Finds and Deals - Leather Jacket Edition

[handymike]

...actually, that jacket has crossed over into "distressed".

 

[tmitchell59]

There's a cool Buco with BIN and Offer options if you're into patina (err, character):

View attachment 226442

https://www.ebay.com/itm/US-ANTIQUE-BUCO-SteerHide-Leather-Jacket-Motorcycle-1940s-1950s-POLICE-OFFICER/293384164332?_trkparms=aid=555018&algo=PL.SIM&ao=1&asc=20131003132420&meid=c2dc1b52fbce46719141a898ffd427be&pid=100005&rk=6&rkt=12&mehot=pf&sd=312285964325&itm=293384164332&pmt=1&noa=0&pg=2047675&algv=SimplAMLv5PairwiseWeb&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

...actually, that jacket has crossed over into "distressed".

These Buco police jackets show up quite often and most, if not all, are steerhide and most have significant wear. Sunburned, faded, worn out. Whatever word you use. I sold one here with nice fade/sunburn. Many I see are just plain worn out. The Steerhide on those Buco jackets is surprisingly light. I have a Butwin and it is much more robust, heavy tough Steerhide. This is my only experience with a Buco jacket. I've owned three in this style and all were very comfortable wearing jackets.

 

[handymike]

I love the steerhide on my Kehoe which I imagine is similar, but it is indeed thinner than say the Hercules steer. More of a casual California jacket opposed to an East coast work coat.

 

[JMax]

I know nothing of this French brand. The jacket caught my eye. Trucker.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/184205730085

 

[TheOldFashioned]

Wards HH Windward, BIN $160 w/ offer option:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/264696000243

 

[Mandarin]

Looks like Cal

https://www.ebay.fr/itm/Vintage-ann...283843321313?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10

 

[Will Zach]

^^
Looks like the one @technovox has.

 

[Monitor]

Looks like Cal

View attachment 226681


https://www.ebay.fr/itm/Vintage-ann...283843321313?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10

Definitely Cal. Weirdest jacket I've ever seen! Lol, winter cafe racer. Might bid.

 

[Monitor]

Dirt cheap Lewis Leathers...
https://www.grailed.com/listings/12...vintage-1970s-80s-lewis-leathers-monza-jacket

Pretty cheap Langlitz in Goat...
https://www.grailed.com/listings/9405725-leather-jacket-langlitz

 

[casterfield]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/223967277682?ul_noapp=true

Freewheelers Sunset sz 42 currently at a low bid with no reserve. Can't speak to the condition of it, though.

Went for $720. Wow.

 

[Monitor]

Went for $720. Wow.

Didn't expect it'd go for more. Regardless of how much these jackets go for when new, on the second hand market, I rarely see a jacket that reaches much more, provided the starting bid is low.

 

[Docxm]

There were also two or three tears/snags/holes in the leather already and it's deerskin. I messaged him and he said they were tears and not watermarks

 

[casechopper]

They were listed as tears in the auction listing. He said that it had come like that new.

 

[technovox]

https://www.ebay.fr/itm/Vintage-ann...283843321313?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10

^^
Looks like the one @technovox has.

Similar...but my Cal Leather has chest pockets instead of handwarmers, and is black. Interesting variation and very rare. But white leather jackets can be a tough sell -- really need some kind of ninja fashion voodoo to pull that one off...

 

[Superfluous]

There were also two or three tears/snags/holes in the leather already and it's deerskin. I messaged him and he said they were tears and not watermarks

This is exactly why it sold for so low. Used FW leather jackets usually sell for much more.

Didn't expect it'd go for more. Regardless of how much these jackets go for when new, on the second hand market, I rarely see a jacket that reaches much more, provided the starting bid is low.

That is not my experience. I regularly see used FW jackets selling for over $1,500. I chased a used FW Brakeman a couple of years ago that sold for $2,000. A used Nine Lives jacket, which retails for much less than FW, sold here last week for +/- $1,250.

 

[Will Zach]

^^
That NL retails for $2100. Is this much less than a FW?

 

[Finn Vigorous]

I think the retail is currently over the 2,5k mark: https://ninelivesbrand.com/collections/new-and-restocks/products/the-9lives-riders-jacket

+ the condition was not actually "used" either.

 

[Monitor]

That is not my experience. I regularly see used FW jackets selling for over $1,500. I chased a used FW Brakeman a couple of years ago that sold for $2,000. A used Nine Lives jacket, which retails for much less than FW, sold here last week for +/- $1,250.

If the price is set high, yeah, people will pay good money for these jackets but whenever the auction starts off with a really low price & no reserve, the bidding won't go nearly as high as you'd expect. Almost always goes below a grand. At least that's my experience. Looking at the past auctions, even the priciest Japanese makers go for around $800. At least that's my experience with eBay and Japanese jackets.

Thankfully, not many people list jackets that way.

 

[Superfluous]

^^
That NL retails for $2100. Is this much less than a FW?

Freewheelers Centinela is $3,125: https://global.rakuten.com/en/store/speedway-shop/item/1931003-44-46/

Freewheelers San Mateo is $2,840: https://global.rakuten.com/en/store/speedway-shop/item/1931005/

Some are in the $2,500 range.

 

[handymike]

I would top out at $800 on ebay- even for a Himel, or GW, or whatever.