Button-up Leather Jackets

[Lord LALA]

Hello All, Ive had several Aero leather jackets, all Vicenza and all zippered. Thinking now of ordering a “Moonshiner” which is a button-up style. In my estimation, it must be very difficult to button-up a leather jacket, especially when new.

Am I wrong in my estimation?

FWIW, will order either Vicenza or goatskin… something fairly light and flexible.

Thanks in advance for any comments.

Joe

 

[TartuWolf]

Should not be a problem at all, even using heavier leathers (eventually). Go for it! A Maxwell or Moonshiner would be in my top 3 picks in terms of Aero jackets. You even avoid the biggest problem with Aero going with one of those - the damn #5 main zipper!

 

[Tom71]

Not so sure.

I have four button up leather jackets, two are easy buttoning, one was kind of ok but still „bleeding finger“ category during break in, one - a kakishibu horsehide coat from Y2 - is still pretty much unbuttonable to this day.

I think it’s a mixture of thickness/stiffness of the leather, relative size of button hole and which button is used. In my experience, metal „donut“ buttons are the worst, as they offer little flexibility to “tilt“ the button in its hole.

I would think, that with the fairly generously sized, sewn in buttons of the Moonshiner, you should be ok, especially in a medium weight hide.

 

[Aloysius]

FWIW, will order either Vicenza or goatskin… something fairly light and flexible.

Vicenza is quite stiff. Goatskin has a really luxurious and flexible handle, so that would be a good pick. I have heard Pinnacle is also soft with good drape so you might consider that.

 

[Guppy]

With thick, stiff leather, you want to break in the button holes and get the leather pliable so you don't break a button or the thread when fastening. Take a decent thick dowel and ream the hole out until you get the leather broken in enough to button it up.

 

[Worf]

Wow, talk about PTSD! I've a Double Breasted Barnstormer custom made from Aero. When I first got her the coat was so stiff and button holes so small that the leather "gum drop" buttons literally exploded from the force needed to get them through the button holes. Those buttons were replaced with flat browns. When I got the coat back a deliberately ran a metal rod through the holes to open them up. Even after all these years it's STILL a chore to button that bad boy up.

Worf

 

[RDS]

I think the style of button used can certainly make more of a difference than the type of leather.
I have an Aero Teamster Tumbled FQHH with flat horn buttons and fastening the jacket hasn’t been too much of an issue. Not that it was really needed but I just idly ‘massaged’ the buttonholes with my fingers when I was wearing the jacket and didn’t use any tool or rod.
I would definitely avoid the leather ‘football’ type of button. Apart from them possibly wearing through or falling to bits they will flop around for sure when the jacket isn’t fastened up.

 

[3.14nche]

I had not issues with Corozo buttons on goatskin nor horn buttons on tumbled CXLHH and Jerky.

 

[4444Design]

MAXWELL (modified) in CXL HH - those buttonholes are a challenge ...