BK Liberty Hide Questions

[marmalademan]

Their black liberty is the best black leather I have handled

 

[Dav]

This is my BK in seal liberty at around 3 or 4 years old. I really like the feel of the leather and the way it's aged.

I got this in a sale btw, when they swapped £s for $s, not sure I'd buy one at full price as I think there's better for the money. As for the victory hide, I loved the sample I received, but didn't get round to ordering before the price went up, damn.

 

[seres]

My experience of Liberty Horse hide is that it is a beautiful leather that takes on an aged look/patina quickly...

Mark brings up a good point...

Is it possible that the color lifting and fading on my jacket (from post #6) was PLANNED by Bill Kelso as a form of quick aging, and the water accelerated the process? Or perhaps the water intensified the process?

Reviewing the Bill Kelso website under the LEATHER tab, there is a specific notation, “… Liberty horsehide is specially processed so that its color will fade quickly with time and wear allowing the lighter shade of the leather underneath to show through, including scratches and scuffs etc…”

I just don’t know what to think. Before the rain, the jacket had absolutely NO SCRATCHES and NO WEAR.

 

[Dav]

Here's a couple of closer pics showing the colour coming through from underneath, which i rather like. I can't say I've experienced any peeling or flaking.

That's both pockets btw.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Thats more like it, nice jacket, Dav. Do you enjoy wearing A2's and how do you find the knits?

 

[Dav]

Thats more like it, nice jacket, Dav. Do you enjoy wearing A2's and how do you find the knits?

Well I don't have that much experience with them, only tried two, but I do love wearing this one. I find the knits fine, not too tight or loose and they seem to be holding up ok, do try to remember not to pull them when taking it off though.

 

[Brettafett]

Dav, your BK Liberty jacket does look amazing... My BK Seal liberty sample was quite nice, its the best colour (like Dav's jacket above). I can't find anyone else who offers that mid brown 'neutral' seal colour that I have seen on so many originals. Everyone seems to offer either a 'reddy' russet or a 'mahogany' seal... Anyway. My BK liberty samples look nice, a bit thicker than my ELC samples and about the same thickness as the Aero ones... various hides. I would give a BK Liberty A-2 a go, but theres never any leather available!

 

[Flightengineer]

However, what is the unexpected effect of ordinary rain (

 

[willyto]

You can give all the flak you want to BK manners, attitude, way of marketing, aggressiveness, private threats, constant bashing, not giving stockists much margin of profit when you can get their products cheaper on their official website...etc but not recognising that they make a very good product is being dishonest and absolutely biased. The man isn't a saint, that's for sure though.

All the used Bill Kelso jackets I've seen in Liberty horsehide or their victory capeskin right from the start develop the most accurate and vintage look I've seen and I've been told so by people who have also handled lots of vintage leather jackets along the years. The leather they use is very good, you might not like it because you prefer the heavier leathers or the japanese shinki but don't get blinded by the hate to the person behind the brand to disqualify their product.

Does that mean I would buy a brand new BK jackets? Nope because of their background and because I'm cheap but If I could get my hands on a nicely priced civilian BK jacket on Ebay I probably would but you never see them often for sale which leads me to believe that their owners must be quite happy with them.

I'm not defending BK just their product and TM here in the forum has owned many BK jackets and he vouches for their quality too so that to me says something...

 

[Dav]

However, what is the unexpected effect of ordinary rain (

Seems to be fine, my one has been set a few times, including washing the pits recently, without any ill effect, think a bit more grain did pop out though.

 

[SpeedRcrX]

This is my BK Californian. I quite like the color of the seal liberty.

I got the jacket in 2014.

 

[Peter Bowden]

This is my BK Californian. I quite like the color of the seal liberty.

I got the jacket in 2014.

The back design (pleats?) is very handsome also

 

[Xopher]

I am really torn as to what to do. I want the Duke jacket something fierce but I am so hesitant because of the leather options they have. I wish I could just get Aero to make it for me in one of their hides.
I just really dont want to drop a ton of money and pay for customs only to feel like I got an excelently crafted jacket made with junk leather

 

[Xopher]

This is my BK in seal liberty at around 3 or 4 years old. I really like the feel of the leather and the way it's aged. View attachment 111063

I got this in a sale btw, when they swapped £s for $s, not sure I'd buy one at full price as I think there's better for the money. As for the victory hide, I loved the sample I received, but didn't get round to ordering before the price went up, damn.

Is that the Dark Seal or the standard Seal?

 

[Dav]

Is that the Dark Seal or the standard Seal?

Standard.

 

[Superfluous]

You can give all the flak you want to BK manners, attitude, way of marketing, aggressiveness, private threats, constant bashing, not giving stockists much margin of profit when you can get their products cheaper on their official website...etc but not recognising that they make a very good product is being dishonest and absolutely biased. The man isn't a saint, that's for sure though.

I don't recall anyone in this thread criticizing "BK's manners, attitude, way of marketing, aggressiveness, private threats, constant bashing" -- although such criticism is well deserved. Likewise, I do not recall anyone in this thread criticizing BK's manufacturing. Rather, the OP asked about BK's Liberty HH and the majority of the posts have been very focused on the pros and cons of Liberty HH.

 

[Brettafett]

I am really torn as to what to do. I want the Duke jacket something fierce but I am so hesitant because of the leather options they have. I wish I could just get Aero to make it for me in one of their hides.
I just really dont want to drop a ton of money and pay for customs only to feel like I got an excelently crafted jacket made with junk leather

Gopher, you don't really have a problem... The Seal liberty is not available, and doubt it will be very soon. I have been enquiring every other month or so, for the last.... well, a long time. Std Seal not available and won't be, 'until theres enough demand for it'... You can enquire and add your name to the 'interested' list and see... I think Dark Seal is available, but for me it looks too dark.

 

[tmitchell59]

This is a monarch A2 and a bill Kelso Dodger both in Liberty. I also have a black Liberty jacket but it has no wear. Like others have said here, really comes across as an authentic old leather.

Sent from my SM-S903VL using Tapatalk

 

[handymike]

@Xopher, there is another maker who does that style .

 

[tmitchell59]

I think the Liberty fades into patina as well as the other makers. Dav's well worn A2 looks like an original, mine is right behind.

Their black liberty is the best black leather I have handled

My BK Hercules in Liberty is black and has not been worn, so curious how the black finish ages. Though that jacket probably won't get any wear in the closet.

No idea if their current Liberty is the same as what I have.

This album has pictured from the Brand New BK Liberty Dodger through a couple of years of wear.