FS: Cal Leather LAPD style jacket with Duty Belt, size 46

[Kane]

For sale: Cal Leather jacket with Boston Leather duty belt. The jacket feels to me like a 46 size as it’s a little big in the shoulders for me (I’m a 44). Selling as I have another Cal that fits me better. The belt is marked 40 and has seen very little use. It works great with this jacket. The jacket is in very good vintage used condition and has been worn well and broken in. I don’t know the exact vintage. When I first got this jacket I took it to Cal Leathers in Ventura, CA, to be cleaned and conditioned. While there, they patched a hole in the liner in the left arm pit (see photo). They did a full cleaning and leather conditioning; however, there is still a very faint tobacco smell in the left arm. I imagine that a previous owner stood around in the jacket with a cig burning in his/her left hand. Cal said that it may completely fade over time, but it’s better than it was before they cleaned it. Cal Leathers also confirmed that this is a horse hide jacket based on the grain, feel, and sound of the leather when it is scrunched-up. The Cal cleaning and conditioning was about a year ago, and the jacket has seen very little use since. There is a small hole in the left pocket zipper fabric area that I noticed after I got the jacket back from Cal (see photo). It also looks like someone in the past replaced the smalller gauge sleeve zippers with a larger gauge zippers (same gauge as the main zip). The main zipper pull is marked “SERVAL” and the sleeve zipper pulls are marked “TALON”.

Measurements:
Pit-to-pit = 24”
Shoulders = 20”
Top of collar to bottom hem = 26.5”
Sleeve from top seam to end cuff measured around the elbow bend = 26”
Sleeve measured straight down = 24.5”

$375 shipped in the U.S.

Please contact me through the forum PM. Thank you!

 

[jonbuilder]

This looks like a pre-1960 jacket and it has been my experience that the early Cals were made with thick wonderful horsehide. I will take the 1950s over post-1960s Cal any day. 1960s Cals CHP generally have the Talon ear drop pocket zips. Any jacket with Talson tear drop zips is post-1960. This jacket has a large collar and lapel consistent with the 1940s and 1950s Cal CHP jackets. I know there are a few Cal CHP for sale now, but if I was looking I would no hesitate on this one.

 

[Monitor]

...not to mention that the sleeve zippers are freaking no. 10 Talons!!!

I too agree that it's in all likelihood horsehide and it's rare to see one of these with brown core in leather.

 

[Kane]

Interesting! Monitor, what is, “Brown core in leather”?
I’m not familiar with that term.
Thanks, guys!

 

[Monitor]

Interesting! Monitor, what is, “Brown core in leather”?
I’m not familiar with that term.
Thanks, guys!

It's when a jacket is made from brown leather which has been dyed black. With wear, this finish then slowly and gradually wears off to brown. Like this...

Later CAL's were made from leather dyed all the way through.

 

[Kane]

That’s cool. How can you tell with this Cal? It just looks black to my ignorant eye.
Thanks

 

[Kane]

Still available!

 

[Monitor]

That’s cool. How can you tell with this Cal? It just looks black to my ignorant eye.
Thanks

Oh, sorry, I didn't see the question earlier. Easiest way to tell is where the jacket has faded to brown at the edges but on your jacket, you can also see how on the sleeve zipper, that little leather patch that's under the zipper is brown underneath. That's how you know.

 

[Kane]

Awesome, Monitor. Thank you!

 

[jonbuilder]

I sent a PM for the belt

 

[Kane]

I’ve decided to keep the jacket. So for now it’s off the market. It’s a nice complement to my other Cal. Thanks for the interest and the great educational responses!

Cheers, and Happy New Year!

 

[jonbuilder]

Good decision, you do not find that many of these early 50s Cals in should good original condition. Nice belt also