Which repro A2s do you currently own?

[aswatland]

I know some members, including me, have been buying and selling repro A2s this year. Which ones do you currently own and do you have a favourite?

Here are my repros and my favourites vary according my mood!:

ELC 1933 Werber

GW 1939 Werber

GW RW 18091

 

[blethook]

Andrew,

Here are my favourite repro A-2s:

New (bought in 2010): ELC Monarch w/ internal pockets (currently being broken in)...

Bought about a year ago: Goodwear's Bronco in goatskin

Bought a couple of years ago: ELC Cable in goatskin

There is also the Aero Anniversary in seal HH from a couple of years ago, but I haven't got a picture of it...

B.

 

[jack miranda]

'Just' my GW Dubow 27798 in

russet goatskin. It is a little over two years old now, still barely broken in. I get compliments on it every time I wear it, even from people who normally have no interest in leather jackets. I still marvel at it.

 

[Edward]

I was all gung ho for one of John's GW jackets a couple of years ago, but, alas, by the time I was able to put the money together the value of the pound had sunk to the point where a £400 jacket had become £600, which I just couldn't justify. Oh well, maybe one day in the future... Last December I fell in with a second hand ELC Rough Wear W535AC-27752. Year or two old, just nicely broken in. Horsehide, I believe, in Seal with Rust knits. I understand the colour of the knits on this jacket to have been a special order by the original owner; they're not the correct colour for this contract, but that doesn't bother me. I don't do a WW2 impression - I wear the jacket solely as a civilian - and seal/rust were the combo I was after (I had been making eyes at one of John's late war models, an Aero I think?, in this). I'm not a collector, but if funds allow in the future I could see me going for a nice russet A2, maybe an early war model repro, ideally a Goodwear. I'm tempted too by the idea of reproducing an AVG USN jacket, and an A2 for the fighter group they later evolved into. Thing is, I don't know how often I'd wear them: the anticipated Top Gun related comments would drive me mad as there are few films I loathe more or find as offensive as that Tom Cruise vehicle. Maybe something to do with a cheaper repro bought used....

I do rather fancy either one of those Chinese(?) made repros that were spotted on eBay a while back (the Barry Lyndon models), if they're of decent quality; I also like the Aero 'Real Deal' model. Neither are the most accurate of replicas, but for a decent, mid-price jacket to be worn more as a forties civilian-style jacket than a uniform piece, they'd do the job nicely in my opinion. Actually, if ever I have the cash I'd be tempted to have Aero make me up a Real Deal with slash pockets (B-15 style) rather than the traditional A2 pockets, though I suppose then it wouldn't properly be an A2 any longer and thus not germane to this thread...

 

[Silver Dollar]

I have one old Cockpit A2 *yucky* , one old Cooper AF issue goatskin*yucky*, one no name brand I got before HPA started selling the Eastmans and [huh], and 3 Eastman Roughwear jackets:eusa_clap. I would seriously love to have a GW:arated: but I just can't shake that many shekels off my shekel tree in the back yard. The GW would definitely be the centerpiece of the collection.

 

[442RCT]

I would seriously love to have a GW:arated: but I just can't shake that many shekels off my shekel tree in the back yard. The GW would definitely be the centerpiece of the collection.

I would like to have a GW too, but it's just another A-2 I haven't picked up yet. I can't decide which one of my repro A-2s are my favorites; one of my 2 Seftons, my recently acquired Aero, or my ELC 'warhorse' hide. I currently own3 ELCs, 3 Aeros, and 2 Real McCoys A-2s, I also have 20 to 30 other orphan A-2s, which include many Avirex/ Coopers [huh], one of the Avirex jackets happens to be one of my favorite, 'don't care if it gets beat up' wearers. I like'm all...each has it's own personality.

Aero- well broken in by the previous owner :eusa_clap

Eastman 50 Cal. - well broken in by previous owner

 

[green papaya]

I own a COOPER A2 with a letter of authenticty from Cooper Sportswear

had it for over 20 years

 

[Silver Dollar]

I just remembered I have a J.A. Dubow jacket made in the U.S. sometime in the late 80's. It was the first good repro A2 I was able to get. This was before HPA started selling Eastman jackets. It's a 42 but fits like a 40 and the leather was like a baseball glove when I first got it. It's still pretty stiff but looser.

 

[CBI]

I have owned a dozen Good Wears and probably 10 Eastmans and Aeros as well as others. Now, just this one Good Wear Aero A-2 is all that remains of my repros. I really love this one:

 

[kiltie]

^^^^^^^^^

Great jacket! Love the knits.
I also really like the Bronco in blethook's post.
Somewhere down the line, with more disposable income....

 

[Persimmon]

My Repro A2's

At the moment I am down to three Repro A2's of which my favourite two at the moment are -

Size 40 RMNZ Dubow

And my ELC Werber again in a size 40

IMG]http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af307/alandaly/Werberpictures020.jpg[/IMG]

No Originals in my collection but would love to own a wearable good one.
Anyone got one for sale ?

Hope you likre the jackets

Alan

 

[Lt GUSTL]

Servus from Vienna,

my favorite jacket is an ELC Monarch w. internal pockets.
I also attached an original RAF whitle to the collar.

kindest regards

 

[too much coffee]

Alan;
Thanks for posting the pictures. Outstanding jackets!
How old is the Dubow? Is the ELC horse or cow?
Sincerely, coffee

 

[aswatland]

The ELC 1933 Werber is made from their "warhorse" horse hide. It's a beautiful jacket IMO.

 

[Persimmon]

Alan;
Thanks for posting the pictures. Outstanding jackets!
How old is the Dubow? Is the ELC horse or cow?
Sincerely, coffee

Hi
I bought the Werber at the beginning of the year.
It is their War horse leather and it keeps getting better.
I wear it every day two hours driving to work and two hours back and all day long when I can !!
I have given it a hot wash or two and constant manipulations twisting and turning.
Thanks for the liking the jackets.
Alan

 

[Persimmon]

Dubow age

The Dubow is around 10 years old now

 

[PADDY]

GoodWear (Roughwear 27752)

Taken earlier today.

 

[gyrobroyeur]

Taken earlier today.

I used to have a RW 27752 from ELC. I don't keep it cause I disliked it, but yours is incredible...
I have a werber 41 from GW that I love, but it's not japanese hide and the leather doesn't look as nice as yours. Congratulation...

 

[kyboots]

The Jacket

Paddy great jacket and a tough look! Oh do I want ! John

 

[bentusian]

RW 23380 (Airborne ver.) by The Real McCoy's Japan

RW 16159 by The Few Mfg.

w/ A-10 winter gloves

Both are size 40, but the 16159's roomy enough to wear a sweatshirt underneath.