Club Obi Wan

1) Looking through past posts, I see that a lot of people request to have the back panel extended to the inside edge of the sleeve. Could someone please post image showing what the jacket looks like with and without this modification?

Also, why is the extended back panel so desirable? Is it because it's more comfortable, because it looks better, or because it's more screen-accurate?

2) From reading lots of comments posted here, it seems that some people say that it's a good idea to request an extra 1"/1.5" on the front of the jacket to help prevent the 'ride up' effect, and others say that it is not necessary.

I presume it depends on the individual - whether it rides up or not. But since I have no idea if I am going to suffer from the problem when I receive my jacket, I'm not sure what to do.

Is it better to request the extra length just to be on the safe side?

Any help/advice would be appreciated
Thanks.

I don't have any photos to post, but I believe Peter is now extending the back panels as standard on all jackets. I think the reasoning is it was more screen accurate.

If you want my advice, I recommend going for an extra inch at the front of the jacket to prevent any possible rid-up effect, it never hurts.

See what everyone else has to say about it, but those are my thoughts.

Welcome to COW btw! Always nice to hear from another UK based fan!

Hey Al,

I see that you changed your location to "Land of Hope and Glory". I haven't made it to the "Fortune" part yet, either.

On the first jacket I got they were extended all the way out (ToD):
http://medlem.spray.se/larskalvemark/in ... lsmall.jpg

On the second and fixed one, they weren't though:
http://medlem.spray.se/larskalvemark/in ... epleat.jpg

I'm not sure this is how my "bulging" problem was fixed, but the first one did have a faulty back panel. The second one doesn't bulge at all though... I haven't asked why they don't extend all the way on the second jacket but this might have something to do with it. Also, is the extension accurate for all styles?

Regards,
Swindiana

Hey Al,

I see that you changed your location to "Land of Hope and Glory". I haven't made it to the "Fortune" part yet, either.

LOL Bufflehead - yeah, 'fortune' and glory wouldn't be an accurate depiction at all... still looking though mate! You never know when you'll bump into the end of a rainbow...

Thanks for the pics Swindiana!

I think I prefer the look of the extended panel, and if it's standard anyway, that about wraps up my first question

At the moment I'm leaning towards requesting the extra inch on the front of the jacket. If I do end up wanting to alter it afterwards, then I'm guessing it'll be far easier to remove the extra length than to add it!

Thanks for the warm welcome Ob1al Are there many of us UK-nians around here?

Well, I'm almost ready to order my first Wested - went to see a tailor yesterday to get measured up. My only worry is that when my jacket finally arrives, I'll try it on only to find out that it looks terrible on me!

We'll I'm in the UK too Welcome

Infact, from researching this myself with a view to ordering in the future, I've discovered these other good ideas incase you've missed them & are interested in any of them on your jacket...

leather collar facing & extended panel (got a pic of this if your not sure what I mean)(cotton collar facing wears out too quick)
x-box sidestraps (for strength)
2 gussets under arms (for extra movement)
back yoke seam 1" higher than seam running up sleeve to shoulder seam (don't ask me! I think it might be something to do with accuracy)

Goatskin seems to be a favourite leather, for strength, durability & water repellancy.

Good luck with your order!

Hey Skippy,
Im about to order my very first Wested too, and I have been looking thru all the posts trying to figure out what I want. Im just curious, if people plan on keeping their Westeds for a long time, how come they dont go with cow for the leather, isnt it stronger than goat?
I know lamb is for best for "screen accuracy",and goat is prolly the next best. Also, do you know what the dimensions are for the inside breast pocket? Ive heard of some people getting theirs "grail" sized, but how much bigger is it? Also, if you go with the cotton arm/satin body, wouldnt the pocket tend to sag when semi-heavy objects were put into it? If so, are there any ways of fixing that?
Thanks a bunch!
NJR

It's cotton body/ satin arm that Peter offers.

As for ride up, if you give Peter your correct measurements this will not happen. I did not ask for the extra inch and it came out perfect. If you have a bit of a gut you might need the extra inch when you zip it up.

Give Peter your waist measurement as well so he knows how to taper it. This will help.

Cow hide is much heavier than goat. You willnotice a difference. Goat is closer to lamb but much more resistant to ripping.

AC

If you have a bit of a gut you might need the extra inch when you zip it up.

This is not totally true. If you look as some of the pictures that people
have posted here recently, as well as the ones on the main page, you can
see that the people who have added the extra 1/1.5 inches to the front
of their jackets looks very good, and they don't have a gut.

I think alot more of this depends on whether you tend to stand up
straighter than most versus whether or not you have a gut.

I don't have a gut, but because I am over 6 feet tall, and I tend to stand
up fairly straight, I need the extra inch and a half on my jackets. I have added this
to other jacket other than my Wested. I added it to two Aero leather
jackets and they both fit better than without the extra inch and a half
added to the front.

If you look at some of the pictures from the main page, you can see
that some of the early jacket, without the extra length added, are
ridding up something awful.

leather collar facing & extended panel (got a pic of this if your not sure what I mean)(cotton collar facing wears out too quick)

These things have been standard for some time now. Especially the
leather collar facing. Peter hasn't made it with the cotton facing in years.
The inside of the collar, as well as the inside collar stand are leather.

When I ordered my Wested almost two years ago, I did not ask for
the back panel to be extended all the way to the sleeves, but it came
like that anyway. This is a standard feature now.

A few things you may want to incorporate into your new jacket, which
I am going to ask for in my next jacket, is have the gussets made from
two pieces, not one. And have the elastic put into the back to keep the
pleats from staying open. As the jacket gets softer and more broken
in, the pleats will have a tendency to stay open unless you have the
elastic put in there. All Navy G-1 jackets have this feather to keep their
bi-swing back closed. I am pretty sure that the G & B Expeditions have
the elastic, and I know for a fact that the Wings jackets have the elastic in
the backs as I have one, and it keeps the pleats looking nice.

Flathead

I wonder if the extended back panel is now standard for ALL Westeds'....including ToD and Last Crusade....it should be since I "think" that was the way that they were all made for all 3 films....I'm not 100% sure....

However, the upper back-seam / Yoke being raised slightly 1'' inch was found ONLY on the "Raiders" jacket. But, if you are thinking about ordering a "screen-accurate" ToD or Last Crusade jacket, I think it was screen accurate to have the back panel extended out to the arm-sleeves, yes, but NOT to raise it 1'' inch higher above the arm-sleeve seam.......If I am incorrect, please chime in anyone!

I have owned a Wested Cowhide myself once, and I agree that it is DEFINITELY heavier in weight as compared to my Wested Lambskin and Wested Goatskin.

As far as screen-accuracy....in WEIGHT....of the jacket, I think that the Wested Goatskin is the closest to the feel of Lambskin.

Although each person tends to see different things when they watch the Indy films, I chose the Goatskin for a variety of reasons:

1.) It's lightweight reminds me of the feel of my Lambskin jacket, yet its so much tougher than the Lamb,
2.) Its not very thick, heavy, ect....like the Cowhides and Horsehides "can" be.....
3.) It makes for a good 3 season jacket,
4.) very water-repelant
5.) the Goatskin is more durable than the Cowhides, and has about the same strength and durability as the Horsehide
6.) and, it may arrive stiff somewhat at first, but it softens up quickly and nicely

So, like I was saying, each person sees something different when they watch the Indy films, that is just what I see personally. Not knocking any of the other leathers out there by saying that they are not as good as Goatskin, lol , I just thought that I would mention some of the positive things that I like about Goatskin that may help you decide the type of leather you may prefer before you place your order.....

Hope this helps!

Kindest Regards,
Captain D