What should I buy: New custom Kelso A2 or Like New Aero/ELC A2?

[bretron]

Hopefully Andy can get enough orders in to help booster his country's depressed economy. One flight at a time (glad to do my part!)

 

[bretron]

Hopefully Andy can get enough orders in to help booster his country's depressed economy. One flight at a time (glad to do my part!)

 

[bretron]

Hopefully I stop posting the same msg over and over again

 

[Guam USA]

Bretron:

Did you get your jacket? And where are the pics!

 

[ButteMT61]

OK, I got an A2 Kelso that I purchased for a friend that was looking for a jacket. It's a size too small for me, but I tried it on with a T-shirt and took some pics to get some Kelso action up. It feels tight, but in looking at the pics (which sorry, aren't great) many folks wear jackets this way. Not sure I can hang with it, but then again, I haven't shown my buddy the jacket yet So, here it is, and I'll say this, it's no Aero or GW, but solidly a nice jacket. The hide reminds me of LW (my son has a FQHH LW) and I'd say with some weathering, would be wonderful. No doubt this is a solid middle-level jacket. Much nicer than others in the same price range. Here's the pics, and again, it's not really made for me, but maybe if I lose 10 more pounds lol

 

[bretron]

Butte, that looks spot on fit wise to me! Too tight in arms/chest?

Also, to help me/others out, would you min describing what it is about the quality that downgrades it from other makers? Is it the epaulet construction, hardware, hide, etc?

I ask because there hasn't been any really solid jacket review of a Kelso that I can find here, VLJ or elsewhere (people say they like or dont like them, but fall short of saying why )

But to yours picked- I think you should keep it

Thx for sharing!

 

[ButteMT61]

@ bretron: The chest and armholes are too tight, as well as the shoulders. Like I said, in a T-shirt, it's not bad. And if I drop 5-lbs of the holiday fat I gained, it might be OK.
It's hard to say what makes it less than the others. You know it when you see it. If you take every aspect of a jacket, from the hide to the cut to the stitching, etc., and give it a number from 1-10, you add up the total. In a GW for example, you'll end up with a 9.5+ jacket from what I see/read/hear.
An Aero might pull a 8.5+.
A Kelso a 7.5, etc.
A Cockpit or Schott might pull 7.
Not numerically huge, but the sum of the parts all add up to separate them quite clearly. All good jackets, some superb.

Now I want to be clear, it's a very nice jacket. You won't see that many around. The hide is nice. It's a good solid thickness and squeaks a lot
The plan for me was to lose the weight and go back to the gym. I used to be bigger and had more muscle-mass. I haven't worked out with weights in ~6-7 years, and just got flabby. Now that I lost the weight, I'm just skinny!
I could probably wear this jacket and wet it a bit to stretch it out over time. We'll see. I'm just about to finalize my GW order (RW 27752) so that's what I'm focusing on. All in all, I recommend the Keslo as a solid player, albeit not at the upper-tier (yet)

 

[bretron]

Cheers, man. Appreciate your input. And good lookin out on your pending GW RW- ahhh yeah! (unfortunately I'm in the dad/breadwinner of the house and can't scrap up enough at this point in my life for a made to order GW or ELC. But I'll gladly go with the Kelso. Btw, is this one for your buddy a house Kelso or one o their RWs? I know Andy and Platon have been working their tails off on better leather and hardware suppliers. Maybe their line will reach the 9 out of 10 mark in due time (sure JC took a few runs to get his brand to the point it is now, right?).

 

[ButteMT61]

What size are you? If my buddy doesn't want it...I'll be putting it on the block.

 

[derleicaman]

Hey Butte, that Kelso looks pretty good on you and you're like 6'4" right? It must be tough to find A-2s to cover you belt buckle as they are notoriously short jackets.

You will love the 27752. I think you specd the Horween Mustang with OD thread? I have the identical spec jacket and love it! The Horween leather is really unique in appearance and feel.

 

[ButteMT61]

Hey Butte, that Kelso looks pretty good on you and you're like 6'4" right? It must be tough to find A-2s to cover you belt buckle as they are notoriously short jackets.

You will love the 27752. I think you specd the Horween Mustang with OD thread? I have the identical spec jacket and love it! The Horween leather is really unique in appearance and feel.

I've got conflicting reports on whether the near-black Seal is the Horween Mustang. But whatever it is, yes, that's the one! Saucerfiend also has a RW 27752 due any day made of this so I'm excited to see it. Something about those dark HH models gets me - esp with the OD stitching.

 

[ButteMT61]

Back to the Kelso...
If it doesn't fit my buddy who wanted one, I will be selling it. ONLY because it's too small for me and maybe even him. He's about my size, so I fear this might not work out. If anyone is interested in this one, let me know. It's basically new, and I'll bee putting it in the for sale here and VLJ.

 

[Guam USA]

What size are you? If my buddy doesn't want it...I'll be putting it on the block.

Butte:

More to the point, what size is the jacket?

Thanks!

 

[Guam USA]

...I ask because there hasn't been any really solid jacket review of a Kelso that I can find here, VLJ or elsewhere (people say they like or dont like them, but fall short of saying why )....

Bret:

What is VLJ? I googled it, and I'll bet you don't mean "very light jet"!

Gary

 

[ButteMT61]

Butte:

More to the point, what size is the jacket?

Thanks!

Guam, it's labeled a 46.
Numbers:
Pit To Pit, front and back - 25"
Shoulders - 19 1/2"
Sleeves 26 1/2"
Front Length - 24"
Back Length - 26"

 

[ButteMT61]

Bret:

What is VLJ? I googled it, and I'll bet you don't mean "very light jet"!

Gary

Vintageleatherjackets.org

 

[bretron]

It's a place that takes a2 obsession to new, unhealthy heights!!!! basically, the bestt/worst place online

 

[ButteMT61]

OK, sadly my buddy doesn't like the jacket. It's "too military" for him, whatever that means. No good deed goes unpunished. So... off to the Classifieds.
I wish it were one size larger - I'd keep this thing for sure.

 

[Edward]

Shame - it's a good looking jacket. I have my eye on a Kelso for a russet A2 at present. I was looking at an Aero Real Deal, but the last round of price increases put those above what I'd want to spend on an A2, and I'm not especially concerned with the miniscule details of specific WW2 contract. Not to detract from what ELC, GoodWear and so on do, I love those, but my requirement is purely for a good era-style and cut jacket that will work well in a civilian context: I'm not putting together a USAAF impression. (Let's just gloss over the fact that I'm fifteen years too old and at least a foot too big round the waist to ever look remotely historically accurate, no matter how spot on the details of the clothing! ).

 

[ButteMT61]

Shame - it's a good looking jacket. I have my eye on a Kelso for a russet A2 at present. I was looking at an Aero Real Deal, but the last round of price increases put those above what I'd want to spend on an A2, and I'm not especially concerned with the miniscule details of specific WW2 contract. Not to detract from what ELC, GoodWear and so on do, I love those, but my requirement is purely for a good era-style and cut jacket that will work well in a civilian context: I'm not putting together a USAAF impression. (Let's just gloss over the fact that I'm fifteen years too old and at least a foot too big round the waist to ever look remotely historically accurate, no matter how spot on the details of the clothing! ).

What size Edward?