Anyone have experience with US Authentic?

Xopher · Apr 9, 2013

Howdy Folks, Ive just got a few quick questions about US Authentic because I cant find any decent reviews of them anywhere.
Im in the market for a B3, which I would like to have as historically accurate as I can afford. I was hoping to spend about $1000 or less. I was darn close to biting the bullet and buying one of the ELC jackets and literally the day I sat down to do it I saw they raised their prices a helling. So needless to say I started looking more seriously at the B3 by US Authentic at www.flightjacket.com.

What do you all think of their quality and accuracy? How do they compare to the big names like ELC, Aero, Gibson & Barnes, ect. Does anyone have some real wear pictures of them, of if anyone is lucky enough to have side by side comparison photo that would be amazing. Any and all information would help tremendously. Thank you much

Worf · Apr 9, 2013

US Authentic makes good stuff, but it's NOT Aero, GoodWear or Eastman. I know cause I have U.S. Authenic, Aero and Eastman but no GoodWear. U.S. Authentics main selling points are, proximity, short wait times and decent product. Also no sales tax for you or VAT (Aero). I've often thought of getting one of Shaul's B6's but scored a used Aero Pre-War Irvin that solved my Shearling problem for last winter. Look at Johnson Leather's in Cali as well, I'm planning on getting my next build from them.

Worf

Interbak · Apr 9, 2013

Hi Xopher,

As Worf said, USA makes good solid products, but they are not in the running if you're after authenticity. I had one of their A2's and one of their B6's, both have since moved on to new homes. Well built jackets, just not up to the details of the big names.
What size do you wear? I have a nearly new size 46 Aero B3 for sale. It's a beautiful jacket, it just doesn't get worn much because it's so warm. When it get's cold enough to where the B3 I go for my parka.
Brian

Asienizen · Apr 10, 2013

US Authentic, is as authentic as the average person will ever see or notice. I've got a USAuth A2, and I've never run into anyone who told me, "Your stitches per square inch are not right, the sleeve taper is incorrect, etc.." I've run into plenty of people however that think it's a great jacket.

USAuthentic is not going to be a 'stitch for stitch' accurate jacket. If you want a jacket that almost everyone will like - USA is a good buy. But if you want to be as accurate as possible, and are willing to pay several hundred dollars more, perhaps you should try another company.

I'm guessing that the extra $300 on a more accurate jacket will be noticed by about 2-3 people over the course of your lifetime though (unless you go to B3 enthusiast conventions, if they even exist), even most WW2 aviation enthusiasts will not notice.

But again, it depends on what is a priority for you, and how much that extra bit of attention to detail is worth to you.

Vornholt · Apr 10, 2013

I second the statements by Asienizen - US Authentic does very good work, though I have a quibble or two with the details of their Indy jacket clone. Solid materials and excellent service. I've dealt directly with Shaul on a number of occasions, including a sample jacket for fitting and an A-2 as well. They're fast, too. I was quite impressed with that.

I did note, though, that the horsehide on an ANJ-3 copy they made for me was a little on the flat, plasticky side, but still not bad. That was some time ago, and I don't know what the current hides look like.

They'll send samples upon request.

cw3pa · Apr 11, 2013

I have a B6 and an A-2 from US Authentic. Both are solid jackets made in the USA. The service was excellent and shipping prompt. A few E-Mails and done. I thought the price very reasonable. I'm no flight jacket expert and I know this next may be sacrilege to some, but are the other manufacturers really two or three times better as their prices would indicate. The original jackets were manufactured by the thousands by multiple contractors, so quibbling over a few details IMO is a bit moot.

Asienizen · Apr 11, 2013

I was just on another thread about B3s. In the opinion of Andrew (and he is VERY knowledgeable about jackets) the best B3 is by Real McCoy's New Zealand, followed by Eastman. So that's probably where you should look for accuracy. If they are out of your price range, any of the other companies will be varying degrees of a decent approximation.

Again, it's balancing what level off accuracy you want vs that extra big wad of $$.

Interbak · Apr 11, 2013

As I mentioned above, I've owned both an A2 and a B6 from USA, and they were nice, solid jackets, but not really close enough. The leather on the A2 was heavy and soft, quite comfortable, but the color was off. It was supposed to be seal brown, but it was kind of a sickly grey brown, not very attractive. Add to that the knits they used at that time were very light weight and flimsy. These two points were enough to make me keep looking. The B6 was made with B3 weight sheep skin, which is twice as thick as what a B6 should have. With the action back of the B6 design the thick fleece made it very uncomfortable. The sleeves were very narrow at the cuff, which made it impossible to fasten the snap closures, unless you have pencils for wrists. Again, just not close enough to keep. I wish they had been a little bit better, it would have saved me thousands on working my way up to Good Wear products. I suggest that if you do buy from USA you immediately cancel all your forum accounts and stop reading about all the higher end stuff out there, you'll be doing yourself and your wallet a favor

.

Brian

overlord4215 · Apr 11, 2013

I have a US Authentic A2 in the seal brown horsehide and I love it .I'm not a little guy so I liked the fact that they had something in my size(I try not to think about how many horses had to go to make it that big) . I'm not one to quibble about stitch and stamps, it fits it looks good and no one I know cares how authentic it looks . If you have the money spend it how you choose. I personally don't think you get twice the jacket for twice the price with the other brands IMHO.

nick123 · Apr 11, 2013

Keep in mind US Authentic uses chrome tanning for their jackets, while Aero, Eastman, etc. use mostly vegetable tanned hides. Different pros and cons for each!

Asienizen · Apr 12, 2013

As you can see, USAuth has mixed reviews, I've heard some very negative stories about their craftsmanship, and very positive as well. My own jacket has a great color, 2 years later the knits are in perfect condition - so that is something to keep in mind.

paulgt3 · Apr 12, 2013

I had a USAuthentic A2 I bought from them. Nice jacket for the price. Hide was nice. Lining was nice but the snaps and clip
werent that authentic and thats where they save money. It was bullet proof however. The horsehide was very thick.
For $1000 you should be able to get a nice Eastman B-3 second hand
almost new very authentic. I just sold my hardly worn 44 B-3 I got at Christmas for $800, just to give you an example.

Doctor Strange · Apr 12, 2013

I've been hesitating to post on this thread because my experience with US A was over a decade ago, and I don't know how well it relates to their current production. But what the heck:

I had one of their A-2s in seal horsehide. I wore it regularly for around eight years, then sold it to someone here to help fund my Good Wear. I found it to be a VERY tough and well constructed jacket, and I didn't care that it was just a "generic" WWII A-2 repro, or that the zipper and other hardware weren't completely accurate. The sizing - trim, but quite long in the body and sleeves - was never really right for my widebody frame, and after I gained a few pounds, it became too tight at the waist/gut. My only other complaint with it was that the hide was very thick, squeaky, and springy, and while some panels did develop cool grain and creases, it didn't really age as Shaul said it would. The pigment coat was very heavy, and it never wore off, even on the high-stress and abrasion areas like the elbows or edge of the windflap, not even after years of exposure to rain and snow. The leather was VERY tough, probably too tough for a "correct" repro. (I will say that the cotton lining and wool knits felt - and held up - great.)

But what I really liked about the jacket was its rough-hewn, handmade feel. It clearly wasn't a factory product, and it had way more character than my Gibson & Barnes jackets (which I also love, but they have something of a too-perfect, mass-produced feel). Since I live nearby and visited the "factory" - actually an old carriage house on Shaul's property with a tiny staff - I could see that it was indeed a small operation and that everything really was handmade. A classic small business with a very good (if not great) product for the reasonable price.

As I've said here many times, their goatskin model is surely the best bang for the buck you'll find in a reasonably good WWII A-2 replica... short of getting a used Aero/Eastman/etc.

pjstrass · Apr 12, 2013

I second Dr. Strange's reviews but without any negatives. Have had mine for about 10 years...not worn as much since I moved to florida...bought it from the "factory" which is as decribed by the Dr.

lewisskimonster · Apr 12, 2013

Greetings

I have a jacket made by US Authentic and am very pleased with it. It is seal brown goatskin, very well made, and fits like a glove. I would certainly recommend, but like others have stated, do your homework and get what you truely desire.

Hopalong · Apr 13, 2013

My local collector friend bought a Gibson and Barnes B-3 awhile back and I bought an A-2 and we're very happy with them and satisfied and we've been WW II aviation collectors since the 70's and have had original A-2's B-3's and B-6's and etc over the years and even some high end repro A-2's.

kasa7 · Feb 21, 2014

Hi guys, I’m new in the Lounge. I’m from the Azores, and I bought last year an A2 horsehide seal brown from US Authentic, and I’m very pleased with the jacket; I’m 5’ 9’’ (42” chest) and I choosed a 42 R. Probably the 40 R would be better fit, but as I said, I’m very, very pleased with my A2.

thor · Feb 21, 2014

I had a US A jacket (A-2) afew years ago. I agree with Doctor Strange's assessment; overall a nice jacket with thick HH (which I like), great knits and a heavy duty cotton lining. Not the most accurate but a good buy for the price. The only fault with mine was that the zipper broke after 6 months of normal wear.

Grayland · Feb 21, 2014

I sent in an Aero jacket that I bought off ebay to have it relined by US Authentic. Shaul was great and I had my jacket back 3 days after he received it. Nice work.

Worf · Feb 22, 2014

I've three US Authentic pieces. These are my observations after a years wear of all three. The 50's half belt I had them make for me is good, the best of the three but still it has some needle scratches that I only noticed over time. My Indy is more problematic, the action back is all bat-winged and nothing I can do will straighten it out. The leather is marvelous though. The Black A2 though is way less than stellar. He put the patch on the wrong side and too far under the arm. I came to me with loose threads on the wind flap and, despite sending him a jacket for sizing I had to send the jacket back, at my own expense, to get it cut down. So based on my experience with the A2 I've not gone back to them. Owning two GoodWear pieces I don't know if I'll ever go any other way if I get another military jacket. I'm in line for a B6 sometime next fall.

Worf

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