MA-1 Flight jacket

[kowalski]

wrote an email to the seller if he knows the story my jacket MA1 Alpha He wrote ; ....
...Yes. The MA-1 was owned by a pilot that served in the USAF during the Vietnam war but was later stationed in Alaska. Which is where I acquired the jacket....

I'm very happy i have a jacket with a history, I know personally ..

 

[Doctor Damage]

I've got a G&B MA1 in the Teal Blue (their lightweight flight satin). Came up long in length & sleeves in XL, body quite generous shoulders & pit to pit. Well made, though I don't like their chunky knits or the mat appearance of the nylon used. Mine had to be shortened in length (rear of jacket 3") to give it the look I like (jacket was originally same length back and front & didn't look 'right' to my eye). Sleeves were massively long on me (regular XL) and had to lose a few inches to fit. Knits felt 'sloppy' and had to have elastic thread added to give a 'crisp' look to sleeves.

Did you get that used or from e-Bay? I'm surprised you didn't sell it on, if it didn't answer your requirements. Anyway, you've just sold me on a G&B jacket, because (1) I don't like the super glossy shiny look, and (2) I don't want it riding up around my belly button like a wading jacket!

 

[Justhandguns]

I think I was with you up to the very last part. I would tend to believe anything that John Chapman says about vintage jackets...of any kind...and I would tend to believe anything I read on the Goodwear site. But maybe you were talking about the movie advertising.

AF

Edward just spoke everything in my mind. And yes, I was referring to their advertising claims.

I haven't noticed a huge increase in the price of vintage nylon, but I have noticed a decrease in its availability. If the price of original nylon is increasing, I do so hope the trend continues. I've got a bunch of jackets I'd happily sell...at the right price...and I've already got my eye on a new Grady White!

AF

I think Edward is right, the demand of these vintage jackets is probably starting to descend from their earlier leather predecessors. I actually scored an early 70s' L-2B in minty condition a few years ago for around USD40, a similar jacket would easily sell for around $100 these days, and that is over 50% increase with a few years of time. So be happy if you have loads of these jackets in your wardrobe!

 

[Atticus Finch]

I've probably got more L-2Bs than anything else. About ten years ago I went through an L-2B phase and bought a pile of them trying to find one that wasn't short and skimpy and would cover my large self. Now I've got a closet full of size XL...but still skimpy...L-2Bs.

AF

 

[Smithy]

I’d personally like to think that there is an opportunity for Alpha to reintroduce the Replica Series and maybe expand it a little. There’s certainly a gap in the market for a maker to offer something that sits in between BR and Alpha’s current offerings, and it would be great to see it cover B-15s, L and N series and MA-1s as well. I do wonder if they stopped the Replica series because at that time originals could still be picked up cheaply and in good condition. Whereas it’s probably possible to argue that releasing a Replica series line now would be far better timing than the 90s because of the price that originals are commanding today.

 

[Blackadder]

Pity. What are you comparing them against? I remember Ken Caulder saying back when Aero were offering both their own B10 and the Pike Bros one that he considered the latter to be a bit 'over-engineered' and their own a bit more accurate. Can't comment on that as I haven't had the chance to compare like for like, though it does seem plausible that you could make a jacket now that is more durable but at the expense of 100% accuracy (c/f the debate over Aero's 'improvement' to A2 knits). I wonder is this the case here? Personally I'd compromise certain very subtle details for durability, but I buy jackets to wear rather than collect (so I tell myself anyhow.... ).

I can only comment on the quality of the materials used in those Japanese repros and not level of details and accuracy since I have never owned or seen a real N-1, B-10 and B-15. I am comparing Buzz with Real McCoy's repros.

 

[KELORGO]

I had Gibson Barnes send me samples of their Flight Nylon and their Mountain Cloth materials that they make their MA-1s out of last year. The FN was more shiny and was silkier to the touch. The MC had a flatter appearance and was rougher to the touch. Both held up quite well to having nails and sharp items rubbed across them, but the MC eventually won out in these "torture" tests. I also submitted each material to a water test, and was surprised that water seeped through the Flight Nylon very quickly. The Mountain Cloth was much more water resistant, so if you want a jacket to resist a pretty decent drenching, MC is the way to go.

I felt that the MC would probably pick up and hold more lint, due to its more "grabby" texture. Flight Nylon would probably be more comfortable to wear. If you go to the Gibson Barnes website and look under "cloth jackets" you'll see that they make each of their jackets in a FN and a MC version. You can see on the website that MC has a much duller appearance than FN. Gibson Barnes uses Thinsulate in their insulated cloth jackets.

Also, be aware that Gibson Barnes has a "Clearance" portion of their website where they sell their leather and cloth jackets at significant discounts. You just have to be patient and wait for your jacket/size/material to come up on clearance. I'm still waiting for the right MA-1 to pop, so I can purchase my first GB jacket.

 

[KELORGO]

I forgot to mention... Gibson Barnes makes their CWU 36 and 45 jackets with the old-style action back and with hidden hand warmer pockets behind the patch pockets on the front of the jacket.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Their MA1 jackets are available in both Regular and Long lengths, which I haven't seen elsewhere.

Aren't they outsourced through Alpha. I've put this to G&B with no reply. As yet. They certainly sell Alpha branded ones in long sizes. I have one of them.

 

[Seb Lucas]

I had Gibson Barnes send me samples of their Flight Nylon and their Mountain Cloth materials that they make their MA-1s out of last year. The FN was more shiny and was silkier to the touch. The MC had a flatter appearance and was rougher to the touch. Both held up quite well to having nails and sharp items rubbed across them, but the MC eventually won out in these "torture" tests. I also submitted each material to a water test, and was surprised that water seeped through the Flight Nylon very quickly. The Mountain Cloth was much more water resistant, so if you want a jacket to resist a pretty decent drenching, MC is the way to go.

I have a Mountain Cloth jacket. It's just a marketing term for a thin synthetic fabric as seen on a decent windbreaker and bears no relationship at all to the DuPont 6/6 flight satin that was used on MA1's. I wouldn't want an MA1 made of MC as it would totally change the look to my taste. Having said that the MC fabric is a good alternative to the cotton of a G9 Baracuta Harrington jacket. It's more in that vibe.

 

[Sloan1874]

Amazingly, I snagged a brand-new-with-tags, Alpha N-2B on eBay this evening for just £47! The seller was more shocked than I was that it went for so little.

 

[KELORGO]

I believe that Gibson Barnes might very well outsource one of their MA-1s to Alpha. The one they sell that has an orange lining is imported. The GB rep I spoke with on the phone said that the MA1s they sell without the orange lining are made by GB in the USA. He believed they were of better quality than the imported ones.

I agree with Seb Lucas that the Mountain Cloth changes the look of the venerable MA1, and would probably stick with Flight Nylon in this jacket. The MC was more scratch resistant and much more water resistant, though. So if you want a toned-down, tough MA1 the MC would be a good choice.

 

[Blackadder]

Amazingly, I snagged a brand-new-with-tags, Alpha N-2B on eBay this evening for just £47! The seller was more shocked than I was that it went for so little.

Good for you, that's half the price of what it costs here but then if I bid on it, the overseas shipping is probably going to costs me another 20-30 quids.

 

[Sloan1874]

They've been going for £120 to £150 on average over here, though I saw a second hand one go for £40 yesterday - it's amazing how the weather has an impact on prices Though i think if I had been focusing for the more popular mil spec green or blue, rather than the brown, I'd still be paying big bucks.

 

[Blackadder]

They've been going for £120 to £150 on average over here, though I saw a second hand one go for £40 yesterday - it's amazing how the weather has an impact on prices Though i think if I had been focusing for the more popular mil spec green or blue, rather than the brown, I'd still be paying big bucks.

Normally, I would not be interested in the Alpha but I saw a USA made N-2B with white fur selling for about 80 quids retail, so I asked the shop to order one in my size.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Just heard from Drew the sales manger at G&B - says their MA1's are made in California and are a far better quality - stitching and zips to the Chinese made Alphas. Tempted to get one. Won't be a Buzz but it will probably be decent.

 

[kowalski]

Normally, I would not be interested in the Alpha but I saw a USA made N-2B with white fur selling for about 80 quids retail, so I asked the shop to order one in my size.

Hi

Contrackt or cyvilian model ?

 

[Smithy]

Just heard from Drew the sales manger at G&B - says their MA1's are made in California and are a far better quality - stitching and zips to the Chinese made Alphas. Tempted to get one. Won't be a Buzz but it will probably be decent.

I didn't know that Seb. I'm very interested in seeing more of these. If you do get one post some pics and a review as I could be tempted too, so long as the nylon and pattern are good.

Good heads-up that.

 

[kowalski]

such a curiosity:eeek: price of nylon on top:eusa_clap
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Orig-WWII...964?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item338978af9c

 

[Smithy]

such a curiosity:eeek: price of nylon on top:eusa_clap
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Orig-WWII...964?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item338978af9c

Hahahaha!!!!!!! That's bloody hilarious

These sorts of eBay auctions always remind me of the very best one I've seen - some joker who was selling the "joystick from a WWI Sopwith Camel" for some fantastic amount of money and lo and behold the photos were of a........wooden chair leg!

I still wish I'd saved that page, best one I've seen.