Johnson Leather Jacket

[Aloysius]

This post is a comparison review. There are some questions I had that I wanted to find out for myself for a while.

M-500 xzip vs WWL-41 xzip.

M-500 is the current Bay area police department contract jacket, mine is in stock size 40.

WWL-41 is their other police jacket, and mine is in stock size 42.

M-500 on the left, WWL-41 on the right
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JL's M-500 pattern has been one of my favorite ever since I got it. Mostly because it's very comfortable and I can wear it all day. Practical and no nonsense.

The WWL-41 pattern is quite a bit flashier than the understated M-500 imo. But still has great range of motion. Quite amazing for a tight fitting jacket pattern.

If the M-500 is an modified unmarked cruiser putting down 500+hp at the wheels, then the WWL-41 is a Lambo police car.

That's all I got. Thanks for reading.

I wonder how different the patterns are when you equalize for sizing via shared PTP, because your size 40 M-500 measures very similarly to the size 44 WWL-41s I saw at the shop.

I bring this up because nothing about the WWL-41 has that "skinny fit" of many repro jackets (like the worst feature they have, skinny biceps that limit motion); the difference seems to be mostly in size numbering, with the WWL-41 doing the 1950s thing of the chest circumference being 2" more than the tagged size. So I wonder if it's really just the numbers.

 

[Canuck Panda]

I wonder how different the patterns are when you equalize for sizing via shared PTP, because your size 40 M-500 measures very similarly to the size 44 WWL-41s I saw at the shop.

I bring this up because nothing about the WWL-41 has that "skinny fit" of many repro jackets (like the worst feature they have, skinny biceps that limit motion); the difference seems to be mostly in size numbering, with the WWL-41 doing the 1950s thing of the chest circumference being 2" more than the tagged size. So I wonder if it's really just the numbers.

The WWL-41 feels like a completely different pattern to me top down, no tag size game here, and the size 42 works for me. I tried to show that with all the mobility poses, it’s got a bit of pattern engineering. However, the case with all custom jackets, it’s best to go with how you would like it to fit, just to be on the safer side.

 

[Goel]

They also have a newer mandarin collar crosszip, similar to the Langlitz Cascade.

 

[Aloysius]

The WWL-41 feels like a completely different pattern to me top down, no tag size game here, and the size 42 works for me. I tried to show that with all the mobility poses, it’s got a bit of pattern engineering. However, the case with all custom jackets, it’s best to go with how you would like it to fit, just to be on the safer side.

I agree that the pattern is different. I'm just saying the sizes are graded differently so I didn't find them to fit very differently where the PTP was the same.

Like yes if someone bought a 42 in both, they would feel dramatically different. But a 40 in one measures like 44 in the other, and when I tried those on, they felt similar.

 

[Furrowson]

About 1" longer body would have been OK. I spec'd this jacket for riding in mind.
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Bit of a slow reply here but #1 looking great man! #2 in my experience cow/steer hide stretches and molds where denser horsehide does not. Enjoy the jacket!

 

[STPmotor]

this belong to a member here?

 

[El Marro]

this belong to a member here?

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I wish it belonged to me!

 

[Aloysius]

this belong to a member here?

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Holy crap. Half-moon pocket CHP. This is art.

 

[STPmotor]

Holy crap. Half-moon pocket CHP. This is art.

I know right!? this manages to be both brand new (granted just new to me a relative novice), and feel like a classic pattern. I guess another way to say - I wouldn't have thought of these mods but now want one.

 

[JMax]

Holy crap. Half-moon pocket CHP. This is art.

Are the half-moons slightly off? One looks to bend closer to the main zip. Hard to tell. But yes, awesome jacket.

 

[bigmanbigtruck]

Sick liner. If thats horse hide, I'm a transexuual. "German" tannery? Not really what they're known for. MAYBE Im wrong, but looks like the owner pulled an out-of-towner cowhide switcheroo with a backstory on ya. That grain looks soft and its already broken in. I know that owner. That has alway been a dubious spot. Great for repairs, would NEVER buy off the rack or trust with custom.

Al's. Al's man.

Everything good?

If you're talking about the CHP above, their IG very clearly states it's steerhide... no idea why you got into a rant about them pulling a bait and switch...

 

[STPmotor]

Are the half-moons slightly off? One looks to bend closer to the main zip. Hard to tell. But yes, awesome jacket.

Yeah, I saw that too. Assuming it's a optical illusion, tracking the 'pleats' over the zipper they're not 100% symmetrical, so guessing the jackets just not laying perfectly flat

 

[TheOldFashioned]

Everything good?

If you're talking about the CHP above, their IG very clearly states it's steerhide... no idea why you got into a rant about them pulling a bait and switch...

Guy hasn't even been here long enough for a cup of coffee and he's telling members how to run their Classifieds listing and craps on a well-respected business. Off to a helluva start.

 

[STPmotor]

Sick liner. MAYBE Im wrong, but looks like the owner pulled cowhide switcheroo on ya. That grain looks like cow, soft and its already broken in. Maybe because you chose 2oz. I know that owner. Johnson's is a little checkered. They do great repairs, but the owner has always been weird about his leather.

What was your cost alll in?

Not my jacket, man. Came across it on their IG and thought it may belong to, or be on it's way to , a member here - think these mods on the classic pattern are pretty tasteful. As mentioned they clearly state steerhide in their IG post - not sure where you think the switcheroo is coming from.

Honestly don't really follow your critique - but what the hell, costs me nothing to respond genuinely.

I do have a JL in the queue (waiting on a mock up) so I can assume cost all in is about 15% or so off a new Aero. Don't mean that as a value comparison between the two...just a guess at an average.

 

[X83]

The guys at Jl are trust worthy I have a few jackets from them all custom and have a little something in the works made of bison and shark skin should be at my door by June

 

[STPmotor]

The guys at Jl are trust worthy I have a few jackets from them all custom and have a little something in the works made of bison and shark skin should be at my door by June

Cool. Have my first jacket from them, canvas mock up in the works, thinking their blue Essex...but not sure on the leather.

 

[X83]

Cool. Have my first jacket from them, canvas mock up in the works, thinking their blue Essex...but not sure on the leather.

They have an incredible selection and if there is something u have in mind they can order something in for you they have ordered leather’s in for me in the past I love them because u can truly have a 1 of 1 jacket

 

[Canuck Panda]

And

The guys at Jl are trust worthy I have a few jackets from them

+1

 

[X83]

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And

+1

I didn’t want to have to state it but yes for me Jl is my number 1 because of the fact I can create a 1 of 1 and I’ve spoken with Alan he has told me they will not make a jacket for someone else that was of your own design to me that speaks volumes

 

[Aloysius]

I do have a JL in the queue (waiting on a mock up) so I can assume cost all in is about 15% or so off a new Aero. Don't mean that as a value comparison between the two...just a guess at an average.

Cost is almost double Aero (and that's totally fine, but worth noting).