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Deerskin jackets

Garrett

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3,782
1950's Guntzviller's Deerskin Halfbelt with Talon hardware


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jonbuilder

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3,563
Location
Grass Valley CA Foothills
I purchased this deerskin last year. I am thinking 1940s what I call a sportsmen jacket intend for outdoor adventures like hunting and fishing. The jacket came with bulking quilted lining stuff with thick cotton and wool sleeves. I removed the lining.
The hide is a heavy suede that has worn smooth at the wear points. The jacket is accented with smooth deerskin at the patch pockets and collar. I sent the jacket out to be dry clean and had Johnson Leathers bring in the body and sleeves. I have a bit invested but I like the jacket. I paid $75 shipped the dry cleaning at about $100 and the alterations $175.
You can see the remains of one shoulder pad. The waist is gathered with a loop and button
I thought I had a fit picture to show wearing
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the jacket after alteration but I don't

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jchance

A-List Customer
Messages
313
Location
Los Angeles
Is there a premium difference between Asian deerskin (Shinki deerskin that freewheelers use) vs European deerskin vs American deerskin (vintage)?

I really like the feel of deerskin but have found most of vintage deerskin jackets with bad designs. While repro deerskin jackets are expensive, they have much nicer designs.
 

Canuck Panda

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,666
Go for the Waipiti deerskins, these are thicker and more pronounced natural grains. Can be found in both America and Japan. RMC recently used it on the Freeman, FW used it on a few of their more recent jackets and vest, FCL also uses it, Fukioka deerskin Waipiti is called Once in a blue moon Horween will run a very small batch of these Waipiti deer, they're awesome, worth the wait. Very thick hides that drape like thick sweatshirt.
 

El Marro

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3,591
Location
California
I really like the feel of deerskin but have found most of vintage deerskin jackets with bad designs.
So true. Sometimes I am tempted to buy one of the fringed deerskin Daniel Boone style jackets that I see all over eBay but then I come to my senses.
i’m comfortable wearing motorcycle jackets without owning a motorcycle and yet the fringes are still a bridge too far for me.
 

jchance

A-List Customer
Messages
313
Location
Los Angeles
So true. Sometimes I am tempted to buy one of the fringed deerskin Daniel Boone style jackets that I see all over eBay but then I come to my senses.
i’m comfortable wearing motorcycle jackets without owning a motorcycle and yet the fringes are still a bridge too far for me.
I even thought about cutting off the fringes and wearing a jacket with some roughly cut leather edges(unless I want to burnish the edges myself). Even without the fringes, I still couldn't imagine myself rocking most of the vintage deerskin jackets with confidence. It could be why vintage deerskin jackets are so cheap on eBay ($75-200), no one wants or is buying them! On the other hand, I drool over the Freewheelers, RMC and LW deerskin jackets, but don't want to part with my hard-earned $2500 (yet, TBD).
 
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Chris_K

One of the Regulars
Messages
125
Go for the Waipiti deerskins, these are thicker and more pronounced natural grains. Can be found in both America and Japan. RMC recently used it on the Freeman, FW used it on a few of their more recent jackets and vest, FCL also uses it, Fukioka deerskin Waipiti is called Once in a blue moon Horween will run a very small batch of these Waipiti deer, they're awesome, worth the wait. Very thick hides that drape like thick sweatshirt.
Amen Canuck, as promised, I will post an evo comparison of my Freeman later in the year, early summer time maybe. The hide is like no leather I've handled or felt before, magical. Thick like cowhide but it already has this patina glow, sometimes looks charcoal in natural light rather than black, changes texture and colour. I did some research into Wapiti deer and it explained things - second largest deer species in the world, large, athletic, strong creatures.

Yes, very, very expensive but it is really something else, in fact if I could only have one sports jacket, this would be it, it really is that good. Vintage 30's cut, McCoy's aren't messing around with their cutting these days, I mean identical to the original Sears it's based on.
 
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livioli

Familiar Face
Messages
97
My FW Guthrie sack coat just arrived. Beautiful jacket. Fits me well; it's slightly tight in the chest and loose in the shoulder, but that could just be the pattern.

Not sure what deerskin they use.

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