Vintage Rough Wear 1401-P Jacket

[WBOONE]

Greetings! My first post. I have been a long time lurker here and at the fedora lounge. Lots of great info on Leather jackets. I live very close to a Air Force Museum here in Georgia that has about a dozen or so Original A2's and some B-3 jackets on display==love looking at all that jacket art. I own a Cooper seal brown goat skin size 46 A2 thats a pretty nice jacket for everyday use, and also a second hand Goodwear russet brown rough wear 1401-p contract jacket that is excellent. I do have a question--It has been kind of a dream, like a lot of people on here, to own a original WW2 issued A2 jacket. Most i see sell for $1200 and on up depending on condition. I just bid on, and won to my suprise, a original Rough Wear 1401-P A2 in pretty nice condition. Linning looks very good, no rips tears in the leather,knits look good, original tag, faded AAF emblem on sleeve, and original name tag that is unattached. I got it for only $530. Am i missing something? Any ideas on why it might have sold this "cheap" compared to others i have seen in same condition sell for quite more$$? It should be here in a couple of days. Thanks, Joe B

 

[Roughwear]

Welcome to the forum Joe. Congratulations on your RW 1401-P. If you could post some pictures of the A2 or the link to the auction we may be able to give you some clues why you got it for a very fair price.

 

[Silver Surfer]

ditto

 

[RayR]

Is it this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-WWII-R ... 7675.l2557

a reliable source told me this is an early Eastman.

 

[WBOONE]

so this is a Eastman jacket?

 

[Roughwear]

The label is most certainly an early ELC one as the size of the letters are not quite correct. The zip is clearly a replacement as are the wristlets. The pockets are placed further from the waistband than on originals-a typical Eastman feature. The leather appears too thick to be an original from the 1401-P contract and the stitching along the lining to the collar stand is not correct. I can see how this jacket could easily be mistaken for an original with the distressed decal/chest patch and removed name strip. Nevertheless the price paid is still fair for a well used ELC 1401-P.

 

[WBOONE]

thanks for the info Andrew--i love seeing your originals pics-- when i receive it i will decide what to do on keeping it or trying for a refund. The seller may not even be aware of it. Joe B

 

[RayR]

The label is most certainly an early ELC one as the size of the letters are not quite correct. The zip is clearly a replacement as are the wristlets. The pockets are placed further from the waistband than on originals-a typical Eastman feature. The leather appears too thick to be an original from the 1401-P contract and the stitching along the lining to the collar stand is not correct. I can see how this jacket could easily be mistaken for an original with the distressed decal/chest patch and removed name strip. Nevertheless the price paid is still fair for a well used ELC 1401-P.

Fascinating info, Andrew! Please see the PM I sent regarding a similar question.

 

[TOMG1401]

the hide on that old ELC 1401shows how far afield they have gone

 

[WBOONE]

Update--I have received the jacket and while i do believe it is a early ELC it is actually a nice jacket. The seller has agreed to do a refund if i wish so as to prevent me from opening a case on ebay. He did state that he stills believes it to be a original but a examination of the tag on it with some close-up shots of original tags on the Acme Depot website do show a difference. I haven't given up my dream of owning a original Rough Wear...maybe one day. Thanks for those that sent me a PM with good info.

 

[dmar836]

Be confident. To someone who hasn't studied these, the seller would think the pocket location is no big deal. It is.
Don't hesitate to PM members for info on a for sale RW in the future.
Dave

 

[WBOONE]

That i will most definitely do!!