Legendary USA Black Stallion is Back

[Madhouse27]

If you want a lighter version of the SH leather (with the same shine), you can get that the 618HH or 641HH.

Yeah I also have a 618hh. The horsehide is a little thinner but because it has the same style liner as the 613sh it’s not really a “lighter“ option at least in regards to regulating temperature. It’s down at Schott right now getting a new collar put on. I’ll probably end up selling it now that I have the 613sh which as you know is the belle of the ball!

 

[blobsterroll]

Can you describe how it differs from e. g. the Lost Worlds J-23 pattern? From the photos in Legendary's Instagram reel it seemed as if the front was not longer than the back, which would be unusual for a classic D-pocket jacket.

I cannot speak for Lost Worlds J-23. But I can say is that the pattern is similar to the Buco J-24 that I have from the 60s. Even feels like it, but new Horsehide shouldn't feel like
Horsehide from the 60s.

 

[Marc mndt]

Even feels like it, but new Horsehide shouldn't feel like
Horsehide from the 60s.

I'd order one right now if the horsehide is anything like my '50s buco lol.

 

[blobsterroll]

I'd order one right now if the horsehide is anything like my '50s buco lol.

It's not bro, it's very soft and thin.

The buco is soft because it's 60 years old lol

I was really expecting it to feel like a Schott Horsehide.

 

[Madhouse27]

It's not bro, it's very soft and thin.

The buco is soft because it's 60 years old lol

I was really expecting it to feel like a Schott Horsehide.

So did you return it for a different size, a different jacket altogether or simply a refund?

The arms seemed a little generous but other than that the cut seemed good and I liked most of the design elements. I wish they’d just had Schott make it and let the price fall where it may. Legendary’s wheelhouse is obviously well below the thousand dollar price point, so they may not have had much confidence trying to market a jacket with a $1200 (or higher) retail.

One of their main suppliers (First Manufacturing) seems to have the same mindset. In the motorcycle vest world, these guys have some unbelievably good patterns (particularly on their shorter riding vests) but they all come with this soft, grain printed, naked leather which is at best…floppy and boring. They offer full customization of styles and features but only offer this one leather. I’ve written to them imploring them that they could charge whatever they wanted for these same patterns in higher end leathers. They seem content to sell $200 vests.

 

[Arnold]

One of their main suppliers (First Manufacturing) seems to have the same mindset. In the motorcycle vest world, these guys have some unbelievably good patterns (particularly on their shorter riding vests) but they all come with this soft, grain printed, naked leather which is at best…floppy and boring. They offer full customization of styles and features but only offer this one leather. I’ve written to them imploring them that they could charge whatever they wanted for these same patterns in higher end leathers. They seem content to sell $200 vests.

First made what I call the Jon Bon Jovi fringe jacket in the mid or late 80s. The leather was very high quality back then. It looks, feels and smells great 35 years later. The fit was also excellent, with high arm holes for freedom of movement one can only dream of in a Perfecto, Buco tribute etc. I didn't know the brand still exists.

 

[Madhouse27]

First made what I call the Jon Bon Jovi fringe jacket in the mid or late 80s. The leather was very high quality back then. It looks, feels and smells great 35 years later. The fit was also excellent, with high arm holes for freedom of movement one can only dream of in a Perfecto, Buco tribute etc. I didn't know the brand still exists.

Their older stuff was pretty tough and seemed to use a more coated style leather. Somewhere along the trail they decided to go with this softer naked cowhide. I know some people like the feel and weight of it, but even on my Schott 141 that type of leather just never looks black enough for me. I’ve got the First MFG Lowside and Lowrider vests and may try applying something to one of them to see if I can shine and darken it up a bit. I’ve never put anything on my Schott naked leather so I’m not quite sure what to use.

 

[handymike]

Urad

 

[blobsterroll]

So did you return it for a different size, a different jacket altogether or simply a refund?

At the moment i mailed the jacket and when they receive it they will start working on a different size and will take 3 weeks.

Gives me plenty of time to deliberate.

And agreed, it would've been better if it was Schott leather, this one seems flimsy and thin

 

[Arnold]

Their older stuff was pretty tough and seemed to use a more coated style leather. Somewhere along the trail they decided to go with this softer naked cowhide. I know some people like the feel and weight of it, but even on my Schott 141 that type of leather just never looks black enough for me. I’ve got the First MFG Lowside and Lowrider vests and may try applying something to one of them to see if I can shine and darken it up a bit. I’ve never put anything on my Schott naked leather so I’m not quite sure what to use.

Schott's naked cowhide is a bit of a mystery to me. Over the decades I've owned three 125 Perfectos (out of production full belt variant of the 118).

The first one, made in the early 90s, started out with a medium-shiny black, medium stiffness, and what was really cool about it, it didn't squeak at all.
It started fading to gray on the shoulders after just one heavy rain I wore it in. It also soaked up smells very easily. Because of that I gave it two actual showers after bird poo had gotten on it - without success; the smell of the excrement didn't fully go away but the color of course faded even quicker from then on.
After ten years it was completely gray, but stiffer and squeakier than in the beginning, and I could only wear it in cloudy weather because sunshine and warmth brought out a prett unpleasant mix of odors (as in a mix of tanning or dyeing chemicals, bird poo, and all the things that come with nightlife).

My next one, made around the mid 2000s, was a bit duller, also very quiet, also very sensitive to catching odors, and much softer, and I haven't dared to wear it in heavy rain out of concern it might fade as quickly as the older one. I've been meaning to apply something that makes the leather less sensitive to smells and rain, but have been worried about ruining it, like the first one.
I wouldn't worry so much if the model wasn't out of production.

Then I bought a used one that was totally different again - medium stiff and medium shiny again, like the first one, but not sensitive to rain or odors. I resold it because the size wasn't optimal but in terms of the leather's usability it was the best of the three. Maybe the previous owner had applied something, or maybe Schott's naked cowhide is just rather inconsistent.

 

[Viking752]

Screenshot from legendary IG story. Read the lower caption, wonder who they are referring to?

 

[Observe]

Screenshot from legendary IG story. Read the lower caption, wonder who they are referring to?

View attachment 538126

I guess they haven't seen the 23 page thread if they think we've shut up lol.

 

[Marc mndt]

Screenshot from legendary IG story. Read the lower caption, wonder who they are referring to?

View attachment 538126

Just saw the story, the pattern looks good but the leather looks floppy.

But what about the main zipper pull tab? That teardrop pull tab shape with the rivet in the middle is one of the most recognizable features of a Schott jacket.

Since the jacket isn't actually made by Schott that teardrop pull tab makes it a Schott copy imo. An expensive one with cheap looking leather.

I guess I'm a hater lol.

 

[Madhouse27]

Lol yep!

 

[Arnold]

Too bad if they think anyone hates them and didn't deem them capable enough when actually their clearly misleading advertising and bad communication was the main issue.
If I ever want to buy something from First Mfg. or Schott again it'll probably be direct. Which is too bad because I bought my first Schott from Legendary and thus kinda like them for nostalgic reasons.

Edit: Just saw their Instagram has gone political also. Not surprised about the direction considering the attitudes discussed here.

 

[Marc mndt]

Is that massive puckering I'm seeing next to that Schott-like underarm football?

 

[Aloysius]

Just saw their Instagram has gone political also. Not surprised about the direction considering the attitudes discussed here.

Yeah, I really don't like this, and it's not because of my personal views. I dislike stores that market through politics, whether it's Legendary USA doing righty virtue signaling or Standard & Strange doing lefty virtue signaling.

Keep it off the business page.

 

[Aloysius]

Just saw the story, the pattern looks good but the leather looks floppy.

But what about the main zipper pull tab? That teardrop pull tab shape with the rivet in the middle is one of the most recognizable features of a Schott jacket.

Since the jacket isn't actually made by Schott that teardrop pull tab makes it a Schott copy imo. An expensive one with cheap looking leather.

I guess I'm a hater lol.

Pattern looks great, leather looks like a waste. Fair to assume they sent the Schott-made jacket to be copied in this material? After all, they're still listing it on their site by the Schott model number, lol.

Incidentally, the guy who posted that is a custom hatter. Maybe he should check out TFL!

 

[vintage_iron]

The puckered up leather sucks, and in my opinion, so does the seam work. Fat, then skinny, then crooked. I wonder if by chance anyone at Schott is curious about these finished products. I'm really looking for a silver lining here, I have one on order after all.

 

[Madhouse27]

The puckered up leather sucks, and in my opinion, so does the seam work. Fat, then skinny, then crooked. I wonder if by chance anyone at Schott is curious about these finished products. I'm really looking for a silver lining here, I have one on order after all.

It would be interesting to know how many Schott jackets that LegendaryUSA is actually selling. They only carry a few brands with Schott being their sole “premium” offering. In the grand scheme of things, how important are they to Schott‘s overall business? I also wonder how this whole Stallion thing affected the relationship (if at all). Is Schott bummed they‘re not doing it or is it simply more trouble than it’s worth? I’m assuming Legendary owns all the rights to their Stallion but who did the original design? If they had Adidas do the first one, could all subsequent incarnations have three stripes down the arms?