Bfd70
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 5,569
- Location
- Traverse city
Great write up. Pre pandemic I had a Schott store 5 miles away. I did a little bit of trying on but always felt a bit awkward because it seemed like the staff was commission based and i knew that i’d likely go the “good conditioned preowned” route. I did buy a great deck jacket from them and foolishly sold it. Presently Near me 2 shops stock 6 different perfecto models. On the way is a 38 118. It should afford me room to zip and layer. As noted in another infamous thread I have a RMC j24. Comparing the two is a little golden delicious vs honeycrisp. Problem is 20# pandemic weight is stuck on me and zippered the j24 is a bit snug for my liking (Passively in the classifieds).Having owned way too many Schotts for any normal person LOL, here's my thoughts.
The 100 series leather is spectacular assuming these two things: you don't ride and you want a flat matte look without much development. It is buttery soft with just a few wears, develops nice creases, drapes well, is hefty, and is pure bad assery. The 118 is my bury me in it jacket. Super comfortable yet has all the swagger. To the person on the street who wants to touvh your sleeve to see what the leather is like, this jacket will blow them away. It's cut longer and you can get more of a trim fit by going down one or even two sizes if that's what you want. Otherwise it does have a more relaxed fit.
600 steerhide series leather is very top coat heavy and is better suited for riding. If you are going to wear as your daily go to jacket, I think in a handful of years you'll have a well developed piece of leather with more character than the 118. But I had a version or two that were at least 30-40 years old and they still felt plasticky because of the top coat. In a few areas where it had worn down, it was spectacular and grainy. Some subtle differences with hardware (i.e. 118 has snap for the buckle, 618 does not). Long story short, if you're just looking for fashion, I'd go elsewhere if leather "quality" is your thing. Not that it's bad, it's just made for different purposes. The silhouette though is classic icon, no doubt about that.
Horsehide on the 613 SH model (can't confirm what the other horsehide is like, i.e. 613 HH or 618 HH). Has top coat, but much thinner than the usual 600 steer hide. With about 50 wears, getting wet a few times, it's mostly gone. Not like a sponge like the 118, will still repel some water, but unlike the 600 steerhide, it's gotten very soft, almost to 100 series level and much grainier. To me this is best of both worlds. It is shiny though and I haven't seen much dulling yet. The cut of the 613 SH is classic perfecto with some different details (i.e. different belt style, etc.) but has the narrow shoulders, super trim fit and imo the perfect length. No underarm footballs. It is classic punk rock.
I've had and tried on multiple Per models and generally speaking they are all really nice. A lot though are based on 600 series leather but usually they upgrade the hardware (a lot will have Talon) and the liners. Occasionally there are some Per models with CXL or other special leather, and these are dollar for dollar in line with anything else in this price range. There are also some collab models that are super nice, especially the 3-16 collabs.
500 series is very soft and pliable, fairly grainy, but kind of scrotum like LOL, and definitely shiny. I really liked 519 but I just preferred my 118 overall. It just felt more legit and even though I classified it as more of a fashion jacket, it still screams biker, just has more fashion like attributes. The 519 however was pure fashion top to bottom.
If I had to start over again, I'd either get a 118 in 38 (mine right now is a 40 that I've gotten wet and put in the sun a few times to shrink some) and then I'd add the stars to scratch that itch. Or I'd get a size 42 613SH and shrink down some. Right now I have a 40 that I really had to spend some time getting wet and wearing extra thick hoodies, etc. So I basically have a hoodie zipped up one and a more tight fitting, unzipped tshirt only one. It's real first world problems LOL.


