'Das Boot' Jacket

[MudInYerEye]

Nearly all German military or private purchase/military (Luftwaffe) jackets of 30's 40's vintage were made from elk or steer hide, not horsehide.

 

[Oktagon]

Nearly all German military or private purchase/military (Luftwaffe) jackets of 30's 40's vintage were made from elk or steer hide, not horsehide.

You are right.
I stand corrected.

 

[johnnycanuck]

Good Day Chris
Welcome to the Lounge. Nice looking jacket. I have one myself, but straight black in cowhide. I really like the way the distressed black looks. I know a guy at work that likes mine and is looking at order one up for himself. I will have to direct him to your photo’s.
Johnny.

 

[garzo]

Hi Chris,

really cool coat. Is the distressed leather more brown or black? And does it look "pre-distressed" or does it actually look really naturally distressed, i.e. really old looking as opposed to a fake-looking "vintage leather" job?

 

[Pilotguy299]

OMG that coat is georgeous!

 

[LadyDeWinter]

hello everyone. i found this place from a member at the indy forum. i have been lurking until activated and must say that this is a pretty cool forum. the other member told me that there was some interest in the Das Boot jacket from Wested Leather and i just recently received mine. custom ordered from the UK and arrived to me in the USA in under 4 weeks. the jacket is beautiful. drapes like butter. i got it in predistressed hide and it looks like it was pulled from an old prop house after sitting for 50 years! anyway, i just wanted to say hello and answer any questions you might have.

Cheers! -Chris

He bender73, this jacket is just wonderful :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[Pilotguy299]

Sizing

Bender73,

How was it for sizing. I have a little more girth than the average bear and was wondering of the size choices were spot on or needed some adjustment. What size was ordered, what size is the owner and how is the fit ?

 

[Kt Templar]

Bender73,

How was it for sizing. I have a little more girth than the average bear and was wondering of the size choices were spot on or needed some adjustment. What size was ordered, what size is the owner and how is the fit ?

Wested jackets are usually made to order so you just have to give them all your measurements and off you go. If you can you should try phoning them and having a chat about sizing and leather options. Chest, neck, back length (from the nape of your neck to where you want it to fall on your butt), waist, sleeve (from the tip of your shoulder where the seam hits it to the point you want your cuff to fall, allow a 1/2" or so extra for ride up).

The main exception to this is the Wolverine and War of the Worlds jackets they make. He made a batch in the various sizes of both of these jackets. I suppose he decided that the demand for those 2 would be particularly high and the fit a little more forgiving than say the Indy jacket which really looks best made to fit.

 

[Pilotguy299]

Wested jackets are usually made to order so you just have to give them all your measurements and off you go. If you can you should try phoning them and having a chat about sizing and leather options. Chest, neck, back length (from the nape of your neck to where you want it to fall on your butt), waist, sleeve (from the tip of your shoulder where the seam hits it to the point you want your cuff to fall, allow a 1/2" or so extra for ride up).

Well I decided to take the plunge and ordered the jacket three days ago. Had a self-induced hiccup placing the order on-line, but called Wested the next morning and had a very nice chat with Peter. He was very nice to talk with and I felt sorry for him as they just had a lot of snow fall and he was the only one in at the time.

Very excited, Can't wait!

Anthony

 

[Kt Templar]

Well i took the plunge too and went and got an "off the rack" new cowhide, medium.

Nice heavy leather, very well put together and I think the fit isn't too shabby either!

 

[Fletch]

I like everything about this coat but the folksy yoking in the front, which gives this elegantly bad-boy garment a faint suggestion of upper-body Lederhosen.

 

[BellyTank]

Nice Coat

The scalloped front and rear yokes are pure, classic European style- not so Folksy. I like them but I much prefer the originals of these coats, which are available at a fraction of the cost of the copy.
The cut and detailing on the vintage ones is better too.

B
T

 

[Pilotguy299]

Well i took the plunge too and went and got an "off the rack" new cowhide, medium.

Nice heavy leather, very well put together and I think the fit isn't too shabby either!

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KT, looks very nice indeed. Is it regular black or predistressed?

I did notice something that looks like it might be period or just slightly later vintage. I'm not completely familiar with the rules about posting links to auctions, so instead of posting the link I'll suggest looking for "GERMAN WW2 U-BOAT NAVY DECK JACKET KRIEGSMARINE" on that auction site. The one I saw will be up for another 4 days. If it were closer to my expanded size I'd get it myself.

Anthony

 

[Kt Templar]

KT, looks very nice indeed. Is it regular black or predistressed?

Thank you, it's just a regular black cowhide.

 

[Pilotguy299]

Thank you, it's just a regular black cowhide.

Did you order on line or go pick it up?

 

[Kt Templar]

Did you order on line or go pick it up?

I'm live quite close to Wested, about 35 mins away by car, so I went there and bought one off the rail.

 

[Pilotguy299]

New Pics at wested

For any others who may be interested in this jacket, wested has posted new pictures of it in:

predistressed
http://www.ekmpowershop4.com/ekmps/shops/westedcom/images/dr_who.jpg

and

black
http://www.ekmpowershop4.com/ekmps/shops/westedcom/images/dr_who_black.jpg

 

[f4fantom]

Funny thing about 7 years ago there was a surplus store in Alabama
that had about 50 different sized East German grey leather suits coat and pants. They said they were motorcycle but they sure looked like U-boat gear to me or close to it. My brother bought a couple very cheap about $45 a set. I am gonna check and see if he still has them as he was using them on his Harley. Very heavy leather as I remember. Should have provavbly gotten a set for myself oh well.

 

[jamespibworth@n]

Latest Jacket

Here is my latest jacket!

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I believe it to be a genuine WW2 U Boat Submariners jacket.

The Leather is starting to crumble up somewhat so I have softened it with some of Eastman’s leather conditioner which has helped. I may even try to find some original buttons.

I plan to wear it only occasionally, it’s lasted this long so I don’t want to be the one to bring its life to and end!

Whilst doing some internet research on this jacket I found this similar looking (except for the belt) Eastman’s brooklands jacket:
http://www.shopcreator.com/mall/eastmanleather/products/product-830819.stm

Interesting to note that it’s very similar to their WW1 German Three Quarter Flying Coat:
http://www.shopcreator.com/mall/eastmanleather/products/product-81123.stm

Seems this jacket style is very versatile.

James.

 

[BellyTank]

See here James-
from a while back...

http://thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=3519&highlight=latest+vintage+leather


I'm afraid any connection between your jacket/coat and a U-boat, would be in someone's imagination. This style is very common and was around pre-war and well into the '50s. Maybe the odd Kriegsmarine officer had a privately procured example onboard...

The U-boat coats tend to be grey. You can find examples of them on eBay.

Have a look here- scroll down almost to the bottom.

http://www.totls.com/LEATHER_JACKETS_THE_THIRD_REICH.htm

And this one-

http://www.tokyo-gunship.com/nazi/n...at-1/naziLeatherCoat-2/naziLeatherCoat-2.html


B
T