A few questions for the TFL audience - Schott / Aero

[bobjones]

Hi all, its been a while. I am in the market again for another leather jacket and am considering this from Schott NYC:

246 - Soft Touch Lambskin Delivery Jacket

Iconic 1950s-style delivery jacket in waxy lambskin leather. This smooth, understated 26" jacket has a zip front closure, bi-swing back, a chest pocket and 2 side pockets, antique nickel hardware and a houndstooth lining in soft cotton.

www.schottnyc.com

I am seeking a much lighter jacket than the heavy FQ horsehide Aero pieces (Highwayman, Stockman) I currently have. In that vein, I have two questions:

1-what is the quality of a Schott jacket in 2026? A decade or so when I last looked at Schott its prices were half what they are now, but the brand made a respected product. Obviously inflation has impacted things since then, so what is their reputation and quality nowadays?

2-I am loyal to Aero having had their product for decades; but I do not see a version of this jacket on their site (Highwayman is closest, but too short and no superlightweight option like lamb or goat). Gibson Barnes used to offer an Indy-style jacket made of Goat which was about the most wearable leather I ever had, but unfortunately that jacket didn't fit me properly so I had to sell it.

So is there an Aero option for this jacket?

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[jacketjunkie]

Just buy the Schott, equal in quality. Better pattern in fact and while their regular leathers are not as much of an eye catcher as Aeros CXL FQHH, they stand the test of time, you can find decades old Schotts on eBay whos leather is still going strong.

 

[Tom71]

Good quality with Schott, although I can really only speak for their classic Perfecto jackets. These are probably the best bang for the buck in that segment.

As with Aero, you can never go wrong as long as you get your measurements dialled in.
Have a look at the “59 er Highwayman” or the “Original Hercules“. Both come close, visually, and I am sure Aero can do them in goatskin which would offer a brilliant weight/durability ratio.

 

[Harris HTM]

Highwayman is closest, but too short and no superlightweight option like lamb or goat).

Aero offers goatskin although I wouldn't call it "superlightweight".
You can ask samples of "battered steerhide" and "soft grainy steerhide". Much lighter and suppler than cxl fqhh.
I can't speak about the specific Schott model, nor their lambskin as I have never handled it, but you can't go wrong with Schott either, great jackets.

 

[Bfd70]

Good thing about the schott is that it is OTR. If you don’t like it you can send it back

 

[Boulderunner]

Schott also just had this delivery jacket in a lighter weight and very soft Shinki. I’m very upset I returned mine I just bought too my jackets this year and had to make some hard decisions but I regret returning it. Honestly the new Schott shinki jackets have all been very nice and Schott makes really comfortable patterns

 

[raf]

I am certainly NO Expert on any Schott products, either past or present. From what I can see, their ancient US B-6jacket offerings do not comport with USGI specs, and for some reason used Schott B-6 offerings are considerably more expensive than same item, made closer to USGI specs, from other vendors.

My personal opinion is that modern Schott leather jackets are not made to anything close to original GI specs. Granted, thread-counters can over-do things, but some Schott jackets which purport to be replicas of older jackets fail to make the grade.

Brand New/Modern "Used" Schott jackets are also (IMHO) overpriced considering the quality of materials/workmanship/authenticity currently offered.

OTOH, there are certainly some decent "gently used" Schott jacket out there for decent prices.

 

[bobjones]

I am certainly NO Expert on any Schott products, either past or present. From what I can see, their ancient US B-6jacket offerings do not comport with USGI specs, and for some reason used Schott B-6 offerings are considerably more expensive than same item, made closer to USGI specs, from other vendors.

My personal opinion is that modern Schott leather jackets are not made to anything close to original GI specs. Granted, thread-counters can over-do things, but some Schott jackets which purport to be replicas of older jackets fail to make the grade.

Brand New/Modern "Used" Schott jackets are also (IMHO) overpriced considering the quality of materials/workmanship/authenticity currently offered.

OTOH, there are certainly some decent "gently used" Schott jacket out there for decent prices.

The jacket I am focused on has nothing to do with USGI items, it is solely a casual jacket based upon an older jacket.

As for the cost, these are hand-made in the US, which costs more to produce. If the jacket was like $4 or $500 I would suspect it is not made in the US, but in an overseas factory. A manufacturer that has been around since 1913 has to be given the benefit of the doubt that it is producing quality product.

 

[Bfd70]

I am certainly NO Expert on any Schott products, either past or present. From what I can see, their ancient US B-6jacket offerings do not comport with USGI specs, and for some reason used Schott B-6 offerings are considerably more expensive than same item, made closer to USGI specs, from other vendors.

My personal opinion is that modern Schott leather jackets are not made to anything close to original GI specs. Granted, thread-counters can over-do things, but some Schott jackets which purport to be replicas of older jackets fail to make the grade.

Brand New/Modern "Used" Schott jackets are also (IMHO) overpriced considering the quality of materials/workmanship/authenticity currently offered.

OTOH, there are certainly some decent "gently used" Schott jacket out there for decent prices.

Schotts military offerings are more of homage jackets. I don’t think they’ve ever claimed historical accuracy. Their sheepskins are not even close.

 

[bobjones]

Schotts military offerings are more of homage jackets. I don’t think they’ve ever claimed historical accuracy. Their sheepskins are not even close.

Yeah, their marketing language generally presents them as a reminder/homage to earlier jackets. Even the one I am looking to purchase says something about it being in the "style" of some older jackets. Those who want high historic accuracy would be better suited with another maker.

 

[jacketjunkie]

Schott certainly isn't for accuracy fanatics and still, they make amazing jackets. Just go for it.

 

[bobjones]

Thank you to all who replied so far.

Schott offers the option to replace the cotton lining with a satin one which would likely reduce the jacket's weight, a key objective. The sleeves are already lined with satin by default.

I realize that the standard cotton lining would be warmer than satin, and would allow the jacket to be worn for a longer period of time during the year. Weight is a major consideration, so any opinions on having the entire jacket lined with satin?

 

[Edward]

Thank you to all who replied so far.

Schott offers the option to replace the cotton lining with a satin one which would likely reduce the jacket's weight, a key objective. The sleeves are already lined with satin by default.

I realize that the standard cotton lining would be warmer than satin, and would allow the jacket to be worn for a longer period of time during the year. Weight is a major consideration, so any opinions on having the entire jacket lined with satin?

It's all a matter of personal preference, of course, but.... some years ago I had two Aero milspec jackets in the same goatskin - an Q2 and an aN6552. The former had a cotton liner, the latter satin. The latter was by far the warmer of the two as satin doesn't breathe, I also at a time had a Wested Raiders - if the sleeves of that had been lined in the same cotton as the body, I could have worn it in warmer temperatures than saw the satin lined sleeves sticking to my skin very quickly.

 

[raf]

My suggestion is to choose a lining fabric which is both breathable and "slick" enough to allow sweaters/fleece jackets to be worn underneath the leather jacket while still allowing easy donning and doffing of the jacket.

 

[bobjones]

It's all a matter of personal preference, of course, but.... some years ago I had two Aero milspec jackets in the same goatskin - an Q2 and an aN6552. The former had a cotton liner, the latter satin. The latter was by far the warmer of the two as satin doesn't breathe, I also at a time had a Wested Raiders - if the sleeves of that had been lined in the same cotton as the body, I could have worn it in warmer temperatures than saw the satin lined sleeves sticking to my skin very quickly.

That's interesting because I thought that satin is a lighter material than cotton, and would have allowed wearing it in warmer temps. Thanks for the heads up on that.

My plan is to wear the Schott lamb jacket in temps about 45/50 degrees and up, as anything colder it won't hold up against regardless of lining.

It'll be an alternative to my Aero Hwymn when the mood calls for it, as both would be about the same level of warmth - basically none. Leather jackets need a good sweater (jumper to you brits) to keep one warm. My suede trucker is for the days in the 60s F as a sort of an extra tshirt.

 

[bobjones]

My suggestion is to choose a lining fabric which is both breathable and "slick" enough to allow sweaters/fleece jackets to be worn underneath the leather jacket while still allowing easy donning and doffing of the jacket.

I decided to go with the standard cotton as the satin would run another $140 plus shipping and it is already around $1200 with tax. The cotton lining is kind of retro looking, so I can live with it.

 

[raf]

That's interesting because I thought that satin is a lighter material than cotton, and would have allowed wearing it in warmer temps. Thanks for the heads up on that.

My plan is to wear the Schott lamb jacket in temps about 45/50 degrees and up, as anything colder it won't hold up against regardless of lining.

It'll be an alternative to my Aero Hwymn when the mood calls for it, as both would be about the same level of warmth - basically none. Leather jackets need a good sweater (jumper to you brits) to keep one warm. My suede trucker is for the days in the 60s F as a sort of an extra tshirt.

FWIW, there appears to be a difference between Satin and Sateen materials, some of which pertains to breathability:
Bartender Edit: link to generative AI content removed, in line with TFL policies - see further: https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/the-fedora-lounge-an-ai-plagiarism-free-zone.121987/

 

[Edward]

That's interesting because I thought that satin is a lighter material than cotton, and would have allowed wearing it in warmer temps. Thanks for the heads up on that.

My plan is to wear the Schott lamb jacket in temps about 45/50 degrees and up, as anything colder it won't hold up against regardless of lining.

It'll be an alternative to my Aero Hwymn when the mood calls for it, as both would be about the same level of warmth - basically none. Leather jackets need a good sweater (jumper to you brits) to keep one warm. My suede trucker is for the days in the 60s F as a sort of an extra tshirt.

Not British (I'm Irish), but point taken. ;-)

I agree - leather is a great windbreaker, but in and of itself does nothing for the cold.

 

[Aloysius]

I am certainly NO Expert on any Schott products, either past or present. From what I can see, their ancient US B-6jacket offerings do not comport with USGI specs, and for some reason used Schott B-6 offerings are considerably more expensive than same item, made closer to USGI specs, from other vendors.

My personal opinion is that modern Schott leather jackets are not made to anything close to original GI specs. Granted, thread-counters can over-do things, but some Schott jackets which purport to be replicas of older jackets fail to make the grade.

Brand New/Modern "Used" Schott jackets are also (IMHO) overpriced considering the quality of materials/workmanship/authenticity currently offered.

OTOH, there are certainly some decent "gently used" Schott jacket out there for decent prices.

Where did you get the idea that Schott was a military repro brand?

In fact those didn't exist until probably the 80s at earliest, with Aero being among the first.

Even within the 40s/50s, the very same manufacturers who had made wartime jackets were making adjusted versions (the same civilianized ones that get skepticism from customers now) because with the civilian market they were no longer under the extremely tight budgets of military production and could provide something more wearable. Indeed Eastman and Aero both reproduce some of these postwar designs.

 

[raf]

I don't recall ever suggesting Schott products being anything akin to faithfully made Mil items from other Vendors/Mfrs.

Schott items are what they are. IMHO, mostly well made, but higher-priced than similar, well-made items which might be more faithful to original design.

IOW, Schott not usually a "great" value, unless bought at a whale of a price discount.