A2 fit obsession.

[Jeff M]

Whenever I find myself obsessing over a 1/2" when it comes to sleeve length, 3/4" back length, I take a look at this photo of some of the Doolittle Raiders;

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/060217-F-1234P-015.jpg

I wonder if the tall fellow in front just grabbed somebody else's A2 for the photo.
Even if he did. there is a nice variety of fits in the pic.

 

[Phantomfixer]

Yeah but we pay hundreds and more hundreds of dollars, yen,euro, pound for a jacket to have a certain look and it better have it. These guys, as you know, wore the jacket as a tool, a functional piece of gear to be thrown around, turned in for a new one. Would they ever have thought about the craze they created by looking so good in a jacket...

 

[Jeff M]

Not denying it....just saying.
Sometimes it must drive the manufacturers of top end repro's crazy.
"I'm returning this jacket because the sleeve is 1/2" too long. When will I receive my corrected jacket?":eusa_doh:

 

[ButteMT61]

I started a thread on vlj about just this.
I claimed a true repro would not be custom sized, just generic issued sizes. Of course I'm not a stitch fer stitch fanatic so I don't care. It was more of a knock of just what you posted at the top.
But in the end, who wants a jacket for $800-$2000 that's not perfect?! If makers didn't like the fussing, they could offer only tagged sizes.

 

[ButteMT61]

BTW, that guy in the front would be me! lol

 

[Jeff M]

True.
It's what they "signed up" for.
Luckily, it makes for a nice selection of high end "used" A2's for folks that aren't so picky.

 

[ButteMT61]

Yup. Me, I'm picky but it's more that most don't fit my odd body. But if I find a used one or a brand that works for me I'm happy.

 

[bretron]

If I'm paying over $500 for a jacket, it better effin fit like I want it... If I'm paying $1000+,, then not even a question!

Bottom line, fit becomes so obsessive because we're paying obscene money for jackets.

 

[ButteMT61]

If I'm paying over $500 for a jacket, it better effin fit like I want it... If I'm paying $1000+,, then not even a question!Bottom line, fit becomes so obsessive because we're paying obscene money for jackets.

Putting pressure on JC lol

 

[Grayland]

Reminds of pee-wee football. I was number 22...the guy in front of me was number 21 and the guy behind me was 23. You got what you got. I was in the Army from 82-86. I don't recall obsessing over the fit of my field jacket, but I didn't pay $1200 either. I also don't have the physique I had back then, so I need all the tailoring I can get.

 

[ButteMT61]

That's what's nice about being all grown up and having a little green to splurge with
Getting back at those years of being told what to wear.

 

[Dr H]

I think he picked up mine in a rush Scott; I'd recognise those sleeves anywhere ;-)

 

[aswatland]

During the War very tall guys rarely appear comfortable in A2s. Whilst the jacket maybe ok in the chest the sleeves and body are sadly too short. Had he been issued with a larger jacket it would have been too large at the chest! Although there was no ideal fit in the War surviving photos clearly show how ill fitting some A2s appear to the modern eye.

 

[Otter]

Surely if you alter the fit on your A2 then it can no longer be regarded as "authentic" as you have changed the specification as made by the original manufacturer?

 

[Jeff M]

... Although there was no ideal fit in the War surviving photos clearly show how ill fitting some A2s appear to the modern eye.

Not to mention how ill fitting some folks modern reproduction A2's sometimes look.

 

[Jeff M]

Surely if you alter the fit on your A2 then it can no longer be regarded as "authentic" as you have changed the specification as made by the original manufacturer?

The same thought occasionally crosses my mind.
Sometimes it seems like folks are really saying;
"I want an authentic A2 reproduction..but jeez, not THAT authentic!!"

 

[Tito]

Surely if you alter the fit on your A2 then it can no longer be regarded as "authentic" as you have changed the specification as made by the original manufacturer?

Exactly..my 1938 pattern...and not other pattern:

 

[Grayland]

Wow Tito, the color in that last picture is stunning.

 

[aswatland]

Surely if you alter the fit on your A2 then it can no longer be regarded as "authentic" as you have changed the specification as made by the original manufacturer?

Now this is an interesting point. From handling many original A2s from almost every wartime contractor it is clear to me that there is no such thing as an "authentic fit" for these jackets. There were significant variations within contracts even with jackets tagged the same size and from the same maker and even more from contracts awarded to different manufacturers. So customised A2s today by the top repro makers may not be as unauthentic as some people claim.

 

[Otter]

Wow Tito, the color in that last picture is stunning.

Seconded, realy nice.