Glad to help!Updating my previous set with a new arrival (and with the heavy Als en route to a new owner it should fit better). Huge thanks to @Leather Walker For proxying this for me!
Some pictures
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Perfection mate! the length, the body & everything in between is just perfection(the pocket2zip stitching is just a cherry on top!)!Stick a fork in me—I’m done! After a couple years search for a decent weight, no-epaulettes Cal in exactly my size, I finally feel like I’ve hit the jackpot! This came up on eBay for an affordable, but not bargain price, and I jumped on it immediately, without even checking the exact measurements. Somehow it just looked like it would work out, and I’ve bought enough too-big Cals to know roughly my size by the width of the duck-tail. Glad I trusted my instincts. Yes it’s classically short but this for me is the best fit I’m gonna get. Famous last words, of course, but…
And the leather! I’m guessing this is earlier than the other two Cals I’ve posted here. The lack of epaulets, thicker, heavier hide (5.5lbs—check out those sleeve rolls) and hoop(?) pocket pulls would seem to point to this, though perhaps more experienced heads can suggest a rough era? The sleeve zips are servals, and the main zip is a (replacement, 70s/80s?) talon. The stitching is brown with age, other than on the main zipper, and is coming loose in places.
I may put my above Cal up for sale or keep it for winter use, as this is maybe not a layering size. Anyway, as is probably clear, I’m thrilled with this one!
A few quick shots. Any idea on dating?
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That's a beauty right there. Honestly the front length is what I would wish for, only 1 of my CHP's (oddly my padded belted 10-pocket Langlitz) is the only one that fully covers my belt in front.Well when I say done…. Obviously what I mean is done with my search for an epauletteless Cal. I’ve remained curious to try a padded CHP and as luck would have it I tracked down a heavyweight padded Al’s which really seems to be a close sibling of the first Al’s @Leather Walker posted on page 1:
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Same heavy but soft leather—it’s the second heaviest CHP I’ve handled—same YKK zippers, same lack of gussets. Mine is probably a size up, judging by the pocket stitching. It actually fits great around the shoulders and sleeves but… and weird to say it about a CHP… it’s a bit long in the body! A bit more front drop than I’d like…
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