What jacket(s) are you wearing at the moment?

[Flightengineer]

Today some Black Jacks swag, yeehaa!
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Jorge, great jacket. Is it 40 or 42?

 

[Jorgeenriqueaguilera]

Jorge, great jacket. Is it 40 or 42?

Thanks Dmitry, it’s 40!

 

[Wholenineyards]

This specific L-2b is size Small so it is a bit short... I had no option, but I normally wear size Medium or Large without any problem, I’m 5’10” (1,80 mts). In my experience, the L-2B’s do have some measurement variations according to years and companies, so it’s a matter of luck sometimes achieving the right size.
I will post more L-2b’s in the next days so we can see the differences.

Excellent, I’ll be on standby. Being 1,82 m tall with a wide chest I still fit in a Large, but man, the length...:-/

 

[Jorgeenriqueaguilera]

Excellent, I’ll be on standby. Being 1,82 m tall with a wide chest I still fit in a Large, but man, the length...:-/

You are probably more into the L or XL zone.

 

[Flightengineer]

Thanks Dmitry, it’s 40!

Thanks,I thought so.
Mine is also 40, I had before that Foster in 42 but sold it to one guy. Because the waist was OK, but 42 had very wide shoulders for me.
Now I sometimes think to buy one later G-1 in 42 may be D-series, when they were still from a goatskin but more straight in silhouette.

 

[Wholenineyards]

Love the caramel knits in that !
What contract it that ?

I do think it is supposed to be a RW 18091, but as it was in the starting phases of GW I think JC hadn’t had the correct labels yet, so a RW 27752 label was affixed. I bought it years ago from a German chap who claimed he had bought two of the same jackets from GW in 2007 but gallantly failed to mention that this particular jacket has multiple small (oil/ fat) spots on it, almost like the jacket had come between an old bicycle chain. They are not overly apparent, still I would have liked to know up front. It was 475 Euro at the time and I was not very experienced on eBay and I was too nice. Still, the goatskin is incredible to me, the hand is strong, nicely pliable, drapes very comfy for my taste and I am toying around with the thought to have it redyed in seal. Small coating, so the russet will come out easily. It’ll be jacket heaven then, and I know you guys do understand. By the way, it still has this very pleasant underlying tanning scent. I am wearing it just now sitting outside with a Bitburger nonalc Radler. To the chargrin of the GW DUBOW upstairs... well then, tomorrow, my friend... no despair

 

[Wholenineyards]

You are probably more into the L or XL zone.

Personally I have always been more "at home" in a Large (42-44), but as I am not given a model's built a spectator may see that differently. Enclosed are a 36/P in Large and X-Large (46-48). XL feels too roomy, corresponds to the L-2B fit.

So it'll actually be good to see some different L-2B sizes on you, will you put it into the Vintage section as usual?

 

[mulceber]

Inspired by Brett, I’m wearing my 23380 out with the missus.

...and post number 8000 on this thread. Nifty!

 

[B-Man2]

I do think it is supposed to be a RW 18091, but as it was in the starting phases of GW I think JC hadn’t had the correct labels yet, so a RW 27752 label was affixed. I bought it years ago from a German chap who claimed he had bought two of the same jackets from GW in 2007 but gallantly failed to mention that this particular jacket has multiple small (oil/ fat) spots on it, almost like the jacket had come between an old bicycle chain. They are not overly apparent, still I would have liked to know up front. It was 475 Euro at the time and I was not very experienced on eBay and I was too nice. Still, the goatskin is incredible to me, the hand is strong, nicely pliable, drapes very comfy for my taste and I am toying around with the thought to have it redyed in seal. Small coating, so the russet will come out easily. It’ll be jacket heaven then, and I know you guys do understand. By the way, it still has this very pleasant underlying tanning scent. I am wearing it just now sitting outside with a Bitburger nonalc Radler. To the chargrin of the GW DUBOW upstairs... well then, tomorrow, my friend... no despair

It’s your decision of course but if it were my jacket, I would leave it the color as it is. The Carmel knits and the Russett color go nicely together but Im not sure seal and Carmel would go well together . Just my opinion.

 

[Smithy]

Wore the old AVI Bronco today. I've had this coming up for a couple of years now and these (were they?) second pattern Broncos are bloody lovely. The goatskin just gets better and better. I don't like their newer offerings nearly so much, these earlier ones with the M-39 Talons and Carr snaps are the ones to go for. Fantastic jackets.

Apologies no photos, I had an exam for the finish of my course today so was busy getting everything done for that.

Weather's looking good for A-2 wear tomorrow so if I wear it I'll take a snap - maybe even with me in it ;-)

Wash your hands fellas!

 

[Wholenineyards]

It’s your decision of course but if it were my jacket, I would leave it the color as it is. The Carmel knits and the Russett color go nicely together but Im not sure seal and Carmel would go well together . Just my opinion.

Well, the jacket was in hiding for the past years, so apparently it wasn't overly important to have it played around with, colour wise. Thanks for the Input, I may just leave it.

 

[Tylbor]

This is old I don't know if they still make them .

"These were, hands down, the best of the modern A-2s. But you have to get one that was actually made for the military. Orchard continued to make this jacket for the civilian market long after their military contract expired. And sadly, the civilian jackets were nowhere near the quality of their military A-2s."

"The orchard / branded A2's are hard to identify as issue or not because they kept using the exact same labels as the issued ones in later jackets.

"Branded should not be selling jackets, to the public, with NSN numbers and DLA contract numbers, these number are what identifies the item as being US property, NOT for resale (unless declared surplus by the US government]"

"Been buying and wearing current issue A-2s for a long, long time now. Many folks here wouldn't even admit that they were real A-2s. They just weren't Lost Worlds or Real McCoys or whatever. Actually, of the original re-issues, Branded Leather was clearly the best of the lot. Nice thick goat. High arm holes. Decco pocket flaps. Classic cut."

"I'm not sure if Orchard had any other than the '92 contract. If they did, I've never handled a jacket from one. But all the issued '92s I've ever seen were excellent jackets. Here's the bad news, though. Branded Leather continues to this day to put 1992 vintage spec tags in their civilian A-2s. The tags are even complete with a '92 DLA number. Sadly, their civilian jackets are nowhere as good as the old issued ones. You sorta have to know what to look for to get a real, issued Orchard A-2. Most of what's on ebay are recent repros."

How can I tell the difference between the two ?

"The leather of the originals is more seal colored and is clearly goatskin...and is typically quite grainy. I'm not sure what the civi ones are made of...it may be embossed cowhide. The linings of the originals are made of some kind of oxford cloth and are rich, brownish tan. Newer jackets have a slicker, rayon looking lining and the color is paler looking. The pocket flaps of the originals are large and nicely scallopped. The flaps on the newer jackets are VERY large and not as nicely cut.
In spite of government specs, the originals had an inside wallet pocket on the left side. Not sure if the civi jackets do or not."

Hi,
Thank you very much for all informations, I feel much knowledgeable now. I guess it is a real riddle, if the manufacturer was using original labels on jackets produced long after. Now I understand why I saw Branded Garments A2 jacket with a contract number and hand warmers that Avirex introduced in late 90's. I think I read somewhere, probably it was US Militaria Forum, that military issued BG A2s had only one velcro, the left chest one.
I'm afraid only by comparing two jackets it is possible to determine which one is the military issued.
Does this jacket looks good to you? Can you judge it by the size of the pocket flaps or something else?

 

[Tylbor]

I would judge yours to be their cowhide model, based on how it’s hanging
Their cowhide while thick is soft and if dropped on the floor tends to turn into
A puddle. I’ve heard they are very comfortable
here’s a couple close ups from my branded A2 including the tag, with A at the end, the liner and leather.
It also has the ideal zipper, I don’t know if mine was issued, I wondered if the reason they keep
Using the tag is because by dropping the A it’s now now longer considered a contract number ?

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Very interesting. And it has only one velcro. I read on US Militaria Forum that military issued Branded Garments A2s had only one.
Thank you.

 

[Tylbor]

Another day, another jacket. Of course it's not the leather but still issued for the Air Force. Contract number tells it's from 1960. I guess jackets manufactured later were more olive green and less light sage.

 

[B-Man2]

Tybor
It doesn’t have to be leather...... we like em all!!

 

[Tylbor]

Tybor
It doesn’t have to be leather...... we like em all!!

I also wanted everyone to see this crazy-looking Weasel Keeper patch

 

[B-Man2]

That was the first thing I noticed . did that jacket come from someone who was in the Wild Wiesel operational program during the Viet Nam air warfare days?

 

[Boyo]

That Good Wear Dubow 20960...This one is a flyweight..

 

[ausreenactor]

Well, the jacket was in hiding for the past years, so apparently it wasn't overly important to have it played around with, colour wise. Thanks for the Input, I may just leave it.

If it ain't broke.....

Wise choice.

 

[Garylafortuna]

A great looking RW 18091 Wholenineyards. Unless it was a re-dye the 18091 contract was made in russet only. Try a coat or two of Pecards applied with a hair dryer. This should reduce the concentration of the oil spots. I have a Good Wear RW 18091 in seal goatskin, and I sure wish it was russet.