johnnyjohnny
Practically Family
- Messages
- 633
- Location
- lake balboa
well, i've come back to haunt the fedlounge like a bad horror film sequel. but not just to spout off.
[note, sorry about the links, but the pic uploader does not work, so you have to click]
http://casablancawatch.com/watches/images/schottmesmall.jpg
self-taken picture in the worst/dirtiest mirror in the world, but i'd get roasted if i only showed manufacturer pictures, even tho the 641 looks as good in person as in their pix
http://casablancawatch.com/watches/images/schotta.jpg
http://casablancawatch.com/watches/images/schottb.jpg
http://casablancawatch.com/watches/images/schottc.jpg
the japanese really seem to love this jacket, so the best pix of the jacket being worn is from them. they have good taste
i spent $600 for the privilege of coming back and posting something of merit/interest. AND i had the good sense to spend those bucks on a great jacket. the schott 641 steerhide.
my luftwaffe jacket obsession never left, and after i'd found the perfect luftwaffian ww2 replica jacket, the eastman, i set out to find the same thing in a true cafe racer style, which the 641 is. the heritage is pure to the classic luftwaffe, minus the collar (don't give me hell purists about what a true luftwaffe jacket is). in person this 641 steer looks like i'd hoped: a cafe racer version of the eastman...however, with a bit of motorcycle beef to it.
because the 641 has the original vintage slim fit in which this jacket was originally produced decades ago, there's a nice V quality to it that makes it sharper looking for those who can match that shape with their body, compared to the schott 141, which is basically this jacket with a more modern fit. meaning a size larger and an inch or two bigger around the waist according to schott's info.
with all these jackets at schott you need a scorecard to know the players, so hopefully this review helps. the next differentiation is between this and the 641 HH or horsehide, which i had WANTED!!!!!
my eastman was in horsehide, and i love the stiff and crisp demeanor of that leather, however, being in calif, and that the schott 641 horse version had a sewn in quilted liner, i had to bypass that unrelentingly warm version of this classic cafe racer. the 641 steer had the good sense to have a removable liner, and hence it was a no brainer.
but no problemo as the leather on it is, if not stiff, crispy and starchy like the HH, gorgeous, rich, lush, soft, and the same 1.3 or so mm weight that the horsehide is. my eastman horsehide was not stiff and starchy, but really more like the steerhide used on this jacket, tho more grain in the eastman. point being, the steer is not a bum one, and just as superb as the HH. afficianados may drool over the finer aspects of HH, and i do too, but weather did not permit.
so back to this jacket. has everything the perfect jacket, moto or otherwise, should.
one piece back, side cinth straps low down on the sides so one does not look like a yokel cinching in the jacket high on the waist (sorry guys with the higher set side straps, i hate em).
has the bi-swing arms and the gussets under the arm, all very helpful i'm sure when you get this jacket tight like it was meant to be worn. however, i like my jackets with a tad of room in them, so i didn't need the gussets and bi-swing back to comfortably move my arms. however, having them makes this jacket feel almost like a thick rich shirt it is so comfortable.
the zipper is super industrial strength and smooth, zipping up like it has a motor in it, and the racer collar is very cool with snaps to hold the closure strap when you don't use it.
because of the construction of the jacket, the cafe racer upright collar does have some natural wave to it, as you can probably see in the photo, but this gives a sense of the reality of the leather and does not seem like a defect. and out of the box i've bent it back a few times, and so over time i'm sure it will find it's own mien. but even with the natural wave of the leather, it looks right...not too perfecto (pun).
sadly, the only downside i can find to this jacket is that i don't know if i love it more than my eastman luftwaffe. the difference is that this is pure beef moto.
the eastman is from another era, properly so, and its biggest beauty. i shall wear the eastman when i wish to go back in time...i'll wear the 641 when i want to go less further back in time, to the 60s...choppers, not messerschmitts.
the 641 steer will not need much if any break-in, but that doesn't mean the leather doesn't look tough and imposing, if nevertheless smooth like a black russian (the drink).
as for weather (pun...yes, bad form to call your own jokes) or not to get this or the horsehide, as i said, it does come down to weather. it's the hottest summer on record i believe, and here in L.A. i had no problem putting the 641 on today (after unzipping/removing the liner) immediately upon receipt, in the post office while opening up the rest of my mail. it might in fact be wearable here in lalaland about 10 months of the year.
other than that it might be the best jacket ever constructed for those hell bent for leather.
the sizing is something to note. schott will tell you to get it one size larger than their other jackets, which is right on. it has the more V shape and the old vintage last that it's designed on. like the eastman luftwaffe, their classic fit is part of the fascinating heritage of getting a jacket like this...buying history, not a fattened up version of a former great jacket.
the last thing i'll compare it to is the lewis leathers dominator i once had. that's the lewis leather 60s rocker style that was actually used in the movie 'battle of britain' because it was that close a replica to the luftwaffe look. this 641 steer has the very same look and feel as the lewis dominator. quite a recommendation.
point being, even if you pay the full schott price of around $635 for the size 48 that i got, it's pretty much as good as an aero, lewis or eastman, which are all in the $900 range these days. i know, you will find the typical schott-esque long untrimmed end-thread on several seams, and the jacket will look like it was manufactured a bit more than totally custom made, but that's part of what these jackets were, and are. just like the real issue ww2 g-1's and a-2's were not perfectly custom manufactured. if this sounds esoteric, i'd liken it to the difference between a 68 mustang GT fastback and a ferrari. there's something about stock, off-the-shelf brutality i just like.
after the zipout lining is out, you will have a strong but very comfortable thin liner left, that feels nice and slippery against your skin, and cool. making this into a jacket with as close to a 'shirt' feel as something this powerful could have.
i will now wear this every chance i get, and make reasons to wear it, even if it's so hot i have to wear a t-shirt under. i love it. best jacket i might ever own. so, this is, to understate it, a positive review of the 641 steerhide jacket.
if you want one, i'd even pay the price schott charges. but googling can find some slightly less expensive dealers. i got mine off of ebay from a seller who is a dealer for schott merchandise and advertises them new on ebay. got mine with tags and everything.
did i say i love it?
[note, sorry about the links, but the pic uploader does not work, so you have to click]
http://casablancawatch.com/watches/images/schottmesmall.jpg
self-taken picture in the worst/dirtiest mirror in the world, but i'd get roasted if i only showed manufacturer pictures, even tho the 641 looks as good in person as in their pix
http://casablancawatch.com/watches/images/schotta.jpg
http://casablancawatch.com/watches/images/schottb.jpg
http://casablancawatch.com/watches/images/schottc.jpg
the japanese really seem to love this jacket, so the best pix of the jacket being worn is from them. they have good taste
i spent $600 for the privilege of coming back and posting something of merit/interest. AND i had the good sense to spend those bucks on a great jacket. the schott 641 steerhide.
my luftwaffe jacket obsession never left, and after i'd found the perfect luftwaffian ww2 replica jacket, the eastman, i set out to find the same thing in a true cafe racer style, which the 641 is. the heritage is pure to the classic luftwaffe, minus the collar (don't give me hell purists about what a true luftwaffe jacket is). in person this 641 steer looks like i'd hoped: a cafe racer version of the eastman...however, with a bit of motorcycle beef to it.
because the 641 has the original vintage slim fit in which this jacket was originally produced decades ago, there's a nice V quality to it that makes it sharper looking for those who can match that shape with their body, compared to the schott 141, which is basically this jacket with a more modern fit. meaning a size larger and an inch or two bigger around the waist according to schott's info.
with all these jackets at schott you need a scorecard to know the players, so hopefully this review helps. the next differentiation is between this and the 641 HH or horsehide, which i had WANTED!!!!!
my eastman was in horsehide, and i love the stiff and crisp demeanor of that leather, however, being in calif, and that the schott 641 horse version had a sewn in quilted liner, i had to bypass that unrelentingly warm version of this classic cafe racer. the 641 steer had the good sense to have a removable liner, and hence it was a no brainer.
but no problemo as the leather on it is, if not stiff, crispy and starchy like the HH, gorgeous, rich, lush, soft, and the same 1.3 or so mm weight that the horsehide is. my eastman horsehide was not stiff and starchy, but really more like the steerhide used on this jacket, tho more grain in the eastman. point being, the steer is not a bum one, and just as superb as the HH. afficianados may drool over the finer aspects of HH, and i do too, but weather did not permit.
so back to this jacket. has everything the perfect jacket, moto or otherwise, should.
one piece back, side cinth straps low down on the sides so one does not look like a yokel cinching in the jacket high on the waist (sorry guys with the higher set side straps, i hate em).
has the bi-swing arms and the gussets under the arm, all very helpful i'm sure when you get this jacket tight like it was meant to be worn. however, i like my jackets with a tad of room in them, so i didn't need the gussets and bi-swing back to comfortably move my arms. however, having them makes this jacket feel almost like a thick rich shirt it is so comfortable.
the zipper is super industrial strength and smooth, zipping up like it has a motor in it, and the racer collar is very cool with snaps to hold the closure strap when you don't use it.
because of the construction of the jacket, the cafe racer upright collar does have some natural wave to it, as you can probably see in the photo, but this gives a sense of the reality of the leather and does not seem like a defect. and out of the box i've bent it back a few times, and so over time i'm sure it will find it's own mien. but even with the natural wave of the leather, it looks right...not too perfecto (pun).
sadly, the only downside i can find to this jacket is that i don't know if i love it more than my eastman luftwaffe. the difference is that this is pure beef moto.
the eastman is from another era, properly so, and its biggest beauty. i shall wear the eastman when i wish to go back in time...i'll wear the 641 when i want to go less further back in time, to the 60s...choppers, not messerschmitts.
the 641 steer will not need much if any break-in, but that doesn't mean the leather doesn't look tough and imposing, if nevertheless smooth like a black russian (the drink).
as for weather (pun...yes, bad form to call your own jokes) or not to get this or the horsehide, as i said, it does come down to weather. it's the hottest summer on record i believe, and here in L.A. i had no problem putting the 641 on today (after unzipping/removing the liner) immediately upon receipt, in the post office while opening up the rest of my mail. it might in fact be wearable here in lalaland about 10 months of the year.
other than that it might be the best jacket ever constructed for those hell bent for leather.
the sizing is something to note. schott will tell you to get it one size larger than their other jackets, which is right on. it has the more V shape and the old vintage last that it's designed on. like the eastman luftwaffe, their classic fit is part of the fascinating heritage of getting a jacket like this...buying history, not a fattened up version of a former great jacket.
the last thing i'll compare it to is the lewis leathers dominator i once had. that's the lewis leather 60s rocker style that was actually used in the movie 'battle of britain' because it was that close a replica to the luftwaffe look. this 641 steer has the very same look and feel as the lewis dominator. quite a recommendation.
point being, even if you pay the full schott price of around $635 for the size 48 that i got, it's pretty much as good as an aero, lewis or eastman, which are all in the $900 range these days. i know, you will find the typical schott-esque long untrimmed end-thread on several seams, and the jacket will look like it was manufactured a bit more than totally custom made, but that's part of what these jackets were, and are. just like the real issue ww2 g-1's and a-2's were not perfectly custom manufactured. if this sounds esoteric, i'd liken it to the difference between a 68 mustang GT fastback and a ferrari. there's something about stock, off-the-shelf brutality i just like.
after the zipout lining is out, you will have a strong but very comfortable thin liner left, that feels nice and slippery against your skin, and cool. making this into a jacket with as close to a 'shirt' feel as something this powerful could have.
i will now wear this every chance i get, and make reasons to wear it, even if it's so hot i have to wear a t-shirt under. i love it. best jacket i might ever own. so, this is, to understate it, a positive review of the 641 steerhide jacket.
if you want one, i'd even pay the price schott charges. but googling can find some slightly less expensive dealers. i got mine off of ebay from a seller who is a dealer for schott merchandise and advertises them new on ebay. got mine with tags and everything.
did i say i love it?
Last edited:
