SPAD
New in Town
- Messages
- 40
- Location
- Northwest washington State
HA, another sobriquet to add to my long list, still doesn't top Doctor *Edit.* though. SPAD
Looks like what they call a "raider" jacket. a bunch of manufacturers make them. they are not military.Peacoat said:I believe this to be a G-2, but who really knows. All of that was a time so long ago.
The G2 Flight Jacket was designed prior to WWII to be the official United States Navy flyer’s jacket. This honor was ultimately given to the G-1 Aviator Jacket with it's fur collar. The USA G-2 Aviator Jacket is made from thick, tough brown leather with a polyester/cotton lining. It has ribbed knit cuffs and waistband, military spec zipper and fasteners and a leather top collar. In additin to the inside snapped gun pocket, it has 2 deep front handwarmer pockets, and 2 additional zip pockets.
Fletch said:Nicely priced (just under 3 bills) off eBay from a vendor who had about 3 sizes left.
So far I dig the fit, feel, construction and color (not as stiff or tightly cut as I'd anticipated), but I want to know what YOU think.
I have replaced the maker's label with a Photoshopped fictitious one*, as the jacket comes from a "contemporary" mass market maker whose product is not well respected by the connaisseur.
It was supposedly from a special order batch meant to follow WW2 spec more closely than said maker's usual product.**
But...what do YOU think? Did I get took? Is it likely to slough off its tanning and pop its seams?
Keep in mind I'm NOT looking to invest in a collectible, I want a reasonable balance between daily wearability and period look and feel.
*Collegiate Mfg. was a real company in my hometown that did make military rainwear during WW2 (but not leather jackets).
**Among advertised improvements were more authentic snap/latch hardware, a trimmer, more true-to-size fit, narrower epaulettes and an all cotton lining. Yes of course the back is one piece. I'll post another pic if you want to see.
Fletch said:My Schott A-2 (now being worn by my dad) has lasted 15 years and is still going strong.
My Cooper G-2 is already at the end of its "couple of years" of regular wear and shows no signs of giving out either.
I'm not planning on attending any WW2 reenactments or similar events in this jacket, and I don't care if the fit is too generous or the pockets a little bigger than they should be, because both of those things make the jacket more useful to me out in the real world.
"Authenticity", I find, is greatly overrated.
BTW, I would probably mystify and confound some of you jacket guys with how picky I can be about suits...
fedoralover said:I'm not a jacket expert as some of our members are, but the questions you asked are hard to answer from pics. Only time and a lot of wear will tell whether it is good or not. If it's comfortable for you to wear and fits like you want, then for under 300 dollars for HH you didn't do bad. A US Authentic is more than that and probably no better or more accurate. Certainly better than a Mall jacket for less of a price.
fedoralover
Swoosed said:...I'll take the high road...