Since I had recently been digging for pics of the various repro makers and read the thread of others engaged in the same effort, I have taken a few quick shots of my current lineup for reference.
I'd invite anyone else to fill in the gaps so that we have a good cross section of what is available and originals are welcome as well as repros.
First, my 2004 Issue jacket from the Naval Supply in Pensacola (had to turn in my old one and get a letter from my mommy...erm, I mean my skipper...to get it). The label says Pharr Industries. A good, tough jacket, but kind of vinyl in appearance. You can see that there are relatively few character folds in the leather. It's almost like thick cloth. It's also interestingly sized at 48, though I had previously worn a 44 and now wear a 46 comfortably. My previous jacket, issued in '92, was better. It had a nicer grain closer to the Gibson and Barnes shown below (though not nearly as high quality) and was just a bit thinner than any of the good repro makers. Dynel collars on both, of course.
Next, a Gibson and Barnes M-422A (circa 1997) customized with the rounded G-1 collar and double knit cuffs/waistband so that it didn't stick out like MORE of a sore thumb around the squadron. Actually, many pilots had custom G-1s made, (generally overseas) though they mostly hewed closer in color at least to the standard G-1. They also didn't come close to the G+B in quality. The leather is beautifully grained, substantial, but supple. The mouton collar is a great shade that matches the more russet color of the leather perfectly. Importantly, the cut is trim and military like the issue jackets and unlike the current G+B G-1 which is very roomy. This one is a size 44. One thing to note is that G+B was/is pretty generous in their collar size. Not like '70's big, but bigger than any of my other G-1s and thus rounder.
Lastly is my recently acquired Eastman G-1. This one was a bit of a surprise. The jacket is traditionally made (I'm led to understand) and comes out of the box pretty stiff. In fact, at first I was a little concerned that the jacket would maintain that almost pleather appearance found on those much hated pebbled cowhide jackets that the flight students tried to dodge in Pensacola. As I didn't have the heart to use any of the traditional break in methods with this jacket that I have used on my other jackets, the first folds, particularly in the back, looked a little odd at the time.
However, after a few weeks of wearing the heck out of the jacket and not being afraid to work up a good sweat in it, it has started to show some real richness and character. The mouton is worth special note. It at first appears to be simply a great shade of matching brown. But, like a hand made lamb's wool rug, the mouton will change color a bit in different lighting. It's a great effect that may fade as the wool breaks in, but I think it really shows the beauty of the material. The leather is now similarly complex in its shading, ranging from a deep brown to almost a dark reddish mahogany in the light. The texture is a bit hard to describe. It looks incredibly soft and well broken in in photos....especially in the HPA website pics. But when you touch the skin, it still feels tough as nails; though no longer pleathery. Any other leather that started this stiff would have denoted relatively low quality to me. But this one just gets better every day.
Overall a great jacket and better looking at three weeks than any jacket I've ever owned.
Here is a bonus shot of the Eastman back when it was newer. Those big folds were more or less permanent even when you laid the jacket down. Since that time, however, the whole jacket has become much more pliable and the odd folds have blended in somewhat.
I'd love to see anyone else's G-1s real or repro along with what you thought of them. I'm thinking of a true M-422a for my next acquisition and I'd love to see pics of what's out there!
Deacon
I'd invite anyone else to fill in the gaps so that we have a good cross section of what is available and originals are welcome as well as repros.
First, my 2004 Issue jacket from the Naval Supply in Pensacola (had to turn in my old one and get a letter from my mommy...erm, I mean my skipper...to get it). The label says Pharr Industries. A good, tough jacket, but kind of vinyl in appearance. You can see that there are relatively few character folds in the leather. It's almost like thick cloth. It's also interestingly sized at 48, though I had previously worn a 44 and now wear a 46 comfortably. My previous jacket, issued in '92, was better. It had a nicer grain closer to the Gibson and Barnes shown below (though not nearly as high quality) and was just a bit thinner than any of the good repro makers. Dynel collars on both, of course.
Next, a Gibson and Barnes M-422A (circa 1997) customized with the rounded G-1 collar and double knit cuffs/waistband so that it didn't stick out like MORE of a sore thumb around the squadron. Actually, many pilots had custom G-1s made, (generally overseas) though they mostly hewed closer in color at least to the standard G-1. They also didn't come close to the G+B in quality. The leather is beautifully grained, substantial, but supple. The mouton collar is a great shade that matches the more russet color of the leather perfectly. Importantly, the cut is trim and military like the issue jackets and unlike the current G+B G-1 which is very roomy. This one is a size 44. One thing to note is that G+B was/is pretty generous in their collar size. Not like '70's big, but bigger than any of my other G-1s and thus rounder.
Lastly is my recently acquired Eastman G-1. This one was a bit of a surprise. The jacket is traditionally made (I'm led to understand) and comes out of the box pretty stiff. In fact, at first I was a little concerned that the jacket would maintain that almost pleather appearance found on those much hated pebbled cowhide jackets that the flight students tried to dodge in Pensacola. As I didn't have the heart to use any of the traditional break in methods with this jacket that I have used on my other jackets, the first folds, particularly in the back, looked a little odd at the time.
However, after a few weeks of wearing the heck out of the jacket and not being afraid to work up a good sweat in it, it has started to show some real richness and character. The mouton is worth special note. It at first appears to be simply a great shade of matching brown. But, like a hand made lamb's wool rug, the mouton will change color a bit in different lighting. It's a great effect that may fade as the wool breaks in, but I think it really shows the beauty of the material. The leather is now similarly complex in its shading, ranging from a deep brown to almost a dark reddish mahogany in the light. The texture is a bit hard to describe. It looks incredibly soft and well broken in in photos....especially in the HPA website pics. But when you touch the skin, it still feels tough as nails; though no longer pleathery. Any other leather that started this stiff would have denoted relatively low quality to me. But this one just gets better every day.
Overall a great jacket and better looking at three weeks than any jacket I've ever owned.
Here is a bonus shot of the Eastman back when it was newer. Those big folds were more or less permanent even when you laid the jacket down. Since that time, however, the whole jacket has become much more pliable and the odd folds have blended in somewhat.
I'd love to see anyone else's G-1s real or repro along with what you thought of them. I'm thinking of a true M-422a for my next acquisition and I'd love to see pics of what's out there!
Deacon
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