really want to get too far off the real topic here which is the buckles that FS are short on. I can debate with FS lovers all day about why and what I don't like about it and I'd have 25 people here to defend FS who would take my comments as slanderous, which is not my intention anyhow. I have no desire to go there aaaagain. I can't recall who's jacket I saw but it was another gearheads at a convention, out of state, 2 years ago. I just prefer the Wested is all. Just my personal taste. The FS's are incredibly well put together jackets I'll tell you that, but as an Indy jacket, I'd rather have a Wested. I like the FS and have respect for the crew over there who seem to take good care of everybody, but the Wested is my personal choice. Since the authentic lamb has come into play, the only other element Wested has to nail in my opinion are the side buckles which FS obviously did. Peter insists he put on slides for the Raiders jackets and I have no reason to doubt him. Wardrobe could have easily replaced them later. Who knows. All I know is what I see on screen and that's what I want. That's what FS has and I need another pair of buckles. How to get them? Can we ask FS who their supplier is? Will they tell us? I would think so because then nobody would bother them anymore for the $3 pair of buckles. In my best Emperor Palpatine voice, "Can it be done?"

Whew, glad I deleted the post I left during the wee early hours of this morning, it could have been viewed as being much more confrontational after I re-read a copy of it I saved on my desktop notepad later this afternoon. It’s amazing how what you write takes on different meanings depending on the time of day, and how tired you are when you write it.

A meaningless post, ...this, I know. But then some folks may have read it and wondered what happened to it. Just letting them know, it wasn’t ‘moderated’ off.

Ok, a hint, something sarcastic about FS using nutria in their hides, er sumtin'.

agent5 wrote:... That's what FS has and I need another pair of buckles. How to get them? Can we ask FS who their supplier is? Will they tell us? I would think so because then nobody would bother them anymore for the $3 pair of buckles. In my best Emperor Palpatine voice, "Can it be done?"

My guess the issue with going straight to FS's source is that you need to buy the buckles by the bushel. The source for manufacturing items usually don't deal with end users, but other manufactures. So there is probably a minimum order quantity that most likely is in the hundred's of units.

Agent5, I completely understand your likes, dislikes. It's what you see and what you see alone is what is most important. That is the correct decision making process and other's people's opinion, should just be that, an opinion. The only thing I wanted to straighten out was some of the issues with leather thickness.

Take Care...
-Sergei

If someone will post a picture of the FS slides I will get a box of them.
Slides cost about $20 for 500. No big deal.
If FS perfection to detail is the slides they copied from one of my jackets then they must have come from England so must be available in the UK albeit that the originals had D rings when they left my factory.
Cheers
Peter

Forget the above. I have just received an order with the FS slides enclosed. Will get some more tomorrow
Cheers
Peter

Peter does it again! Now THAT is service. How many other complanies would step up to the plate to take care of something like this? Thank you , Peter for your concern about all of our little attentions to detail. Make mine a Wested, folks. Out in front.

Glad Peter can help AGent5. That sure was a fast delivery of FS type slides though.

As a side note: there have been many upgrades and improvements on the Expo style you saw 2 years ago. Okay done.

junior

Just a quick observation. If you order a Wested with two of the above slider buckles on each side of the jacket, then remove the slider and the roller, you will end up with a FS style D-ring. That would be a quick remedy while Peter sources new rings.
Just a thought.
Prescott

Awesome! That's the kind of stuff I need to hear on my first days of college life. Hopefully I can order my Wested really soon.

Or, you can just turn your Wested's current "d" rings 180 degrees, and
have the flat side out, instead of the rounded side, and you
will have the F.S. flat "d" rings for free on a jacket you
already have.

Flathead

Slides are on the way
One box of gunmetal 1" slides.
Cost £12 or $18 per 1000 yes 1000
That is less than 2 cents each or set for under 8 cents a set.
Twice the price of D Rings but do not ask me for a 8 cent reduction on your next jacket.
I will use them instead of the buckle type I use now which are really expensive at 10 cents each but then I only use two so I save 12 cents a jacket.
How am I going to spend all that money. I know I will save up for three months and buy a can of Budweiser.
Cheers Folks
Peter

OK---Let me see if I am reading this corectly.

1. Peter (bless him) now has (or will soon be getting) the same rectangular slides that are on the FS jacket? Yes/No

2. Peter confirms again that the original had D-Rings (no response necessary)

3. Question: Strictly from a FUNCTIONAL point of view, which slides hold the srtrap better: rectangualr or d-ring? (I have never had a jacket with rectangular slides, just D-rings)

Inquiring minds want to know--Cheers - Lao Feng

How am I going to spend all that money. I know I will save up for three months and buy a can of Budweiser.

Please, Peter, at least buy a Guiness if you can. It may take
you another month to save up for it, but it is so much better than
a bud.

Flathead

Peter, you are the MAN! My order will be coming hopefully very soon.

Man, Peter...you rule - it's that simple. Too bad I didn't order the gunmetal slides with my most recent wested...now I have to put them on myself...bummer. Thanks again Peter...

-John

Can anyone talk to the functional differences between d-rings (Wested standard) and "rectangular" FS-type hardware? Thanks in advance.

The rectangular hardware seems to have more "grab" on the adjusting straps. The D-rings loosen a little to easily or allow the strap to slide out altogether especially on the lambskin hides. Also, for the accuracy buffs, the only documented raiders jacket that could be found had the rectangular hardware.
-P-

Many thanks, Prescott, for taking the time to respond. Cheers--Lao Feng