Finds and Deals - Leather Jacket Edition

[Coriu]

Johnson Leather Small Brown $250BIN
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Jo...582984?hash=item422b9d7d08:g:Vp0AAOSwH~ZfKG8d

 

[TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead]

think a Brooks, maybe Lesco or Fidelity. Real nice grain and cheap.

Vintage 60s Horsehide ? Cafe Racer Brown Leather Motorcycle Jacket Mens SZ L B8 | eBay

 

[TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead]

Most likely a Cal 6 panel but jeez it's beat up. Shame.

Vintage Men's Horsehide Leather Jacket 1960's Motorcycle Jacket Size Small | eBay

 

[handymike]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/203288600355

 

[JMax]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/203288600355
View attachment 313748

Awesome. I’d feel like Teen Wolf in this bad boy. Would shave my beard if I owned it.

 

[handymike]

Here's a Thedi disguised as a Johnson Motors...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/193597136470

 

[handymike]

Bates meets The FONZ
https://www.ebay.com/itm/174620832765

 

[handymike]

For the ladies
https://www.ebay.com/itm/393154480195

 

[Monitor]

think a Brooks, maybe Lesco or Fidelity. Real nice grain and cheap.

Vintage 60s Horsehide ? Cafe Racer Brown Leather Motorcycle Jacket Mens SZ L B8 | eBay

Very early Golden Bear. Really nice jacket for pocket change.

 

[handymike]

...and for the Free-Spirited:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/154328254212

 

[handymike]

Vintage Roughwear
https://www.ebay.com/itm/143960615673

 

[Guppy]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/203288600355
View attachment 313748

I've seen Grizzly jackets before, but I believe that's my first Wookiee.

 

[JMax]

Cool Vanson

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Vanso...-/133666717471?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

 

[Blackadder]

Vintage Roughwear
https://www.ebay.com/itm/143960615673
View attachment 313762
View attachment 313763

Another one of those arbitrage resellers of Japanese auction. Too many weakened spots as can be seen by the repair/restitching. High risk item given the price.

 

[JMax]

Schott 576 XL $270

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Schott-Per...-/402718556901?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

 

[Coriu]

Vintage WB Place 20" P2P Auction ends in 11 hours No bids and $50 opening bid - This company was in Berlin, WI, the same location as legendary shoemaker Russell Moccasin. They did a lot of stuff in deerskin.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-WB...466905?hash=item28a9faa259:g:3k4AAOSwMb5gIJnN

 

[Coriu]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/203288600355
View attachment 313748

Imagine that jacket with this underneath

 

[handymike]

Vintage WB Place 20" P2P Auction ends in 11 hours No bids and $50 opening bid - This company was in Berlin, WI, the same location as legendary shoemaker Russell Moccasin. They did a lot of stuff in deerskin.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-WB...466905?hash=item28a9faa259:g:3k4AAOSwMb5gIJnN

W.B. Place is the only vintage maker I’ve seen that did jackets in dark brown deer. My jacket is much older, but I love the color. I wonder If I could use the hide from this to re-make mine...

 

[Coriu]

W.B. Place is the only vintage maker I’ve seen that did jackets in dark brown deer. My jacket is much older, but I love the color. I wonder If I could use the hide from this to re-make mine...

I have a good friend and hunting guide in that area of the world and have spent time there. Berlin, Wisconsin, was once a hub for the leather and fur trade. It is present home to Russell Moccasin, who has made custom hunting boots for Presidents, and present home of the Berlin Buckskin Company, a supplier of deer hides. If I remember correctly, folks could send their hides from hunts to WB Place to get custom clothing made.

WB Place likely had access to some great leather craftsmen. Although I don't own any pieces, I would not hesitate for a minute to buy something made by them because it is likely very well made. That area of Wisconsin is absolutely crawling with deer, so it makes sense that WB Place would have had access to some great hides.

 

[Coriu]

W.B. Place is the only vintage maker I’ve seen that did jackets in dark brown deer. My jacket is much older, but I love the color. I wonder If I could use the hide from this to re-make mine...

I don't know why people are not more interested in deerhide for day-to-day wear. People seem fixated on horsehide nowadays. Sure, horsehide is a great choice for riding. But for dresswear, I think it can be limiting, especially a newer jacket that is stiff and/or has a shiny look. Deerhide is not as tough, but it's not exactly delicate either. How tough does your leather need to be for dresswear? For those who want to poopoo it and claim "horsehide or nothing," I guess the American Indians who used deerskin leather to make clothing for hundreds of years knew much less about leather than we do today.

Deerskin has many good qualities, ie warmth and water resistance. It also drapes beautifully. I find its beauty to be subtle. I own a dark deerskin jacket that does not look out of place at a business gathering or at the local country store. Whereas if I pulled up in my car and popped out in a stiff, shiny horsehide jacket I would look like a dude to some, especially in a rural environment. Price can be a barrier for a new deerskin jacket, but I see some online that are dirt cheap.

Finally, as some of us know, deer are overpopulating many areas. Not nearly as many people will get upset about killing deer as they will horses. I know some hard-core deerhunters who could not bring themself to shoot a horse. So, for the future, deerhides might be a more sustainable option, cost aside.