Pondering the giant quality disparities of the Schott 184SM (and the assorted others)

[Bluechel]

I just bought off e bay this size 48. Great Jacket has original zip in/out Liner. Style 502 only made in year 1986.

AWESOME! Wasn't the 46 I just sent you also a 502?

 

[PeterRocco]

AWESOME! Wasn't the 46 I just sent you also a 502?

So the only thing is I have zippers on the side you have buckles. Have to check one of the pockets will have a tag telling the style number.

 

[PeterRocco]

I've got a couple versions of these. Amazing jackets especially for the money ($100-200 range). I'd say even bigger bang for buck than the usual Brooks/Kehoe/Fidelity, etc. but that's my subjective take.

The difference in the two I have is one is clearly a 100 series Schott leather, i.e. naked, full aniline, etc. and the other is more of a 600 series leather, more top coat heavy but will evolve to something really nice with time. So some of what you're talking about is the naming convention because I believe the name tag in the liner generically calls them all 184 SM or something like that, but the tag in the pocket (when they have them) may be categorized as its own series (100 vs 600 series leather, zip out fury liner, detachable fuzzy collar, bi swing no bi swing, etc.).

The 100 series is going to feel "best" to most every day people. But there's pros/cons just like anything else.

First comparison that jumped in my head is Vanson "comp" weight. Lots of variations over the years and some strong opinions about which are best, etc. But the model doesn't change i.e. an Enfield is clearly an Enfield. Whereas one of these so called 184sm have a wide range of looks and options. And in Vanson's case, it's more about changing out tanneries and probably the reason why the leather changes. With Schott, I think it's more about 100 vs 600 leather.

Like all things Schott, I think at new prices they're probably not worth it (but that's true for all jacket makers in my opinion). But like most Schotts, in the secondary market, Schotts hit above weight, again in my opinion, and that's for either the 100 or 600 series leather. You can regularly get $800-1000 price new Perfectos for $300-500. And on these A2 style jacket, they're commonly found in the $100 and even sub $100 range, albeit, pretty beat up.

Not trying to turn this into a look what I got for sale takeover, but I have some notes about the 2 jackets and leathers styles in my classified posts. I wouldn't say one is better than the other, but they're certainly different to the touch and how they evolve.

Edit: The 164 size 42 is 100 series leather. Very soft, feels "best", but you can see the con of it having picked up salt stains. The undetermined model size 38/40 is 600 series leather. Not as soft, but tough as nails and has it's own evolution.


https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/schott-flight-jacket-2-size-38-40.107428/#post-2925669
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/schott-flight-jacket-164sm-size-42.107427/#post-2925668

What a great review. Thank You for posting.