Buzz Rickson A-2

Fanch · Dec 30, 2014

If I were pouring that much dinero in an A-2, I believe I would get in line for a JC Goodwear A-2 and wait ... and wait ... and wait.

Blackadder · Dec 30, 2014

Otter said:
That Rakuten photo is one of the least flattering photos I have seen. It wouldn't inspire me to buy, it looks like it fits like a sack of sh..... Errr ordure.

Lol. Is this better?
http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/arknets/item/10027440/

kojax · Dec 30, 2014

nice jacket and leather the only thing is the clown collar is to big

handymike · Dec 30, 2014

I like it! I was inches away from Wild Balls' one on eBay.

wild_balls · Dec 30, 2014

handymike said:
I like it! I was inches away from Wild Balls' one on eBay.

Sorry about that, it was beautiful! It went to Germany for a BARGAIN price!!!

Cheers Joakim

devilish · Dec 30, 2014

Why oh why does no one unsnap that bloody collar and then actually find a jacket that fits the model properly. These small things would make it look much better. It is really hard to make a brand new A-2 made from this kind of stiff, shiny HH look good though. We all know that they will break and soften and end up looking much better but damn they look so unwelcoming new.
As such, I think if someone were to beat the hell out of this jacket it could end up looking pretty good. It is a nicely different take on the A-2.

Superfluous · Jan 1, 2015

I stopped by SELA this afternoon and tried on the BR A-2. The leather is great. The details are superb. The fit is stellar. The collar is not nearly as large in person. The added length is fantastic. In short, it is my ideal A-2!!!!!!!!!!!!

So . . . . I didn't buy it. As great as this jacket is, there is one problem, and it is a deal breaker: I simply am not an A-2 guy. This is not something I just realized today, To the contrary, as much as I appreciate the wonderful A-2s owned by members of this fine community, I have never been inclined to purchase one for myself. Over time, I have come to appreciate A-2s more and more, but still never enough to pull the trigger on one for myself. Then I saw that BR A-2 and I thought that might be the A-2 that pushed me over the edge. Nope. Its an amazing jacket and, if I was an A-2 guy, I would surely pull the trigger. However, as much as I tried, I did not bond with the jacket. I really like the A-2 when zipped up, but considerably less when open and unzipped.

Oh well. I currently have an A-1 on order. That will be as close as I get to an A-2 . . . for now.

ykurtz · Jan 1, 2015

Superfluous said:
I stopped by SELA this afternoon and tried on the BR A-2. The leather is great. The details are superb. The fit is stellar. The collar is not nearly as large in person. The added length is fantastic. In short, it is my ideal A-2!!!!!!!!!!!!

So . . . . I didn't buy it. As great as this jacket is, there is one problem, and it is a deal breaker: I simply am not an A-2 guy. This is not something I just realized today, To the contrary, as much as I appreciate the wonderful A-2s owned by members of this fine community, I have never been inclined to purchase one for myself. Over time, I have come to appreciate A-2s more and more, but still never enough to pull the trigger on one for myself. Then I saw that BR A-2 and I thought that might be the A-2 that pushed me over the edge. Nope. Its an amazing jacket and, if I was an A-2 guy, I would surely pull the trigger. However, as much as I tried, I did not bond with the jacket. I really like the A-2 when zipped up, but considerably less when open and unzipped.

Oh well. I currently have an A-1 on order. That will be as close as I get to an A-2 . . . for now.

I'm not an A-2 guy either, although I think they are great jackets. Just not a big fan of knits, regardless how practical they might be for their intended function. I prefer leather cuffs and hems across the board. That said, I do like my black Langlitz flight jacket, but I don't wear it as much as my other jackets.

trapp · Jan 1, 2015

From Self Edge: "All undersides of this jacket are brown (while the jacket outer is all black). This means the underside of the pocket flaps, epaulets, placket, and collars are made of brown horsehide but the entire outer showing parts of the jacket are black."

Anyone know if this will age to a dark brown?

New take or not on the A-2, I'm surprised to read that the jacket is actually black (rather than a dark seal brown - which is what I thought on first viewing the photos).

nick123 · Jan 1, 2015

This is one of those jackets you know will look better in the flesh than on any model.

rocketeer · Jan 1, 2015

Blackadder said:
Lol. Is this better?
http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/arknets/item/10027440/

Who on earth is Rickson William Gibson?

thor · Jan 1, 2015

William Gibson is a novelist who's fictional protagonist wore a black Buzz Rickson jacket. BR decided to start producing a specialty line of William Gibson-inspired black flight jackets.

rocketeer · Jan 1, 2015

Thanks Mr Thor

I thought it was something lost in the translation. A fictional character wearing something named after a fictional character from a film of a book where the character has a different name(Buzz Marrow).

Superfluous · Jan 1, 2015

trapp said:
From Self Edge: "All undersides of this jacket are brown (while the jacket outer is all black). This means the underside of the pocket flaps, epaulets, placket, and collars are made of brown horsehide but the entire outer showing parts of the jacket are black."

Anyone know if this will age to a dark brown?

It is very common for black HH to have a brown base. In fact, I think black on black is much less common. When black on brown wears and ages, the brown will show through and create a vintage look. Some like this look; other don't. I personally prefer black on black if it is an option. Himel and RMC offer both. Not sure about others.

HPA Rep · Jan 5, 2015

Blackadder said:
BR80388
http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/organweb/item/br80388/

This is not the A-2 depicted from Self Edge. The Self Edge A-2 was supplied by HPA and made to the specs. of Self Edge, so the SE A-2 is approximately 2.5" longer in the body than the BRWG A-2 offered by other retailers.

Though I'm not personally motivated by long-fitting A-2s and I limit the amount of black anything in my wardrobe, having seen these SE x BRWG A-2s, they are very beautiful in terms of the leather and the construction. I do agree that the two-tone leather combination is a bit lost since it appears only on the undersides and inner portions of jacket parts, though my own taste wouldn't incline me to want to see exposed outer areas with brown showing.

But for those who like what they see and want a longer A-2, have at it!. That's why they make more than one flavor of ice cream too.

Charles

kowalski · Jan 5, 2015

I will never understand the phenomenon A2 jacket

leather from Italy, sewing in Japan?or NZ and idea\genesis jacket from USA

HPA Rep · Jan 5, 2015

Big J said:
It's interesting enough, why not?
But, and it's a big but, the price will be stupidly high. For me, that's the killer. I am prepared to pay high prices for high quality repros, but over the odds for a 'modern' 'interpretation'? No thanks- it will never be a classic IMHO.

But, if you like it, that's fine, although I would repeat what I've said before;
The Japanese ¥ is going down. With the exception of short periods of profit-taking against the $, the value of the ¥ will not reverse it's downward trend due to expressed Japanese government policy to devalue the ¥.
Putting off a BR purchase makes it cheaper if you live outside of Japan.
In September next year, the Japanese Postal Savings (effectively holding the worlds biggest savings) will start investing in the Japanese stock market. That will bump up the Nikkei, and spur further movement from ¥ to stocks, devaluing the ¥ even further (estimates now see 130-150¥ to the $)

So, I would really consider the savings you could make 10 months down the line.

Please note that my comments are made with all due respect and absent any malice.

If what you are saying proves true, then I'd agree that select BR items could be cheaper come fall 2015. But these would be those repeating items that BR offers on a regular or semi-regular basis, thus we'd have something to compare to. The BRWG A-2 is not such an item, and this version in discussion was made just this year for one account, so its price will not be impacted whether the yen rises or falls; it was paid for at the prevailing trade price when the invoice fell due. The same is true for other non-repeating items of which HPA has a B-15A (mod.), MA-1, a Nubuck Horsehide Vintage-Style Aviator Jacket, two HPA-spec. Heavy-Weight N-1 Deck Jackets w/ out stencils, a BRWG B-15C and BRWG L-2B, all of which are non-repeating items and two of which are exclusives.

While you are obviously aware of forces of economics where you live, your words can be taken as a bit misleading, implying some omniscience that no one has regarding market forces and their impact on currency valuations. If anyone could regularly and reliably predict what would be the trading range some 10 months away, they'd be making a fortune, but that's simply not the case.

I pay extreme attention to market forces among a basket of currencies because HPA purchases all of its goods from outside the USA, yet I've never once been tempted in 25 years to purchase futures because I've seen the sort of surprises that pop up over the course of time - news drives markets and the news can be erratic and unpredictable and, quite often, markets respond in over-reactive or even under-reactive ways.

You do use the word "could" regarding potential savings 10 months away - "could" is a very good word choice and I value that as one who measures my own words very carefully. One "could" also be missing out on some good items that won't be offered again or events "could" play out differently in 10 months.

I haven't read any respected analyst espouse any position with the amount of certitude you seem to argue here. While what you say may well play out to a tee, it could also be something completely different, and my guess is that you won't be putting any money down in either direction. I know I won't.

Charles

B-24J · Jan 5, 2015

Hi Charles (HPA),

Why was the "History Preservation Associates - Official Affiliate Thread" (http://www.thefedoralounge.com/show...e12&highlight=history+preservation+associates) closed?

I am still getting compliments on my Buzz Superior Togs B-10. Also, my "pink" Eastman shirt and Buzz 1944 U. S. Navy Spec. 55-S-20E are great!

Lastly, any updates on the rumors of a future new website?

Thanks,

John

Big J · Jan 7, 2015

HPA Rep said:
Please note that my comments are made with all due respect and absent any malice.

If what you are saying proves true, then I'd agree that select BR items could be cheaper come fall 2015. But these would be those repeating items that BR offers on a regular or semi-regular basis, thus we'd have something to compare to. The BRWG A-2 is not such an item, and this version in discussion was made just this year for one account, so its price will not be impacted whether the yen rises or falls; it was paid for at the prevailing trade price when the invoice fell due. The same is true for other non-repeating items of which HPA has a B-15A (mod.), MA-1, a Nubuck Horsehide Vintage-Style Aviator Jacket, two HPA-spec. Heavy-Weight N-1 Deck Jackets w/ out stencils, a BRWG B-15C and BRWG L-2B, all of which are non-repeating items and two of which are exclusives.

While you are obviously aware of forces of economics where you live, your words can be taken as a bit misleading, implying some omniscience that no one has regarding market forces and their impact on currency valuations. If anyone could regularly and reliably predict what would be the trading range some 10 months away, they'd be making a fortune, but that's simply not the case.

I pay extreme attention to market forces among a basket of currencies because HPA purchases all of its goods from outside the USA, yet I've never once been tempted in 25 years to purchase futures because I've seen the sort of surprises that pop up over the course of time - news drives markets and the news can be erratic and unpredictable and, quite often, markets respond in over-reactive or even under-reactive ways.

You do use the word "could" regarding potential savings 10 months away - "could" is a very good word choice and I value that as one who measures my own words very carefully. One "could" also be missing out on some good items that won't be offered again or events "could" play out differently in 10 months.

I haven't read any respected analyst espouse any position with the amount of certitude you seem to argue here. While what you say may well play out to a tee, it could also be something completely different, and my guess is that you won't be putting any money down in either direction. I know I won't.

Charles

Hi Charles,

I appreciate your comment, and your position as a vendor.
I am by no means attempting to undermine your business.
I am merely making an observation about the future of the ¥ against the $ based on the Prime Minister of Japan's policy goal of achieving 2% inflation by increasing the monetary base (printing money). Over the last 2 years, the Board of the Bank of Japan (comprising of members hand-picked by the Prime Minister) has doubled the monetary base, causing the ¥ to devalue by 40% against the $ (by the way, are Buzz Rickson's making you pay at a fixed USD price, therefore increasing their profit by 40% when they convert that back into ¥?).

This has had virtually no inflationary impact (less than 1%), and the Prime Minister, after winning re-election last month, reaffirmed his goal of achieving 2% inflation through expanding quantitive easing (euphemistically called 'stimulus' in Japanese). Only this week, he announced another round of 'stimulus', and the Bank of Japan has stated that it is happy to continue printing money. European and US banks, as reported by Bloomberg, are forecasting 1$ at 130-150¥ by fall as a conservative estimate. Some analysts (Fujimaki) are indicating 200+¥.

I just made 10% on my assets by converting my savings from $, to ¥ on Oct 29th, then back to $ on Oct 31st 2014. Your guess that I 'won't be putting any money down in either direction', is an incorrect assumption. I'm not a professional at this (I have a 'proper' job), it's just informed guess work if you can read Japanese and US newspapers, but in the last year I paid off my mortgage in full, bought my wife a new car, and we've had a week in London, and a week in Tahiti (business class travel, 5 star hotels) because I 'put my money down' since Dec 2012.

Yes, I said 'could', as in 'could have a nice little shopping trip to Japan'. Are you against people having shopping trips to Japan?

Monsoon · Jan 8, 2015

You know what I'm putting all money down on?? Disposable Handguns.

Anyways, I'm not a big fan of this A-2, but to each his or her own. I guess if you like it, get it. I wouldn't bust anyones chops if I saw them wearing it in public. I guess it's because I'm not a big fan of black leather jackets. I know about the quality of BR items, so I know you're not gonna get a piece of junk, that's for sure.

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