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Help identifying a jacket I was gifted

DJfeLla

New in Town
Messages
3
Was gifted this jacket by a family friend, it doesn't have any labels. Would appreciate any info anyone has.
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raf

One of the Regulars
Messages
246
A few questions:
1) Is the fur on the collar permanent, or detachable?
2) Is the collar fur real mouton, or faux mouton?
3) Does the collar have a button able "throat latch" (like most USN G-1 jackets) or not?
4)Are the handwarmer pockets lined or un-lined? If lined, what is the material and its color?
5) Using a thin metal ruler, please estimate the thickness of the fleece.
6) Is the in the body real fleece or faux fleece?
 

DJfeLla

New in Town
Messages
3
A few questions:
1) Is the fur on the collar permanent, or detachable?
2) Is the collar fur real mouton, or faux mouton?
3) Does the collar have a button able "throat latch" (like most USN G-1 jackets) or not?
4)Are the handwarmer pockets lined or un-lined? If lined, what is the material and its color?
5) Using a thin metal ruler, please estimate the thickness of the fleece.
6) Is the in the body real fleece or faux fleece?
Permanent fur on the collar, I don't know how to identify real vs faux.
Throat latch is button able.
Unfortunately I don't have access to a ruler at the moment, but I've attached some more pictures to hopefully help with the parts I'm unsure of.
 

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raf

One of the Regulars
Messages
246
Further questions:
1) Any sort of "hanging loop" at inside of collar area?
2) Are the epaulettes near the collar sewn-in as in Army A-2 jackets, or are the collar ends of the epaulettes fastened with snaps?

This is a listing (for visual aid and info only) of an LL Bean fleece-lined "Flying Tigers" jacket: https://www.ebay.com/itm/3767752768...YgYMQmIicThzdTRLgtTfMkHtDyU=|tkp:BFBMlO-F8PFm

Another example with damaged zipper: https://www.ebay.com/itm/1575168594...gvWs5I89PRQIE3rztPQ7xyg15W|tkp:Bk9SR5TvhfDxZg

It's about $100 or so for a Pro to supply and replace the zipper, including shipping and insurance. If the "knits" need replacement, about double that.

FWIW, handwarmer lining in my LL Bean A-2 jacket is brown nylon. Not altogether surprising that the handwarmer pocket lining is different.

If the "working assumption" that the jacket is an LL Bean item turns out to be correct, then someone gave you a nice gift.
Purists will note that it is not "authentic", but they live in a different world. If it fits, I'd wear it, just as I do my LL Bean A-2.

If it does not fit, then you have an item to sell/trade once you get a handle on a fair price. FWIW, I'm of the school of thought that a jacket that is a little too large is much easier to wear comfortably than one that is a little too small. YMMV.

If you keep it, you have the option of re-dyeing the worn areas--or not. If re-dyeing (and assuming Seal Brown color), mix 1 part of Black Fiebling's dye to 4 parts Fiebling's Dark Brown dye--Use alcohol-based dyes. Might need to apply more than once using a Q-Tip. At that point, you have the option to apply some clear Fiebling's Resolene onto the re-dyed areas which will coat the leather areas with an acrylic finish matching original finish and also water-proofing the re-dyed areas. Fieblings products commonly available on amazon. You must do any re-dying/Resolene treatments before applying any sort of leather oil/conditioner.

After all that, give the jacket a thin application of Pecard's Leather Oil (amazon) all over the leather surface, while making sure stitching "gets its fair share" of the oil. Less is more, and a couple of thin applications MUCH better than slathering it on. Allow a few hours for the oil to seep in and wipe off excess. Dispose of oil-contaminated rags properly. spontaneous combustion is a thing--I burn mine in a safe manner. Most of the oil will not penetrate the original finish but will penetrate unseen cracks in the finish. Any application of leather oil/conditioner may darken the jacket slightly.

All Best Wishes!
 
Last edited:

DJfeLla

New in Town
Messages
3
LLBean Flying Tigers. It’s real shearling, real mouton, and goat shell. A great ja

Further questions:
1) Any sort of "hanging loop" at inside of collar area?
2) Are the epaulettes near the collar sewn-in as in Army A-2 jackets, or are the collar ends of the epaulettes fastened with snaps?

This is a listing (for visual aid and info only) of an LL Bean fleece-lined "Flying Tigers" jacket: https://www.ebay.com/itm/376775276851?_skw=ll+bean+flying+tiger+jacket&itmmeta=01KE7G1EXX3X46DHFNKM925E2P&hash=item57b98e7933:g:508AAeSwi29pPahe&itmprp=enc:AQAKAAABAIUNi59bckQcV2ImusJGAkEFHdMBmOo6B3hIaQmzsfyZsd6diqGpatT+H/hrn2/7S6hROuopS6FM3jmqs6xV1rtz20/PlaRcsBqECi65kM+CecoGW7jMaDvYWoMzKW4D53U++v+SA68eWGPptWL3do8jZJ/77cmKwY2BjpLi+MmFnTBV2DOMzmZ0kVfzL63rkYMLI98o/NrZ3+gT6Tfic4wxs4OfGcCw1imDYaFX5l2CxGzVAHnLxZe5c5qRDNnSxskMcimDB4AFD/N1d4xFEWR19yX8e3LmwZlUDtv972ppkWXDeLrvYNqgR6RZYgYMQmIicThzdTRLgtTfMkHtDyU=|tkp:BFBMlO-F8PFm

Another example with damaged zipper: https://www.ebay.com/itm/157516859477?_skw=ll+bean+flying+tiger+jacket&itmmeta=01KE7G1EXX27Q074RK512QEZRG&hash=item24acbc8855:g:eek:QYAAeSwa59pL0f6&itmprp=enc:AQAKAAAA4IUNi59bckQcV2ImusJGAkEGsTUD1zB2JQ8Ka855Bp7rCMGW1fbuKYywcUez+imPfYNZbFQjpSphbB4a6cLfx8fBC7eHYPjrEvg0N0rup9h561d2CGLjRCK6Kqia6/mnYduz+cgzZ51XnGSf6H8NLO1B9L6MojxRYafZdjXsHEdtmWUXTpBt75AujnkgE+kOBW0ThB8g81Qh+k4nQ5CgPywXJWiynBdARzFpZtmsozIballVUdsBq+EapX1aJnFxFXUJ+33+yV4dcrTPp3gvWs5I89PRQIE3rztPQ7xyg15W|tkp:Bk9SR5TvhfDxZg

It's about $100 or so for a Pro to supply and replace the zipper, including shipping and insurance. If the "knits" need replacement, about double that.

FWIW, handwarmer lining in my LL Bean A-2 jacket is brown nylon. Not altogether surprising that the handwarmer pocket lining is different.

If the "working assumption" that the jacket is an LL Bean item turns out to be correct, then someone gave you a nice gift.
Purists will note that it is not "authentic", but they live in a different world. If it fits, I'd wear it, just as I do my LL Bean A-2.

If it does not fit, then you have an item to sell/trade once you get a handle on a fair price. FWIW, I'm of the school of thought that a jacket that is a little too large is much easier to wear comfortably than one that is a little too small. YMMV.

If you keep it, you have the option of re-dyeing the worn areas--or not. If re-dyeing (and assuming Seal Brown color), mix 1 part of Black Fiebling's dye to 4 parts Fiebling's Dark Brown dye--Use alcohol-based dyes. Might need to apply more than once using a Q-Tip. At that point, you have the option to apply some clear Fiebling's Resolene onto the re-dyed areas which will coat the leather areas with an acrylic finish matching original finish and also water-proofing the re-dyed areas. Fieblings products commonly available on amazon. You must do any re-dying/Resolene treatments before applying any sort of leather oil/conditioner.

After all that, give the jacket a thin application of Pecard's Leather Oil (amazon) all over the leather surface, while making sure stitching "gets its fair share" of the oil. Less is more, and a couple of thin applications MUCH better than slathering it on. Allow a few hours for the oil to seep in and wipe off excess. Dispose of oil-contaminated rags properly. spontaneous combustion is a thing--I burn mine in a safe manner. Most of the oil will not penetrate the original finish but will penetrate unseen cracks in the finish. Any application of leather oil/conditioner may darken the jacket slightly.

All Best Wishes!
The epaulettes are sewn in as you can see here, and there is no hanging loop. The jacket fits fantastic, really excited to find out that it's a quality piece. As you can also see in this picture there are some scratches on the back, after looking into it it doesn't seem like it will be easy or possible to fully repair them, but will the restoration process you described here help make them less visible? Or do you have any other suggestions for these scratches in particular?

Thanks again for the info it's been a great help!
 

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raf

One of the Regulars
Messages
246
Scratches/wear on the leather/finish are easily repaired using my previous suggestions. No guesswork, I've done all this myself; done right, will almost be invisible. Carefully cut away large leather fragments/flaps with damn sharp scissors. Your call on whether or not to maintain "patina" on the jacket or to remediate it.
 

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