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Buzz Rickson-William Gibson A2-Birthday Present

tmitchell59

I'll Lock Up
Messages
7,462
Location
Illinois
My 65th Birthday was October 25. This Buzz was due to end three days before. I had lusted after this jacket since I saw a pic some time back. I had never seen one larger than a size 40. I had no idea who William Gibson is or even Buzz Rickson. I do own and love two Buzz Rickson Buffalo Hide jackets. I do know their jackets if not the name.

When this one came around I knew I had to have it. The only size 44 for sale I have seen and with the Tags! Being around my B-day I was able to rationalize the purchase as a present to myself. I won the auction by $6

I have read about William Gibson and the Buzz Rickson connection I found this article. Gibson gives his take on Japanese Leather jacket reproductions. Interesting read. Here is a quote from the article.

WG: Japan had a more radical experience of future shock than any other nation in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries. They were this feudal place, locked in the past, but then they bought the whole Industrial Revolution kit from England, blew their cultural brains out with it, became the first industrialized Asian nation, tried to take over their side of the world, got nuked by the United States for their trouble, and discovered Steve McQueen! Their take on iconic menswear emerges from that matrix. Complicated!

I have a 50s Sears Hercules civilian A-2 in black Horshide. I have seen maybe one other Hercules in Black. I have a Sears Oakbrook A-2 in black. Black was not a popular color for the civilian A-2. I think every company made or offered a Brown rendition post war.

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The Dramatic Unboxing:


 

jacketjunkie

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,212
Location
Germany
Terry, first of all, belated happy birthday!

And what a nice coincidence this jacket showed up right in time and you could secure it.. the other day I had a long talk about Japan with a friend who spent there a year and amongst many other things, we talked about how no matter what it is that the Japanese take on, they give it their own twist and do it at least as good and in many cases actually better. Anyone who has owned both a Grand Seiko and a Rolex will have a good example of what I'm talking about. And this A-2 is yet another example of that. Black leather with russet details and contrast stitching and then all these other lovely details ofcourse... this jacket oozes quality and even though a decades old design, has something original about it.

Fits you perfectly too, which cannot be rated highly enough for a blind buy on the internet from the other end of the world.. congratulations, you've given yourself quite the birthday present.
Your biggest problem will probably be a lack of time to wear it as much as it deserves, with all these other jackets also demanding your time. :D
 

Cocker

Practically Family
Messages
627
Location
Belgium
Happy Birthday, Terry! The jacket looks amazing, I love the contrasting black/russet, and the fit is bang on. You couldn't have secured a best gift!
 

dudewuttheheck

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,260
Happy birthday! That is definitely an appropriate present. I have seen those in Self Edge a few times and have always wanted one. If I wore more black, I would have one already. The hide is absolutely stunning! The best part of the jacket!
 

Gamma68

One Too Many
Messages
1,926
Location
Detroit, MI
Happy birthday to you, Terry! That's a fabulous present to yourself!

I have to say that I really enjoy all of your videos -- the ones posted both here and on YouTube. Your knowledge and enthusiasm for leather jackets really comes across. Keep 'em coming!
 

El Marro

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,474
Location
California
Happy Birthday Terry! I too have admired that jacket since I first saw it on the Self Edge website. Looks like a great fit too, well done!
 

thor

One Too Many
Messages
1,998
Location
NYC, NY
Cool jacket @tmitchell59
I love the Buzz William Gibson line of jackets (I have a William Gibson MA-1 in a rare size 46 Long).
If you read any of Mr. Gibson's books, I suggest "Pattern Recognition". In it, the heroine, Cayce Pollard, goes into a Fedora Lounge-worthy obsession about her Buzz Rickson MA-1 jacket! (As an aside, Mr. Gibson was the first person to coin the phrase "surfing the 'net").
Wear it in good health and a belated happy birthday Terry!
 
Messages
17,105
Location
Chicago
One more thing...I also love the hunting jacket and I'm amazed you made it 5 minutes after the unboxing to try it on!
When I get a new jacket I rip thru the box like a raging orangutan to make sure I didn't blow the numbers. It's a very nerve racking, anxious moment. Love your videos man. They are fun to watch.
 

AeroFan_07

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,313
Location
Iowa
Happy Birthday Terry!! :)

That is one incredible A2! Wear your new gift to yourself in great health and here's to 65 more! Nicely done video as well, again.
 

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