Avi Leather leathers

[A2wander]

4 days ago my M422A from Avi Leather was delivered and when I opened the plastic bag it came in and took the jacket out it felt just like cardboard, stiff and a different feel than I was used to from goatskin.
I bought a G1 from US Authentics years ago and it rolled very smoothly out of the box, very soft and very smooth.
Now I don't know if it has to do with the weather conditions, because it is only about 8 degrees here, which is why Avi's jacket felt like that...
but once it has been properly rubbed and worn for about 3 days, I have to say that the goatskin has completely changed compared to how it arrived.
It's already shaping the contours of my body and it's almost like butter.
Goatskin does not need many days/weeks to get the worn-in effect, but this went very quickly.
Here’s some pictures of 3 days wearing…

 

[B-Man2]

4 days ago my M422A from Avi Leather was delivered and when I opened the plastic bag it came in and took the jacket out it felt just like cardboard, stiff and a different feel than I was used to from goatskin.
I bought a G1 from US Authentics years ago and it rolled very smoothly out of the box, very soft and very smooth.
Now I don't know if it has to do with the weather conditions, because it is only about 8 degrees here, which is why Avi's jacket felt like that...
but once it has been properly rubbed and worn for about 3 days, I have to say that the goatskin has completely changed compared to how it arrived.
It's already shaping the contours of my body and it's almost like butter.
Goatskin does not need many days/weeks to get the worn-in effect, but this went very quickly.
Here’s some pictures of 3 days wearing…

Great looking jacket !!
Did you get the “USN” option on the back of the collar ?

 

[A2wander]

Great looking jacket !!
Did you get the “USN” option on the back of the collar ?

Hi Burt,
I asked Morten from Avi if he can do it for me,but unfortunately he did not do it for me.
But I’ve contacted a famous artist here in The Netherlands ( Anneke Helleman) if she will do it for me, so we’ve planned a date for this month to do it.

But strangely enough I see many USN in silver and also many USN in yellow??? Do you know the difference between them??
I’ve been thinking about the USN in yellow, a bit of color will pop on this jacket.

 

[B-Man2]

Hi Burt,
I asked Morten from Avi if he can do it for me,but unfortunately he did not do it for me.
But I’ve contacted a famous artist here in The Netherlands ( Anneke Helleman) if she will do it for me, so we’ve planned a date for this month to do it.

But strangely enough I see many USN in silver and also many USN in yellow??? Do you know the difference between them??
I’ve been thinking about the USN in yellow, a bit of color will pop on this jacket.

I don’t know the reason for the different colors . I’ve seen “USN” in yellow , silver and white. Maybe Jan or Silver surfer (Vic) knows the answer to that question. If I had to guess I’d say maybe it had something to do with the manufacturer . Different makers using different paint colors .

 

[mulceber]

No reason that I know of. Probably just whatever appropriate color was cheaper at the moment. For the Gordon & Ferguson contract (the one AVI is replicating), silver is the correct color - but it’s your jacket.

 

[A2wander]

No reason that I know of. Probably just whatever appropriate color was cheaper at the moment. For the Gordon & Ferguson contract (the one AVI is replicating), silver is the correct color - but it’s your jacket.

Hi Mulceber,
Oké thanks for your info, then silver it is

 

[mulceber]

Hi Mulceber,
Oké thanks for your info, then silver it is

Here’s a photo of an original, so the artist can nail the font:

 

[A2wander]

Here’s a photo of an original, so the artist can nail the font:
View attachment 165423

I think it’s on the right side out of the middle am I right? (Sorry for my English )

 

[mulceber]

Normally, yes:

 

[Spitfireace]

No reason that I know of. Probably just whatever appropriate color was cheaper at the moment. For the Gordon & Ferguson contract (the one AVI is replicating), silver is the correct color - but it’s your jacket.

Yup, silver for the GandF.

 

[Brettafett]

Very nice jacket. It will feel like a glove soon, so comfortable.

I have a B-6 on the way Just in time for the UK winter.

 

[A2wander]

Very nice jacket. It will feel like a glove soon, so comfortable.

I have a B-6 on the way Just in time for the UK winter.

The B6, great jacket.
Hope to see some pictures from that one, that and again the B3 are on my wishlist.
Had an B3 rough wear 50CAL from Eastman many years ago, was great but the sleeves were a bit too short unfortunately….

 

[south9407]

Great looking goatskin! I ordered AVI’s M422a back in 2021. They did a good job on the reproduction but i hope they would start sourcing their Talon zippers from a better reproduction manufacturer. They missed the mark on their zippers and this would add so much more authenticity to their flight jackets if they’d just go the extra mile and get the correct zippers for that time period in the 30’s and 40’s. Also, their linings and period tags could use a bump up in authenticity as well IMHO.

 

[Spitfireace]

Great looking goatskin! I ordered AVI’s M422a back in 2021. They did a good job on the reproduction but i hope they would start sourcing their Talon zippers from a better reproduction manufacturer. They missed the mark on their zippers and this would add so much more authenticity to their flight jackets if they’d just go the extra mile and get the correct zippers for that time period in the 30’s and 40’s. Also, their linings and period tags could use a bump up in authenticity as well IMHO.

Then they gotta charge more money.

 

[south9407]

Then they gotta charge more money.

Yep, unfortunately. But I think most guys are willing to pay a little extra for complete authenticity.

 

[Spitfireace]

Then you can just move up to a higher tier maker. That's what really differentiates the lower tier and the higher tier. Attention to authentic detail.

 

[Grant]

I think it’s on the right side out of the middle am I right? (Sorry for my English )

Normally, yes:

Actually it depends on the maker. My H&L Block and W&G M422a's have the USN centered. It depended on the manufacturer what colors were used for the stencil. My Block M422a is in yellow, the Monarch in black and the W&G M422 in faded white or silver.

 

[south9407]

Then you can just move up to a higher tier maker. That's what really differentiates the lower tier and the higher tier. Attention to authentic detail.

I agree. After close to 25 years, I finally bought ELC‘s M422a and paid full retail for it from History Preservation & Accociates. It’s my go to jacket now. Well at least until my BK M422a comes in. I have TRM NZ THE FEW G & F M422a and was sadly disappointed as to their sleeve dimensions as compared to my original 1943 G & F and the repro ELC. It’s a great jacket, don’t get wrong. But their goatskin is extremely thick and the upper sleeves just aren’t cut correctly in proportion to the rest of the jacket. I have it for sale on eBay.

 

[Spitfireace]

I just posted my G&F on vintage page. Yes, I find where repros are wrong is in the hide thickness. Originals are thin leather. Cuts down on weight I imagine. Also makes them more pliable.

 

[Thomas Koehle]

H.L. BLOCK did their stencils in YELLOW - all other manufacturers in white or silver

See some a HL BLOCK at PAWN STARS ... - yellow stencil is minute 2:01

Some pics off the WWW and also off the VLJ-Forum when a size 48 was for sale BUT I MISSED IT ... (actually found the post today only ...)