My last A-2 (hopefully) - Good Wear

[Brettafett]

Btw Wei, I feel similarly regs my Dubows... Love the fit. Im contemplating a seal 20960 from John, similar enough, but different enough... Also the Bronco.

 

[MaydayWei]

higher arm holes and an overall trimmer fit on the Star. I like both of them a lot, but they’re very different fits. If that sounds like what you’re looking for, have at it!

Higher armholes and a trimmer fit? Sounds like the fit of an original G-1. The Star may be the right one after all!
Thanks for your insight, Jan; I really appreciate it!
Damn, I'm really falling down the rabbit hole now.

 

[MaydayWei]

Put a deposit down on a GW and enjoy a couple years figuring it out

There's still the leather, thread, and knits to figure out too.

 

[MaydayWei]

Btw Wei, I feel similarly regs my Dubows... Love the fit. Im contemplating a seal 20960 from John, similar enough, but different enough... Also the Bronco.

I had thought about that; on point of fit, that sounds like a great idea.
Though, and I'm sure you already considered this, would the 20960's less strikingly 'sharp' collar bother you?
Plus, the 20960 used a Crown zipper; which I don't think JC has any more of. Even if he did, it would cost a bomb wouldn't it? I know BK charges 350 quid for that. Madness.

 

[mulceber]

Higher armholes and a trimmer fit? Sounds like the fit of an original G-1. The Star may be the right one after all!
Thanks for your insight, Jan; I really appreciate it!
Damn, I'm really falling down the rabbit hole now.

If that’s the fit you want, then the Star’s a great option. Really snazzy pocket flaps, and I’m a big fan of the half-moon collar.

 

[mulceber]

Plus, the 20960 used a Crown zipper; which I don't think JC has any more of. Even if he did, it would cost a bomb wouldn't it? I know BK charges 350 quid for that. Madness.

Pretty sure JC has repro Crown zippers as well. Not as nice as NOS, but it’ll look the part.

 

[Brettafett]

I've been eyeing these puppies out for comparison...
Good Wear J.A. Dubow 20960 Type A-2 Jacket

Good Wear Leather Coat Company — Sale Dubow 20960 A-2 Horsehide Jacket

www.goodwearleather.com

Good Wear Bronco Mfg. Corp. A-2 Jacket

Good Wear Leather Coat Company — Sale Good Wear Bronco Mfg. Corp. A-2 Jacket

www.goodwearleather.com

(not a fan of this leather)
Good Wear Star Sportswear A-2 Jacket

Good Wear Leather Coat Company — Sale Good Wear Star Sportswear A-2 Jacket

www.goodwearleather.com

 

[Brettafett]

Ive recently been thrown off a bit with the russet Doniger...
The more I look at it, the more I like it. Classic 'Don Blakeslee'...

Good Wear Leather Coat Company — A-2 David D. Doniger

www.goodwearleather.com

 

[mulceber]

Yeah, agreed on that Star leather. I really like the combination JC shows on his main Star page:

Good Wear Leather Coat Company — Good Wear Star Sportswear Type A-2 Jacket Flight Jacket

www.goodwearleather.com

The contrasting thread really brings out the red undertones in the leather.

 

[MaydayWei]

I've been eyeing these puppies out for comparison...
Good Wear J.A. Dubow 20960 Type A-2 Jacket

Good Wear Leather Coat Company — Sale Dubow 20960 A-2 Horsehide Jacket

www.goodwearleather.com

Good Wear Bronco Mfg. Corp. A-2 Jacket

Good Wear Leather Coat Company — Sale Good Wear Bronco Mfg. Corp. A-2 Jacket

www.goodwearleather.com

(not a fan of this leather)
Good Wear Star Sportswear A-2 Jacket

Good Wear Leather Coat Company — Sale Good Wear Star Sportswear A-2 Jacket

www.goodwearleather.com

Brett! Thank you so much for those links, mate!
I feel bad. You did all the research and I'm just piggybacking.
After all, we have similar physiques, though on opposite ends of the height spectrum!
Now, you've gone and done it, mate. If JC has Crown repros.... Dubow 20960 or Star...
Dubow has the better epaulets, Star has nicer pocket scalloping...

 

[MaydayWei]

Yeah, agreed on that Star leather. I really like the combination JC shows on his main Star page:

Good Wear Leather Coat Company — Good Wear Star Sportswear Type A-2 Jacket Flight Jacket

www.goodwearleather.com

The contrasting thread really brings out the red undertones in the leather.

You nailed it on the head, mate. The reddish thread is stunning when paired with Seal exactly for that reason.

 

[mulceber]

Now, apart from thread and knit color, you just need to decide leather. Seal, yes, but Horween, Shinki or Italian HH?

 

[MaydayWei]

Now, apart from thread and knit color, you just need to decide leather. Seal, yes, but Horween, Shinki or Italian HH?

I might be in the minority here but... I'm thinking of going with the exact specs on the site in a unmodified size 36.
I just want a plain jane jacket that is as close to an original as possible on all those fronts.
So, besides it being in Seal with Reddish Thread, I'd like to leave all the specifics up to JC to decide.
Would that be unadvisable?

 

[mulceber]

Not at all - and you're not alone in that. I basically told JC I wanted as close as I could get to a Monarch fresh out of the box.

 

[blackrat2]

Mayday, John will also do the combat clone style if your really wanting “out the box”....you don’t need to have the leather aged but he will do the stitches more wonky, if that’s the right term

 

[MaydayWei]

I've been eyeing these puppies out for comparison...
Good Wear J.A. Dubow 20960 Type A-2 Jacket

Good Wear Leather Coat Company — Sale Dubow 20960 A-2 Horsehide Jacket

www.goodwearleather.com

Good Wear Bronco Mfg. Corp. A-2 Jacket

Good Wear Leather Coat Company — Sale Good Wear Bronco Mfg. Corp. A-2 Jacket

www.goodwearleather.com

(not a fan of this leather)
Good Wear Star Sportswear A-2 Jacket

Good Wear Leather Coat Company — Sale Good Wear Star Sportswear A-2 Jacket

www.goodwearleather.com

Brett, I think I've got it.
Dubow 1755.
Identical fit to the 27798; dull purple knits; seal brown; thin Horween horsehide.

Good Wear Leather Coat Company — Sale Good Wear J.A. Dubow 1755 A-2 Jacket

www.goodwearleather.com

 

[Smithy]

Over 2 months since I started this thread and after the initial faffing around for a few days I'm still on the 27752. Can't see that changing unless John reckons it won't fit my build but I'm pretty sure he'll say it's one of the best contracts for my body shape.

Nice to see more people jumping onboard the GW wagon. Though it's a no brainer really because if you really like A-2s and want a repro - eventually after all the years of having other repros you'll almost certainly eventually want one from the master of making them.

 

[ausreenactor]

Over 2 months since I started this thread and after the initial faffing around for a few days I'm still on the 27752. Can't see that changing unless John reckons it won't fit my build but I'm pretty sure he'll say it's one of the best contracts for my body shape.

Nice to see more people jumping onboard the GW wagon. Though it's a no brainer really because if you really like A-2s and want a repro - eventually after all the years of having other repros you'll almost certainly eventually want one from the master of making them.

I still go with what I see. Have GWs here... but I saw them before I laid down the cash. Need to see that hide and colour!

 

[mulceber]

And I'm glad you started it, Tim. This thread has made the wait process a lot more fun, and its great to hear what other people are thinking for their jackets.

 

[Brettafett]

Dubow 1755. EPIC choice Wei.

Its great throwing ideas around and seeing other's thought processes.

Im pretty set on the RW 1401 in russet, but after my last one, I will definitely only make the call once Ive seen the available leather and bits.
It makes a big difference having some actual samples in hand.