Need Help with Authenticity of Buzz Rickson B-15 Jacket

[Teddy]

Hi all,

I have recently purchased a supposedly 8-year old "new" B-15 jacket from an ebay seller. Received the jacket today. The quality feels solid and the condition is indeed new. However, I observe a few things that make me wonder about its authenticity or maybe I'm too inexperienced to have seen the older BR jackets:
1. The cotton shell has a khaki-brownish color that I have not seen on BR B-15 jackets. Could it be an old dead stock design?
2. No Army Air Force stencils on the flap behind the zip or on the left sleeve.
3. The zipper is YKK, which, while nice to use, does not remind me of BR's choice for flight jackets.
4. The cuffs and knit are denser than the thin ones you'd find on current BR cotton jackets.
5. The information tag in the left pocket is torn off.

While I want to believe the integrity of the seller, I wonder if it could be a civilian version (it does not come with a whistle) or if it's a high-quality fake. So I'd appreciate your help if you have had BR jackets for over a decade! Thanks!

 

[Roughwear]

I have owned a couple of BR B-10s and this does not look like a fake to me. The build quality is up to their high standard as far as I can tell from the pictures. I really can't see anyone commissioning fake BR labels to go on a fake B-10!

 

[Teddy]

I have owned a couple of BR B-10s and this does not look like a fake to me. The build quality is up to their high standard as far as I can tell from the pictures. I really can't see anyone commissioning fake BR labels to go on a fake B-10!

Thanks for your input Roughwear! I put it beside my BR Superior Togs B-10 and find the impression rather similar. The alpaca lining is a bit thinner than my B-10. Have you seen a BR with YKK zipper or one without the stencils? Could this be one of those fantasy versions that BR sells along the more accurate repros?

 

[Roughwear]

I owned a RW version which did not have a stencil. It did not have a YKK zip, but early ones may have had them.

 

[stanier]

Hmm, whilst it looks well made in the pics, I’m sorry but I beg to differ.

It doesn’t look BR right on a number of points and I’ve owned a number of Buzz’s over the last nearly 20 years and I’ve never seen a YKK zip on anything Buzz.

It could be a replacement zip but the label looks wrong, the knits look wrong, the fabric looks wrong and just the general cut looks wrong.

Is the patch supposed to be Buzz too?

Of course I could be wrong, but I’d be very very surprised. Sorry.

 

[Peter Graham]

It looks fishy to me also. The label looks suspect, also the knits; and I’ve never come across a YKK zipper on any BR jacket, and I’ve owned a few older ones, including a B-15. Buzz love their decals. They even put them where there was none on originals so for it not to have any also rings alarm bells.

 

[MikeyB-17]

B. Rickson manufac turing?
I too smell a rat.

 

[Monsoon]

Regardless, it's a cool jacket tho.

 

[Geeboo]

"It could be a replacement zip but the label looks wrong, the knits look wrong, the fabric looks wrong and just the general cut looks wrong". Agree x 10 total fake

 

[Garylafortuna]

Where is the logic in a manufacturer producing a high quality jacket on par with the Buzz Ricksons we are familiar with, and then sticking somebody else's label on it? Doesn't make a lot of
sense. Man, high end marketing can be baffling.

 

[ausreenactor]

Bogus AF. Label in slant pocket?

 

[Roughwear]

To prove it one way or the other the nkang might consider contacting BR with the photos.

 

[Teddy]

To prove it one way or the other the nkang might consider contacting BR with the photos.

Indeed. I already sent BR Europe and now BR Japan an email. Let's wait and see.

 

[Roughwear]

Excellent. It would also be interesting to see if there are pictures of identical jackets arounds. You might expect to see quite a few if someone went to all the trouble to fake these B-15s.

 

[ausreenactor]

Link to the auction/seller?

 

[ausreenactor]

It's not a BR Colvinex as there is no collar strap and the knits are not red. The zipper is centered which I have NEVER seen on a BR B-15. Generally they are off-centre between the knits, the wearer's right or left when looking at it from the front. The more I look the more I am certain that this is NOT a BR.

 

[Teddy]

Guys, just heard back from Gary at BR Europe, who helped to reach out the BR Japan. He said this is definitely a fake BR jacket. Case resolved and hope none of you make the same mistake I made!

 

[Roughwear]

So when did BR produce their first B-15s?

 

[Roughwear]

So I am wondering who faked it? What evidence did he give for it being a fake as opposed to an early BR jacket?

 

[Pilot]

I live in Korea and Japan (approx 6-8 months a year) since 16th May 1989. I saw many BR catalogues and jackets (touched them in shops in Japan), had approx. 20 of them in my locker, since mid 1990.
Never saw a zipper nor a neck Label nor such " alpaga" in/on any of their jackets.
As rightly said...full bogus...most probably another Made in China "original".