New Eastman RW 1401P

[mezz07]

I just received my ELC 1401P from HPA yesterday and I wanted to post some pics since I had a pretty hard time finding recent pics of the 1401P in War Horse. The jacket is simply fabulous. The leather is a little stiff, but that's to be expected with a new HH jacket. The hide is like nothing I've ever seen before. Pictures don't show the true beauty of the hide. This jacket is a size 44 and is unfortunately too small. I sent it back today for a 46. I was pleased to see new style knits compared to my 2005 Star. The thickness of the leather is a little thicker than the Star and much stouter. I foresee this hide breaking in very nicely.

Here are the measurements for a size 44 if anyone is interested:
pit to pit: 24 inches
length: 26
sleeve: 25
shoulders: 19

 

[Roughwear]

Welcome to the forum. The ELC RW 1401-P is one of Gary's better A2s IMO and the design has been improved in recent years. Your size 46 appears to be a comfortable fit. Enjoy breaking it in.

 

[GoodTimesGone]

I believe the A-2 in the pics is the size 44. The fit looks great though. If it were mine I would be happy with the fit as is. The sleeves or body length don't look too short from the photos. Is it too tight around the chest or armpit area?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Tom

 

[Silver Surfer]

welcome to the abusement park. the jac in the pix looks like a spot on fit, imho. yeah the 1401 from elc is their best repro. to bad they dont do the hlb a-2 sans patches, in this hide. if they did, i would be all over it like stink on.......

 

[Roughwear]

I did notice the 44 on the label but wrongly assumed the one you were wearing was a 46 as it is a perfect fit. Where do you think this 44 does not fit you?

 

[mezz07]

All pics are of the 44. I'm 5''11 205 lbs. I agree that in the pics the jacket looks to be a proper fit. But when wearing it the chest and especially the shoulders seemed way too tight. The body length was great and the sleeves were ok. After trying it on there was no doubt in my mind that I needed a 46. I usually wear a 46, but I initially chose a 44 because I wanted a properly fitting A-2. I don't want a baggy or blousy jacket. But the shoulders seem more narrow than other size 44 jackets I've put on. I had to suck in to zip the jacket up and then there was basically no slack in the chest area when zipped and I felt a lot of pressure in the shoulders. Even if I lost weight I feel that my bone structure is too large for a 44 in this model.

It's heart breaking when a jacket arrives and you have to send it back. I can't wait for the 46 to arrive. I overnighted the jacket back to HPA today and I should have the 46 by Saturday. It's an absolutely beautiful and incredible jacket. When compared side by side to my 2005 ELC Star, US Authentic russet HH, Aero goat, and all my other leathers the 1401 makes them all look dull and two dimensional. The 1401 almost glows as if sent from heaven. It seemed like a jacket that WANTS to be broken in. I'll keep you guys posted as to the fit of the 46. I wish I had a better camera than my iPhone. Thanks for reading my post.

 

[GoodTimesGone]

It's a good thing it's coming from a company that keeps them in stock. Don't know where you live but if the summer temps are 92 degrees Fahrenheit like they are here you couldn't wear the jacket outside for nearly two more months. Yeah- I'm having jacket withdrawal..... :cry:
______________________________________________________________
Tom

 

[Anonymous]

Congrats. Good choice indeed.
I also think the 44 looks good on you.
Let's see how the 46 will fit.

 

[mezz07]

Here's the 46. Unfortunately the jacket was damaged and also had to be returned. It had a razor slice on the back of the collar among several other defects. Luckily HPA is accepting it back and is in the process of sending me a new one. But the fit of the 46 is good if a little bit large.

 

[mezz07]

It seems to be a case of looks or comfort but not both. There's no doubt the 44 looks better on me, but the 46 is so much more comfortable.

Also the size 46 looks VERY different than the 44. For example the leather on the 44 was smooth and hard and shiny over the entire jacket. On the other hand the leather on the 46 was thick, very grainy, and flat (sort of ugly too IMHO). Does anybody have experience with this? I didn't know two jackets of the same make, model, and year could look so different.

 

[dmar836]

I have never had a "Warhorse" from ELC nor have I purchased new from them. I do know my two used ELC A-2s were stiff and tended to stay stiff. Sure, things get softer but of two jackets, one that starts off hard and one that doesn't, the former will always be stiffer. Obviously that's not rocket science(or scientific at all) but this, and pattern inaccuracies, are why I have never developed a love for ELC A-2s. Originals didn't start off so stiff.
Hope this one works out. If it does, toss it in the dryer on tumble with a pair of clean tennis shoes - after a few hour-long sessions alternating with neatsfoot oil and you will be miles ahead. Then don't share your secret! Hot water treatment can work wonders or can damage the ELC hides. They appear to be really inconsistent.
JMO,
Dave

 

[Phantomfixer]

great looking A2!! and totally digging the B-10 with the berry knits...To piggyback on what Dave said...I would not advise the hot water treatment on ELCs new line of jackets...My ELC (from HPA) "warhorse" turned out to be a time worn...
anyway great jacket collection and welcome

 

[Silver Surfer]

go with the 44. reason? leather will stretch and conform to your body shape. thus it will be more and more comfy the more you wear it. the only bugaboo is when a jac is to tight under the arms. then ya have a problem. this an issue that work out guys run into all the time. the trade off for vanity, i reckon.

 

[mezz07]

Both the 44 and the 46 are great in their own way. I tried to keep the 44 because it looked so good but I felt it was so ridiculously tight that I could never feel comfortable wearing it. My little brother who weighs 25 pounds less than me couldn't fit into it either. I feel that the leather was so stiff and hard that it wouldn't loosen up and conform to my body the way other jackets might. The jacket was too tight under the arms and in the shoulders. too bad because the 44 does look better than the 46. The 46 btw was VERY comfortable and didn't seem to big on me. It's just that the pictures make the 46 look sloppy and too big. In real life I think it's a good fit. Anyway thanks for your comments.

 

[Phantomfixer]

The 46 should break in and get the droop look which is a very cool and acceptable look on an A-2..

 

[mezz07]

I sent back the 46 since there was a host of design defects and damage to the jacket. Gary Eastman accepted the jacket back solely based on the 1 inch razor slice on the back of the collar. The main problem with the 46 for me were the pocket flaps being very misshaped and even deformed. Also the "alligator leather" that was used looked terrible next to the smooth pocket panel. Also the pockets wouldn't even snap closed. This jacket was a LEMON plain and simple. I like grain as much as anyone. But when it's used in incorrect proportions and locations on the jacket even a positive attribute like grain can look bad IMHO.

 

[dmar836]

I might look at other options out there. There are several with arguably better details and hides than ELC.
JMO,
Dave

 

[Dr H]

Yes, a used GW in a 46 represents excellent value for money.
Other makers (Noshor, BK) offer fine looking offerings new.

 

[herk115]

Originals didn't start off so stiff.

If I can put in my $.02 here, I recall a story from a WWII fighter pilot named Gordon Slater who flew P-39s in North Africa. He said that at the height of wartime production, the manufacturers were so desperate for hides that they would use anything that could be sewn, no matter what the quality. He said he had to bribe a supply sergeant almost TEN TIMES to get an A-2 that was comfy. It may have depended on where you went to flight school, or what theater you ended up in, and what shipment the responsible quartermaster had in stock when you showed up for issue, but according to (now) General Slater, many of the A-2s were so stiff as to be unwearable.

 

[dujardin]

really nice one

congrats

enjoy the wear