Excelled Sheepskin and Leather Company G-1 Jackets

Peter 1956 · Mar 13, 2017

Have you a photo please? I have one with the white government label on and the Excelled label under. These were issued and as far as I know were the first lot when they got the contract and predate the Dscp label system. Will put a photo on tomorrow

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G-1_USN_USMC_USCG · Mar 13, 2017

Here is a photo of the label I mentioned in my last post. Thanks for the information.

Cheers,
Mike

G-1_USN_USMC_USCG · Mar 13, 2017

Here is the photo again.
Mike

G-1_USN_USMC_USCG · Mar 13, 2017

Peter 1956 · Mar 13, 2017

G-1_USN_USMC_USCG said:
View attachment 69640

It's genuine I think in the early contracts they did not have the Dscp ones underneath. Great jackets!

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TXFlyGuy · Mar 13, 2017

Peter 1956 said:
It's genuine I think in the early contracts they did not have the Dscp ones underneath. Great jackets!

And you can still score one of these for around $220. That is an extra 25% off, with free shipping. Can't beat that.

Treetopflyer · Mar 13, 2017

G-1_USN_USMC_USCG said:
Fellow G-1 owners,
Has anyone seen an Excelled G-1 that doesn't have the DSCP label but still has the government contract label? Just purchased an Excelled G-1 that is in that configuration? Are these jackets issue or are they like the blue label Cooper jackets? This one we made in 2002 and still has all the labels and tags....new. Thanks for the advice.
Cheers,
Mike

I wonder if the DSCP tag was removed? Mine was made in 2001 and it has the label. All the Junior Officers jackets at the squadron that have been issued in the last 6 to 10 years have the DSCP tag.

HawkFlyer · Jun 5, 2017

Hi everyone, I'm new to TFL, but I thought I'd start an account and chime in here just to offer some new information on the Excelled G-1's...

First, a little about myself. I was Navy from '00-'05 (seahawks/rescue hawks), and Army from '06-'14 (blackhawks)(retired), and I now work for the DoD as a GS civilian still in aviation. I was issued an Excelled G-1 back in 2002, and have worn it regularly over the years (both in military aircraft and while flying private aircraft). Mine has a few patches on it, and early on after my first deployment in '03, it was covered in patches on the back, sleeves, and front (nobody cared back then and lots of guys patched up their jackets with cruise patches and squadron patches. Even my fathers jacket from his Naval career, and my grandfathers jacket both had patches all over them). Sadly the regulations changed over the years, so I had to take a lot of them off, leaving my jacket with a lot of ugly holes to show for it... Still, I love my Excelled G-1. The leather is thick and heavy, it smells like leather, has broken in very nicely, it's warm, and very well made... It's a great flight jacket!

Well... Recently, I wanted to buy a new one...

I called up Excelled two weeks ago (22MAY2017). I spoke to Sharon (a very nice lady), and asked a bunch of questions... Are you guys STILL the official DSCP maker and supplier for these jackets to the Navy? Yes. Do you still make these jackets? Yes. Have the specifications and/or sizing for them changed any over the years? No. Can I buy a brand new one WITH the white spec label AND the DSCP tag inside, JUST the same as my original issued jacket? Absolutely! Great!...

...that was the sum of the conversation, amongst other reassurances, mind you...

Well, the jacket arrived last week, I was excited! Until I opened the box...

What I found was NOT the exact same jacket I was issued! What I found was a massively oversized, blowsey, flimsy, thin, light-weight, inferior piece of garbage inside... It was labeled as a size 40 (which is what I wear), but had only the white label in it (same as posted a few replies above) and NO "DSCP" red label at all... It measured 24" across from armpit to armpit when zipped up and laid flat (making it actually a size 48!) The leather was a brown color. It was NOT the dark Seal Brown color that is the REAL color of my issued jacket. The leather was thin and cheap feeling, flimsy and weak... It was a damn dress jacket! IT EVEN HAD SIDE HAND-WARMER POCKETS FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!

This was NOT a real G-1! This is a cheap, inferior, impostor! Where is the REAL G-1 that Excelled has been making all these years?!

So I called back up, and spoke to Sharon again (the same lady as the first time)... "Sharon... What is this? This is not what I asked for. This is not what I ordered... Can I send this back and get what I really asked for?"

I explained everything to her, and even described the differences between MY Excelled issued G-1 from 2002 and this "thing" I got from them...

Sharon THEN told me, "That is exactly what we are giving to the Navy now. The inspectors were just here last week, and what you have is exactly what is being issued now. That is the specification now."

"Ok... so... last week when we had that looooooog conversation discussing how 'nothing has changed' and 'how this new jacket will be exactly like my old one'... what was that then?"

"Well all I can say is that this is the issued jacket now"

"Where is the DSCP red tag then?"

"The new specifications do not call for one in the jackets. None of the new jackets have them."

"You do realize I'm going to have to send this back, right?"

"Really? Are you sure? No one has EVER sent a jacket back to us before."

"Well I guess I'm going to be the first then...."

Guys... ...I do NOT think Excelled is the current contracted maker any more. I have seen with my own two eyes a freshly issued jacket. I still work in aviation as a GS civilian now, and the current issued jackets STILL have the DSCP red tag in them AND they are still the same dark Seal Brown with NO side hand pockets either...

I just wanted to write you all and let you know what my recent experience was because I read through this whole thread and saw people asking questions about ordering a new G-1 from Excelled...

Now... back to my search for a new G-1... Thinking about checking out Cockpit USA next... With the only exception of the leather part for the waist band up front being all of one-piece instead of sewn like all issued jackets, theirs looks very, very close to my issued Excelled...

Deacon211 · Jun 5, 2017

Sorry to hear that Hawkflyer. Having seen some recent pics, I would have said that the Excelled appeared to be a good looking jacket.

The Cockpit looks to be a decent jacket, though the corners of the pockets always turn me off just a bit. I'd also consider US Wings which seems to be well regarded.

Honestly, having been a fellow naval aviator, I'd take a very serious look at the Cockpit 100 Mission G-1.

I've posted a review here a few months back that you can find. But the short version is that it is as close to the best modern G-1s that I've ever seen. The goat is heavy and grainy, like the way your jacket gets after wearing it for a couple of years. The collar is mouton, but that can be changed out for their standard G-1 collar (I am having this done to mine right now).

Here's a pic from when I got it.

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Peter 1956 · Jun 5, 2017

HawkFlyer said:
Hi everyone, I'm new to TFL, but I thought I'd start an account and chime in here just to offer some new information on the Excelled G-1's...

First, a little about myself. I was Navy from '00-'05 (seahawks/rescue hawks), and Army from '06-'14 (blackhawks)(retired), and I now work for the DoD as a GS civilian still in aviation. I was issued an Excelled G-1 back in 2002, and have worn it regularly over the years (both in military aircraft and while flying private aircraft). Mine has a few patches on it, and early on after my first deployment in '03, it was covered in patches on the back, sleeves, and front (nobody cared back then and lots of guys patched up their jackets with cruise patches and squadron patches. Even my fathers jacket from his Naval career, and my grandfathers jacket both had patches all over them). Sadly the regulations changed over the years, so I had to take a lot of them off, leaving my jacket with a lot of ugly holes to show for it... Still, I love my Excelled G-1. The leather is thick and heavy, it smells like leather, has broken in very nicely, it's warm, and very well made... It's a great flight jacket!

Well... Recently, I wanted to buy a new one...

I called up Excelled two weeks ago (22MAY2017). I spoke to Sharon (a very nice lady), and asked a bunch of questions... Are you guys STILL the official DSCP maker and supplier for these jackets to the Navy? Yes. Do you still make these jackets? Yes. Have the specifications and/or sizing for them changed any over the years? No. Can I buy a brand new one WITH the white spec label AND the DSCP tag inside, JUST the same as my original issued jacket? Absolutely! Great!...

...that was the sum of the conversation, amongst other reassurances, mind you...

Well, the jacket arrived last week, I was excited! Until I opened the box...

What I found was NOT the exact same jacket I was issued! What I found was a massively oversized, blowsey, flimsy, thin, light-weight, inferior piece of garbage inside... It was labeled as a size 40 (which is what I wear), but had only the white label in it (same as posted a few replies above) and NO "DSCP" red label at all... It measured 24" across from armpit to armpit when zipped up and laid flat (making it actually a size 48!) The leather was a brown color. It was NOT the dark Seal Brown color that is the REAL color of my issued jacket. The leather was thin and cheap feeling, flimsy and weak... It was a damn dress jacket! IT EVEN HAD SIDE HAND-WARMER POCKETS FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!

This was NOT a real G-1! This is a cheap, inferior, impostor! Where is the REAL G-1 that Excelled has been making all these years?!

So I called back up, and spoke to Sharon again (the same lady as the first time)... "Sharon... What is this? This is not what I asked for. This is not what I ordered... Can I send this back and get what I really asked for?"

I explained everything to her, and even described the differences between MY Excelled issued G-1 from 2002 and this "thing" I got from them...

Sharon THEN told me, "That is exactly what we are giving to the Navy now. The inspectors were just here last week, and what you have is exactly what is being issued now. That is the specification now."

"Ok... so... last week when we had that looooooog conversation discussing how 'nothing has changed' and 'how this new jacket will be exactly like my old one'... what was that then?"

"Well all I can say is that this is the issued jacket now"

"Where is the DSCP red tag then?"

"The new specifications do not call for one in the jackets. None of the new jackets have them."

"You do realize I'm going to have to send this back, right?"

"Really? Are you sure? No one has EVER sent a jacket back to us before."

"Well I guess I'm going to be the first then...."

Guys... ...I do NOT think Excelled is the current contracted maker any more. I have seen with my own two eyes a freshly issued jacket. I still work in aviation as a GS civilian now, and the current issued jackets STILL have the DSCP red tag in them AND they are still the same dark Seal Brown with NO side hand pockets either...

I just wanted to write you all and let you know what my recent experience was because I read through this whole thread and saw people asking questions about ordering a new G-1 from Excelled...

Now... back to my search for a new G-1... Thinking about checking out Cockpit USA next... With the only exception of the leather part for the waist band up front being all of one-piece instead of sewn like all issued jackets, theirs looks very, very close to my issued Excelled...

Well that is a sorry state of affairs. Sounds like the latest offering is not a good one. I know the latest issue run a size bigger but did not realise that they had side entry pockets . Also should have a Dla label on below the white one instead or the Dscp. If you still have it would love to see photos and measurements to compare with mine.

Cheers

Peter

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HawkFlyer · Jun 6, 2017

Deacon211 said:
Sorry to hear that Hawkflyer. Having seen some recent pics, I would have said that the Excelled appeared to be a good looking jacket.

The Cockpit looks to be a decent jacket, though the corners of the pockets always turn me off just a bit. I'd also consider US Wings which seems to be well regarded.

Honestly, having been a fellow naval aviator, I'd take a very serious look at the Cockpit 100 Mission G-1.

I've posted a review here a few months back that you can find. But the short version is that it is as close to the best modern G-1s that I've ever seen. The goat is heavy and grainy, like the way your jacket gets after wearing it for a couple of years. The collar is mouton, but that can be changed out for their standard G-1 collar (I am having this done to mine right now).

Here's a pic from when I got it.

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I know what you mean about the bottom pocket corners. I've been looking at them for a bit now, and then seem... Off... I think it's because they're a bit bigger than what I'm used to seeing.

Here's a few quick pics of my 2002 issued Excelled taken today:

As for the 100 Mission, that does look like a fine G-1! Almost like my grandfathers jacket (which I think is maybe a 55J14, or an M422). My fathers jacket was issued to him in the 70's, and is that light brown cowhide version from back then.

Anyways, as nice and very good looking as that is, I don't think I'll get one (at least not just yet or at first... I'm actually VERY tempted!). To me, there's something special about the relationship you have with your jacket. Actually using it while flying, breaking it in, having it conform to your body, and seeing it age while knowing it was countless hours of your use that did that. There's memories - good and bad - in those creases and folds, and no "vintage" or "made to look vintage" jacket can feel the same as one you broke in and wore out from scratch...

Besides, I'm sure the goatskin leather used in both the 100 mission and the standard issue mil-spec version they have is the same goat, weight and thickness... No? If so, I'm more than sure it will age nicely. [emoji846]

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Peter 1956 · Jun 6, 2017

That's a fine looking jacket there sir

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HawkFlyer · Jun 6, 2017

I know what you mean about the bottom pocket corners. I've been looking at them for a bit now, and then seem... Off... I think it's because they're a bit bigger than what I'm used to seeing.

Here's a few quick pics of my 2002 issued Excelled taken today:

Peter 1956 said:
Well that is a sorry state of affairs. Sounds like the latest offering is not a good one. I know the latest issue run a size bigger but did not realise that they had side entry pockets . Also should have a Dla label on below the white one instead or the Dscp. If you still have it would love to see photos and measurements to compare with mine.

Cheers

Peter

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No, I'm sorry... I did NOT keep or hold onto that jacket. I sent it back the very same day. Went right to the UPS store and shipped it off for a return and a refund. However, I can give you the measurements, as I was baffled by the size difference between my issued G-1 (size 40) and this new one (also size 40).

The new jackets measurements were as follows:

Size labeled: 40
Pit to Pit: 24" (so 48" around - which is REALLY a size 48!)
Shoulder seam to shoulder seam: 19"
Shoulder seam to end of leather at cuff: 23" (over the elbow) (27" with knits)
Collar seam down back to end of leather: 22" (26" with waist band)

Hope that helps...

Peter 1956 · Jun 6, 2017

Thanks for that . Big to say the least . Just don't get the side pocket bit that's not spec????

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Deacon211 · Jun 6, 2017

That is a good looking jacket!

I know what you mean about making your jacket yours. However, the Cockpit 100 Mission is actually different goat from that on their mil spec jacket...at least the last mil spec I saw a few years ago. It's heavier and more substantial with I think a surface texture more like an old Cooper or even an older 60s era jacket.

The other virtue of the 100 Mission is that it isn't "aged" in quite the traditional sense of the word. They refrained from sanding it, cracking it, or otherwise making it look like the usual unrealistic "vintaged" jacket.

When it shows up, it just looks like you stuffed it into your sea bag for six months and not like you got dragged across the non-skid by a tug. ;-)

Still plenty of personalizing left in it.

There are also originals out there on the Bay to be had. I got a virtually new Cooper a couple of years back that looked almost completely unworn.

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HawkFlyer · Jun 6, 2017

Deacon211 said:
That is a good looking jacket!

I know what you mean about making your jacket yours. However, the Cockpit 100 Mission is actually different goat from that on their mil spec jacket...at least the last mil spec I saw a few years ago. It's heavier and more substantial with I think a surface texture more like an old Cooper or even an older 60s era jacket.

The other virtue of the 100 Mission is that it isn't "aged" in quite the traditional sense of the word. They refrained from sanding it, cracking it, or otherwise making it look like the usual unrealistic "vintaged" jacket.

When it shows up, it just looks like you stuffed it into your sea bag for six months and not like you got dragged across the non-skid by a tug. ;-)

Still plenty of personalizing left in it.

There are also originals out there on the Bay to be had. I got a virtually new Cooper a couple of years back that looked almost completely unworn.

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Well now you're ruining my ambition for a simple single replacement purchase... LOL!

Ok... So then maybe I'll get one of each. Got to say, I love that dark goat and sun-bleached collar look! And yes, I like my jackets made of thick and heavy leather, so that 100 mission might just be right up my alley.

Thanks for showing me, and for making me consider spending more money than I was already planning... I'm just still seriously disappointed in Excelled from last week...

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Deacon211 · Jun 6, 2017

That's how it starts...welcome to the dark side. ;-)

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Peter 1956 · Jun 6, 2017

Deacon211 said:
That's how it starts...welcome to the dark side. ;-)

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Most normal people are happy with one leather jacket and then there are us on here ha ha!

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HawkFlyer · Jun 6, 2017

Peter 1956 said:
Most normal people are happy with one leather jacket and then there are us on here ha ha!

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Yes, I'm normal-ish. I've got so many issued jackets and uniform items (8 big tough boxes full, 8 duffle bags full, and 2 kit bags full), and a ton of gear and equipment... But I didn't buy any of it. I know all about all the big name jacket makers, and all about repros and originals and on... But I've been happy with one for years, I really only want a new one for my next duty station... But I digress... It might soon be more. LOL!

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G-1_USN_USMC_USCG · Jun 6, 2017

Deacon211 said:
That's how it starts...welcome to the dark side. ;-)

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Deacon,
Your write-up on the Cockpit USA 100 Mission G-1 jacket was "spot on!" I got one and it fits just as your said....a bit more like a 47 than an 48. Got me turned on to the Cockpit USA Vintage G-1 Jackets with patches. I got the A-7 Intruder jacket and the "Classic Vintage" jacket with the A-3D Skywarrior patches. I am bidding on a "China Lake Vintage Jacket" as we speak. Would not have happened without your honest opinion of the "100 mission" jacket. Thanks for your honest and sincere opinion. Was a great help.
Cheers,
Mike

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