Club Obi Wan

I would like to buy an Indy jacket that matches my Alden's in quality. I currently have a USW 30th goat and there are a few things I don't like: collar (too big), arm holes (too low), and dye (wears off into this weird red very easily). I've been looking at G&B, I like the collar and the arm holes, but I just got the idea in my head that I could possibly get a jacket in Kangaroo. I know USW used to make one, but has/will anyone else?

cokewithvanilla wrote:I would like to buy an Indy jacket that matches my Alden's in quality. I currently have a USW 30th goat and there are a few things I don't like: collar (too big), arm holes (too low), and dye (wears off into this weird red very easily). I've been looking at G&B, I like the collar and the arm holes, but I just got the idea in my head that I could possibly get a jacket in Kangaroo. I know USW used to make one, but has/will anyone else?

It's a tough hide that I find pretty much won't break in. Had a non-Indy for 15 years that never stopped looking new. I'd go goat for ultra-toughness and softness myself.

Most of the Kangaroo jackets I have seen in real life, and those posted here on
this forum, have had an almost black undertone to them as the top coat wore
off. Not the cool looking tan color we come to expect from the patina goatskin, horsehide,
or cowhide always seem to have.

I don't know if that's a by product of the chemicals/process used to tan Kangaroo,
or if that's just the nature of the hide.

If you search for "kangaroo" you will find a bunch of threads about them.

I do believe _ had posted some pics of the one he had, and it
had the black undertones to it also. He could tell you more about it.

If you don't mind that, Kangaroo leather is just about at the top of the
list for strength.

But do the search of the forum, and you will have some nice reading about it.

Flathead

Kangaroo usually has a light grey undertone. The USW kanga jacket had some serious dye issues as I recall.

Kangaroo has more cross sectional fibers than any other leather. It is very difficult to tear. But it is more prone to scuff than most other leathers. I have no experience with the jackets in question, but own several pairs of kangaroo hunting and western boots as well as one older jacket. Usually in order to keep it from harder to scuff it is often coated in some finish.

Here is post from forum member Forest For The Trees, from a few years ago, about a Wings Kangaroo jacket
he found in a vintage clothing shop. He posted some pictures of it, with the links attached
to get to the pictures, about halfway down the page.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=44520&hilit=kangaroo+jacket

It has the black undertones to it. Even _ chimes in about the strange
way the hide is dyed black, and then has the outer finish applied, almost like it was
just painted on.

Very odd looking if you ask me. But some people may like it.

Flathead

Yes the WINGS had black but no kanga jacket I've seen here has black undertones.

CM wrote:Yes the WINGS had black but no kanga jacket I've seen here has black undertones.

Can you post a link to some pictures of jackets with the grey color you are talking about?

I haven't been able to find one with anything but the black undertones that were posted
here by forum members.

It would be interesting to compare kangaroo jackets with the different undertones.

The grey probably looks just as strange as the black I bet.

Flathead

FLATHEAD wrote:

CM wrote:Yes the WINGS had black but no kanga jacket I've seen here has black undertones.

Can you post a link to some pictures of jackets with the grey color you are talking about?

I haven't been able to find one with anything but the black undertones that were posted
here by forum members.

It would be interesting to compare kangaroo jackets with the different undertones.

The grey probably looks just as strange as the black I bet.

Flathead

Naturally you won't find photos of grey here because all the Kanga jackets on this site are the same model by teh same maker with the same dye problems. Don't have any photos you'll just have to take my word for it.

Incidentally it's very hard to get Kanga leather over here these days as it is all sold overseas.

Yeah, I sold that jacket to someone on this forum. It was too big for me. The leather was quite strange, but definitely unique. Very thin, but very strong. As to the color, the surface was given an artificial color to give it that russet brown look, with a lighter brown underneath. The true color of the leather was dark grey, as visible in a scratched area and the strip of leather tied to the zipper pull.

I haven't seen kangaroo leather on anything else really. Funny, because I hear parts of Australia are over-run with them! But since folks don't eat kangaroo (that I know of), probably not a lot of support for hunting them (given the cuteness factor and such).

Forrest For the Trees wrote:Yeah, I sold that jacket to someone on this forum. It was too big for me. The leather was quite strange, but definitely unique. Very thin, but very strong. As to the color, the surface was given an artificial color to give it that russet brown look, with a lighter brown underneath. The true color of the leather was dark grey, as visible in a scratched area and the strip of leather tied to the zipper pull.

I haven't seen kangaroo leather on anything else really. Funny, because I hear parts of Australia are over-run with them! But since folks don't eat kangaroo (that I know of), probably not a lot of support for hunting them (given the cuteness factor and such).

Kangaroos are culled (shot) in vast quantities and they are eaten over here in limited amounts. The leather is exported for good money so not much of it turns up here when cow is so easy and cheap to obtain.

The grey undertone looks great to me - grey is my favorite colour to have under the dye of a leather coat. The issue is that Kanga leather is so tough you don't see enough wear fast enough. It's also stiff and never feels comfortable - in my experience.

I repeat my expereince is with non-Indy jackets, so I'm happy to move on.