Luc Punksblood
New in Town
- Messages
- 5
Hey everybody, I got curious about Master Supply Co on the forum after having recently outgrown my original purchase from them and... I can't keep up with tge entirety of the threada right now but thought I'd at the very least share my experience.
For reference I hadn't any experience beyond some First Manufacturing (FMG) jackets that are stocked by a local leather & pawn shop which were affordable but hardly satisfying as far as fit goes. Just recently have I acquired a Lewis Leather (Memphis no. 723 in horsehide) which has been a grail of mine for years. So I don't know much beyond what I've read here but have always preferred a good fit over fits that simply 'work.' FMG 'worked.' Frankly Master Supply Co (MSC) 'worked.' Which at the time, for the price then, was worth noting.
I got my Widowmaker in February of 2021 and wore it damn near almost literally every day for close to four years. A couple which I had a bike only and rode for all but a couple weeks in winter. Rain or shine sometimes without a rain jacket. My initial impressions were that it was a solid jacket as far as weight goes and finish was comparable to the FMG which seems similar to another common budget brand Milwaukee Leather which are all I really see on Amazon or Canadian motorcycle parts retailers but there were definitely some design problems.
The biggest initial disappointment was the faux action back. Where there should have been extra material tucked away was in fact a sewn solid flap sharing a seam with the shoulder. For the size I got the sleeves were a bit short and may still be considering the fashion cut not having much of a crop (if I remember correctly their sleeves and overall length are about the same) but it's not like I really knew better at the time. The zippers got a little sticky after too much time in the rain but they never ceased to function. I had purchased their older generation buffalo leather Tombstone, with the double zips and red stitching, but was struggling to wear any of the "nice" clothes that I'd bought because of my job. I work in metal and the dirt, dust and rust finds its way everywhere I go. So I sold that barely worn but it sure did feel decent in the hand however without wear I can't say much to it's practicality so to give an unbiased opinion as it's been on my mind while preparing to retire the Widowmaker...
It served me very well. Four long and fast years. I think it could have four more but with someone who has a smaller chest and perhaps shorter arms. As much as I'd like to think the jacket shrunk the fact is I finally decided not to ride this winter and without the bike I didn't get out much and started cooking alot but I digress. I noticed the price jump as they continued evolving their catalogue and had damn near swore off of them and since getting myself a well established LL jacket which I fear ruining the beautiful bright red quilted lining of by riding to work in it. As such I've been studying measurements of my own and the available jackets on the used market hoping to obtain something of similar quality at a discounted price before ending up back on the Master Supply Co website. After some thought I decided I could afford the potential buyers regret on their latest Tombstone and watched the review video several times before ordering one myself.
The impression that I get is that whether it's worth the price to anyone here is irrelevant and it seems they're evolving for better or worse. The climbing price may or may not match they're evolution in quality and could be accounted for in operating costs/inflation, fashion as a brand name in that aspect, but perhaps quality too. It seems their shoulders are finally action-backed! Functionally! Even though I was put off them for sometime I was wearing my Widowmaker every single day and it held up. I think I got my money's worth and after my initial apprehension to pay the current price for their current offerings I respect the effort they're making. I'll miss the paisley liner but might make a post of my LL and MSC side by side when it arrives. Here is my tattered Widowmaker...
For reference I hadn't any experience beyond some First Manufacturing (FMG) jackets that are stocked by a local leather & pawn shop which were affordable but hardly satisfying as far as fit goes. Just recently have I acquired a Lewis Leather (Memphis no. 723 in horsehide) which has been a grail of mine for years. So I don't know much beyond what I've read here but have always preferred a good fit over fits that simply 'work.' FMG 'worked.' Frankly Master Supply Co (MSC) 'worked.' Which at the time, for the price then, was worth noting.
I got my Widowmaker in February of 2021 and wore it damn near almost literally every day for close to four years. A couple which I had a bike only and rode for all but a couple weeks in winter. Rain or shine sometimes without a rain jacket. My initial impressions were that it was a solid jacket as far as weight goes and finish was comparable to the FMG which seems similar to another common budget brand Milwaukee Leather which are all I really see on Amazon or Canadian motorcycle parts retailers but there were definitely some design problems.
The biggest initial disappointment was the faux action back. Where there should have been extra material tucked away was in fact a sewn solid flap sharing a seam with the shoulder. For the size I got the sleeves were a bit short and may still be considering the fashion cut not having much of a crop (if I remember correctly their sleeves and overall length are about the same) but it's not like I really knew better at the time. The zippers got a little sticky after too much time in the rain but they never ceased to function. I had purchased their older generation buffalo leather Tombstone, with the double zips and red stitching, but was struggling to wear any of the "nice" clothes that I'd bought because of my job. I work in metal and the dirt, dust and rust finds its way everywhere I go. So I sold that barely worn but it sure did feel decent in the hand however without wear I can't say much to it's practicality so to give an unbiased opinion as it's been on my mind while preparing to retire the Widowmaker...
It served me very well. Four long and fast years. I think it could have four more but with someone who has a smaller chest and perhaps shorter arms. As much as I'd like to think the jacket shrunk the fact is I finally decided not to ride this winter and without the bike I didn't get out much and started cooking alot but I digress. I noticed the price jump as they continued evolving their catalogue and had damn near swore off of them and since getting myself a well established LL jacket which I fear ruining the beautiful bright red quilted lining of by riding to work in it. As such I've been studying measurements of my own and the available jackets on the used market hoping to obtain something of similar quality at a discounted price before ending up back on the Master Supply Co website. After some thought I decided I could afford the potential buyers regret on their latest Tombstone and watched the review video several times before ordering one myself.
The impression that I get is that whether it's worth the price to anyone here is irrelevant and it seems they're evolving for better or worse. The climbing price may or may not match they're evolution in quality and could be accounted for in operating costs/inflation, fashion as a brand name in that aspect, but perhaps quality too. It seems their shoulders are finally action-backed! Functionally! Even though I was put off them for sometime I was wearing my Widowmaker every single day and it held up. I think I got my money's worth and after my initial apprehension to pay the current price for their current offerings I respect the effort they're making. I'll miss the paisley liner but might make a post of my LL and MSC side by side when it arrives. Here is my tattered Widowmaker...
