Decent A2

[raf]

Some diligent searching on the web may reveal occasional well-made A-2 (or other) jackets. Folks on VintageLeatherJackets.com forum can be "Demanding" on how faithful repro jackets are to "Originals", and often "dismissive" of items not meeting their standards. It is what it is.

That said, there is a lot of solid knowledge to be gleaned there concerning fit, quality of materials, and quality of construction.

Most Repro manufacturers offer detailed sizing instructions. Measure your body as the Mfr suggests and be aware that some Mfrs measure things a little differently than others.

If you are lucky, your jacket ordered from a Repro Mfr will be close to Std size (thus not "Customized") and will allow Return option in case of ill fit.

Jackets ordered from E-bay vendors are subject to how they measure them. After fully reading the above link, you will be armed with necessary questions about how the Ebay jackets were measured and empowered to ask the vendor to properly measure it--maybe with pix. ALWAYS a cloth tape measure!

Good thread for general knowledge: https://www.vintageleatherjackets.org/threads/how-to-measure-a-jacket-correctly-tutorial.15194/ DO read fully.

Final points: Lotsa New leather jackets have their sleeve length decrease up to an Inch due to creasing/contracting of sleeves due to normal wear. This is normal. Buy sleeve length accordingly.

IMHO, most any garment can be comfortably worn if a little "too big", but this seldom the case if the garment is even a tinch "too small".

I've seen lots of "field gear" from foreign Mfrs made with inferior thread which caused the gear to prematurely fail. Almost impossible, by sight, for even an Expert to detect this flaw. Suggest some Mfrs might use "inferior" thread, as it's cheaper.

 

[TLW '90]

You dug up an old thread

 

[Fifty150]

Not to discount your recommendations, but I don’t think I want something that’s already 15-20 years old and already vintage

I am the same way. I want a new jacket.



The only way to get the fit that you want, like buying shoes, is to try the jacket on. IF the jacket that you're looking for is not available in a store for you to try on; then you will be buying and returning a lot of jackets in the mail.

 

[RDS]

As has already been noted this is an old thread which has just been revived and also the OP hasn’t been seen on here for nearly two years.

However, I would disagree that the only way to achieve a good jacket fit is to either buy new or at least try it on first.

Virtually all my jackets have been acquired pre-owned and remotely. In every case other than fine condition and good price it’s obviously the measurements which are the prime consideration.
As a minimum I want to know those for P2P (pit to pit), shoulder seam to shoulder seam, length down the back from collar seam to bottom of hem and sleeve length from shoulder seam to cuff. And as people have their own different methods of measuring I would ideally want to see photos showing how this has been done.

Although I’ve both bought and sold quite a few over the years I currently have several very nice, pre-owned, excellent condition leather jackets, which fit me just fine, and all acquired at a cost which is a fair bit less than the price of just one of them new.