Cal-Leathers Shop Visit, Ventura CA.

[J Leather Investigater]

View attachment 317616 Cal did a fantastic job re-lining this Star Glove jacket I found in Sacramento. I think it is likely a retired CHP jacket from a long way back. I really like the fit, especially for a vintage find.

Beautiful, I think the fit is perfect , the collar on that is straight up special.

 

[Leigh H]

here's my Cal leather Jacket, it has no labels inside. I have no idea what decade its from.

I did a little unboxing video here a while back if anyone is interested.

It unlisted on youtube, i originally made it for Terry.

 

[JMax]

My latest Cal.

 

[Leigh H]

View attachment 330435

My latest Cal.

Wow! I've never seen a suede one before?? what year is from?

 

[JMax]

Wow! I've never seen a suede one before?? what year is from?

I've no clue. Based on zip and pulls, 60s would seem to be the earliest it was built. Though suede seems a more 70s cup of tea, it was used in the 60s. All that to circle back to, I've no clue.

 

[Guppy]

here's my Cal leather Jacket, it has no labels inside. I have no idea what decade its from.

I did a little unboxing video here a while back if anyone is interested.

It unlisted on youtube, i originally made it for Terry.

Really nice! It fits you very well. I'd get the lining redone by Cal, and keep it.

 

[Leigh H]

Really nice! It fits you very well. I'd get the lining redone by Cal, and keep it.

Yeah i plan to at some point, i imagine it will be pricey + shipping from the UK and back. I've been wearing it daily and the rip doesn't really bother me just yet.

 

[TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead]

here's my Cal leather Jacket, it has no labels inside. I have no idea what decade its from.

I did a little unboxing video here a while back if anyone is interested.

It unlisted on youtube, i originally made it for Terry.

I remember seeing this jacket on Ebay. I almost bought it just for the collar LOL. It's a really nice one. If it had the original talon zips, I wouldve put in a few bids for sure. Based on the pulls from the pockets, can't tell if they're original, but probably a 60/70s model.

A full liner replacement is pricey. $200-250 here in US. But you can probably patch that up with a good seamstress, at least prevent it from getting worse.

 

[Leigh H]

I remember seeing this jacket on Ebay. I almost bought it just for the collar LOL. It's a really nice one. If it had the original talon zips, I wouldve put in a few bids for sure. Based on the pulls from the pockets, can't tell if they're original, but probably a 60/70s model.

A full liner replacement is pricey. $200-250 here in US. But you can probably patch that up with a good seamstress, at least prevent it from getting worse.

yeah i noticed the main zip replacement, i mainly bought because the leather was beat to hell it's a wonderful heavy jacket, that's why i just bought another.

I noticed Cal Leathers still make the jackets?, did you get to see / feel the quality? id be tempted buy a new one.

 

[TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead]

yeah i noticed the main zip replacement, i mainly bought because the leather was beat to hell it's a wonderful heavy jacket, that's why i just bought another.

I noticed Cal Leathers still make the jackets?, did you get to see / feel the quality? id be tempted buy a new one.

Yes. Very thick, supple leather. I wish I had enough variety of brands to compare it to, but nothing comes to mind. Not sure how it's going to age. Definitely different than the vintage stuff, almost sort of "puffy" if that makes sense-- thick, has some give, very soft. I know Gwen (the owner past 20 years) is very particular and is buying good stuff. She told me her primary concern is to make sure these things are going to hold together if someone takes a spill at 70 mph and the leather is appx. half the cost of the jacket. But she sources the hides one by one, so you might be able to show her some examples and then let her do her thing. There's a photo on the first page of this thread that has a new jacket with the crazy grain. I would have bet my life it was horse, but it's cow. She hand picked that. And the D pocket on page 1 is also new. That had more of a pull up texture to it. Bottom line, sounds like she'll get you want you want, but not sure if they have a standard off the shelf anymore.

edit: btw, I think @King B has a new one. He was going to do a write up about it. Maybe I missed it.

 

[Leigh H]

I came across this Japanese reproduction of a cal-leather jacket.

Looks really well made.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKoH6FejPNP/?igshid=7n5oy03gppa6


https://www.instagram.com/p/CLbqpNrDXys/

 

[photo2u]

That Japanese repro is a total beauty. I wonder how much are they asking for that original crown zips? Is that jacket in your neck of the woods?

 

[Aloysius]

The D-pocket is gorgeous! But double the price of the LAPD model…

 

[J Leather Investigater]

I came across this Japanese reproduction of a cal-leather jacket.

Looks really well made.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKoH6FejPNP/?igshid=7n5oy03gppa6


https://www.instagram.com/p/CLbqpNrDXys/

Sh%+ is Dope. Size 38 fs on ig store somebody get that