Looking to buy an A-2 jacket, opinions...

[Yesteryear]

I am looking to buy a 1940s style A-2 Aviator jacket. The one I am considering is this one from 'Flight Jacket.com' here is the link:
http://www.flightjacket.com/a2-jacket.html

-After a long time researching on the internet this looks like the most authentic A-2 for the best price, but is it?
All the other A-2's I have seen are too modern and feature the side entry pockets, which I DO NOT want! I also don't want pre-applied patches, just a clean jacket.

I currently have an authentic WWII repro A-2 from Alpha Industries (made before they started adding the side entry pockets). It's a beautiful jacket, but it is too big on me.
If I find one that fits I'll end up selling the other.

 

[tnjyoung]

Yesteryear,
I can't find where these are "made", but it looks like a nice jacket. In addition, it lists materials that (if true) seems to make this an exceptional value. I'd say this is about as cheap as you'll find an authentic horsehide reproduction jacket. It's the cheapest I've seen, anyway. I'm no military reproduction expert, but if you are not concerned with where the jacket is made (USA, Scotland, Italy, etc.), then I'd say this may suit you just fine. Great looking jackets for sure.

 

[tnjyoung]

Yesteryear,
I can't find where these are "made", but it looks like a nice jacket. In addition, it lists materials that (if true) seems to make this an exceptional value. I'd say this is about as cheap as you'll find an authentic horsehide reproduction jacket. It's the cheapest I've seen, anyway. I'm no military reproduction expert, but if you are not concerned with where the jacket is made (USA, Scotland, Italy, etc.), then I'd say this may suit you just fine. Great looking jackets for sure.

One the "about us" page it states all garments made in the USA. Seems like a steal, but the price, along with the spelling and grammar errors on the page, has me leery...

 

[Yesteryear]

$400 is for the goatskin, the horsehide is an extra $125. Since both can be considered authentic, I will be going with the cheaper goatskin.

 

[Doctor Strange]

First of all, if you do a search on "US Authentic", you'll find tons of posts here about these jackets. They've been a notable repro manufacturer for a long time.

US Authentic jackets are made in Katonah, New York. They are a very small business, not a factory. I live nearby and went over and tried them on in person when I bought one back in 2002 - the "factory" is an old carriage house adjacent to the owner's home with maybe a half-dozen employees. As I've been saying ever since, if their odd trim-but-long sizing works for you (it really didn't for me: I'm short and wide), their goatskin model is the best buy in a reasonably accurate generic WWII A-2 repro. The cotton lining and wool knits alone make a huge difference. And their jackets have a rough-hewn, handmade feeling quite different from factory products (like my Gibson & Barnes jackets: don't get me wrong, they're great... but they have a bit of a too-perfect assembly line feel - US Authentic jackets somehow have more character).

My only complaint with mine other than the sizing - I sold it in the Classifieds here when I put on a few pounds and the waist became too tight - was that the seal horsehide was thick and squeaky with a very heavy outer pigment that never wore off, not after years of wear in rain and snow. I recommend their goatskin model.

BTW, there's one other less expensive alternative that's gotten a lot of praise for its bargain price here in the last few months:

http://onlinemilitaria.net/products/5467-US-A-2-Leather-Flight-Jacket/

While it's demonstrably less accurate than the US A in some ways - S-M-L-XL sizing, no spec label - it is still apparently a good goatskin replica at a remarkably low price.

Addendum: US A is run by Shaul Dover, who's originally from Israel, so cut him some slack on the grammar and spelling!

 

[Fanch]

I assume you reside in the US. Correct? If you wish to buy the most authentic A-2, that would be an A-2 made by John Chapman (goodwearleather.com), although his A-2's are expensive and generally a long wait time. Another alternative would be Gibson & Barnes "historic" Type A-2 Mark 43, which IMO is preferable to their Air Force A-2 with polyester lining and knits, and well worth the additional $250 upcharge for their Mark 43. Aero Leather in Scotland also make a great A-2. I currently own an Aero Bronco A-2 labeled size 44 (long) and a G&B Type A-2 Mark 43 labeled size 40 (tall). The Aero is a snug fit and is actually fits a size smaller than the G&B. As a point of reference, my suit size is 44 long. So, keep in mind the way a jacket is labeled does not necessarily reflect the actual fit. I have no personal experience with flightjacket.com but think it might be a good value. The critical factor for you with whatever you get will be correct sizing.

 

[Yesteryear]

if their odd trim-but-long sizing works for you (it really didn't for me: I'm short and wide), their goatskin model is the best buy in a reasonably accurate generic WWII A-2 repro.

Does that mean the jacket body is too long compared to how it should be?

 

[tnjyoung]

Addendum: US A is run by Shaul Dover, who's originally from Israel, so cut him some slack on the grammar and spelling!

Thanks Doctor Strange. This is comforting, actually. Websites are so easy to manufacture, as are reviews, so I'm always a bit hesitant when directed to a new one. This company does seem to be on the up and up. With that said, these jackets are most certainly a bargain.

 

[Doctor Strange]

Not "too long", but their sizing seems designed for folks who are thin and tall. They are military style trim in the waist/chest/shoulders, but longish in the body and sleeves.

For example, I had a size 44R and the body length was nearly an inch and half longer than my Gibson & Barnes 46Rs... and everyone considers G&B's sizing to be "modern oversized"!

 

[Yesteryear]

Hmmm.... ok.
I'm not sure if it will work for me then, I am thin but short! They seem good about returns though.

 

[Fanch]

Hmmm.... ok.
I'm not sure if it will work for me then, I am thin but short! They seem good about returns though.

Nice thing about G&B is that they sell three "fit" versions: Short, Regular, and Tall.

 

[Yesteryear]

I was looking through some posts on US Authentic A-2s and see that the company has made some improvements to their jackets over the years. Does anybody know if they corrected the excess length issue on the ones currently sold.

 

[handymike]

You could try Aerial Star as well.

 

[Yesteryear]

The Aerial looks superb, but is a bit out of my price range. I'm trying to stay $450 and under.

Here is the A-2 I am looking to replace, an early Alpha Industries model. It's two sizes too large for me, you can see how long it is in this picture. When the waist part is positioned where it should be on me I look like a balloon. That's why the extra long sizing of these US Authentic A-2s concerns me, it might end up being like what I already have.

 

[Doctor Strange]

I don't recall seeing anything about US A changing their sizing.

Keep in mind that my own sizing issue comes down to always having to fit my big gut, and the sleeves are nearly always too long on anything I buy. (I recently got a Schott jacket in a 2XL so it would fit at the waist... and it needed the sleeves taken up two inches. And the sleeves on my two 46R G&B jackets both exhibit "tunneling" of the knits 'cause they're a bit long for me.) If you are thin and don't need to buy a bigger size like I do, the body and sleeve length may seem fine. Let's see if some other folks with US A jackets chime in...

And agreed Fanch, G&B's Short, Regular, and Tall sizing is great. If I were buying another G&B jacket, I'd probably go for a 48 Short. (But since I now have a custom-sized Good Wear that fits perfectly, I think I'm done buying A-2s.)

 

[Yesteryear]

I will need either a size 36R or 38R jacket (there is no 37R). I sent them an email asking what the sleeve and centerback measurements are between these two sizes. We'll see if they respond, but from what I've read they are reluctant to give out measurements for some reason.

 

[Fanch]

You might take a jacket that you currently own and take measurements to determine the sizing that you need. Below is a link to instruct you exactly how one should measure a jacket:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?74921-Leather-jacket-question

You are most likely to get a perfect fit from G&B but would need precise sizing information because of the way G&B labels their sizes. If you are near San Diego or ever visit there, a ride on the San Diego trolley to El Cajon to the G&B factory would be a fantastic experience. I have visited there twice. Great experience both times!

 

[Yesteryear]

This one?
http://www.gibson-barnes.com/prod-293976/Air-Force-A2.html

 

[Doctor Strange]

That's the current USAF style jacket. Synthetic lining and knits. Modern YKK zipper. Baggy modern fit. Not a WWII-style A-2. G&B's historical line is better... and three-hundred dollars more expensive. (*)

US Authentic's goatskin model is much better in that price range, if it's a WWII style jacket you want.

(* I have nothing against G&B! My first good A-2 was a G&B - still called "Flight Suits" at the time - their "Civil" model in black goatskin. It isn't a good WWII repro - my next jacket was the US A in order to get one of those - but it's a damn fine jacket. I've worn it more than any of my other leather jackets since 2001, and it's held up beautifully. Very, very solid.)

 

[Yesteryear]

That's the current USAF style jacket. Synthetic lining and knits. Modern YKK zipper. Baggy modern fit. Not a WWII-style A-2. G&B's historical line is better... and three-hundred dollars more expensive. (*)

US Authentic's goatskin model is much better in that price range, if it's a WWII style jacket you want.

(* I have nothing against G&B! My first good A-2 was a G&B - still called "Flight Suits" at the time - their "Civil" model in black goatskin. It isn't a good WWII repro - my next jacket was the US A in order to get one of those - but it's a damn fine jacket. I've worn it more than any of my other leather jackets since 2001, and it's held up beautifully. Very, very solid.)

Thanks, yes I do prefer the WWII style's color and fit compared to any modern style A-2.