Interest Check Simmons Bilt Tailgunner

[Seank]

Simply an interest check…Long read …

I am dealing with an unfortunate situation. I purchased a new custom Tailgunner a few months ago. Jacket is gorgeous. Made in their now discontinued Havana Brown CXL steerhide. Debs told me it was the last jacket they made in it and it is no longer being offered. Truly a beautiful rich brown with a ton of character.
To make a long story short…IN MY OPINION they made the hem measurement to small for what I ordered. I specified a 20” hem and this jacket IMO measures 19.25”. This falls outside the acceptable variance which is aprox 1/2”. The jacket fits tight on me and is hard to zip and uncomfortable for me. All of the other measurements were correct.
I sent all of my measurement photos to them and shipped it back (because they also put a horsehide label in it and the jacket is steerhide which they are replacing to be correct) only to be told they “measured” it and it is 20”.

I do not agree. Judge the pics for yourself. I am still trying to support my argument and discussing it with them as they currently have the jacket. Not sure what I can do though or what my options will be.
So…..thought I would see if anyone here might like it and wanted to discuss the possibility of me just selling it. I would prefer a remake (in another leather since the brown CXL steer isn’t available) and let them just keep it. But I truly don’t know what my options are since they seem to think it’s 20” at the hem.

So…if you are interested shoot me a message and we can begin a discussion, talk price, I’ll update on what Debs is willing to do (if anything), etc… and we can go from there.

Thanks.

According to me, the jacket measurements are as follows:
Pit to pit 22”
Back 25”
Sleeves 25”
Hem 19.25”
Shoulders 18.5”

 

[RDS]

Based only on the single photo you’ve provided you aren’t measuring the hem correctly.
You have the start of the tape measure actually on the seam on the left but have it ending beyond the seam on the right.

To get the measurement of the hem you need to pull the jacket out fully side to side and let it relax. Then take the measurement from the two widest points on the hem. This should probably be beyond the side seam and into the side panel on both sides of the jacket.
Doing it this way might then gain the additional 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch to make it 20ins, or at least get within Simmons Bilt tolerance of 1/2”

 

[RND]

It’s such a gorgeous jacket that, if it were me, I would just go on a diet and lose an inch around the waist…

 

[Bennarion]

If they agree, return the jacket.

 

[Zoltan]

Out of curiosity how much did they charge for the jacket?

 

[Horsecart66]

Hi,

If this helps... I actually had a similar issue a couple of years back with a custom SB Tailgunner I had made.
Mine is in natural Mustang horsehide and so possibly quite a bit stiffer and heftier than the steer CXL you have and was (IMO) too small at the hem and out of tolerance with very similar measurements that you have shown, however after a few wears with the side adjusters undone and with me zipping it up and undoing quite a few times the jackets hem has 'relaxed' by at least an inch and now I can wear it just fine. Which, to be fair, is what Debbie said would happen. Now its my favourite leather.
I assume this would happen with yours too..?
It is a lovely looking jacket as has been said.

 

[Seank]

Based only on the single photo you’ve provided you aren’t measuring the hem correctly.
You have the start of the tape measure actually on the seam on the left but have it ending beyond the seam on the right.

To get the measurement of the hem you need to pull the jacket out fully side to side and let it relax. Then take the measurement from the two widest points on the hem. This should probably be beyond the side seam and into the side panel on both sides of the jacket.
Doing it this way might then gain the additional 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch to make it 20ins, or at least get within Simmons Bilt tolerance of 1/2”

Ya, I did that and have 4-5 other pictures. Didn’t really make a difference.

 

[Seank]

It’s such a gorgeous jacket that, if it were me, I would just go on a diet and lose an inch around the waist…

Haha I actually thought about that and have lost 5lbs so far….

 

[Seank]

Hi,

If this helps... I actually had a similar issue a couple of years back with a custom SB Tailgunner I had made.
Mine is in natural Mustang horsehide and so possibly quite a bit stiffer and heftier than the steer CXL you have and was (IMO) too small at the hem and out of tolerance with very similar measurements that you have shown, however after a few wears with the side adjusters undone and with me zipping it up and undoing quite a few times the jackets hem has 'relaxed' by at least an inch and now I can wear it just fine. Which, to be fair, is what Debbie said would happen. Now its my favourite leather.
I assume this would happen with yours too..?
It is a lovely looking jacket as has been said.

That gives me some hope.

 

[Seank]

Out of curiosity how much did they charge for the

Off the top of my head I would say I probably paid around $1600 USD *** said and done but I’d have to go back and confirm that.

 

[Grayland]

Interior pocket(s)?

 

[Seank]

Interior pocket(s)?

Yes, 1

 

[Seank]

Based only on the single photo you’ve provided you aren’t measuring the hem correctly.
You have the start of the tape measure actually on the seam on the left but have it ending beyond the seam on the right.

To get the measurement of the hem you need to pull the jacket out fully side to side and let it relax. Then take the measurement from the two widest points on the hem. This should probably be beyond the side seam and into the side panel on both sides of the jacket.
Doing it this way might then gain the additional 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch to make it 20ins, or at least get within Simmons Bilt tolerance of 1/2”

Here is another pic where I tried to do exactly as you describe…you can see I am a little beyond the seam on the left (and on the right) in this pic. Still measures about the same.

 

[RDS]

Here is another pic where I tried to do exactly as you describe…you can see I am a little beyond the seam on the left (and on the right) in this pic. Still measures about the same.
View attachment 779084

I guess it will probably all depend on what Simmons Bilt propose, if anything at all, and whether that would be an acceptable solution for you, however have you asked them to provide similar photographs showing how they arrived at their hem measurement of 20” ?
Also, I’m not sure that if somehow an extra 1/4” on the side to side hem measurement can be found so that it reaches SB’s working tolerance of +/- 1/2” i.e. it measures 19 1/2” and not not 19 1/4”, just an extra 1/2” all round the hem will make any real difference when you’ve said the jacket is hard to zip and uncomfortable at your measurement of 19 1/4” ?

 

[Grandville]

So sorry that it does not fulfill your expectations..such a rich and striking color tone!

 

[Seank]

I guess it will probably all depend on what Simmons Bilt propose, if anything at all, and whether that would be an acceptable solution for you, however have you asked them to provide similar photographs showing how they arrived at their hem measurement of 20” ?
Also, I’m not sure that if somehow an extra 1/4” on the side to side hem measurement can be found so that it reaches SB’s working tolerance of +/- 1/2” i.e. it measures 19 1/2” and not not 19 1/4”, just an extra 1/2” all round the hem will make any real difference when you’ve said the jacket is hard to zip and uncomfortable at your measurement of 19 1/4” ?

I here what you are saying about 1/4” would reach their working tolerance and would not really make a difference in the fit, but that argument suggests we should accept measurements outside of the working tolerance because it’s “close enough” I don’t agree. The jacket was ordered with a 20” hem which would add another 1.5” in circumference to the hem which would have made a significant difference in the fit.
Anyway…no need for us to go back and forth. I am working with Deb’s on it and I’ll report back. The purpose of this thread was to see if there were any interested parties that may want it if I can not get something worked out with SB. This was just an interest check. Thanks for your feedback.

 

[Eagledog]

If you open the jacket and carefully run a tape following it to the the other center line of the zipper it will likely be more than 20"
Walk your fingers along the tape to the other side.

 

[RDS]

I here what you are saying about 1/4” would reach their working tolerance and would not really make a difference in the fit, but that argument suggests we should accept measurements outside of the working tolerance because it’s “close enough” I don’t agree. The jacket was ordered with a 20” hem which would add another 1.5” in circumference to the hem which would have made a significant difference in the fit.
Anyway…no need for us to go back and forth. I am working with Deb’s on it and I’ll report back. The purpose of this thread was to see if there were any interested parties that may want it if I can not get something worked out with SB. This was just an interest check. Thanks for your feedback.

It’s good to know that a solution is being worked on with SB and hopefully a satisfactory outcome will be reached. However, I wasn’t actually saying that measurements which are ‘close enough should be accepted; merely that even if the hem measurement fell at the bottom end of SB’s 1/2” working tolerances i.e. 19 1/2” it may still be too small.
Still, given that particular leather does look good with a bit of luck SB will be able to fettle the jacket so you can keep and wear it comfortably.

 

[Motocann]

This is by far my favorite leather jacket. I own two of them. The measurement is most likely less than 19.25” because the inside measurement is what really matters, need to allow for thickness of leather. IDK, maybe they’re so focused on the technique they forget about this simple design concept. Interior measurements are different than outside measurements and it’s the interior measurements that really matter.

 

[Dansoldschool]

You can send your measurements as much as you want to them. They decide finally which size they make and „would“ fit. They don’t do made to measure.
Happened to me as well some years ago.
I would return it if you can’t sell it fast here.