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Been to Whitefeather Mfg Co. store in Vienna some days ago.
Tl;dr - Go check it out.
Long story... Well, to start off, the store is really nice! Relatively small, it's packed with all sorts of 1940's inspired clothes, army and civilian alike & while I don't really know much about any of that stuff, the aviators and the HB jackets all seemed quality. But what immediately caught my attention was the Buco J-21 repro, proudly exhibited high-up at top of the shelf.
Now, I've handled several J-20-something repros, RMC among others and I think I can say that I have seen enough jackets to conclude that this is a seriously impressive & possibly my favorite contemporary made version of the style thus far.
First off, it is surprisingly sturdy tank of a jacket! Vanson tough. Leather, hardware, lining... Everything just somehow appears to be extremely tough. Built to last is a phrase that gets thrown around a lot 'round these parts but if there's a jacket that warrants it, it's this one.
The exhibited jacket had been tried on enough times to hint at how it would break in and it's impressive how closely it resembles the originals we see online.
All the hardware is what you'd expect on any decent repro of this style and the hefty woolen lining, the kind that actually feels like it might provide decent warmth, is particularly nice.
The only downside is that the stitching isn't what the other notable alternatives had gotten us used to but all else makes up for it. I mean, the leather is so amazingly tough that I was shocked to hear it's vegetable tanned horsehide.
Granted, I may be overly forgiving when it comes to stitching but believe me, I do want my pricey jacket to be as well made as possible - but - while serviceable, the way this jacket is constructed only adds up to the vibe that this is exactly what the 1950's newspaper Buco ad would've gotten you.
What else... The jacket feels very comfortable and the action back works great. The owner said they pretty much copied the pattern from the original and that's exactly how it fits; Typically 1950's, tapered though slightly boxy (roomy) shape.
Speaking of, the owner was friendly, especially once he realized I know my stuff and immediately went on to discuss the jacket in detail. He was kind enough to show me the original J-21 the Whitefeather version is modeled on and I was surprised how close they've reproduced the jacket and how oddly similar the leather is to the original. I honestly don't understand why most other makers insist on Shinki for this style as it's not really the best match if one has authenticity in mind. . .
All in all, last thing I expected to see in Vienna was what might be the most impressive Buco repro I've handled so... Go check it out. Considering the prices of all the good repros, at €1100, you're getting a hell of a jacket that is, as far as I am concerned, second to none.
What I'm saying is, the jacket is so completely different that to me personally, it's not the matter of money anymore - As in, whether paying more money will or won't get you a better version of the Buco J-21. This version is just so different that it deserves to be the part of your motorcycle jacket collection.
Also, not far off is a Red Wings shop, full of new & used service/army boots which is definitely a mandatory stop if you're in the area. Guy working there is so friendly and forthcoming that the shop is worth visiting just for that.
Few pointless photos that don't do this jacket any justice whatsoever. If I had seen these or the pics on the site, I would've just waved it off...
Don't be me.
Tl;dr - Go check it out.
Long story... Well, to start off, the store is really nice! Relatively small, it's packed with all sorts of 1940's inspired clothes, army and civilian alike & while I don't really know much about any of that stuff, the aviators and the HB jackets all seemed quality. But what immediately caught my attention was the Buco J-21 repro, proudly exhibited high-up at top of the shelf.
Now, I've handled several J-20-something repros, RMC among others and I think I can say that I have seen enough jackets to conclude that this is a seriously impressive & possibly my favorite contemporary made version of the style thus far.
First off, it is surprisingly sturdy tank of a jacket! Vanson tough. Leather, hardware, lining... Everything just somehow appears to be extremely tough. Built to last is a phrase that gets thrown around a lot 'round these parts but if there's a jacket that warrants it, it's this one.
The exhibited jacket had been tried on enough times to hint at how it would break in and it's impressive how closely it resembles the originals we see online.
All the hardware is what you'd expect on any decent repro of this style and the hefty woolen lining, the kind that actually feels like it might provide decent warmth, is particularly nice.
The only downside is that the stitching isn't what the other notable alternatives had gotten us used to but all else makes up for it. I mean, the leather is so amazingly tough that I was shocked to hear it's vegetable tanned horsehide.
Granted, I may be overly forgiving when it comes to stitching but believe me, I do want my pricey jacket to be as well made as possible - but - while serviceable, the way this jacket is constructed only adds up to the vibe that this is exactly what the 1950's newspaper Buco ad would've gotten you.
What else... The jacket feels very comfortable and the action back works great. The owner said they pretty much copied the pattern from the original and that's exactly how it fits; Typically 1950's, tapered though slightly boxy (roomy) shape.
Speaking of, the owner was friendly, especially once he realized I know my stuff and immediately went on to discuss the jacket in detail. He was kind enough to show me the original J-21 the Whitefeather version is modeled on and I was surprised how close they've reproduced the jacket and how oddly similar the leather is to the original. I honestly don't understand why most other makers insist on Shinki for this style as it's not really the best match if one has authenticity in mind. . .
All in all, last thing I expected to see in Vienna was what might be the most impressive Buco repro I've handled so... Go check it out. Considering the prices of all the good repros, at €1100, you're getting a hell of a jacket that is, as far as I am concerned, second to none.
What I'm saying is, the jacket is so completely different that to me personally, it's not the matter of money anymore - As in, whether paying more money will or won't get you a better version of the Buco J-21. This version is just so different that it deserves to be the part of your motorcycle jacket collection.
Also, not far off is a Red Wings shop, full of new & used service/army boots which is definitely a mandatory stop if you're in the area. Guy working there is so friendly and forthcoming that the shop is worth visiting just for that.
Few pointless photos that don't do this jacket any justice whatsoever. If I had seen these or the pics on the site, I would've just waved it off...
Don't be me.
