Question about Aero A-2s and cowhide

[mulceber]

Hi all - it's my first time posting, although I've been a lurker for a while now. I'm considering getting an Aero A-2 and was wondering if cowhide is an option. I notice it shows up in the Quartermasters Issue, but none of the original contract A-2s in the Aero Military Jackets section list cow/steer hide as an option. Has anyone ordered a cowhide jacket from them, and do you recommend it?

 

[Silver Surfer]

moo was used making originals, as well as baa, and of course neigh. it would seem that later contract aeros made a lot of them with moo. aero scotland, good wear, and other repro makers offer a moo option.

 

[blackrat2]

Ask our very own Ken!
Seriously if you email or call Aero there customer care is second to none

 

[B-Man2]

I will be happy to offer my services to assist in interpreting Silver Surfers reply if necessary

 

[mulceber]

[scratches chin] I think I can make sense of baa moo and neigh... [emoji4]

 

[Ken at Aero Leather]

We don't offer Steerhide as a standerd opition as we don't always have suitable steer in stock, we probably have less than 10% of our hide stocks in Steer.
We did receive a few sides of stunning mid seal Steer this afternoon, the perfect weight for an A-2 but only enough to make a few jackets

 

[mulceber]

Good to know. I was thinking about more of a Russet color, since my last A-2 was seal, but I’ll have to keep my eye on your offerings to see if there are any in the future. Do you think that’s likely to happen?

 

[Ken at Aero Leather]

It's very unlikely we'll get Russet Steer, apart from the Vicenza, Russet is not a popular option with Civvy Jacket buyers and Civvy Jackets are Aero's "Day Job"
We should have some Russet Goat available

 

[mulceber]

I’ll keep that in mind. How is Aero's goatskin? I’ve heard a lot of people talking about goat in general say it really doesn’t age, but I imagine how the leather's tanned and other such factors have an impact, and I'd be interested in your assessment.

 

[Ken at Aero Leather]

Goat takes ages to show wear

 

[mulceber]

Makes sense - thanks for your detailed help - this clarifies things a lot for me.

 

[jeremiah]

welcome Mulceber. good to hear from you.

 

[Legion]

Any particular reason why you want steer over horsehide? The Vicenza HH A2 I own is superb, not sure if steer comes close to that quality..
Horses for courses though.

 

[mulceber]

welcome Mulceber. good to hear from you.

Thanks Jeremiah!

Any particular reason why you want steer over horsehide? The Vicenza HH A2 I own is superb, not sure if steer comes close to that quality..
Horses for courses though.

Yes, actually - my family owns horses that were rescued from slaughterhouses. I don't have anything against horsehide myself, but it would break my mother's heart if I got one, so I avoid it. There are plenty of other good leathers, and ones that are historically accurate to boot.

 

[Legion]

Fair enough.

 

[mulceber]

Yeah, otherwise I'd definitely be springing for HH. But yeah, family's family, so I'm looking at Cow.

 

[Ken at Aero Leather]

Thanks Jeremiah!



Yes, actually - my family owns horses that were rescued from slaughterhouses. I don't have anything against horsehide myself, but it would break my mother's heart if I got one, so I avoid it. There are plenty of other good leathers, and ones that are historically accurate to boot.

I completely understand, it's been troubling me for many years, still does

 

[zoomer]

Aero's Battered Steer is amazing stuff. Handsome (one shade only, a subtly mottled seal), great feel, moves and flexes with the wearer. But I can understand if it's not what a civilian jacket buyer would want - meaning a cyclist. You'd never ride in it, because altho it's rugged, it's not thick or heavy. Just like you'd never ride in russet, because every dirt patch or oil stain would stand out.

 

[Edward]

Very interesting info and points of view! Great thread discussion! A+ for this thread!

 

[Micawber]

Thanks Jeremiah!



Yes, actually - my family owns horses that were rescued from slaughterhouses. I don't have anything against horsehide myself, but it would break my mother's heart if I got one, so I avoid it. There are plenty of other good leathers, and ones that are historically accurate to boot.

Funny that. I have horses too, big heavy horses, and their reaction to some HH jackets has been somewhat odd. Obviously traces of original scent are eliminated in the tanning etc but one or two of the animals are just get a set of the head that is different when I have worn this or that jacket. Could be a correlation to the squeakiness of the garment, hadn't thought of that. Mind you their reaction to sheepskin / shearling is quite marked but I think you have to be a "horse" person to notice their subtle cues.

Obviously they are fine with leather tack and harness.

As an aside an old horseman's legend around these parts is if you rub a dead mole on the door frame of a stable door a horse would neither leave or enter through that doorway. I occasionally trap moles and have tried the above but while they sniffed the area they happily entered their stable - perhaps the draw of scrummy hay was bigger than the power of the deceased gentleman in velvet. BTW Country lore also has it that moles feet were often removed from dead moles and carried in a pouch as a defence against "the screws" [arthritis and rheumatism].