Question about G1's leather quality ...

[Tefouane]

Hi there !
Hope all are well.
My question concerning goat leather quality on M422a or G1 :
should it be supple and lightweight or heavy and rigid to make a good replica ?
Can U tell me about your experience about it ?
Thanks in advance.
Best regards from France and very sorry about my poooor english ;O(

 

[greyhound68]

Hi there and welcome. I own a G-1 from 1960 and an ANJ-3A from 1943. Both have very supple goatskin. The 1960 G-1 is near mint have not been worn much if any at all. Both jackets have very thin goatskin which I like. Hope this answers your question

 

[Technonut]

Both of my Gibson & Barnes M-422A jackets are very supple, but tough goatskin.... I really like them...

 

[Estevan]

My original Gordon and Ferguson M-422a has very thin goat, a little stiff but very strong. I have owned many M-422a/G-1s and the majority of them had thinnish goat.

 

[Marv]

My ELC G1 is the same, thinish goat, supple but strong....all in all a comfortable jacket.

 

[Alan Eardley]

Navy jacket hide

In my experience, the weight and thickness of Navy jackets can vary widely, even in those from the same period, but I think you will find that (contary to popular belief) the earlier jackets are generally in thinner, lighter hide than the later (white label) jackets and virtually all the modern reproductions.

One of the virtues of goatskin (probably the main reason for it being specified originally) is its high strength-to-weight ratio and suppleness. It would therefore make sense for a flyer in 1943 to have a light, comfortable, tough jacket. Many buyers in 2007 just seem to want weight and thickness, and reproduction manufacturers are only too willing to oblige...

Just my opinion.

Alan

 

[SamReu]

Spokes Man

I have an Edwards G-1 from the 1960s, and, like other coats mentioned here, its goatskin is thin and really tough.