A-2 & G-1 Flight Jackets

[hallenbeckjs]

First time post.

I am looking to buy an A-2 or G-1 jacket, either from Eastman Leather Co. or Lost Worlds Inc. If I go with the Eastman, is HPA the place to buy from? I know there have been some posts on this topic previously, but i could not find any from within the last year or so. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Jeff M]

HPA or direct from Eastman..makes no difference cost wise last time I checked.
Another maker you may want to look at is Good Wear. Probably making the best A2 and M422 (the predecessor to the G1) reproductions being made today. And custom made to your measurements. (If you aren't built like the average WW2 airman back in the 40's, this can be a big issue! If you are, I'm jealous!)

 

[Persimmon]

First time post.

I am looking to buy an A-2 or G-1 jacket, either from Eastman Leather Co. or Lost Worlds Inc. If I go with the Eastman, is HPA the place to buy from? I know there have been some posts on this topic previously, but i could not find any from within the last year or so. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

As mentioned above Goodwear is another option.
A lot will depend on how accurate you want your jacket to bein comparision to an original.
Also of course your budget to spend. !!

"house jackets" are cheaper than a "replica " of a precise model WW2 contract.
Again leather type can make a considerable difference.

Often we start and buy a fairly low spec (cheaper) price jacket but invariably reading this and the Vintageleather jacket forum and you get hooked and want a better and better jacket.
Its called Jacket Sickness !!

Eastman is a strong brand and some of their range is top notch. For example the Werber A2.
Their Roughwear's on the otherhand seem to have the pocket placements far to high up and away from the waist band to originals.
Their house jackets are good value. Eastman's Warhorse leather is very good.

Another manufacturer you might consider is Aero.
Perhaps not as accurate to originals but superb value and the service is excellent. There are many members here with Aero jackets.

Lost Worlds is not the way to go in my opinion.

Finally in addition to Goodwear Eastman and Aero is the newer kid on the block. Bill Kelso.
There jackets have developed so much in the last two years to the extend that I consider them the best value and most accurate out in the market. Their Victory Horse laether is stunning.

The main advantage over Goodwear for Bill Kelso apart from cost is the lack of a 1 year plus time wait in the queue.
Again Aero and Eastman are so much more quicker to receive.

The summary is spend as much as you can at first as you will soon want to upgrade if you buy a lower spec jacket once you soak in all the knowledge on the forums

Of course another way to go is buy an original that can be worn. You might be surprised at the prices in comparision to a replica purchase and you have the patina already there from day one.

 

[Fanch]

I would second what persimmon just said and think that his assessment is dead on. One other very good jacket manufacturer is Gibson and Barnes in San Diego, which provides very good construction, although many of their jackets seem to be sized big and lack historical accuracy. If you are ever in San Diego, it is fun to drop by their factory and try on stuff there. I am told that if you visit NYC, the owner of Lost Worlds will not let you in. I believe that Lost Worlds A-2's are made with very heavy FQHH which IMO is much to heavy for that type of a jacket.

 

[Boyo]

HallenBach,

If you're a common size (38 to 46) there are a ton of jackets around for sale. Check out the classifieds of this forum, VLJ, on eBay, etc.. you can probably save enough $ to buy both an A-2 and a G-1. I recently bought an Aero for about 1/2 price on eBay, I don't think it was ever worn.
I would advise you to check out the thread on how to measure a jacket on VLJ and measure a jacket you currently own to get an idea of the dimensions that will work for you. In most instances the tagged size means nothing as long as the measurements are correct for you.

 

[thor]

Beware: no one buys just one jacket! First it's a russet A-2, then a seal brown G-1, then a dark seal A-2, etc, etc.
That's the fun of it! Enjoy the process

 

[Atticus Finch]

With respect to the G-1...

There are not as many G-1 repro makers as there are A-2 repro makers. I think this is because the G-1 is a much more complex and costly jacket to make. In fact, just the cost of making a spot-on reproduction G-1 or M-422A probably exceeds the average price of an original, especially in the smaller, more common sizes. So I would suggest that you purchase as nice of a reproduction A-2 as your buget will allow...but I would buy an original G-1. There are usually many of them on ebay. Anything from the C-series back will be a better jacket than almost any repro offered today.

AF

 

[Edward]

Now looks like a good time to be buying an original G1 - they look to me like they've been creeping up in value over the past few years.

 

[kampkatz]

What isn't creeping up in value? Well made originals sometimes are still better bargains than some of the
worn repros.

 

[Deacon211]

I have had a few G-1s from the more common vendors over the years. My suggestions from top to bottom.

1. Eastman: Excellent goatskin that is stiff at first but breaks in quickly. A little thinner than my issue G-1s and lacquered (which is historical I understand) though that is not the only measure of quality. Good customer service and an OK return policy. Fits very well for my aging athletic build. ;-)

2. Gibson and Barnes: I have an older M-422A and returned a modern G-1. Nice leather but seems more contemporary than the Eastman (not necessarily a bad thing). G+B has a great return policy, but I'm sad to say I had to make a lot of follow up phone calls to get things done. Fits very roomily around the midsection which I guess is a relatively recent development. Eventually I had to return the jacket as I couldn't find a size that fit both my shoulders and waist simultaneously.

3. Cockpit: This one was awhile ago, but from another thread here it looks as though they are making them the same. Mine was the mil-spec one and the goatskin was contemporarily finished with much more substantial than either of my issue jackets. Details were about the same as my issue which means not quite as nice as either Eastman or G+B, but fine in its own right. A good value for a better than modern specimen of the G-1. Fit was a little more generous than my issue, but no where near as much as the G+B. I bought mine direct from the Cockpit store in Manhattan, so I can't comment on the customer service.

If you were asking for a suggestion, I'd say that the Cockpit makes a great, authentic modern representation of the G-1. It kills me to say that I'm not as big a fan of G+B recently due to the fit (which borders on leaving behind much of what makes the G-1 so sharp looking) and the customer service, which at least in my recent experience, is not quite what it once had been. It's a damn shame really, because they make a beautiful jacket in all other respects and the people are friendly, just a little poor on the communication front.

Of my two Eastman jackets (a Roughwear B-6 and my G-1), both are what I would call "sumptuous" though they were stiff as boards at first. The beauty of the leather color and the (apparent) authenticity of the style reall do feel a step above the other "stock" brands.

Don't know if any of that helps and I hope I haven't spoken out of turn, but I wish you luck in your search!

Deacon

 

[Dumpster Diver]

Nothing beats an original, plus prices are not Fixed...get yourself an authentic Deal.

Well, if youre broke like me that is.

 

[Jeff M]

I agree with the recommendations for an original G1.
You can find ones in excellent condition for much less than you will pay for a high quality repro.
If you are dead set on a repro G1/ M422, I own/owned jackets by Good Wear, Bill Kelso, Aero, Gibson and Barnes.
Not had the opportunity to see an Eastman up personal.
The Good Wears are top quality all around. Leather, fit, mouton.
Aero and G&B very nice.
I was very disappointed in the Bill Kelso M422 I received last October. I have had an A2 on "order" with them since last December (an exchange for the M422) that I am still waiting for...so, for me, BK has yet to produce the goods.

 

[Smithy]

Another one to consider if you are not after a particular contract is Aero's Real Deal A-2. Great looking jacket and what with you being in the States, I'd imagine you could either go direct or through Insurrection?

 

[thor]

US Authentic make a decent mid-range A-2 with some good,heavy horsehide; I hear their goatskin A-2 is very nice as well.

 

[cafeblitz]

If you are more interested in the flight jacket look than any particular make, Johnson Leathers is worth a glance. Their M-120 is pretty sweet and Alan will customize it however you like - mine should be arriving any day now.

Otherwise, I just scanned ebay and there seem to be some pretty nice, original G1's for decent prices out there at the moment. I'm resisting the temptation to pull the trigger on one right now. I keep telling myself that I am holding out for a half belt, but the urge is growing.

Oh, and a note of caution: Lost Worlds can be difficult to work with; I have one jacket from them and, while it is beautifully constructed, dealing with them was beyond taxing (to put it mildly).

 

[Deacon211]

I understand the advice to get an original which has the dual virtues of probably being cheaper than a repro and also, well, original.

However, I was issued two flight jackets in the mil, one in 1991 and one in 2004, and I'd have to say that, while both were entirely functional, both were also entirely "meh". I just think that, when the Navy/Marines finally went from leather to nylon and especially when they went from leather/nylon to Nomex, the quality of the jackets reflected their loss of status as "real" flight gear. Interestingly, in the Marine regs at least, the G-1 is still considered as flight equipment (and still used as such, though generally not in tactical aircraft). This is one of the reasons that you can walk down the street, looking like a dork, in your Corfam patent leather shoes and "Wooly Pully" sweater, but you can't walk down the street in your flight jacket.

I'm not saying one is right or wrong, depending on your preferences/budget. But I personally spent a lot of time in my Cockpit G-1 or my G+B M-422A/G-1 hybrid because they were just a nicer version and more what my understanding of what the G-1 once was than the jackets I was issued.

Just something to consider and entirely my opinion.

Deacon

 

[Jeff M]

If going the vintage G1 route, look for jackets made before 1968 (up to and including series "C").
From the "D" series on, the collars were synthetic fur rather than mouton.

 

[robrinay]

Check vintage finds for a 42" (D) G1 that appears to have a genuine Mouton collar bargain price too.