Club Obi Wan

Well, I've gone and done it. In the past I've had the please of wearing Expeditions in lambskin, goatskin, and deerskin.

Ehren the sales rep said they'd never made one out of cowhide and I've decided to take the plunge. The Raiders jacket was supposed to look like a distressed cowhide jacket in the film (although it was lambskin, as we all know) with a brass zipper. So, that's what I ordered.

That awesome QM summit before last brought about those final tweaks of the Expedition jacket and gave us what we now know as the "post-mod" jacket. For functionality, the Expo zipper does not extend all the way to the bottom of the jacket. I tried to order my cowhide Expo with an extended zipper and Ehren explained that it would cost a couple hundred additional dollars because they would have to come up with modified patterns to accommodate the request. Needless to say, I didn't want a 50% increase in the price. However, there is a $30 charge if you want an Expedition in a leather other than lambskin or goat. So, horse or cow is going to cost an extra $30.

Sergei, I recall you wanting Dave Marshall to photograph the making of the first FS cowhide jacket and I just want to let you know that it was about 2:15pm your time when I got off the phone with Flightsuits this afternoon but I forgot to tell them about the pictures so you may want to call him.

I.J.

Sounds AWESOME!!! You have got to post some pics when it arrives for sure!!!

Capt. D

Thanks, Cap! I'm still a little bothered by the fact that they won't "let" me lengthen the zipper without such a high charge but I am ignorant as to how they'd have to re-do the patterns to accomodate that request. Either way, it'll still be a great jacket!

I.J.

Can I ask why you are choosing the cowhide ?

I'm awaiting a Wested new cowhide, and am curious, since most people here seem to go for the goat due to its apparent extra durability.

It's not just cowhide, but predistressed. That's the attraction. It's the first offering from FS. So that is the interest.

-S

Ah I see. Cool.

Sergei,

Have you seen this new pre-distressed cowhide? If I call them, will they send me a sample? Thanks.

Dr. J

Dr._J wrote:Sergei,

Have you seen this new pre-distressed cowhide? If I call them, will they send me a sample? Thanks.

Dr. J

Absolutely! I have seen the hide, but not on an Expo. I will be there with a huge tribal gathering this Wednesday at FS. Maybe we can send you teh sample from there. PM me your address.

-Sergei

Thanks Buddy! I think ol' Adam (whose butt you have yet to kick) is going to take some pics and grab me a sample of the predistressed hide. In your opinion, how's it look? Would it be good on an Expo?

Regards,

Dr. J

P.S. Have fun in El Cajon. Wish I could join you.

I would have to see. But my itch has been scratched last year with my seal brown, chrome Expo. But I am thinking of a G-1.

-S

Any chance we can get some pics online when you get them ?

Sergei wrote:

Dr._J wrote:Sergei,

Have you seen this new pre-distressed cowhide? If I call them, will they send me a sample? Thanks.

Dr. J

I have seen the hide, but not on an Expo. I will be there with a huge tribal gathering this Wednesday at FS.

Will you check on my jacket for me and see how it's coming along?

I.J.

Indiana Joe wrote:Will you check on my jacket for me and see how it's coming along?

I.J.

Absolutely. On the top of my list.

-Sergei

Sergei,

Did we mention we want pics?

Regards,

Dr. J

Bump! Better late than never! Zohar's generosity has allowed me to get some pictures posted. My camera is not top of the line but hey, it's better than nothing. The pictures were taken outside in direct sunlight.

He should be posting them shortly.

Thanks again, Zohar!

Indiana Joe

Here is the first picture of it.


So I don't hog bandwidth and shut the site down again , here is the address where the others can be seen.

http://public.fotki.com/NFlowers/joe/joe1.html

Many thanks again, Zohar! Pictures one and three are of the pre-distressed G & B Expedition cowhide, dark vintage color. The rest contrast the jacket with my pre-distressed Wested cowhide.

Again, pictures were taken in sunlight. Both jackets have never been treated with anything---that will be later this Spring. The Wested should darken up nicely with Pecard dressing. All distressing is natural. Note the grain of the Expedition and how the color varies depending on how the sunlight hits it.

The photos make the G & B jacket appear a bit darker than it is in reality. I'd say the color is actually in between Flightsuits' seal chrome goat and dark brown lambskin. The Wested is light in color but it should be noted that the jacket is much darker now than when it arrived almost a year ago. Again, just through wear.

I.J.

That is an awesome looking jacket. I imagine that once you treat it, its going to look fantastic. Can't wait to see it in the spring.

Dalexs

However, there is a $30 charge if you want an Expedition in a leather other than lambskin or goat. So, horse or cow is going to cost an extra $30.

Thats kind of funny. When I asked FS for a price of a Horsehide Expo,
they responded to me with this quote:

" The price difference for the horse is $128.00 and the goat is $178.00
this is in addition to the cost of a lambskin expedition jacket."

I got this from a person named Dan after I wrote to FS and expressed an
interest in a Horsehide Indy Jacket.

That would put the price, with sleeve alterations, at almost $600.00!!
I could have two Wested's for that!

I wanted a Russet colored Indy jacket after seeing Rundquists jacket
and really fell for it. But the price is WAY out of my league for that...

Flathead

FLATHEAD wrote:

However, there is a $30 charge if you want an Expedition in a leather other than lambskin or goat. So, horse or cow is going to cost an extra $30.

....That would put the price, with sleeve alterations, at almost $600.00!!
I could have two Wested's for that!

I wanted a Russet colored Indy jacket after seeing Rundquists jacket
and really fell for it. But the price is WAY out of my league for that...

Flathead

$600 is a lot. I believe Indydawg got his expo off the F.S. clearance rack. You want to continue to check their clearance offerings from time to time since you never know what may turn up there. Who knows? You may find what you're looking for-----it just make some time for it to show up.

Regards,

I.J.

I’d just like to add that I also had a chance to see both the G&B Vintage Brown (light) Cowhide and the Vintage Dark Brown Cowhide 'hides' earlier this week.

My impressions of the Dark Brown is pretty much the same as that of IJ. It has a certain variation of color that runs throughout the entire jacket that gives it a richness of hue that cannot be easily described, not even by viewing the sample swatch. The hide itself is heavily grained, typical of older ‘vintage’ jackets, and the jacket itself is what I would describe as heavy in weight, certainly compared with their lamb or goat. It is also not what I would describe as being like most pre-distressed jackets I’ve seen, such as those awful pre-distressed offerings from many department stores we’ve all seen, or even the jackets from USWings, or those from Wested (although with Peters, I am going by second hand information having not seen one in the flesh so to speak). With the G&B Vintage Dark Brown there is no heavy handed distressing of the seams and edges of pockets, collar, etc., and all the colorations blend nicely into each other. It is rather subtle, but looks as though there is just enough of a start going on to lend itself well to further distressing with wear. The entire jacket itself is as though it were made with the underlying color a lighter brown with the top of the grain being darker somehow, and when seen in certain lighting gives the jacket its depth of color and rich look. I also have to say, that when I was looking at my Dark Seal Goat, and Seal Goat especially, they appeared rather flat in color by comparison, and is probably as good as it’s going to look for quite sometime without real hard wear. But for those who do not care for heavily grained leather, although still rather supple for a cowhide of this type, you may not like G&B’s new Dark Brown Cowhide.

As for the G&B Vintage Brown (light) Cowhide, it is indeed very light, too light for my particular tastes. It was described to me as a Cognac, or caramel color. And the differences between the G&B Dark and Light cowhide does not end there. The Light Brown is totally different in appearance than the Dark Brown and is also considerably lighter in weight when hefting them both. The Light Brown is devoid of the heavy graining found on it’s Dark Brown cousin and more flat in color without any of the engrained richness found in the Dark Brown. I would describe it as more of a brushed, or buffed, smooth cowhide with a more pebbly finish. The jacket I seen had a certain amount of uneven grain (meaning some areas had larger, more splotchy graining to it) than others, but not real noticeably so unless you were looking for it, and it all seemed to blend into the whole of the appearance of the jacket very nicely. It also does not have the heavy distressing around the seams and edges of pockets, collar, etc. IMHO, it would need to be darkened up with Pecards or by some other means to give it a bit more character, or to make it look anything like what is seen on HF on the big screen. But, if you’re fond of lighter colors and want to experience something different, this jacket may work for you.

The above is only my own ‘one time viewing’ critical evaluation of the jackets and since we all see things differently should not be taken as some expert opinion to base whether you purchase either of these jackets. Obviously the person who owned them, liked both of them very much or else he would not have gotten them, and he’s been collecting all sorts of leather jackets longer than most anyone I know.