Vanson jacket appreciation

[JonS1967]

View attachment 688059

24 hours on and looking better and better. The leather treatment has been absorbed well.

Looks great! Definitely better than when you got it. Which product brought the shine back?

 

[Bawheid]

The Aoudy leather conditioning cream, the one with the wee kangaroo logo.

PS no kangaroos were even slightly inconvenienced by the making of this leather conditioner !

Nor by the application of the same...

All that "Eco Friendly" bollox gives me the warm fuzzies

 

[JonS1967]

The Aoudy leather conditioning cream, the one with the wee kangaroo logo.

PS no kangaroos were even slightly inconvenienced by the making of this leather conditioner !

Nor by the application of the same...

All that "Eco Friendly" bollox gives me the warm fuzzies


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Thanks for the info. Eco friendly hopefully also means jacket friendly. Does the shine last or does the leather return to its natural sheen quickly?

 

[unhatted]

Still don’t know what they’re called but I got one! Based on low SN and all metal talon zips I think it’s mid-late 80s (unless it’s a custom order serial) but it has not been worn much. There is not much of a discernible crease to the lapels and indeed the design seems to work well fully zipped.

It’s a 38 and I’m 36-38 but figured it would work based on measurements. The sleeves and shoulders are a bit bulky, but there’s no gussets so I don’t think I’d have much manoeuvrability in a 36! I’m pretty stoked with it. I’ve always loved minimalist DR designs and this is a pretty great expression of the form, much better to my eye than the custom C2s with deletions. The vertical pockets are unusual but really make sense. Back seam haters will be perplexed to see the vertical back seam has been replaced with… a horizontal yoke!

 

[TartuWolf]

@unhatted
Oooh, that looks very nice! And fits you extremely well from the photos. You can't have both slim/sleek and mobile without gussets so it's always a trade off. Wish it had brass hardware, but you can't have everything! Congratulations on scoring a very unique Vanson

 

[Khilij]

Vanson Commando before a night out. Really enjoying this jacket.

 

[JonS1967]

Still don’t know what they’re called but I got one! Based on low SN and all metal talon zips I think it’s mid-late 80s (unless it’s a custom order serial) but it has not been worn much. There is not much of a discernible crease to the lapels and indeed the design seems to work well fully zipped.

View attachment 688132 View attachment 688133 View attachment 688134

It’s a 38 and I’m 36-38 but figured it would work based on measurements. The sleeves and shoulders are a bit bulky, but there’s no gussets so I don’t think I’d have much manoeuvrability in a 36! I’m pretty stoked with it. I’ve always loved minimalist DR designs and this is a pretty great expression of the form, much better to my eye than the custom C2s with deletions. The vertical pockets are unusual but really make sense. Back seam haters will be perplexed to see the vertical back seam has been replaced with… a horizontal yoke!

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What an awesome jacket! You could contact Vanson with the serial number and they can tell you exactly what model and when it was made. I’d be curious to know what model that is.

 

[Bawheid]

Thanks for the info. Eco friendly hopefully also means jacket friendly. Does the shine last or does the leather return to its natural sheen quickly?

The shine is lasting thus far and will probably continue to do so from past experience with other jackets.
That was after a dry towel buffing to remove any excess still liquid leather treatment.
The jacket is still hanging outside being moved between the under cover patio and full sun at times.

I am amazed at how similar in style this is to the Schott Vandals limited release jacket.

 

[JonS1967]

The shine is lasting thus far and will probably continue to do so from past experience with other jackets.
That was after a dry towel buffing to remove any excess still liquid leather treatment.
The jacket is still hanging outside being moved between the under cover patio and full sun at times.

I am amazed at how similar in style this is to the Schott Vandals limited release jacket.

Do you have fit pics?

 

[unhatted]

Wish it had brass hardware, but you can't have everything! Congratulations on scoring a very unique Vanson

Thanks! And me too usually but actually there’s so little hardware I don’t mind. This is honestly almost exactly the jacket I joined this site to find—a good quality DR without all the epaulettes, belt, zips and pockets (that wasn’t the older aviator style). Subsequently of course my tastes have changed and I enjoy all kids of DRs but it’s nice to fulfil the original plan!

I’d be curious to know what model that is.

Ok so I haven’t had much luck emailing Vanson lately, I just called and spoke to someone very helpful who ran the numbers and found… nothing. Apparently this can happen with older jackets. She said she would ask Mike, so I’ve sent a photo—will let you know.

Also, it appears to have leather-lined armpits?!!! Is that a thing?

Finally, some gratuitous better-lit grain photos. Whenever I’m feeling OCD about mismatched panels I think about how much FCL charge for them!

 

[unhatted]

I’m afraid Mike was not able to shed much light: “His estimate is sometime during the 1990's. Since we can't find anything in our computer files under that unit number it makes it really difficult to give an exact manufacture date.”

I thought it was earlier due to the early 14000s serial, but the fact that a one off custom of these was produced for a 93-94 Aerosmith tour suggests he’s right. I suspect that’s as far as I’m going to get on an ID….

 

[Bawheid]

Do you have fit pics?

Too shy shy, hush ush eye do eye....apologies to kajagogoo

 

[Peter Mackin]

Too shy shy, hush ush eye do eye....apologies to kajagogoo

I knew you reminded me of someone,,,,,,

 

[Bawheid]

Any similarity between me and that wacky dude are purely identical, sorry coincidental !

 

[JonS1967]

I wasn’t sure where to post this, or if I should even post this at all. I’m curious if anyone has used Fiebing’s Leather Sheen. I was hoping this Pinnacle Horsehide would have a bit more sheen to it but I’m not sure if applying any product for this purpose is a good idea. I don’t want to compromise the leather or end up with something that looks like crap. Here’s my jacket.

And this is what I’m hoping to achieve.

 

[Bawheid]

I have used this before, supermarket avaiable. Gives a real shine to the jacket once done.



Not on a Vanson tho' but it did give other quality jackets

a good as new shine

 

[torfjord]

Vanson is doing 10 % off this week. Time for some serious jacket shopping!

 

[Cortexas]

Just received my custom modified model B. No windflap, double angled chest pockets, buco collar, no back center seam. It’s in Thurstons black Olympia steer hide. It’s a beautiful veg tanned hide but still very thick and heavy.

 

[Will Zach]

^^
Nice!

 

[JonS1967]

Just received my custom modified model B. No windflap, double angled chest pockets, buco collar, no back center seam. It’s in Thurstons black Olympia steer hide. It’s a beautiful veg tanned hide but still very thick and heavy.

Incredible! Well done!