New jacket from AVI LEATHER: A-2A

[Brettafett]

Out of interest, US wings has an A-2 with side hand warmer pockets. This guy looks happy

Original Russet Antique Cowhide A-2

Cooper™ Original russet Antique Cowhide A-2 Jacket. Government issue A-2 jacket authentic WWII specs by U.S. Wings, Inc. Russet Brown

www.uswings.com

And a Fonz style jacket

Cooper Original™ Fonzie-style Antique Bison Leather Jacket

Cooper Original™ Fonzie-style Antique Bison Jacket! Ayyyy! We’d like to think that Arthur Fonzarelli ("Fonzie") would've been proud to wear this jacket.

www.uswings.com

But these are real genuine BOMBERS... Over-sized, random house patterns, best approached with a barge-pole.

 

[Southoftheborder]

Thats very important feedback. I dont want any guys to look pregnant!

What about this design for the hand warmer?

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That's the right kind of forties side pocket. Keeps the A2 look but is a lot more practical.

 

[mortene]

Thats very important feedback. I dont want any guys to look pregnant!

What about this design for the hand warmer?

View attachment 87733

I think it would be a good way to have it like this. I just had a look at some vintage jackets which actually have it like this.

 

[Brettafett]

The only thing I would add with this jacket, is that the pockets would likely need to be larger accommodate and adult hand.
Otherwise it becomes a superficial detail again.
My 42 Bronco's pocket would barely fit my fist, certainly wouldn't be comfortable to have to force it in.

 

[Brettafett]

If/ when you get around to a 'Fonz', I can send you some suggestions for the side slit pockets, being able to compare your Bronco and ELC's B-15 side by side.

 

[Southoftheborder]

I think you're on the right track with those side pocket designs.

The other one to avoid is the side pockets set behind the front cargo pocket like Gibson & Barnes and others use on their civilian G-1s. They don't look good and are actually useless as hand warmer pockets because they force your elbows too far back to be comfortable.

 

[ZuZu]

Thank you very much for the feedback. I think its a good idea to remove the epaulettes for a more clean look.

No No! I meant removing the pleats behind the arms- the little bi-swing. I think the eps look good!

 

[jss0930]

Thanks. At the moment we do not have a closure on the inside pocket. But i think its a good idea to add one. How would you prefer to have the closure? Maybe you can find a picture?

I recommend that you have a look at our anj-3 https://www.avileather.com/product/anj3-flight-jacket/ which has the bi swing without fur collar.

But I like the snap down collar and horsehide on this model.

Pocketwise, the pocket on my M-422A is great - I think side entry pockets like that are often more useful than top entry. But if you want top entry, snaps are nice

Thats very important feedback. I dont want any guys to look pregnant!

What about this design for the hand warmer?

View attachment 87733

I would be into that. Make sure the opening’s big enough to get a hand into. I bought one of your sale jackets that was custom with handwarmer pockets and while I love the jacket the pockets are very tight. Would also add I like the snap down collar and it’s one of the reasons I would get this over an ANJ3.

 

[JonnyCrow]

Yeah, that one's perfect. The only trouble is, it's an original (I don't think MASH makes repros zippers) and so the supply is limited. I'm not sure who makes the first-rate repros, and I gather the big makers aren't all that keen on sharing. I've never been able to discover who makes them, at any rate.

The ones who do Jan, keep their cards very close to their chest

 

[JonnyCrow]

I could not have said it better. The market is and always has been flooded with jackets that are similar to the originals they try to emulate or improve. Good lord, there's Members Only, Schott, Wilson Leather, and a million others.

As Burt said, if you want to increase sales and find a place in the market (which I would agruably say you already have with reasonable accurate contracts and a practically free price for what you are getting), refine the jackets you have to be more accurate, and perhaps branch out to others such as "The Fonz" jacket that was actually offered by Cooper at one time, or a better copy of your Indiana Jones "Crusdaer" jacket. The thing that has always baffled me is that the jacket are close, but off the mark in the simplest and easy to fix details (the width of the top panel of the Crusader jacket for example). How hard would it be to make the panel taperd like the original and opposed to nearly square?

Given that the new and last Raider's movie is coming out shortly, I would guess the demand would be substantial.

Please don't get me wrong--I am a past Five Star customer and have zero issues with the quality of the Doniger A-2 I purchased, but you can have good sewing and materials, cut to a very sub par pattern or design. Tighten up some to the details on the jackets and I would likely be heavy, repeat customer.

I like the ' Fonz ' idea also love the Fonz

 

[ausreenactor]

Purists? More like anal addicts, imo.

Oi...

We're not all Navy or ex-Navy!

 

[JonnyCrow]

Oi...

We're not all Navy or ex-Navy!

Wasn't the motto of the navy ' feel a new man everyday ' ? Haha

 

[busdrivermike]

Hi,

Morten from AVI LEATHER here. We are currently working on a new jacket called A-2A. The concept of this jacket is how we would design the A2. The jacket is based on the A2 Bronco pattern but with some “updates”. The jacket is made with a bi-swing back for better movement, we have added an inside pocket and its made in black horsehide with a mid brown thread contrast. Would you change or add anything to this design?


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Wow, im not a purist but even if I was I would need to acknowledge that military designs tend to work their way into the civilian market with modifications similar to this , and as an avid motorcyclist and I do like the idea from that point of view and I love the interior pocket
My branded by orchard A2 has an interior pocket and it’s proven to be a feature I basically can’t do without but I do think
Interior pockets should be of a stronger material the the liner
What weight/thickness of leather would this be ?
I like the pics some posted reply of hand pockets but as a motorcyclist those for me would need to be
Zipped or snapped and not open into the body/liner but hand pockets are not a necessary for me

 

[Brettafett]

Mike, Id say based on my AVI jackets, both regular seal and dark seal goat is about 1.1mm+
Dark seal goat feel slightly thicker (maybe close to 1/2mm) than the seal brown (M-422A) goat.
Seal HH maybe a touch thinker at 1.2mm
In both cases feels more or less correct weight, per size of jacket.

 

[ausreenactor]

Oi...

We're not all Navy or ex-Navy!

Go Army... Beat Navy! (About time too)

 

[Flightengineer]

I'm for slanted side hand pockets like on Russian military flight jackets. This is really very comfy, there is always windy at the airfields cause these are huge open spaces.
There is a local aviation joke here, which in translation sounds something like this: if a pilot cuts off the collar on his jacket and sews up pockets, he will die