Aging process of Capeskin?

[regius]

Anyone care to share some photos of their worn capeskin jackets? What exactly is capeskin? The Hartmann from Eastman looks like horsehide and feels like cowhide, I can't believe this is sheep skin.

 

[Dr H]

I've posted quite a few images of modern jackets in capeskin during the last couple of years (mainly of GW and ELC A-1s) if you do a search on my username. The Doniger/McGregor (now with Matt) is an excellent example of a 60-70 year old capeskin.
Storage could be an issue as many of the older (20s/30s) jackets wear through at and flake/delaminate at the shoulders, presumably due to the weight of the jacket.

 

[Skip]

Here's the link to the Donigor/ McGregor AN-J-3 Dr H mentioned.

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=13836&hilit=+DONIGER

for 70 years old its in excellent condition, still buttery soft and very wearable, wore it last Sunday actually and Megan's mum loves it, you hardly now it's on. it has some general wear around the cuffs down to raw hide but still the leather is in excellent shape. I'll post some detail pictures tomorrow when I can photograph it in daylight.

 

[Skip]

the detail images of that Doniger AN-J-3 capeskin

 

[TOMG1401]

very, very nice

 

[Dr H]

Yes, I've worn a few capeskin jackets, but the feel of this one is a cut above.

 

[Skip]

Just out of curiosity Ian, how does your GW A-1 cape skin differ in feel, wear etc to the AN-J-3 above.

The AN-J-3 almost has a suede/silky feel about it, which I've never really felt before in a full grain leather and wondering if the cape that GW is using is reasonably the same.

 

[Dr H]

No Matt, Aye therein lies the rub...
The modern cape is a little different from your jacket (it's now generally thinner) and the grain is more even/less striated. I'm working on my A-1 with warm water and the grain almost disappears in places so it's getting better.

It has the potential to become more suede like as it wears on the sleeves so it's also down to ageing. Your AN-J-3 has areas (underside of collar/within back pleat) where the original finish is visible and that was also glossier/fuller grained.

The processing might have changed a little and perhaps the selection criteria for the hides, but sheep haven't moved on that much in the timescale.

 

[Dr H]

Here's a 'before and after' as it were.

Pocket body as produced (with full grain); pocket flap sprayed with warm water and worked in hands.

 

[Skip]

Quite a marked difference Ian, much more relaxed. How much 'treatment' has it taken to get to that stage, more than just a few goes I would imagine?

 

[Dr H]

No Matt, surprisingly quick.
Perhaps 5-10 minutes of showering and 5 minutes of working the hide?
I've worn the jacket perhaps 4 times - the longest today for around 5 hours.
The cape develops really quickly.

 

[Skip]

That's great to hear, actually. I've had jackets that have taken an age to relax, but maybe that's the difference between cape and goat, or maybe my goat was inferior quality.

 

[Dr H]

Ah, goat is a different kettle of fish - that does take more work.

 

[Anonymous]

Curious, what kind of conditioner do you apply to cape.