BK Liberty Hide Questions

[thor]

@tmitchell59 I am lovin’ that Dodger! Cool design, great name and really awesome patina. Congrats my friend.

 

[tmitchell59]

The Duke on top of the Pile. The Duke is in Victory HH.

 

[handymike]

 

[Mich486]

That victory hide is really really beautiful


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[Dickie Teenie]

Terry your Victory hide looks just like mine, from the second batch of Victory Dark Seal that came through. The first batch, what few pics I saw didn't have the Mahogany undertones that became more prominent after a few years wear.

 

[Xopher]

See that is my dream jacket but I cant ever see being able to give them the 1850gbp they charge for it now

 

[ProteinNerd]

See that is my dream jacket but I cant ever see being able to give them the 1850gbp they charge for it now

I don’t care how nice the leather is, that’s just crazy money plain and simple.

 

[tmitchell59]

Terry your Victory hide looks just like mine, from the second batch of Victory Dark Seal that came through. The first batch, what few pics I saw didn't have the Mahogany undertones that became more prominent after a few years wear.

That is interesting. I bought it second-hand here on the Forum, probably 5 years ago?

See that is my dream jacket but I cant ever see being able to give them the 1850gbp they charge for it now

I didn't know they still had it. I paid somewhat less than that.

I don't know if all Liberty horsehide is the same. I like to see a black one that has some wear.

Something different

 

[Fonzie]

See that is my dream jacket but I cant ever see being able to give them the 1850gbp they charge for it now

Definitely beautiful jacket and amazing leather, but that price surely dwarfs any other high-end manufacturer, Himel, GoodWear, theJapanese Et all.
I wonder how no one here comments on that exaggeration of pricing?


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[Seb Lucas]

Well I don't comment on the price as I wouldn't even consider it or even look at a jacket like that. For me this hobby is about finding good working leather jackets. I can do that mostly for under $500 a piece and get something full of character that is also an actual piece of working gear, not a specialist repro for leather fetishists.

There are several types of leather jacket enthusiast and I belong to the less ambitious one. As it happens, I can afford $2k for a jacket and buy a few at that but I am too old and too thrifty by nature to fork out at that price. I want to be able to change the oil in my car wearing my jacket and not be concerned. My favourite jacket in over 30 years of collecting cost me less than $40 in a thrift shop and is a nice, light black calf skin utility jacket. That's the fun of the hobby for me. But everyone is different and whether it is wrist watches, cars or homes - ridiculous prices for more elevated or specialist work are always available. And always avoidable.

 

[marmalademan]

@tmitchell59 that black Hercules of yours is a 40 isn't it? Assuming that the sleeves are long enough, if you ever do decide to sell, there's a buyer right here

Of the black liberty I know that the batch that has most recently expired was teacore. Before that we were talking straight aniline veg tanned Italian goodness, and that's the one I really dig . Though I expect the tea core to be pretty sweet too.

The finish for the seals and russets was the quick wearing stuff that we've seen in this thread, but I believe the most recent batches moved away from that formula. American Classics in London probably has some in stock and from what I saw there late last year the most recent leather looked real nice to me

 

[red devil]

I wonder how no one here comments on that exaggeration of pricing?

I might be wrong but I don't think it generates enough interest to be criticized in that manner.

 

[ProteinNerd]

I think the BK rep pretty much burnt all his bridges here and not many of the more active members would ever buy from them.

They are nice looking jackets and I actually got samples from them a few years ago but then their prices tripled out of the blue with no real justification and I think the BK’s rep Andy? went off the deep end and threatened legal action, Sent offensive and aggressive direct messages (I think @Superfluous copped that the hardest) and got banned from the forum. A very amusing (but somewhat sad) Facebook battle ensued and I think the end result is very few here even consider them these days.

 

[Fonzie]

Fair enough.
Nothing like burning bridges with potential customers, that is one quick way to get yourself ignored in this forum.
What a weird marketing strategy. [emoji848]


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[Dr H]

I’ve owned 4 Bill Kelso jackets, all in the Liberty hide. The Liberty hides seem to have an overly pigmented, somewhat plastic feel, but they are aniline-dyed because they do absorb water.

None of the jackets get much wear, and none of the jackets has more than about 10 hours of outside exposure, and none, except the following, has shown any wear.

However, this one jacket, an Aero model -18775 in Russet Liberty, has given me a very bad experience.

I got caught in a warm summer thunderstorm that just drenched me and thoroughly soaked the jacket. I reached the car about a half-hour later, and as I dried myself and the jacket with a terry-cloth towel I noticed the color was wiping off the jacket. The water dripping off the jacket was orange. So I took the jacket off, and laid it flat to air dry.

The finish seemed to just wipe off on the wear areas, but remained solid on the usual untouched parts. Before the soaking, the finish was perfect, with no noticeable wear.

I realize that jackets are not raincoats. However, accidents happen and I have had jackets get wet before. But I have never seen the finish wipe off as it did on this Liberty hide.

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View attachment 111042

I have owned BK Victory capeskin for an Type A-1 that was doused in a heavy rain shower as well without any ill effects.

Having seen the other posts in this exchange, is the concensus that the russet Liberty was an unfortunate, but isolated example, due to some other circumstances (e.g. faulty batch of leather, poor tanning, poor dyeing, etc.)?

 

[Xopher]

I might be wrong but I don't think it generates enough interest to be criticized in that manner.

Oh I piss and moan about their prices inwardly on the regular, just out of pure agrivation that the Victory Hide is prohibitivly expensive and I want it, but will never never never ever drop $2700 to get it. There is no possible way it costs that much more on the material end to make. And I am still convinced that the fiasco when BK changed from Euros to GBP was a quiet money grab through choosing a stronger currency and not changing the actual numbers on price tags. I half suspect the excuse they gave to be bogus too, "Oh we were partnered/bought out by another company but we are never going to mention by whom or inform our customers"
It just strikes of a dishonest business tactic to increase profits.
Doesnt change the fact that I want a Duke just Terris. Id buy one MAYBE even at Goodwear Prices but thats still a stretch.

Actually now thats Im saying this out loud, if what I suspect and hear of the business dealings of BK is true, it really is a huge turn off for me. I dont know if Id want something I carry with me for life being attached with that kind of negative energy. But then again maybe Im just broke and bitter.

I have contacted Thurston Bros about a Thedi version. I am leaning toward them, and may put it into motion this summer.

 

[Fonzie]

I have contacted Thurston Bros about a Thedi version. I am leaning toward them, and may put it into motion this summer.

A Thedi will probably have better Karma.


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[red devil]

Oh I piss and moan about their prices inwardly on the regular, just out of pure agrivation that the Victory Hide is prohibitivly expensive and I want it, but will never never never ever drop $2700 to get it. There is no possible way it costs that much more on the material end to make. And I am still convinced that the fiasco when BK changed from Euros to GBP was a quiet money grab through choosing a stronger currency and not changing the actual numbers on price tags. I half suspect the excuse they gave to be bogus too, "Oh we were partnered/bought out by another company but we are never going to mention by whom or inform our customers"
It just strikes of a dishonest business tactic to increase profits.
Doesnt change the fact that I want a Duke just Terris. Id buy one MAYBE even at Goodwear Prices but thats still a stretch.

Actually now thats Im saying this out loud, if what I suspect and hear of the business dealings of BK is true, it really is a huge turn off for me. I dont know if Id want something I carry with me for life being attached with that kind of negative energy. But then again maybe Im just broke and bitter.

I have contacted Thurston Bros about a Thedi version. I am leaning toward them, and may put it into motion this summer.

Thanks for sharing this. I don't know much about them as they were not active here by the time I joined.

As for Thedi, it definitely will have positive energy/karma. Theodoros is a widely creative individual and very passionate. I met him at the main shop in Thessaloniki. I have 2 jackets from them with a third one to come (the green Thedi). They've been very patient with all my requests and questions and are going above and beyond to make sure my next jacket will be exceptional. So I can't recommend them enough.

Sorry if this sounds excessive, but I have genuinely been very happy dealing with them and am already considering future options

 

[thor]

I just noticed this on the BK Facebook page. What a timely post!

 

[Carlos840]

View attachment 111235
I just noticed this on the BK Facebook page. What a timely post!

I am ready to bet Andy still reads the forum.
I haven't received threats or snarky emails in a while, i almost miss them!

(It seems they have also started the whole "SALE" that never ends thing! Nothing says scummy company like fake sales prices that never change. Well done Andy, just when we think BK cannot get worst, you find a way!)