There are plenty of good A-2 jackets out there .... the issue is that they are ( mostly) not what the vast majority of TFL users prefer ... this is a "Golden Era" forum and as such the main preference is Golden Era fit and style ( an issue I have fallen foul of many times with my preference for looser fit jackets and lower crown hats ( even my taste in jeans is much lower rise than many on here )
I had a "Cooper" A2 about 20 years ago and it was a great jacket and at $150 was awesome value for money .. in fact the guy I sold it to is still wearing it and loves it .. so much so he bought one of their G1's as well ( he doesn't really care that the Mouton Collar is actually acrylic).
If you want an A2 current issue jacket these can be picked up for @$200 - 300 and they're decent jackets ..... if you want a stitch accurate replica from JC then that's the thick end of $1200 ...... will it last longer and will Joe Average be able to spot the difference ... probably not. The nerdy guys and gals on here will though ( and I count myself one of those nerds) just as they can spot an Aero at 30 paces and can tell the difference between chrome tanned and veg tanned leather simply by smell ( yes this is a joke )
Enjoy the jacket and ignore the jacket snobbery ..... price may be an indication of quality but it's certainly no guarantee ...... if you like it, wear it .... hard and often
I had a "Cooper" A2 about 20 years ago and it was a great jacket and at $150 was awesome value for money .. in fact the guy I sold it to is still wearing it and loves it .. so much so he bought one of their G1's as well ( he doesn't really care that the Mouton Collar is actually acrylic).
If you want an A2 current issue jacket these can be picked up for @$200 - 300 and they're decent jackets ..... if you want a stitch accurate replica from JC then that's the thick end of $1200 ...... will it last longer and will Joe Average be able to spot the difference ... probably not. The nerdy guys and gals on here will though ( and I count myself one of those nerds) just as they can spot an Aero at 30 paces and can tell the difference between chrome tanned and veg tanned leather simply by smell ( yes this is a joke )
Enjoy the jacket and ignore the jacket snobbery ..... price may be an indication of quality but it's certainly no guarantee ...... if you like it, wear it .... hard and often