"BOB" A-2 jacket by Real McCoy's

bentusian · Jun 22, 2010

Here are some more pics of my "Band of Brothers" A-2 jacket reproduced by (old) Real McCoy's - this company has been succeeded by Toy's McCoy, while RM is still in business now under different management.

The jacket was in a very good condition when I got it from the previous owner, with only minor (and quite natural) scratches and abrasions.

Yes, one may well have a russet brown A-2..

And its lining made of parachute canopy-like material.

"Twin label" typical of Rough Wear AC-23380 contract. But I'm not sure whether this particular detail in this modified version is historically correct.

Cheers,

Silver Dollar · Jun 22, 2010

That's a really fine jacket. I like the canopy lining. Was that ever done or is that done for that particular model?

aswatland · Jun 22, 2010

Great leather, but the lining is something else! I have never seen an original relined like this.

andy richards · Jun 22, 2010

Looks great with that lining!
Andy

BellyTank · Jun 22, 2010

aswatland said:
Great leather, but the lining is something else! I have never seen an original relined like this.

I have- there's one in the Schiffer book, "Geronimo!",
which covers US Airborne uniforms and equipment.

I think.

B
T

aswatland · Jun 22, 2010

I think the lining really divides opinions here. If I owned the jacket I would have the correct lining installed but each to his own.

Edward · Jun 22, 2010

I don't think it would be my first choice of lining, though it wouldn't bother me enough to feel the need to change it. It's an interesting idea, and at least plausible that it might have happened (as BT indicates), even if not common.

What were the typical options taken for re-lining? I know there was the scarlet lining that some had sewn in to mark a fifth(?) aerial kill. Other than that, I suppose it might well have been a case of whatever they could get hold of...

SGB · Jun 23, 2010

Real McCoy's New Zealand

Is still the same, owned by the same people and staffed the same. They have nothing to do with Real McCoys Japan or Toys McCoy. They are also The Few, for the Japan market, which can be confusing.

SGB

bentusian · Jun 23, 2010

SGB said:
Is still the same, owned by the same people and staffed the same. They have nothing to do with Real McCoys Japan or Toys McCoy. They are also The Few, for the Japan market, which can be confusing.

SGB

That is still confusing [huh] - as far as I know the 'old' Real McCoy's Japan has gone bankrupt a few years ago and the owner (Mr. Okamoto) has been replaced. He then opened his own business under the name Toy's McCoy and is competing with the 'new' RM Japan along with other brands.

Now in New Zealand, I know RMNZ and The Few are basically the same unit/factory in Christ Church. What I thought was that the factory is providing various A-2s of slightly different price ranges for Japan-based companies like RM Japan. Yet RMNZ and RM Japan are two different companies with no connection?

And yes, the "BOB" A-2 above was released by RM Japan, but was still manufactured in NZ (probably by RMNZ?) as the inside tag reads.

bentusian · Jun 23, 2010

Here's a catalog shot for yet another "BOB" A-2 released by the 'new' RM Japan. This one's got some different details in label and lining material. While it is patterned like parachute canopy, the lining is actually made of cotton HBT. (maybe USMC duck hunter pattern?)

Again, I'm not sure whether this reproduction is historically based, but I have little doubt as Japanese could go way further than one can expect in researching this sort of stuff..

SGB · Jun 23, 2010

bentusian said:
That is still confusing [huh] - as far as I know the 'old' Real McCoy's Japan has gone bankrupt a few years ago and the owner (Mr. Okamoto) has been replaced. He then opened his own business under the name Toy's McCoy and is competing with the 'new' RM Japan along with other brands.

Now in New Zealand, I know RMNZ and The Few are basically the same unit/factory in Christ Church. What I thought was that the factory is providing various A-2s of slightly different price ranges for Japan-based companies like RM Japan. Yet RMNZ and RM Japan are two different companies with no connection?

And yes, the "BOB" A-2 above was released by RM Japan, but was still manufactured in NZ (probably by RMNZ?) as the inside tag reads.

RMNZ and The Few are the same company, and yes they have no connection to RM Japan and do not make jackets for RM Japan. They make The Few for the Japanese market and have a few dealers in Japan, but none of them are RM Japan.

SGB

bentusian · Jun 23, 2010

SGB said:
RMNZ and The Few are the same company, and yes they have no connection to RM Japan and do not make jackets for RM Japan. They make The Few for the Japanese market and have a few dealers in Japan, but none of them are RM Japan.

SGB

Thanks for the clarification. That was confusing because I heard RMNZ/The FEw is run by a Japanese guy. Then the two RMs have never been related in any manner before? Why using the same company name, I wonder...

I've had two of The Few's A-2s and I quite like the jackets, especially their thick HH and finish.

havocpaul · Jun 23, 2010

The use of parachute cammo silk as lining in jackets was fairly common amongst Airborne officers, probably less so with A-2's but as previously stated, an example can be seen in the book 'Geronimo'. I do like it myself, if I found an original with it I would never consider relining it as the historic aspect would be ruined. If anyone has a size 42 in this style let me know!

regius · Feb 20, 2013

but who's the original maker of the Band of Brother's A2

SGB · Feb 20, 2013

regius said:
but who's the original maker of the Band of Brother's A2

Real McCoy New Zealand.

Blackadder · Feb 20, 2013

bentusian said:
Here's a catalog shot for yet another "BOB" A-2 released by the 'new' RM Japan. This one's got some different details in label and lining material. While it is patterned like parachute canopy, the lining is actually made of cotton HBT. (maybe USMC duck hunter pattern?)

Again, I'm not sure whether this reproduction is historically based, but I have little doubt as Japanese could go way further than one can expect in researching this sort of stuff..

I tried this new one on a few weeks ago courtesy of a fd. Yours is actually in better condition. Unlike yours, the lining is just plain cotton. I must say that the new RM is not as impressive as your old one. The new RM A-2 should be in the same class as Buzz Rickson. On the other hand, RM's other products are still very very good especially the Buco repro and the N-1 Deck. For A-2 only, I'll go for the Few or Rainbow Country these days.

Dr H · Feb 20, 2013

I'm planning a purchase of an RM 37J1B jacket (Zelinski contract) very soon - an excellent product.

Dr H · Feb 20, 2013

What's the link with Air Associates? Did they supply these originally?

"BOB" A-2 jacket by Real McCoy's

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