Finds and Deals - Leather Jacket Edition

[handymike]

I bought mine from Japan.
Referred to as “slim fit Enfield”.
No buckles.

 

[TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead]

ah ok, certain kind of model. But it's not like Vanson making different measurements for Japan on the standard Enfield, Model B, etc.?

I do notice on Ebay sometimes there's those brokers trying to sell Japanese based stock. The measurements always look off and they never include pictures. When you ask, they obviously can't get them because they don't have the items in hand, so it's risky I guess. That's why I was curious if a 38 is a 38 or there's some sort of vanity type sizing going on for different market.

 

[AeroFan_07]

If you can wear a size 40 here's an Eastman Luftwaffe Ostmann (In Europe):

https://www.ebay.com/itm/EASTMAN-ho...258004?hash=item34363cddd4:g:nz4AAOSwD1Bfu9ae

 

[Jin431]

If you can wear a size 40 here's an Eastman Luftwaffe Ostmann (In Europe):

https://www.ebay.com/itm/EASTMAN-ho...258004?hash=item34363cddd4:g:nz4AAOSwD1Bfu9ae

Cool jacket, wished it was around my size

 

[air]

If you can wear a size 40 here's an Eastman Luftwaffe Ostmann (In Europe):

https://www.ebay.com/itm/EASTMAN-ho...258004?hash=item34363cddd4:g:nz4AAOSwD1Bfu9ae

Anyone experienced with german WWII jackets, are they safe to wear outside?

 

[Will Zach]

As long as there are no SS patches you should be good.

 

[Boyo]

Anyone experienced with german WWII jackets, are they safe to wear outside?

you’ll be fine. the Eastman Luftwaffe referenced above is one of the nicest off the rack jackets you’ll find from any maker

 

[Marc mndt]

Anyone experienced with german WWII jackets, are they safe to wear outside?

This jacket has little in common with actual German WWII fight jackets. I've read somewhere that this jacket is based on a movie jacket from "the battle of Britain '.
German fight pilots didn't wear black, they wore brown.

Therefore I would say these are safe to wear outside

 

[Mandarin]

If I might add, the word "Luftwaffe" means "Air force", and it is still used today. It's not exclusively related to WWI.

 

[Carlos840]

thanks, Will. From what I understand, Vansons in general are bigger. So this seems to be on par with the usual go down one size.

I disagree, i have 7 Vansons and i am a 42/M in all of them, which is my regular size (41" chest).
The only brands where i consistantly have to size down are Schott and Aero.

 

[Monitor]

Not sure if this was posted already, seems like a really nice jacket.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-80...-Vermont-USA-Made-Jacket-Size-42/143848486736

I disagree, i have 7 Vansons and i am a 42/M in all of them, which is my regular size (41" chest).
The only brands where i consistantly have to size down are Schott and Aero.

I had to downsize with every Vanson I had, which was Model A x2, Model B x2, two truckers, Rock and Roll, three Sportsrider jackets and one coat that I couldn't ID. Size 42, size I generally (used to) wear if I didn't want a jacket in skintight fashion, with Vanson ALWAYS felt like a 46. The B in 42 was practically unwearable for me, while the A's were too wide. Ditto for the Sportsrider jackets which were supposed to be tighter. I dunno, I just always found Vanson at least 1 size oversized.
Model A and B in a size 40 were PERFECT for me, though.

 

[Carlos840]

Not sure if this was posted already, seems like a really nice jacket.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-80...-Vermont-USA-Made-Jacket-Size-42/143848486736

I had to downsize with every Vanson I had, which was Model A x2, Model B x2, two truckers, Rock and Roll, three Sportsrider jackets and one coat that I couldn't ID. Size 42, size I generally (used to) wear if I didn't want a jacket in skintight fashion, with Vanson ALWAYS felt like a 46. The B in 42 was practically unwearable for me, while the A's were too wide. Ditto for the Sportsrider jackets which were supposed to be tighter. I dunno, I just always found Vanson at least 1 size oversized.
Model A and B in a size 40 were PERFECT for me, though.

Weird, i have:

42 CHP
42 Chopper
M Commando x2
M Denver (Racing shirt)
M HD Cycle Champ
42 Stormer (Belstaff style)

I really could not comfortably size down in any of these an i have a 41" chest.

 

[Monitor]

Weird, i have:

42 CHP
42 Chopper
M Commando x2
M Denver (Racing shirt)
M HD Cycle Champ
42 Stormer (Belstaff style)

I really could not comfortably size down in any of these an i have a 41" chest.

Dunno, maybe I was overestimating my jacket size the whole but like, in some jackets, 42 was a spot on fit for me, while in others I could comfortably size down and this is the case with Vanson. But I've rarely had a 42 leather jacket by any other maker that I felt was too large to be worn (except with Aero).

I think the reason that you find their sizing to be correct could be that mostly all the examples you've listed are from their top of the line offer thus possibly constructed using a better / sleeker pattern, while I've only had stuff from their workhorse line & nothing really fancy. So maybe these fit tighter? Just guessing.

 

[jonbuilder]

If you can wear a size 40 here's an Eastman Luftwaffe Ostmann (In Europe):

https://www.ebay.com/itm/EASTMAN-ho...258004?hash=item34363cddd4:g:nz4AAOSwD1Bfu9ae

I ask the seller for measurements, do not know why as I am not buying jackets I have three for sale myself.

 

[JMax]

^^
I think Ike in HH was cut slightly large, but have no comparison to other Vansons. I wear 38 in most jackets but was able to fit into this 36 HH Ike:

View attachment 285062

The Ike is a roomier cut than most Vanson in the same size.

 

[jonbuilder]

I have an older Vanson Cobra MK2 sport rider jacket and I would not want to size down.

 

[Mandarin]

https://www.ebay.fr/itm/Vintage-193...224251920705?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10

 

[TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead]

Dunno, maybe I was overestimating my jacket size the whole but like, in some jackets, 42 was a spot on fit for me, while in others I could comfortably size down and this is the case with Vanson. But I've rarely had a 42 leather jacket by any other maker that I felt was too large to be worn (except with Aero).

I think the reason that you find their sizing to be correct could be that mostly all the examples you've listed are from their top of the line offer thus possibly constructed using a better / sleeker pattern, while I've only had stuff from their workhorse line & nothing really fancy. So maybe these fit tighter? Just guessing.

what's confusing is the jackets I'm looking at, on the Vanson site they claim there's usually 6.5 to 7 inches of ease. So a 40 size is 47 or 23.5 p2p. Which sounds gigantic. But then I've asked a few members to measure theirs, and it's more like 5 inches of ease which is a little more doable. But then like with Schotts, you get the waist and bottom hem issue.
I think I'm right smack in the middle of being a 38/40 on Enfield. So probably have to go 40 and treat as a layering jacket, or give it the water/dryer treatment or spend $150+ getting it altered. Ah these first world problems
Anyway, I got a couple things I'm watching on from some of these Japanese brokers. Getting pics of the measurements is not so easy and I'm finding same jackets with different sizes. Obviously we all know the measurement is as good as the person taking it. And then of course there's the usual variance manufacturers have, vintage sizing vs modern day sizing, etc. Jeez this is starting to suck up a lot of time LOL

 

[JMax]

Vanson’s ease is not a strictly number to number measurement. There is some variance based on pattern and how they design the jacket to fit (pure MC gear v something like the Enfield). Hence, some jackets that have no business fitting me purely based on a P2P measurement fit great. Years ago I received a tutorial from Constantine. Much of it since dissipated from my knowledge base. Your best bet, and you may find it unfortunate, is to own many Vanson and sort of a get a feel for what they do. Like Carlos, I have owned many, many Vanson. Only more recently have I sort of “figured Vanson out”. Unlike Carlos, I do jump around a wee bit in sizing.

 

[TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead]

thanks for that. Makes sense. What I've been doing is looking at fit pics basically. There was a great one on WAYWT thread the other night of size 38 enfield. Messaged the member, he gave me his height and weight and it's close. But like with the Schotts, I'm either going to be on the outer edge of the smaller size, or lower edge of the bigger size.

There is a 38 Enfield on Ebay where the measurements look good for me. 22.5 ptp, almost 18 shoulder. But it's a little banged up and I think he's asking too much for it. I'd risk that if it came down in price.

Luckily in Los Angeles, it's pretty much tshirt or thin hoodie kind of thing, or I can go the other way and just decide that I have enough snug fitting jackets and just go the other direction.

I think I'm going to try the Enfield 40 and take it from there. Thought about even just ordering a new one from Vanson to see how it fits and then return it. I definitely want to get a used one that's at least started the break in journey and of course the grail is to get some of those 90s models or if lucky one of the horsehide. BTW, what are the giveaways for the 90s stuff. I'm guessing Talon zips? I remember seeing something about the serial numbers too. Like you wanted a 4 digit or lower 5 digit number to be in the sweet spot.