Club Obi Wan

Just got this email today:

US Wings ® Inc. will no longer make Our World famous Legend Kangaroo Indy and A-2 Jackets. After all these years We will be placing these two leather jackets on our collectors list.
Thanks
Sarge

So, if you didn't get one this round, the train has left the station.

Regard! Michaelson

That's no bueno.... I always thought that 'roo hide was pretty fitting for a rough and tough jacket for Indy

I bought a Roo Indy in XXL but it was smaller than my other Legend jackets in the same size. Bummer as I loved the skin.....

When Sarge first announced these jackets he said there was no guarantee they would be able to offer this hide long term. I'm sure a bit of that was creating marketing urgency, but the export/import of roo hides, especially pieces big enough to make jackets, isn't easy or cheap.

Regards,

Indiana Jeff

That, and the fact the hide was sourced from the same company that sources 'roo hide for the International World Soccer League balls and shoes. That company is quite jealous in releasing very much 'excess' leather to outside vendors, if any, as they did in this case.

USW's knew that window wasn't going to be open very long.

It was definitely a rare opportunity.

Regards! M

Today's email.

Last Call:
Our Kangaroo Jackets Will Soon Be Gone Forever!

LAST CALL! Our world-famous Kangaroo A-2 Jacket and Kangaroo Indy-style Legend Jacket are US Wings exclusives and are not available anywhere else. We've been the sole manufacturer of these outstanding & unique jackets for many years -- but they will not be produced any longer, so get yours while you can!

Kangaroo is the leather of choice for those who want the strongest & lightest leather for their A-2 or Indy-style jacket. Aside from being a unique jacket material, kangaroo is lighter & stronger than cowhide or goatskin and will provide years and years of use. Don't miss the chance to own one of these superb jackets while they're still available! Sizes limited to stock-on-hand. Proudly made in the USA.

Regard! M

The very last size 'large' was sold this morning, and no more will be made by or for USW's, so I was messaged this morning.

Regards! M

Were original 1930s-1940s A-2 jackets ever made in kangaroo hide, or is roo hide a modern variant?

I believe it's a modern variant, davidd. I don't recall anything mil-spec in the 30's-40's made from 'roo, but then maybe members in the New Zealand/Australia area can confirm or deny that.

Regards! Michaelson

There were some A2s made in Australia during WW2, and there is some chance that some were made from roo, but maybe not a strong chance.

---
From VLJ FORUM:
An Australian made WWII A-2 has a military styled label "V505 1943", with "V" being a wartime code standing for Victoria as the place of manufacture, pointing to government involvement. It has a collar stand construction made of possibly cowhide using a khaki twill lining.

Understand these may have been made by Staggs or Lasicas for the USAAF stationed in Australia rather than for the RAAF.
---
It looks and feels like cowhide to the owner, and the point is well-made that roo would not have been considered a commercial hide back then.

Thanks! That's what I suspected; I appreciate the confirmation from those with more knowledge of such things.

I imagine they WISH they had 'roo skin during the war, though. It's amazing material!

Anyway, this train is about to leave the station, so if anyone is interested in ever obtaining a 'roo Indy jacket, now is the time.

Once these are gone, I'm told that's it. No more, and no plans of ever offering them again, as they're already listed in the 'collectable' column at USW's.

Regards! M

Tibor wrote:There were some A2s made in Australia during WW2, and there is some chance that some were made from roo, but maybe not a strong chance.

---
From VLJ FORUM:
An Australian made WWII A-2 has a military styled label "V505 1943", with "V" being a wartime code standing for Victoria as the place of manufacture, pointing to government involvement. It has a collar stand construction made of possibly cowhide using a khaki twill lining.

Understand these may have been made by Staggs or Lasicas for the USAAF stationed in Australia rather than for the RAAF.
---
It looks and feels like cowhide to the owner, and the point is well-made that roo would not have been considered a commercial hide back then.

I'm aware of these jackets. Very unlikely to be roo. Matter of fact, Australia has had no great tradition of using roo hide for leather clothing. Cow is the most common hide and sheep. Further, I have never even heard of an Australian horsehide jacket.

Waited too long on this one. Sold out in my size

Looks like they still have 'roo in the Signature Series pattern, so it was definitely the Legend pattern that has gone the way of the do-do bird.

The only Legend pattern jacket left are in the clearance section, and almost all in size 'small'.

Regards! M

If it helps anyone, David Hack tells me he found 3 Legend pattern size Large-long still in stock.

Regard! M

I ordered one kangaroo jacket approx one month or two ago and was told I was fortunate enough to have nabbed the last large/regular length.

I have had the bison one for about a year.

The kangaroo jacket is so light and and very durable. I recently wore it in the Mexican jungle a few weeks ago. Yes, it was still very warm - but the thorns and pricklies would have been unbearable without it. And - - not a scratch on the 'roo.

It is a beautiful jacket. Now the only problem I have is choosing which one to wear when I go out. I am contemplating switiching the buckles for d-rings. I did so on my bison and was very pleased with result.

I do like the buckle look, though. Maybe there are buckles out there I can purchase that are less sharp? Any ideas.

Thanks all!

AO

Make It Jones was making replacement buckles that did not need sewing. I had gotten a pair when I had a Legend in bison and they worked very well.

Regards,

Indiana Jeff

Oh good! Thank you Indiana Jeff. Do you recall where you ordered them from? I was unclear on that part.

Oh sorry - Make IT JOnes - it is a company. I see. Thank you. I am a little slow on the draw tonight.

I don't know if he is still offering them.


Regards,

Indiana Jeff

I contacted him a few weeks ago about some Buckles. He said he'd need to make a new batch and would e-mail me. Still heard nothing.

I'm on the buckles this weekend - school holidays just been eating up the spare time for getting things made. Kids back to school so normal service resuming shortly...

From the US Wings website -

The Kangaroo Indy-Style Legend Jacket is a Limited Edition jacket and back by popular demand! We last manufactured a Kangaroo Indy-style legend jacket more than 10 years ago. We are once again offering one in this outstanding leather! Based on Neil Cooper’s pattern, who made the first Indy-style jacket for the first movie. When Neil Cooper stopped making these jacket, US Wings carried on the tradition.

Yeah, lots of confusion on that one.

I've asked David Hack directly what it even means, and he still says once they're all gone, that's it.....but if you'll note, they're listed as 'Signature Series', and that's a completely different pattern.

Cut and pasted directly from the USWings page you're quoting from. Color added is mine:

Signature Series Kangaroo Indy-style Legend Jacket
$889.00 – $949.00

As the subject title says, no more LEGEND pattern 'roo jackets are to be made, so are they retiring the pattern, or the hide? The Legend pattern IS Coopers original pattern, so I'm just as confused as you are.

I STILL don't know myself.

Regards! Michaelson

To further muddy the waters, the pictures for the roo jacket are definitely the Legend pattern. Looking at the sizing, there are S, L, XL, 2XL listed, no M. I think these are the remaining Legend stock.

Looks like the web folks over at USW consolidated the Indy jackets under the Signature Series label.


Regards,

Indiana Jeff

Yeah, seems it would've made sense to have had the US made Legends in the Signature Series all along, like the A-2's and the others. Unless maybe they were but I didn't notice!

I always associated 'Signature Series' with the Indy pattern, but there are other jackets in the line.

So, no more Legends when the Roo is all gone then, right?

Probably with that idea is the Signature Series is a much larger jacket pattern.

The cost of 'roo hides is pretty ridiculous, so I shutter to think what a Signature Series pattern jacket would actually run using 'roo hides.

It would probably be 1/3 higher, if they could find large enough skins to make them....

Regard! M

I am curious is their modern a2 has better selling than their indy jacket?? In my opinion they should really bring back their varies skin choice for different pattern of indy jacket.

Not sure, but considering they're a contractor to the U. S. military, I'd guess the answer would have to be 'it's possible' to that question.

They DO supply A2's to the Air Force, so if you discount that, I'd say they sell a lot more A2's than Indy jackets.....THOUGH the Indy jackets have been a main contract item to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Disney management for literally years, I don't think we'll ever really know.

Regard! Michaelson