Vanson jacket appreciation

[JonS1967]

First of all big thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts and opinion!
Initially the C2 was strongly favored, but then the model E fans came in force haha.

Here are my own thoughts.

Ways in which the C2 is superior to the E in order of importance:
- Quilting is the obvious one. Adds a lot of character and uniqueness to the jacket. It's definitely a one of a kind specimen, I have not managed to dig out a single example on the internet. Definitely a collectors piece as much as it is a very functional indestructible wearing piece. Am I a collector? VERY far from it.
- The leather is deeper and shinier black, which I really love. It also has more character and grain, especially in the upper sleeves. Although the E does have some very nice back panels, which look better than the C2.
- Back length specifically. Believe it or not they are both the same length in the front(where it matters)! C2 has a slight front drop, E has a stronger back drop. The shorter back also kind of increases the bottom hem width which feels nice.
- The wider sleeves do feel a bit more comfortable with thick layering, especially in the elbow area.
- Brass/metal zipper insert pin. Damn Vanson for using plastic ones on most of their jackets including the E!
- Sleeker belt loops.

Ways in which the E is superior to the C2 in order of importance:
- Fit in terms of feel. First of all the E feels MUCH better in the chest, much more open. The C2 kind of crunches me forward a lot more, which is fantastic for riding, but not for my (filthy) casual use. Secondly the snug mid back / waist fit is simply ecstatic for me, feels fantastic - I don't get that with the C2 at all. Thirdly the slimmer and slightly shorter (due to the wear, creasing and no quilts) sleeves feel better. Also because the sleeves on the E are rotated very different than they are on the C2. I don't think I will ever find a jacket that fits my body as well as this model E in terms of feel. Slightly shorter body (especially back) and sleeves would improve it even further though.
- Fit in terms of looks. This is where you folks a lot of disagreement and for good reason - it's so subjective! Apart from the unfortunately longer back the model E wins hands down for me. Slimmer and more form fitting all throughout without sacrificing ANYTHING in terms of mobility and comfort? Sign me up! Sure the hourglass shape of the mid-lower back looking from the side is not ideal, sure the laces might have a bit of corset vibe, sure the tail is not ideal looking from the back and from the side. But overall the E looks much better to me in terms of fit.
- Mouton collar! I removed it to make the comparison more fair and clear, but I'm a real sucker for the mouton on the E. I'm even having a gold-ish mouton made as a replacement/variation for the black one. I'm sure it will look stunning, matching the brass hardware.
- This goes under the first two points but still worth mentioning separately - the side lacing is UNPARALLELED in terms of dialing in the fit, especially for folks like me who have a very slim waist compared to the chest and hips. For example the CHP style lacing would be useless for me.

So it's basically:
quilting + shorter back
VS
better fit in terms of both feel and look excluding longer back (subjective) + mouton + god level mid/lower body adjustment via laces.

I definitely can keep both, the finances do allow me, but I can hardly imagine myself reaching for the C2.

Conclusion : I will be putting up the C2 for sale. Gorgeous and unique piece, but the minimalist in me insists and strictly forbids collecting.

I'll also try to do a post comparing them side by side as I have a unique opportunity as they are both in the same leather and same size.

Cheers!

Personally, I prefer the subtlety different details of the C2. And although they both look great on you, I think the E fits you to perfection.

 

[floater]

Custom Vanson Ike just back from having the lining swapped out. The stock plaid liner (perfect for CW) was binding on my clothes causing the supple Horween Pinnacle horsehide to bunch up. The new satin lining should take care of this. I think it’s a nice shade of red.
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Nice job, was the inside pocket already there or added?

I’m looking at doing the same thing to another jacket.

Where did you get the lining swapped and how much time and cost was it?

 

[TartuWolf]

FYI: I've put the padded C2 up for sale. Really hope some lounger gets it!

 

[JonS1967]

Nice job, was the inside pocket already there or added?

I’m looking at doing the same thing to another jacket.

Where did you get the lining swapped and how much time and cost was it?

The Standard Ike comes with two inside pockets. Vanson kindly replaced the lining as a warranty repair since the stock cotton lining was hanging up on my shirts causing the Pinnacle horsehide to bunch up with it, which wouldn’t happen with their standard (stiffer) leather options. They recommend a satin lining with some added length to remedy the situation. They would have done it for free if I had chosen one of their in stock linings but I wanted red and they only have a quilted lining in red and I was afraid that a quilted lining would be difficult to live with in Southern California. So they recommended a lining manufacturer who they’ve used on another collab and I paid for the material.

 

[Tyler Durden]

It arrived and man this thing is worth every cent. Arms are roomier than I’d like, but I knew this going in. Length is much better than expected. This thing is easily in my top 3 for now.

Ps: It got delivered without my fiancé being here to witness it. For all she knows it’s the same as all my other leathers. Until she asks about it a month from now.

 

[JonS1967]

It arrived and man this thing is worth every cent. Arms are roomier than I’d like, but I knew this going in. Length is much better than expected. This thing is easily in my top 3 for now.

Ps: It got delivered without my fiancé being here to witness it. For all she knows it’s the same as all my other leathers. Until she asks about it a month from now.

That’s a beauty! Congratulations!! I saw your pic in the “What Jacket Are You Wearing Today?” thread. I’d say you hit a home run!

 

[JonS1967]

Finally got some much needed rain in SoCal so of course I changed out of my pajamas to take a walk in my new jacket. My son thinks I’m even crazier than ever… haha. But I think the rain made a difference. The creases in the sleeves are more pronounced and the jacket has a slightly better sheen now. The Pinnacle horsehide definitely behaves differently than my steer hide CXL jackets. The brass hardware is also starting to mellow out a bit. I’m thrilled with this jacket.

 

[Herrvallmo]

It arrived and man this thing is worth every cent. Arms are roomier than I’d like, but I knew this going in. Length is much better than expected. This thing is easily in my top 3 for now.

Ps: It got delivered without my fiancé being here to witness it. For all she knows it’s the same as all my other leathers. Until she asks about it a month from now.

Looks amazing on you mate! a really nice find

 

[unhatted]

My Model E just made it here from Japan (via Juno)! I’ve wanted one of these for ages—my love of side lace cross-zips is well-documented on here and I’ve always wanted to try a Vanson so this was basically inevitable. Recent discussions in this thread have hyped the E even further so it has a lot to live up to and I’m pleased to say it mostly does!

The good:

Fit and fit customisation. The length, shoulders and sleeves are all bang on where I’d want them (I have an Als for when I want something very short!). The side laces allow for cusomisation of the chest, waist and hips. In my case, being pretty I-shaped, that doesn’t require much from the laces—if anything they are drawing in more at the top. Does the cut look as athletic on me as on some people? Absolutely not, but this is a testament to how effectively the laces tailor the torso shape. If I were to hit the gym more the jacket would accomodate it (I will not)!

Leather is great. I’m guessing this is comp weight? It’s certainly my heaviest jacket, coming in at almost double my Schott 125. A 64000 serial places this in the mid-2000s so it might be the less desirable later production but no complaints from me.

Details all look ‘right' to my eye. I love Schott cross-zips, and occasionally regret seling my 90s 618, but for me the bigger lapels, muted brass hardware and removable belt all work to create a jacket that to my eye looks more like my platonic ideal of the coin-pocket and epaulettes/perfecto style cross-zip. I thought I’d immedietly chuck the belt in storage but the big gold buckle is FUN, and the faux mouton is hugely usable for me (though why neither vanson or schott use real mouton I will never understand). Inside (normal) pocket is much better than schott’s.

The bad:

It has the leather lined gun pocket. Not only do I have no use for this (anything else would get lost inside) I feel like it makes the jacket slightly less trim and formfitting. Pointless trade-off for my purposes!

It has had the centre-zip replaced with a 2 way YKK. While this is good in some respects (no fraying insertion pin, no plastic parts) and has been done very well, I never use these so they just add bulk. Worse still, it has inexplicably been installed with the pulls on the left, UK style (as on my Lightning).

Both sleeve zips pop open. This is odd, given the jacket is otherwise in great condition and there are no signs of damge to the zips, but the teeth pop open below the zipper pull if I shut it beyond the first inch or so. This is unfortubate as the sleeves are too wide to wear open, however t appears to hold the sleeve shut ok, but is obviusly not idea. Is this a known problem and is there any fix short of a zip replacement?

While this zip quirks are annoying, I will probably live with them. I knew I was rolling the dice buying via proxy from yahoo auctions (from a seller with zero feedback) but its so hard to get one in my size in the UK I figured it was worth a shot, and overall I’m happy with how it has worked out!

Ask me again if/when a customs invoice arrives in the post(!)

 

[Eagledog]

Squeeze the top and bottom of the zipper pull together. The gap is too big from being tugged sideways. That's why the teeth aren't locked together.

 

[Herrvallmo]

My Model E just made it here from Japan (via Juno)! I’ve wanted one of these for ages—my love of side lace cross-zips is well-documented on here and I’ve always wanted to try a Vanson so this was basically inevitable. Recent discussions in this thread have hyped the E even further so it has a lot to live up to and I’m pleased to say it mostly does!

View attachment 677218 View attachment 677222 View attachment 677219 View attachment 677220

The good:

Fit and fit customisation. The length, shoulders and sleeves are all bang on where I’d want them (I have an Als for when I want something very short!). The side laces allow for cusomisation of the chest, waist and hips. In my case, being pretty I-shaped, that doesn’t require much from the laces—if anything they are drawing in more at the top. Does the cut look as athletic on me as on some people? Absolutely not, but this is a testament to how effectively the laces tailor the torso shape. If I were to hit the gym more the jacket would accomodate it (I will not)!

Leather is great. I’m guessing this is comp weight? It’s certainly my heaviest jacket, coming in at almost double my Schott 125. A 64000 serial places this in the mid-2000s so it might be the less desirable later production but no complaints from me.

Details all look ‘right' to my eye. I love Schott cross-zips, and occasionally regret seling my 90s 618, but for me the bigger lapels, muted brass hardware and removable belt all work to create a jacket that to my eye looks more like my platonic ideal of the coin-pocket and epaulettes/perfecto style cross-zip. I thought I’d immedietly chuck the belt in storage but the big gold buckle is FUN, and the faux mouton is hugely usable for me (though why neither vanson or schott use real mouton I will never understand). Inside (normal) pocket is much better than schott’s.

The bad:

It has the leather lined gun pocket. Not only do I have no use for this (anything else would get lost inside) I feel like it makes the jacket slightly less trim and formfitting. Pointless trade-off for my purposes!

It has had the centre-zip replaced with a 2 way YKK. While this is good in some respects (no fraying insertion pin, no plastic parts) and has been done very well, I never use these so they just add bulk. Worse still, it has inexplicably been installed with the pulls on the left, UK style (as on my Lightning).

Both sleeve zips pop open. This is odd, given the jacket is otherwise in great condition and there are no signs of damge to the zips, but the teeth pop open below the zipper pull if I shut it beyond the first inch or so. This is unfortubate as the sleeves are too wide to wear open, however t appears to hold the sleeve shut ok, but is obviusly not idea. Is this a known problem and is there any fix short of a zip replacement?

View attachment 677221

While this zip quirks are annoying, I will probably live with them. I knew I was rolling the dice buying via proxy from yahoo auctions (from a seller with zero feedback) but its so hard to get one in my size in the UK I figured it was worth a shot, and overall I’m happy with how it has worked out!

Ask me again if/when a customs invoice arrives in the post(!)

Awesome write-up mate, and the jacket looks great on you! a nice find

Cheers!

 

[unhatted]

Just heard back that this is a standard Model E from May 2003. Would that make the leather the good stuff or no?

Also, I just measured the jacket and to my surprise every measurement (shoulders, chest, hem, length, sleeves) was within 1cm of the 90s 618 I recently sold. As you can see, the effect is very different:

Squeeze the top and bottom of the zipper pull together. The gap is too big from being tugged sideways. That's why the teeth aren't locked together.

Amazing, thank you. I’m having trouble visualising exactly what this means and the search isn’t throwing anything up. Do you have an image of this process?

 

[Eagledog]

If you look at the zipper pull from the side it has a small space to clear the fabric that is next to the teeth. That space is a little bit too wide. Instead of pushing the teeth into each other to lock it let's the teeth ride on top of each other so they never lock in. You can squeeze it a bit or tap it with a hammer. So you end up with a small parallel gap along the side of the pull.

 

[dannyk]

Just heard back that this is a standard Model E from May 2003. Would that make the leather the good stuff or no?

Also, I just measured the jacket and to my surprise every measurement (shoulders, chest, hem, length, sleeves) was within 1cm of the 90s 618 I recently sold. As you can see, the effect is very different:

View attachment 677237 View attachment 677238



Amazing, thank you. I’m having trouble visualising exactly what this means and the search isn’t throwing anything up. Do you have an image of this process?

"The Good Stuff" is all in the eye of the beholder. It falls within range of the usually considered good batches of CW. Heavy but ages gracefully. But really its up to you. If you like it/love it thats all that matters since its your baby now. All I can say is it fits you great and looks beautiful in the photos.

 

[JonS1967]

Just heard back that this is a standard Model E from May 2003. Would that make the leather the good stuff or no?

Also, I just measured the jacket and to my surprise every measurement (shoulders, chest, hem, length, sleeves) was within 1cm of the 90s 618 I recently sold. As you can see, the effect is very different:

View attachment 677237 View attachment 677238



Amazing, thank you. I’m having trouble visualising exactly what this means and the search isn’t throwing anything up. Do you have an image of this process?

Looks awesome on you! Congrats! Vanson offers both faux and real mouton collars. You can order a mouton collar from them if you don't like the faux fur.

 

[TartuWolf]

@unhatted
Even though the sides laces don't do much for you I think the jacket still looks fantastic!
I think you might come to like the two-way zipper with time.
The gun pocket is rather unfortunate, yeah, but it doesn't bother me much.
Hope you manage to get the sleeve zippers sorted out with some plyers, shouldn't be difficult.
The leathers looks pretty nice, very similar to mine.
Interesting that Vanson sells both faux and real mouton collars. I'm waiting for my gold-ish mouton collar to be finished, can't wait to see how it looks.
Congratulations!
Enjoy and welcome to the Model E club
I think there's at least 3-4 of us here on TFL.

 

[Tom71]

@unhatted
Even though the sides laces don't do much for you I think the jacket still looks fantastic!
I think you might come to like the two-way zipper with time.
The gun pocket is rather unfortunate, yeah, but it doesn't bother me much.
Hope you manage to get the sleeve zippers sorted out with some plyers, shouldn't be difficult.
The leathers looks pretty nice, very similar to mine.
Interesting that Vanson sells both faux and real mouton collars. I'm waiting for my gold-ish mouton collar to be finished, can't wait to see how it looks.
Congratulations!
Enjoy and welcome to the Model E club
I think there's at least 3-4 of us here on TFL.

I think there will be more than ten in that club.

With @ton312 as the all-time honorary president as he alone burnt through at least ten E’s all by himself.

 

[TartuWolf]

I think there will be more than ten in that club.

With @ton312 as the all-time honorary president as he alone burnt through at least ten E’s all by himself.

Don't think he has a single one anymore though. He just takes a style, reaches peak fit and look with it and moves on. Kind of like taking a sport, becoming the best at it, getting bored and switching to another sport.

 

[ton312]

The only one I truly regret selling is the gray one.

That was a killer jacket and one I’d definitely still wear.

 

[Tom71]

Last sunday with my E. I rarely get to make photos as it’s my go to when the weather is absolutely awful and the light dim.

Still gets a ton of wear, and I’m still grateful to @Peter Mackin for selling it to me. And for him that he did find a replacement.