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All the McCoys

Guppy

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,282
Location
Cleveland, OH
I haven't really paid that much attention to RMC as a jacket maker, as I thought they mostly did military aviator reproductions, and I'm more of a motorcycle and car coat kind of guy, and they're very expensive, even used. I recently noticed a gorgeous two-tone MC jacket on yahoo japan, but too small for me, and learned from this that they do make some motorcycle styles, so I'm starting to investigate...

I have noticed that there seems to be a number of "McCoy" related(?) brands:

Toys McCoy
Real McCoys
Joe McCoy

Is there somewhere I can read a definitive history of these and how they are related?

Here's some photos of that jacket:

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Guppy

I'll Lock Up
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4,282
Location
Cleveland, OH

Mich486

One Too Many
Messages
1,668
The Real McCoy’s is a company. Main website is: www.realmccoys.co.jp. You can see all the jackets they currently sell. Definitely loads of civilian styles. Joe McCoy’s is just a sub-brand and is in fact is their main civilian line. It’s confusing I know. Several shops outside of Japan stock it. The real McCoy’s London is their non-japanese flagship store. They carry a good selection but still a selection of all what is available on Japan.

Toys McCoy’s is a different company all together. I think they used to be part of the RMC but then they split for some reason. Much more difficult to get hold of outside of Japan.




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Robbie79

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2,122
Unfortunately I can't tell you much about their history but as owner of one RMC J-24, RMC A-1 and Joe McCoy Dead Wood jacket I can tell you that the Shinki horsehides they use on that three jacket styles is totally different - A-1 dark seal HH has a silk finish, black J-24 has a shiny finish and similar weight/leather thickness and the black Dead Wood is even more shiny and the Shinki they use on this one is thinner/lighter. The stitching quality is comparable to a Rainbow Country / The Few but not to a FW, Thedi or LW (this applies to the jackets I own). I really like the Shinki RMC use even if I prefer the ones FW use. I would never buy a new RMC jacket as the price they charge is IMO too high for the overall quality they offer (again compared to LW, Thedi, of course FW is in a similar price range offering a higher quality).
 

Mich486

One Too Many
Messages
1,668
Unfortunately I can't tell you much about their history but as owner of one RMC J-24, RMC A-1 and Joe McCoy Dead Wood jacket I can tell you that the Shinki horsehides they use on that three jacket styles is totally different - A-1 dark seal HH has a silk finish, black J-24 has a shiny finish and similar weight/leather thickness and the black Dead Wood is even more shiny and the Shinki they use on this one is thinner/lighter. The stitching quality is comparable to a Rainbow Country / The Few but not to a FW, Thedi or LW (this applies to the jackets I own). I really like the Shinki RMC use even if I prefer the ones FW use. I would never buy a new RMC jacket as the price they charge is IMO too high for the overall quality they offer (again compared to LW, Thedi, of course FW is in a similar price range offering a higher quality).

I agree if you are talking about the prices they charge at the London shop but Japanese prices of the RMC and rainbow country for instance aren’t too dissimilar (compare the Steinbeck with the single rider) and FW are pricier in Japan too which sort of respect what you are saying.

In terms of stitching can you post a pic of a real McCoy’s jacket where you think the stitching could be better? I have handled a few of their jackets and I couldn’t spot anything off.


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Robbie79

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2,122
I agree if you are talking about the prices they charge at the London shop but Japanese prices of the RMC and rainbow country for instance aren’t too dissimilar (compare the Steinbeck with the single rider) and FW are pricier in Japan too which sort of respect what you are saying.

In terms of stitching can you post a pic of a real McCoy’s jacket where you think the stitching could be better? I have handled a few of their jackets and I couldn’t spot anything off.


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First of all I don't want to sound too picky and I know I'm talking about "First World problems" - I own RMC jackets and I'm really happy with them but only want to highlight that there are differences in terms of stitching quality/perfection between them and FW / Thedi /LW. Here is one example from the sleeve of my RMC J-24 (again, it isn't a problem for me at all but to me it is obvious that it wasn't made by a machine but by a human being who was probably a bit drunk ;) Once again, I would definitely buy another RMC jacket (only second hand) again in the future.

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Blackadder

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3,816
Location
China
On Wiki Japan
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/ザ・リアルマッコイズ

OK mostly are hearsay including Wiki, some facts are read from interview articles featuring Hiroshi Okamoto and the Few owner who also owns a restored WW2 Zero fighter.

RM was formed by Hiroshi Okamoto. Initially RM was the brand name used on A-2 repros sold through special mail order in limited number. It became a success and expanded but went into financial difficulties and was rescued by Nylon the current mother company. Nylon started as a repro dealer and possibly jeans manufacturer in Kobe. It then expanded by "helping" companies that are in financial difficulties such as RM and Denime.
Joe McCoy is a sub-line of workwear clothing.
As for motorcycle clothing besides Buco, RM had a number of collaboration with Harley Davidson and also produced a number of RM Steeplechase motorcycle jackets.
RM split up. Hiroshi Okamoto established the Toys McCoy. The Few aka RM New Zealand who used to be a supplier/partner of RM went into business on its own. Yasui the person originally in charge of Joe McCoy line established Freewheelers. Some say that person who established Rainbow Country were also originally from RM.
The owner of Nylon is Hitoshi Tsujimoto. His son Kento Tsujimoto is an former baseball player.
 
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Mich486

One Too Many
Messages
1,668
First of all I don't want to sound too picky and I know I'm talking about "First World problems" - I own RMC jackets and I'm really happy with them but only want to highlight that there are differences in terms of stitching quality/perfection between them and FW / Thedi /LW. Here is one example from the sleeve of my RMC J-24 (again, it isn't a problem for me at all but to me it is obvious that it wasn't made by a machine but by a human being who was probably a bit drunk ;) Once again, I would definitely buy another RMC jacket (only second hand) again in the future.

View attachment 176318

Yep I see what you mean now ;)


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Robbie79

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,122
On Wiki Japan
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/ザ・リアルマッコイズ

OK mostly are hearsay including Wiki, some facts are read from interview articles featuring Hiroshi Okamoto and the Few owner who also owns a restored WW2 Zero fighter.

RM was formed by Hiroshi Okamoto. Initially RM was the brand name used on A-2 repros sold through special mail order in limited number. It became a success and expanded but went into financial difficulties and was rescued by Nylon the current mother company. Nylon started as a repro dealer and possibly jeans manufacturer in Kobe. It then expanded by "helping" companies that are in financial difficulties such as RM and Denime.
Joe McCoy is a sub-line of workwear clothing.
As for motorcycle clothing besides Buco, RM had a number of collaboration with Harley Davidson and also produced a number of RM Steeplechase motorcycle jackets.
RM split up. Hiroshi Okamoto established the Toys McCoy. The Few aka RM New Zealand who used to be a supplier/partner of RM went into business on its own. Yasui the person originally in charge of Joe McCoy line established Freewheelers. Some say that person who established Rainbow Country were also originally from RM.
The owner of Nylon is Hitoshi Tsujimoto. His son Kento Tsujimoto is an former baseball player.
Very interesting, thank you for sharing these details!
 

Blackadder

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3,816
Location
China
The Few jackets are made in New Zealand and hence a lot of early RM leather jackets are made in NZ and not Japan. early leather jackets do not use shiniki. In fact I can't say when they switched to shiniki save that the RMxHarley and Steeplechase are most definitely not shiniki. Oh RM also made a couple of CHP style leather jackets.
 
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Messages
10,977
Location
SoCal
Toys McCoys jackets are usually painted or badged up military jackets. The still sell them at Blue in Green, NYC.
 

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