Luftwaffe jackets

[Guillaume]

Hello all,

I need your help to find a the jacket of my dreams!

I have read all about it on the forum but some posts are too old and not accurate today so hope you can help me!

I search a leather jacket, Luftwaffe style, i have buy some and resell it because never found the good one.

I first buy an old gen one, in good condition but it don't fit me well, so i buy an Eastman Hartmann who was very nice but an inch to short because of a long torso, i resell it and wanted to order the same from Eastman in L or XL length but they refuse to made it long in body with standart arms so cannot order it.

I decide to order one from the History bunker because they can custom made it; i order it in brow; the measures was good and the quality of stitching was realy perfect! better than all others i have! only matter was the quality of leather who are cheap, painted leather so look plastic; they exchange me this one for an other with bette leather, only problem is that on direct sun it look not brown but purple/dark pink.
To be honest, the quality of work realy impress me a lot, only problem is theire have not high quality leather.

I yet then thinked of the Ostmann from Eastman one who are bigger in size and longer but the mesure they give me at waist are 1 inch to short for what i need so can order it also.

So i thinked of the one i have in mind since the begining, the Pegasus one, that i first declined because of the price (around 1200€ in France); i order it custom and waited 3 months to receive it.

Mesures was not respected at all (2 inchs more at arm length, 1,5 more at shoulders) and leather was nothing compare to the one on theire site, look grey, not black and very thick; it was hard and long to be refund and with bad communication because needed 2 weeks to answer a mail!...

So now i search an other one so if you have an idea, even and cheap one let me know

I thinked maybe of an Aero or Simon Bilt but not really found exactly what i search, a fitted one, made with the less pieces of leather possible (on piece back, one piece underarm etc....).

Thanks for your help,

Have a nice weekend

 

[Monitor]

Since you're looking for a Luftwaffe style jacket and not an exact repro (and have already exhausted pretty much every other option (I can think of)), why not go for a Lewis Leather Dominator or Corsair? As crazy as it sounds, these jackets are actually the closest match to the style known as the Luftwaffe leather jacket, so much that the Corsair has actually doubled as one in 'The Battle of Britain', 1969 movie.

That, and there's also Noble House but I've no idea what their jackets are like...
http://www.noble-house.eu/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=32&osCsid=sl21oc93me1thpjpo45lqo9h62

 

[Peacoat]

Excellent suggestion on the LL Dominator/Corsair. The only downside I see is the LL branding over the left chest pocket. I understand they won't do a jacket without adding the brand.

 

[tropicalbob]

I wish somebody would post a review of the Noble House jacket. They got some bad press here a few years ago but I'd like to hear something more recent. That photo and the price are just so damned tempting. Every so often I go back and look at it and ask myself, "How bad can it be?" (Silly question, I know).

 

[Cooper A-2]

Hello all,

I need your help to find a the jacket of my dreams!

I have read all about it on the forum but some posts are too old and not accurate today so hope you can help me!

I search a leather jacket, Luftwaffe style, i have buy some and resell it because never found the good one.

I first buy an old gen one, in good condition but it don't fit me well, so i buy an Eastman Hartmann who was very nice but an inch to short because of a long torso, i resell it and wanted to order the same from Eastman in L or XL length but they refuse to made it long in body with standart arms so cannot order it.

I decide to order one from the History bunker because they can custom made it; i order it in brow; the measures was good and the quality of stitching was realy perfect! better than all others i have! only matter was the quality of leather who are cheap, painted leather so look plastic; they exchange me this one for an other with bette leather, only problem is that on direct sun it look not brown but purple/dark pink.
To be honest, the quality of work realy impress me a lot, only problem is theire have not high quality leather.

I yet then thinked of the Ostmann from Eastman one who are bigger in size and longer but the mesure they give me at waist are 1 inch to short for what i need so can order it also.

So i thinked of the one i have in mind since the begining, the Pegasus one, that i first declined because of the price (around 1200€ in France); i order it custom and waited 3 months to receive it.

Mesures was not respected at all (2 inchs more at arm length, 1,5 more at shoulders) and leather was nothing compare to the one on theire site, look grey, not black and very thick; it was hard and long to be refund and with bad communication because needed 2 weeks to answer a mail!...

So now i search an other one so if you have an idea, even and cheap one let me know

I thinked maybe of an Aero or Simon Bilt but not really found exactly what i search, a fitted one, made with the less pieces of leather possible (on piece back, one piece underarm etc....).

Thanks for your help,

Have a nice weekend

Send you a PM.

 

[Cocker]

What about the Headwind MFG Luftwaffe jacket? http://www.headwindmfg.com/jackets.html

 

[Fanch]

I concur with @Monitor that a LL Corsair or Dominator would likely be the best bet. When I visited the LL store in London a couple of years ago, I was impressed with both models, but as @Peacoat said, LL confirmed to me that the jacket could not be ordered without the LL patch over the left chest pocket. I much prefer a super clean look and think I might have placed an order on the spot if LL would have given me the option of no patch.

At one time Gibson & Barnes also made a decent Luftwaffe repro jacket but discontinued it along with several other jackets. You might find a G&B Luftwaffe jacket on eBay but think your best bet might be to visit LL in London next time you are there.

 

[Cooper A-2]

I concur with @Monitor that a LL Corsair or Dominator would likely be the best bet. When I visited the LL store in London a couple of years ago, I was impressed with both models, but as @Peacoat said, LL confirmed to me that the jacket could not be ordered without the LL patch over the left chest pocket. I much prefer a super clean look and think I might have placed an order on the spot if LL would have given me the option of no patch.

At one time Gibson & Barnes also made a decent Luftwaffe repro jacket but discontinued it along with several other jackets. You might find a G&B Luftwaffe jacket on eBay but think your best bet might be to visit LL in London next time you are there.

 

[Pie & Coffee]

I wish somebody would post a review of the Noble House jacket. They got some bad press here a few years ago but I'd like to hear something more recent. That photo and the price are just so damned tempting. Every so often I go back and look at it and ask myself, "How bad can it be?" (Silly question, I know).

So, mini review, I very briefly(about 3 days) owned one of their Hartmann jackets. They're alright. The leather wasn't great, but it wasn't bad. Most of it was assembled aligned and spaced correctly, but some things were off. I seem to remember it having a very light poly-fill in it, which I was not a fan of. They're cut very loose, and very long, which, I was also not a fan of. If you happened to fall into their size charts, and just had to have a Luftwaffe style jacket, it's an option at least. It's probably around lower level Schott quality, better than fashion jackets, but not as good as the MTO brands.

I always thought if I would go down that type of jacket route again, I'd base it off of a 30s halfbelt like so, I've always thought that it's a very slick look.

 

[Cooper A-2]

Hi all
can help out with this one plus 8 others.
If somebody interested I will list a few of them here.
Thx and best.

 

[Peacoat]

The jackets pictured here are what I think of as the "Hartmann" style Luftwaffe jacket. The other style is the standard Luftwaffe Jacket (with slash pockets), called the Ostmann by Eastman. I think that is a fairly recent designation, as when I bought my Eastman, it was simply known as the Luftwaffe Jacket. I prefer the simpler style without the little button pockets at the bottom front of the jacket.

 

[Cooper A-2]

The jackets pictured here are what I think of as the "Hartmann" style Luftwaffe jacket. The other style is the standard Luftwaffe Jacket (with slash pockets), called the Ostmann by Eastman. I think that is a fairly recent designation, as when I bought my Eastman, it was simply known as the Luftwaffe Jacket. I prefer the simpler style without the little button pockets at the bottom front of the jacket.

Fair enough.
However, only saw WW2 Luftwaffe private purchased jacket photos with Hartmann jackets.
So far I newer saw any WW2 Luftwaffe photos with " Ostmann " like jackets.
Happy to see photos of WW2 "Ostmann" jackets if any available.

 

[ton312]

So, mini review, I very briefly(about 3 days) owned one of their Hartmann jackets. They're alright. The leather wasn't great, but it wasn't bad. Most of it was assembled aligned and spaced correctly, but some things were off. I seem to remember it having a very light poly-fill in it, which I was not a fan of. They're cut very loose, and very long, which, I was also not a fan of. If you happened to fall into their size charts, and just had to have a Luftwaffe style jacket, it's an option at least. It's probably around lower level Schott quality, better than fashion jackets, but not as good as the MTO brands.

I always thought if I would go down that type of jacket route again, I'd base it off of a 30s halfbelt like so, I've always thought that it's a very slick look.

That is a stunning and very unique jacket!

 

[ton312]

Surprised to hear the OP's experience with Pegasus. In my experience the jackets are made right down to numbers and the hides are quite nice. I really like their Luftwaffe pattern. The LL dominator would be my second choice for the style with a slightly more modern feel.
The noble house version looks really cool, certainly affordable in terms of makers discussed around here but by no means inexpensive.
There was a member who posted their black version here, can't remember the maker but it was really exceptional. I searched and searched but couldn't find it.

 

[robrinay]

View attachment 78678 View attachment 78676 View attachment 78675 View attachment 78674 View attachment 78673 View attachment 78672 View attachment 78671 Hi all
can help out with this one plus 8 others.
If somebody interested I will list a few of them here.
Thx and best.

I'm interested

 

[Cooper A-2]

I'm interested

PM sent

 

[tropicalbob]

So, mini review, I very briefly(about 3 days) owned one of their Hartmann jackets. They're alright. The leather wasn't great, but it wasn't bad. Most of it was assembled aligned and spaced correctly, but some things were off. I seem to remember it having a very light poly-fill in it, which I was not a fan of. They're cut very loose, and very long, which, I was also not a fan of. If you happened to fall into their size charts, and just had to have a Luftwaffe style jacket, it's an option at least. It's probably around lower level Schott quality, better than fashion jackets, but not as good as the MTO brands.

I always thought if I would go down that type of jacket route again, I'd base it off of a 30s halfbelt like so, I've always thought that it's a very slick look.

Thanks for a very clear description.

 

[Fanch]

Regarding the Lewis Leathers Corsair and Dominator, as I recall, both use the same pattern, the primary difference being the handwarmer pockets on the Dominator being more vertically oriented than those on the Corsair. For whatever reason the orientation of the handwarmer pockets on the Dominator worked better for me than those on the Corsair.

Although the LL website shows two horizontal chest pockets on the Dominator and none on the Corsair, I was told that one, two, or no chest pockets could be ordered with either model. Also, I found that I much preferred LL's black horsehide over cowhide, and would probably have gone with an olive plain cotton drill lining over their red quilted body shell lining. The only non negotiable factor for LL was the LL patch over the left chest that IMO adversely affected what would have otherwise been a simple, symmetrical understated look.

I still conclude that @Guillaume would be well served to make a trip from France to the LL store in London, the advantage being an opportunity to view a number of fit jackets first hand and then fine tuning exactly what is desired.

 

[SpeedRcrX]

You can try Pegasus leather, they offer their own version of the Luftwaffe jacket and they do custom sizing. I used to own one, they're really well made jackets.

 

[handymike]

My favorite variation is still Rudie's modified Aero 30's HB: