Club Obi Wan

While browsing through Aero's website the other day, I noticed that they are offering a "California" jacket that resembles an Indy but whch has buffalo leather. Aero also offers buffalo A-2's.

The only experience I have with buffalo leather is with H.S. Trask shoes, which is not at all useful for guaging how that leather would work as material for a jacket.

Aero asserts that buffalo leather jackets are "dead ringers" for what 1930's-era jackets, as aged, now look like.

Is ths true? How does buffalo leather compare to horsehide or goatskin? Does any vendor other than Aero offer buffalo leather jackets.

And how closely does that California jacket resemble an Indy?

The only buffalo leather I've ever seen/handled was thick and heavy, like the heavyweight horsehide jackets of old....just more textured. I'd say they'd be great for wearing in the Rocky Mountains or Alaska, but as an Indy jacket, I'd be surprised. That, of course, is only going by what I've experienced.... Regards. Michaelson

I happen to own one of these jackets from Aero! Its called the
Californian, and its made from Russet Buffalo.

It does not have a bi-swing back like our Indy jackets, but rather its
based off of Aero's Half-belt jacket.

It has side adjusters in the same basic locations as our Indy jackets, and
it has adjusters on the end of each cuff so you can tighten or loosen up
the cuffs as needed.

The Buffalo is VERY heavy, and you will never, ever, mistake
this jacket for a lambskin, goatskin or cowhide jacket. It easily outweighs
a lambskin Wested by at least two times.

The leather is very stiff, and it takes a long time to get it to soften up,
so if you are looking for a soft jacket, a buffalo jacket is no for you.

That said, it is much more tear resistant, much more abrasion resistant
and can take everyday and adventure abuse better than lamb, goat
or cowhide.

I have some pictures of mine, if someone can host them, we can post
them up for everyone.

The Californian is a very nicely made jacket that is tough, rugged, and
good looking. Can you tell I like it?

The one mod I did to mine was have a mustard colored, all cotton
lining put into it, like the later A-2 jackets had. I think it looks better
than the tartan lining they offer now. It was added at no extra cost.

Flathead

Here is a picture of the my Buffalo Californian jacket:



Hope it comes out. If it does, I will post a few more for you.

Flahtead

Since it did come out, here are a few more. They are big!

Nice, very nice!

You can see by the pictures that the jacket is still VERY stiff, as evident
in the shoulders kind of pushing up in the back view picture.

If anyone wants a jacket that is just about bullet proof, this is it!

I am going to give it a few rides in my dryer on NO heat, air only, and
see if it softens up some.

And it does have a coating of Pecards Jell on it, and that did seem to
help some in softening it up. But not much.

Flathead

How does Aero's buffalo hide compaire in stiffness to its front quarter horsehide? (I have a Barnstormer).

The buffalo hide is stiffer than the horse hide. Its thicker too.

Flathead

For some reason, my pictures are coming up red "X"'s now. They
worked before?

Are they red "X"'s for everyone else too?

Flathead

They're red X's for me... . And I wanted to see the nice buffalo.... Can't we see the nice buffalo?

Sincere (but buffaloed by the absence of buffaloes) regards,

Henry Jones, Sr.

I got the picture to work for now! Please let me know if they come
out as the red "X"'s again.

But they are working for me now. I replaced the url for the images. I
took them from the same hosting place, and they url was still the same
as far as I could see.

Oh, well, thats how it goes I guess...

Flathead

I'm only able to see red X's too. I'd love to see this jacket.

BTW, it was mentioned earlier in the thread that buffalo hide is tougher than goat. I know it's heavier and thicker, but is it tougher too?

I.J.

If you watch the movie Sea Biscuit with Toby Maguire, he wears a jacket
almost identical to my Californian.

Flathead