Action back

[Matt Deckard]

Many many styles, used to be standard on Army uniforms and now nearly extinct if not for few adventurous clothing makers here and there. The action back frees your arms to move with extreme ease, and when paired with a well cut small armhole it feels liek your wearing a shirt.

From a center pleat that dissapears when your arms are at rest, to two side pleats that conceal extra fabric when at rest to a myriad of variations designed back when tailors were no holds barred...

The action back
Looks best with a half belt and pleats.

AKA
Half Norfolk
Bi-swing

 

[Veronica Parra]

Here's a multi-pleated example:

-- Marc

 

[Daniel Riser]

Yeah Matt,

We both lost that brown window pane belt back on ebay.

I have worn an action back suit before. It reminds me if my Indiana Jones jacket.

 

[Vladimir Berkov]

That brown job was pretty cool. I bet it used to be part of a suit considering it had a matching vest. The damage to it turned me off it even though it was my size.

 

[Sefton]

so that's what it is!

Thanks Matt,
I keep reading about "action back" but didn't have a real idea of what was being referred to.

 

[BellyTank]

'Bi-Swing' is another term for the action pleated back.

B
T

 

[Lauren]

I think I just got a ladies jacket like this. I'll have to post pics...

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Many Barbour and Lambourne Tweed Jackets offered by Sierra Trading Post have action backs:

Eg:

• Lambourne English Hacking Jacket (for Men)
• Lambourne Action Back Corduroy Jacket (For Men)
• Barbour Action Back Tweed Jacket (For Men)
• Barbour Fontainebleau Merino Wool Tweed Jacket (For Men)
  
  The M 422A / GI Flight Jacket has a bi-swing back.

 

[shamus]

Willis and Geiger made their shirts with a bi-swing back, even the dress shirts. But they're gone now. I do still have one W&G shirt that is very comfortable to wear.

 

[Vladimir Berkov]

Does Sierra Trading post have some sort of bias against people of the smaller sizes? Nothing they have comes smaller than a size 40...

 

[scotrace]

Shamus, have you...

Willis and Geiger made their shirts with a bi-swing back, even the dress shirts. But they're gone now. I do still have one W&G shirt that is very comfortable to wear.

... gotten your latest Land's End men's catalog? W&G dress shirts are offered, in vented back and pleated, front flap pocket. $6o-70 I think.

Ah... here it is. 60 smackers. But... it's SEARS now... quality might nit be the same.

 

[Sefton]

'Bi-Swing' is another term for the action pleated back.

B
T

I think I'll stick to calling it an "action back". I'm from San Francisco and "Bi-Swing" means something rather differen't in these parts.

 

[BellyTank]

...well, 'Action Back' could probably get you in a lot of trouble on Christopher St. too-

B
T

 

[Sefton]

...well, 'Action Back' could probably get you in a lot of trouble on Christopher St. too-

B
T

Point well taken. Oops--I guess that one also has another..well...never mind!

 

[Matt Deckard]

Hard to see, though there is bunched material on at the bottom of the jacket yoke and the to of the jacket belt giving more room for movement as the back expands.

 

[Daniel Riser]

I just got my first belt back yesterday. It's a Palm beach brand half belt, pleated, yoked, inverted pleat and vented, and that thing has the highest cut arm holes of all my suits. It grips me everywhere! That is an incredible tailoring. I don't see how modern tailors could recognize anything else as perfection.