Just got my first Indy Jacket

[Ian]

After pondering about which jacket to get, I finally took the plunge and went for a Wested Raiders.

I was looking through Wested website seeing which I prefered and whilst looking in the clearance section noticed that there was an unpaid for custom Raiders in Dark brown cow hide with my exact measurments!!!

Gasping for breath and reaching for the laptop, I checked it was still available and ordered. This was yesterday.

It only turned up this morning!!!

When I ripped the package apart and took at look at it I was really chuffed . It also fits perfectly..I'm so happy with it, not only as an Indy Jacket, but also as regular jacket...

As far as the SA'ness of it asll, I'm not really sure what the details of it are, just that the size was perfect.

So, here it is, just a quick snap of my first raiders jacket.....be nice..






Ian

[Joeyeah_right]

Looks great to me! Great colour too! (As for SA, I am not the one to comment as I am not into completely "Screen Accurate", more "Screen Close-Enough" )
I may have to save my pennies for a Wested later this year.
I recently bought the Stonewashed Denim version of the Raiders jacket from Wested as I wanted a lighter jacket that I could wear in warmer weather and I absolutely love it, so at least I know that if the leather version has the same measurements "Off The rack" as the Denim version then I will be happy)

Joe

[Michaelson]

MAN that's a nice looking jacket!

What I find 'lacking' in a lot of jackets these days has been the shoulder seams are usually too far apart, essentially sagging off the actual point of the shoulder.

YOURS, on the other hand, are sitting exactly where they're supposed to....giving it a true tailored look.

Yep. Ya done good! Hang onto that one!

HIGH regards! Michaelson

[Gorak]

Looks awesome! The general fit really does look like it was tailor made just for you. I feel the same way about the one I bought off the Cairo Bizzarre. It was a used and when I put it on it felt as if it was tailor made for me. Have fun wearing it and use it for EVERYTHING! Congrats...

[Michaelson]

I will post my usual plea though....do NOT practice the 'black art' of distressing! It WILL age nicely from regular use. Let it age on it's own.

Ok. That's out of the way now....

Regards! Michaelson

[crismans]

Looks good. You got a great fit which, like has been said, is hard to do sometimes. Looks like a definite keeper!

[nicktheguy]

What I find 'lacking' in a lot of jackets these days has been the shoulder seams are usually too far apart, essentially sagging off the actual point of the shoulder.

YOURS, on the other hand, are sitting exactly where they're supposed to....giving it a true tailored look.

You know, that is so true. It's hard to get a jacket that properly fits in the shoulders any more. This one looks spot on in the shoulder measurements. Nicely done! That's a good find!

[Tennessee Smith]

I will post my usual plea though....do NOT practice the 'black art' of distressing! It WILL age nicely from regular use. Let it age on it's own.

Ok. That's out of the way now....

Regards! Michaelson

Heretic!!!!

[Michaelson]

...and PROUD of it!!!



Regards! Michaelson

[Tennessee Smith]

[singsingjohnny]

Awesome jacket, it fits you perfectly...ENJOY!

I'm in the non-pre-distressed camp (at least when it comes to my jackets), though I've seen some beautiful pre-distressing on some of the jackets shown here on COW. I just figure hey, Indy's jacket must've seen many adventures to look that beaten up, so I'm not being gentle with mine at all. For instance, I'm at work, at my desk, with my jacket UNDER said desk, with my boots sitting on top of it. Plus we're supposed to get heavy rain later, so it may get a shower as well! And winter, oh boy, I won't even go there...

[Texan Scott]

Is 'chuffed' a good thing? Defering to Dave...'if you've ever been 'chuffed' you know how painful that can be!'

Nothing like a jacket that fits well. I have a copper novapelle and it is a keeper also. Hope you get plenty of adventuring wear out of this one.

[nicktheguy]

also glad to see 'chuffed' on the boards. We don't use that word a lot in Canada, but it does get used --- meaning to be pleased or happy....as opposed to 'chaffed' which is something completely different.

[binkmeisterRick]

So you wouldn't be chuffed to be chaffed, would you?

[nicktheguy]

But you may be chuffed to be chapped, but not to be chaffed, unless you were chaffed because you were chuffed that you were chapped in the first place

[St. Dumas]

I've always been curious about Wested's undistressed cowhide. You don't see a lot of those on this forum. Looks like a nice hide.

SD

[Michaelson]

That's all I ever owned from Wested when it came to cowhide, SD.

Fine, rich colored leather, each and everyone of them.

Regards! Michaelson

[theman]

Looks like a great fit, love the sleeve to torso ratio on this one, you don't see them that correct on these so you definitely have a keeper there!

Oh, and don't listen to these non-distressing blokes, their shiney new jackets look all stuffy. beat the @#$% outta that thing, rub it down w/ alcohol, get it nice and wet, ball it up in a corner, sit on it, walk on it... do as much as you can to get that looking like a proper indy jacket!

[Michaelson]

Oh, and don't listen to these non-distressing blokes, their shiney new jackets look all stuffy.

Our 'shiney new jackets' soon gain legitimate wear and tear from daily use and life experiences in general, all from our REAL adventures, rather than the 'fakery' you propose...but to each their own.

Regards! Michaelson

[John Vaughan]

Good find! A nice jacket plus the meaning for a few new words for me. I learn so much every time I log on!

John

[Texan Scott]

...makes me wonder...where has osama ben hidin'?

[Michaelson]

I learn so much every time I log on!

John

Yep, there's a lot to be said for useless information!



Regards !Michaelson

[Indiana G]

great fit all around....that's a pretty good score.

more importantly, cherish the memory of your first indy jacket....it will hold a special place in your heart if you are like me......cuz thats where the madness started. there's no turning back now

[Texan Scott]

..useless information and worthless experiences...that's what we're about here....

...sorry, gotta run! Late for a truck drag!

[Michaelson]

True that, Tex...well, at least speaking for myself, that is....


Amen, 'G'. There is only one 'first'.

Regards! Michaelson

[nicktheguy]

You know, I have my father's old leather jacket from the army days. He was a paratrooper but he 'acquired' an American A-2. As a kid I loved that jacket. He gave it to me when I was in my twenties in the nineties - the cool thing about the jacket - well the collar is pretty worn-out, but the real cool thing is the arm of the jacket on the driver's side. It is so much more faded than the right side. It's from his truck driving days in the 50's. Very cool natural distressing.

[John Vaughan]

I learn so much every time I log on!

John

Yep, there's a lot to be said for useless information!



Regards !Michaelson

Ya that's kinda what I was getting at...Still, nice jacket. and not all of it's useless, now I have to think of a way to use those awesome words in a conversation.

John

[Michaelson]

I've learned as I've grown older that when big words are used, I just smile knowingly, then move on, as I KNOW I'll NEVER find an opportunity to use them myself. Every time I've tried, I get blank stares, and you spend more time explaining definitions than trying to get your original point across ....but we digress......

Regards! Michaelson

[Texan Scott]

...what is digress?

[Ian]

Thanks for all your nice comments!!

I really still can't believe the way it fits.....CHUFFED!!

I guess the shoulder width is just luck that it fits the way it does. The dude who ordered it must be exactly the same build as me. The shoulder width isn't requested on the custom form though.

This is defo a spreading obsession. First it was just the hat now the jacket and the hat. I can only assume that it'll go further in the not too distant future. Aside from being Indy gear, it's also great general attire for simply 'swanning' around in.

I just need the weather too cool off slightly now so that I can wear it.

Michaelson: I have NO intensions of disstressing the jacket (Sorry Tennessee Smith ) - I just couldn't do it. I want to wear it as a 'to go' jacket and not just as gear. Let nature take it's course.

If you require any more British colloquialisms, just ask.

Ian

[Texan Scott]

No time for distressing! Better to be 'swanning'!

[Michaelson]

Michaelson: I have NO intensions of disstressing the jacket (Sorry Tennessee Smith ) - I just couldn't do it. I want to wear it as a 'to go' jacket and not just as gear. Let nature take it's course.

Ian

GOOD man!!

[Ian]

No time for distressing! Better to be 'swanning'!

Close, but no cigar.

Ian

[IndianaChris711]

...what is digress?

In case you are wondering digress is according to mirriam-webster

to turn aside especially from the main subject of attention or course of argument

IndianaChris

[Texan Scott]

Just having fun with it.

[John Vaughan]

I'm starting to feel distressed just reading this one. but I think you're right Michaelson, I've never use them so I'll just forget I ever read them in the first place. Again, nice jacket.

John

[Noah]

You got a nice jacket there Ian! Fits you perfectly. That was a good find

[Mitch LaRue]

EXCELLENT

- Find

- Fit

- Fotos

and
- Future plans for this jacket (as in: allowing it to age and distress naturally )

Highest compliment & congratulations to you, Ian

[gwyddion]

That is a good looking jacket you got there! Wear it in good health

Regards, Geert

[Ian]

Thanks again

Despite the warm weather here, I decided I'd take this baby for a spin today. It needs breaking in slightly as the leather is a little stiff, but I do love the smell of leather in the morning.

I guess I should have more photos of me wearing it taken, but the the little un' is too young to take em and if I ask the wife, she'll just go...'Hang on......are you dressing up as Indiana Jones?'

Here's another one I took.



Ian

[Dr. Evil]

How do you like those tapered sleeves? Your jacket looks like it was made by the same employee that made my horsehide, right down to the sleeves and pocket flaps. From the photo, it looks like that right flap is a little a-symetrical, just like mine. Is that the case? Great looking jacket, though. The body on mine is identical. I think mine is a bith shorter, though, at 23.5". I've got tapered cuffs on my horsehide and, though I was disappointed with them a little at first, I've come to really like them because they don't drape all over my hands when I'm doing stuff. I think they actually look better now, too. Enjoy the jacket. I'm sure it will last years. Mine are hard worked and hold up nice. Wested leathers certainly aren't the kind you have to pamper. They could probably make cush, all-weather lawn furniture out of their horsehide.

[Ian]

How do you like those tapered sleeves? Your jacket looks like it was made by the same employee that made my horsehide, right down to the sleeves and pocket flaps. From the photo, it looks like that right flap is a little a-symetrical, just like mine. Is that the case? Great looking jacket, though. The body on mine is identical. I think mine is a bith shorter, though, at 23.5". I've got tapered cuffs on my horsehide and, though I was disappointed with them a little at first, I've come to really like them because they don't drape all over my hands when I'm doing stuff. I think they actually look better now, too. Enjoy the jacket. I'm sure it will last years. Mine are hard worked and hold up nice. Wested leathers certainly aren't the kind you have to pamper. They could probably make cush, all-weather lawn furniture out of their horsehide.

Tapered sleeves are awesome!! doesn't feel like my hands are rattling around the cuffs. Honestly, this is the best jacket I've ever owned.

Actually, both pocket flaps are slightly asymetrical, but the photo exaggerates it on the right one. I wouldn't have noticed though unless you'd pointed it out.

Looking forward to living in it over the cooler months here in the UK.

Ian

[Dr. Evil]

sorry to point out the flaps. If it makes you feel better, just tell yourself the guy that cut those out must think that's the way they're supposed to look, because he did one of mine the same exact way. The sleeves and body are identical, too.

But your jacket looks awesome, so be happy with that.

[Ian]

Sokay. I quite like slight imperfections, intentionally or not. Gives whatever it is individuality and reminds me that it has been in contact with human hands.

Ian

[kwad]

Good find Ian!!
The jacket looks great on you.

My first transaction with Wested was the same as yours.
Spotted a unpaid special order in the clearance section that was made for me.
Cool thing about the jackets in that section is you never know what you are going to get (as it is usually someone elses custom specs).

My Standard raiders in authentic lamb came with a v shaped back panel, no inner facings, a full satin liner and a #8 brass zipper. (It's sort of a cross between a standard Raiders and the special offer ROLA)
(I later emailed Gemma for more details and was informed that there were no special requests made for the jacket. )

Any hoo, it fits great, looks nice and saved me a few bucks to boot.

[Texan Scott]

You guys are right! There is nothing like the first time! I remember when I received that first Indy jacket! I was, well...chuffed...er.....jazzed....stoked....pumped...flying high, or otherwise elated!

There really is only one first!

Now wear the bo jangles out of it!

[Ian]

As far as Indy jackets go; I wouldn't know a special request if it slapped me in the face. Much like Texan Scott, I'm still trying to get my head around all the new jargon I've been learning in the jackets forums.

I will/am wearing the Jerry Jeff Walker out of it..

How long does it take to soften up a bit?

Ian

[Ian]

Well, they say 'start like you mean to go on'.

So, I ordered another Wested, this time a LC/CS in Novapelle to the same sizes...

I know not my first, but I thought to economise, I'd post here again...

So, my second Indy jacket...



Ian

[Michaelson]

Those sleeves look a bit longer than your other jacket. Is that the case?

Another great fit in the shoulders. Looks like Peter has nailed your pattern perfectly!

Regards! Michaelson

[whipcracker]

Those are really nice jackets! Wear them and wear them and wear them. Wested can and does make a great jacket, I've never owned one, actually I'm still waiting on getting my first Indy jacket, but I've seen alot of pictures of jackets on this board and your is way nice. I know what you mean about the shoulder thing too, clothes are cut weird nowadays. I still say there's nothing like a good bovinehide (cow, steer, calf, bull, whatever).