Help with identifying a Buco (?) jacket

[Bingo's SMG]

Hi All,
I had a client who has consigned this jacket with me, and I'm having a heck of a time identifying and authenticating it. He has had it for 30-40 years . It has a Buco horsehide tag and the white inside tag. The blue tag's sewing is not crisp and runs thru the name, additionally its not sewn on the edges.

Also the jacket does not have snaps on the shoulder straps, nor is there a "D pocket". I know the belt buckle is an add on and believe some of the brushed metal pieces are also add ons.

I can't find any other Buco's that look like this one so I'm hoping somebody with knowledge can bring me to the learning tree on this jacket.

Thank you in advance for any assistance.

Bingo
Bingo's Swap Meet Garage

 

[Monitor]

Looks like some kind of JH-1. Is this jacket for sure made of leather? Has the appearance of polyurethane, which would explain raw pocket edges and lack of piping.

 

[Bingo's SMG]

Looks like some kind of JH-1. Is this jacket for sure made of leather? Has the appearance of polyurethane, which would explain raw pocket edges and lack of piping.

Thanks for weighing in. The consignor makes custom motorcycle seats in leather & exotics so I believe it to be leather. My concern is in the sloppy Buco blue tag, it makes me think it could have been relined, but the white tag seems original.

 

[Blackadder]

Buco J-71. It is possible that the jacket has been butchered and then somewhat restored by someone who hoped to resell it at a better price.
1) shoulder straps removed then put back on (it could be a J-65 which has no shoulder strap originally but are added on)
2) belt buckle replaced or even the whole belt cut then put back on
3) original Buco brand tag gone (this model usually seen with 2nd gen Buco tag) then seller found a later year Buco tag and put it on.

 

[Bingo's SMG]

Buco J-71. It is possible that the jacket has been butchered and then somewhat restored by someone who hoped to resell it at a better price.
1) shoulder straps removed then put back on (it could be a J-65 which has no shoulder strap originally but are added on)
2) belt buckle replaced or even the whole belt cut then put back on
3) original Buco brand tag gone (this model usually seen with 2nd gen Buco tag) then seller found a later year Buco tag and put it on.

Thank you, I see the similarities to the J-71 but the one I have has no snap on the back lower section and the ones I can find do, any thought on that. I appreciate you taking the time to weigh in.

 

[Carlos840]

Buco J-71. It is possible that the jacket has been butchered and then somewhat restored by someone who hoped to resell it at a better price.
1) shoulder straps removed then put back on (it could be a J-65 which has no shoulder strap originally but are added on)
2) belt buckle replaced or even the whole belt cut then put back on
3) original Buco brand tag gone (this model usually seen with 2nd gen Buco tag) then seller found a later year Buco tag and put it on.

The way the shoulder epaulettes are attached is super weird, i have never seen that, it's like they didn't top stitch the shoudler seam under the strap.

 

[Blackadder]

Thank you, I see the similarities to the J-71 but the one I have has no snap on the back lower section and the ones I can find do, any thought on that. I appreciate you taking the time to weigh in.

As said, your Buco seem to have been modified/restored after modification. Not just the belt buckle, even the belt seems an add on job. Here is a J-71 owned by a fellow lounger and you can see the lower back is clean with french seam. The one you have has a piece of leather simply sewed on to the back. A snap or a hole may be there. You may have to just feel through it with your fingers. Sorry can't be more help as it is difficult to check from photo short of taking it apart.

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/five-bucos.105137/

 

[Blackadder]

The way the shoulder epaulettes are attached is super weird, i have never seen that, it's like they didn't top stitch the shoudler seam under the strap.

Yes. As said the jacket has been butchered or that it simply did not have epaulet to start with i.e. a J-65.

 

[ton312]

The lack of piping around the zippers is odd. I’ve not seen that on any Buco. I suppose if they were replaced the piping could have been removed. But why? Lots of oddities in this jacket.

 

[jeo]

Everything on this jacket looks off.

Besides what has already been mentioned, you can see that the front zipper has been replaced...badly.

You can also see the the leather has been cut and those belt loops were added.

 

[Blackadder]

Everything on this jacket looks off.

Besides what has already been mentioned, you can see that the front zipper has been replaced...badly.

View attachment 416760


You can also see the the leather has been cut and those belt loops were added.

View attachment 416762

Much clearer now. Just as I guess, a previous owner removed everything and then someone tried to restore it probably according to photos of another original.

 

[jeo]

Much clearer now. Just as I guess, a previous owner removed everything and then someone tried to restore it probably according to photos of another original.

You're probably right. To me it looks as if the front two panels were replaced. Maybe the sleeves too. The only leather original to the jacket just based off the photos provided looks to be the main (top) back panel.

 

[Will Zach]

Frankenstein jacket...