Indiana Jones Jacket: Opening up a heap 'o trouble...

[Juanito]

Ok, I have been an A-2 fanatic since the early 1980's, and in the past have discounted any other jacket. I have owned numerous originals and many reproductions, but...

For some reason I want to buy an "Indiana Jones" jacket. I searched the site and there is almost too much information. So Indy Jacket experts, tell me where to look for this: I want an "Indy" jacket close in design (I am not going to fret over the differences between the first, second, third versions, etc.), but is has to be very, very close in features and design (i.e. no Aero Half Belt). Hide weight, quality, and durability are the most important thing.

The jacket will not be treated nicely. Who makes the heaviest "Indy" jacket (preferrably of horsehide) of the best quality? Price is not an issue, and I refuse to trade price for quality.

Is there anything comparable to the tank like durability of my Lost World's A-2?

Thanks in advance.

 

[scotrace]

I can only vouch for the US Wings goat version, which is wearing like iron for me and looks great, takes drenching after drenching and was a GREAT value.

 

[dostacos]

http://www.toddscostumes.com

http://www.uswings.com

http://www.leather.com

http://www.flightsuits.com

http://www.wested.com/

https://host385.ipowerweb.com/~indy...d=109&osCsid=818f80f57b53330f07fea737f39a64a8 Indy Magnoli’s website

Todd’s and Wested’s are both high on the Indy gear head list, the Indy less so however I personally would not rule them out.

I believe all will custom make and let you choose the leather, some also have off the shelf with choice of leather.

This should give you a start.

also some "INDY" or "RAIDER" jackets have knit sleeve cuffs and a knit bottom like a regular A2 these are NOT even close Indy jackets { my perfect jacket would be leather sleeves [as long as the knit part is inside the leather and not visible it would be ok], then instead of flap pockets, it has zippers. I have only found this with knit sleeves and bottom. that may not stop me, but I really like the Indy jacket

 

[Doctor Strange]

The general consensus seems to be that the Gibson & Barnes (FlightSuits) Expedition is the toughest-yet-still-very-accurate Indy jacket out there, at least the goatskin version. (I haven't handled one personally, but I have two goatskin G&B jackets and they're definitely very solid jackets.)

I briefly had a goatskin US Wings Indy jacket. It was quite tough, but not especially accurate, and the sizing was all wrong for me.

Wested's Indy jackets are extremely accurate, but unlike G&B or USW, Wested essentially makes movie wardrobe, not military-spec jackets. I've got one of their lambskin Raiders jackets and I love it: but it's not designed for hard use (and in fact, the back panel on mine tore: Wested repaired it for free). While their tougher hides - horse and cow - are no doubt more sturdy, their linings, zippers, and general sewing/contruction simply aren't made to stand up under longtime hard use.

(Todd's is a new player in the Indy jacket game, and while the reviews I've read have been very favorable, it's not yet really clear how they will hold up to years of wear.)

However, I'd submit that another important consideration beyond accuracy and toughness/construction is sizing. Depending on how much of an off-the-rack-stuff-always-fits-me guy you are, this will be a determining factor.

US Wings jackets are sized S-M-L-XL and assume that you have huge shoulders, long arms, and a medium waist. Gibson & Barnes jackets are sized 38-40-42-44 and fit pretty accurately in terms of modern (i.e., oversized compared to the old days) sizing. Wested jackets are custom made to your specific measurements and fit perfectly - which for some of us (e.g., widebodies like me!), simply trumps other considerations...

 

[Feraud]

The Wested jackets have a link with the movies and are available in horsehide.