Schott x Shinki Jacket

[SilverKast]

I think it looks good! I mean, it's brand new, hide seems substantial but I can tell that with just a little wear, it's going to end up looking great. Really nice simple, classic jacket. You definitely need to shape the collar, though. Give it some time, the jacket looks really promising!

Exactly this. It's brand new out of the box so it just needs to be worn in before it has a nice fit to it. I find nothing wrong with it so far and it's right in line with my expectations so I don't have any issue with it at all so far.

 

[58panheadfan]

Here it is against my Iron Heart:

This photo clearly shows there are poles apart the different shinki leathers, not just between this two!

 

[58panheadfan]

I'm going to be honest, that Fine Creek does absolutely nothing for me. To be brutally honest, I have not been impressed by ANYTHING that they have released. I do not think the designs are interesting at all...

I like their "Harris" and "Buckland" designs... of course just copies, but nice transformed. The leather question is another...

 

[El Marro]

This photo clearly shows there are poles apart the different shinki leathers, not just between this two!

I had the same thought when I saw that photo. I own a Simmons Bilt J-100 that was made from black Shinki during the time that they were offering that leather. It looks quite similar to the horsehide on this Schott jacket, a heavy top coat without much grain showing through. While a bit boring out of the box, it is by no means a bad leather. It has a wonderful drape and a soft hand and the promise of grain and character to come if only one puts in the time to break it in properly.

 

[AeroFan_07]

The A2 comment really is so accurate. The modern repros are in most cases 100xs better quality than anything made during the war. People have to remember they needed huge mass quantities of these things made as quickly as possible. They had a bare minimum standard not a maximum quality standard. Still the norm today with companies who make mil-spec jackets and gear. That often means bare bones. Simply meeting small criteria. Does it keep you warm, does it zip up? Nothing gets in the way? Ok make it. I’ve noticed a lot of people take mil-spec to mean superior and often as I said it just means it gets the job done and that’s it. You’ll be getting exactly what you pay for in those cases. Nothing more.

This is a really important comment to keep in mind. Having handled & tried on an original A2 from WWII, full patina, torn cuffs, etc, it was still keeping going but it really was just that - a quickly/cheaply made goatskin jacket with the bare minimum of features and "fancies". Simple cotton lining, stiching that was sturdy but in no way fancy, with goatskin that still kept up it's appearance and would protect. It was also around ~55 years old when I was blessed to handle it. It had huge historical value - and is part of a permant collection a professor of mine owned. However taken as a jacket itself, it was nowhere near the quality of the ones we "catch & release" here on a regular basis. We are indeed in a golden age of this hobby.

 

[dannyk]

This is a really important comment to keep in mind. Having handled & tried on an original A2 from WWII, full patina, torn cuffs, etc, it was still keeping going but it really was just that - a quickly/cheaply made goatskin jacket with the bare minimum of features and "fancies". Simple cotton lining, stiching that was sturdy but in no way fancy, with goatskin that still kept up it's appearance and would protect. It was also around ~55 years old when I was blessed to handle it. It had huge historical value - and is part of a permant collection a professor of mine owned. However taken as a jacket itself, it was nowhere near the quality of the ones we "catch & release" here on a regular basis. We are indeed in a golden age of this hobby.

Exactly. Mil-spec whether vintage or current just gets the job done. Nothing wrong with any of them; but nothing “good, extra, or fancy.” The ones that get tossed around here or even ones we think of as lesser quality are probably still better than those originals.

 

[58panheadfan]

I had the same thought when I saw that photo. I own a Simmons Bilt J-100 that was made from black Shinki during the time that they were offering that leather. It looks quite similar to the horsehide on this Schott jacket, a heavy top coat without much grain showing through. While a bit boring out of the box, it is by no means a bad leather. It has a wonderful drape and a soft hand and the promise of grain and character to come if only one puts in the time to break it in properly.

From what I read and handled... RMC & FW takes the premium stuff.

 

[Carlos840]

This photo clearly shows there are poles apart the different shinki leathers, not just between this two!

+1,

As i said above, not all Shinki is equal...
Compared to FW Shinki:

Or RMC shinki:

Or even Diamond Dave Shinki:

All these IMO look nicer than the Schott offering, it's pretty much night and day...
But hey, people see Shinki and they are happy!

 

[red devil]

+1,
All these IMO look nicer than the Schott offering, it's pretty much night and day...
But hey, people see Shinki and they are happy!

The power of marketing...

There is a reason why small makers don't have good things to say about Shinki I guess.

 

[Carlos840]

And then to illustrate the reason why i don't think that shinki is that unique:

Not shinki:

Still not shinki:

And no Shinki again:

Leather doesn't have to be Shinki to look great...

 

[dannyk]

And then to illustrate the reason why i don't think that shinki is that unique:

Not shinki:

Still not shinki:

And no Shinki again:

Leather doesn't have to be Shinki to look great...

Yup! To my point way back here. Shinki is great. But tons of leathers are great. When we get to the top tier makers they are all using really great stuff. From all over the world. And the best tanners like Shinki make all sorts of different leathers at different levels. There’s all sorts of good stuff out there.

 

[red devil]

Yup! To my point way back here. Shinki is great. But tons of leathers are great. When we get to the top tier makers they are all using really great stuff. From all over the world. And the best tanners like Shinki make all sorts of different leathers at different levels. There’s all sorts of good stuff out there.

It has been my experience as well, once you get to a certain level, you're in a good place

 

[diabel]

Yup! To my point way back here. Shinki is great. But tons of leathers are great. When we get to the top tier makers they are all using really great stuff. From all over the world. And the best tanners like Shinki make all sorts of different leathers at different levels. There’s all sorts of good stuff out there.

So which tanneries offer as good or better product than Shinki? I'll start off by saying Ogawa for cordovan leather.

 

[Marc mndt]

So which tanneries offer as good or better product than Shinki? I'll start off by saying Ogawa for cordovan leather.

There is no such thing as the best leather. Yes there is good and bad quality leather. But you can't say one 'premium' quality leather is better than the other 'premium' quality leather. It's simply a matter of preference.

 

[El Marro]

I don’t think it is a worthwhile endeavor to argue anyone makes “better” leather than Shinki, but I would gladly except the idea that there are other tanneries who are their equal when it comes to producing top quality leather. Horween in Chicago and the Victoria Tannery in Italy to name a couple. The Comipel Tannery, also in Italy, makes a natural horsehide that is one of the nicest leathers I have ever seen. Both Aero and SB have used it and it is on my shortlist of must-have leathers.

 

[diabel]

There is no such thing as the best leather. Yes there is good and bad quality leather. But you can't say one 'premium' quality leather is better than the other 'premium' quality leather. It's simply a matter of preference.

Yes, at certain point it is a matter of the preference. But I hear that the raw hides like all other raw materials are graded and sold based on imperfections, etc. Also the level of processing is important. E.g. simple quick chrome tanning is not equivalent to chrome tanning process in the leather used by Hermes. So when you combine the best raw hide and the best tanning process you get the best leather. You know you can get Porsche 911 or you can get Hyundai Sonata. Is Porsche 911 better than Sonata. Maybe or Maybe not. So let's say Shinki is like Porsche 911. I'm looking for other high end producers (of garment leather) like Ferrari, Lamborghini, etc. I'd like to learn who they are.

 

[diabel]

I don’t think it is a worthwhile endeavor to argue anyone makes “better” leather than Shinki, but I would gladly except the idea that there are other tanneries who are their equal when it comes to producing top quality leather. Horween in Chicago and the Victoria Tannery in Italy to name a couple. The Comipel Tannery, also in Italy, makes a natural horsehide that is one of the nicest leathers I have ever seen. Both Aero and SB have used it and it is on my shortlist of must-have leathers.

I'll check out Comipel. thx

 

[Marc mndt]

Yes, at certain point it is a matter of the preference. But I hear that the raw hides like all other raw materials are graded and sold based on imperfections, etc. Also the level of processing is important. E.g. simple quick chrome tanning is not equivalent to chrome tanning process in the leather used by Hermes. So when you combine the best raw hide and the best tanning process you get the best leather. You know you can get Porsche 911 or you can get Hyundai Sonata. Is Porsche 911 better than Sonata. Maybe or Maybe not. So let's say Shinki is like Porsche 911. I'm looking for other high end producers (of garment leather) like Ferrari, Lamborghini, etc. I'd like to learn who they are.

https://www.pellealvegetale.it
20 Italian tanneries (Tuscany region) which all produce great vegetable tanned leather. One of them is badalassi Carlo.

 

[diabel]

https://www.pellealvegetale.it
20 Italian tanneries (Tuscany region) which all produce great vegetable tanned leather. One of them is badalassi Carlo.

Thanks!

 

[steve u]