US AUTHENTIC GOATSKIN HEAVILY WORN IN---Pics?

[USAAFAcePilot]

Anybody have any pics of a US Authentic Medium Brown Goatskin A-2 that has been broken in/heavily worn?

 

[Doctor Strange]

My US A A-2 is horsehide, and I don't have recent pictures anyway...

But I just wanted to point out that goatskin doesn't change much with wear or age. Aside from a crease here or there, and the eventual wearing off of some pigment at stress points (e.g., the edge of the windflap), goatskin barely changes in anything less than decades of wear.

I've got two goatskin Gibson & Barnes jackets - a vintage-2001 Civil A-2 and a 2005 Historical M-422A - and they look nearly the same as they did when new, even after plenty of wear in rain and snow. Just some light creases at the bend points, and some worn-off pigment on the A-2s windflap and left epaulette (from seat-belt friction).

And I gave a friend a US Wings goatskin Indy jacket that didn't fit me well a couple of years ago; he's been wearing it daily as his main fall/winter/spring jacket through two NYC winters, and it I saw it last week... Yup, it still looks new!

Generally speaking, goatskin doesn't change radically during break-in like horsehide: you can expect it to look nearly new for years. I figured I'd mention it to explain the sound of chirping crickets that you're probably going to hear in response to this query...

 

[USAAFAcePilot]

Thanks for the reply. While on the subject of US Authentic A-2s, I wanted to ask about the fit/sizing. I believe I am a 42R and have heard that US Authentic jackets are cut a little long. What did you guys do when ordering your jackets?

THANKS

 

[Doctor Strange]

US Authentic's sizing runs trim but long.

Since I live nearby, I went over and tried some on personally. Given my pretty crappy physique (5'8", about 210 lbs. back when I got these jackets, now more like 225), I was surprised to find that I went down a size: my earlier Gibson & Barnes A-2 was a 46, but US Authentic's 46 was much too big on me. So I got a 44.

Now of course, G&B jackets are cut to modern sizing and are known to run large. I needed their 46 for my big gut, not my shoulders, and in fact, its chest/shoulders/arms were all big. US A's closer cut on the shoulders and chest meant that I could go down a size...

However, now it's several years later and I've gained 15 pounds - all of it on my belly - and my US A is quite tight at the waist. I can still zip it, but I can no longer put anything in the pockets or wear a thick sweater with it. In contrast, my roomier G&B 46 still fits okay.

Getting back to the length issue: the sleeves on both my G&B 46 and US A 44 A-2s are of pretty comparable length (i.e., both somewhat longer than I need), but the body length is surprisingly different. The "smaller" US A is nearly two inches longer in the body!

Thus, if you're shorter than average, the US A might be too long on you. And if you're wider than average (like me), it might be tight. If you're thin/average and average/borderline-tall, US A's sizing may be just right.

Anyway, just provide accurate measurements to Shaul and he'll tell you what the right size is.

 

[USAAFAcePilot]

Thanks for all the help!

Anyway, just provide accurate measurements to Shaul and he'll tell you what the right size is.

I can reach him by e-mailing the site, right?

 

[Doctor Strange]

I would think so. It's a very small shop... only Shaul and two other people were there the day I went over.

 

[RLM]

My horsehide US A A-2 is about an inch longer than my ideal in the sleeves, but I find the length of the jacket (44R) to be just about right. I am 6'1", so a shorter person might find the jacket a bit long. Also, I've lost about 20 lbs since I bought it, so that may account for some of the extra sleeve length. I could almost get by with a 42 now.

 

[SamReu]

US Authentic fit

I routinely wear a 42 in most coats, but when I dealt with Shaul, he suggested I order the standard 40 in the US Authentic A-2. I wisely listened to his advice. The jackets are cut slightly long, and mine fits me very well.

 

[Daniel Hunter]

I've had several goatskin jackets and they never showed any noticeable wear except for one. The one jacket that actually did look worn was the G-1 that I used as a riding jacket for a few years. After being exposed to countless hours of sun, wind and rain it had a nice broken in appearance. It never showed any color variation like a cowhide jacket but softened up and had quite a bit of creasing all over the jacket.

I wish I still had that jacket but after spending too much time in the gym I wasn't able to fit into a size 40 any more. These days I wear a 44.

I've replaced the jacket with another G-1 but I quit riding a few years back. I guess I could duplicate the effect by driving around in my Porsche with the sunroof open in the rain.....ah...no, I won't be doing that.

 

[USAAFAcePilot]

Thanks guys for the help! Sounds like with goat there's more creasing than actual "wear."

 

[Phantomfixer]

Never knew what or why the snaps were on the collar of the A-2 until I bought a flatfender jeep. A-2 all the way with the G-1 coming in a close second.

 

[USAAFAcePilot]

Anyway, getting back to pictures, anybody have any pictures of their US Authentic A-2? (goatskin, horsehide russet, seal brown horsehide)

 

[MKL]

Anyway, getting back to pictures, anybody have any pictures of their US Authentic A-2? (goatskin, horsehide russet, seal brown horsehide)

Here is a shot of my horsehide.

 

[USAAFAcePilot]

Thanks MKL. Greatly appreciated. How is the fit on your jacket?

 

[MKL]

Thanks MKL. Greatly appreciated. How is the fit on your jacket?

Fits well. I am 6' and weight 175 lbs. I ordered a 42. It is still a bit stiff but slowly breaking in. i have had the jacket for about 3 years.

 

[Saxswinger]

Hello Gang!

MKL, that really is a nice looking jacket. I've really been considering US A- for a an authentic-looking A-2. I too would like to see more photos of the actual jackets, in Goatskin and Horsehide before i make a purchase. Are there any more threads that have more photos listed? Can't seem to find much in my forum search, but i know there has to be some more out there.

Thanks in advance for any help.