NEW A-2 HORSEHIDE JACKET

[kojax]

hello i got my father a new a-2 horsehide jacket for x-mass he wants to know if horsehide will strench alittle. i guess he is use of his a-2 goatskin jacket.......thank you people

 

[OneEyeMan]

My guess is no.
The stitching may relax a tiny bit, but not enough to make a
tight jacket fit comfortably.
Lenny

 

[WhiskeyTangoFox]

In my experience, leather shrinks more readily than it stretches (especially if it gets wet). I would exchange it for the next size up.

Noel

 

[Phantomfixer]

stretch the A-2

I wil preface this by saying that I would not try it but... a friend of mine has an A-1 horsehide repop. I think it is a LW defect jacket as the sleeves were a tad narrow. He used inner tubes from a lawn mower and stuffed them in the sleeves. Slowly he pumped them up (with a hand pump) ; ) He did this over a 6 month period. A long time I know. It would be quicker to exchange the jacket. But it did work.

JZ

 

[Doublegun]

I received my Aero FQHH in June and it was so tight I could barely zip it - definitely not comfortable. Aero as well as members of the FL told me that it would relax, and it has. Not saying yours will but FQHH jackets from aero definitely do.

 

[johnnyjohnny]

double that

will double to some extent what doublegun said...

as people may know ad nauseum i got my eastman horsehide luftwaffe jacket recently, and though the size was slightly oversize for me, i still had hoped it would be even a tad more relaxed as i like my jackets a bit loose

after wearing for about 2 delightful weeks i have found the jacket, like all leather, conforms to one's shape and movements, so there has been some give to (i hesitate to use the word stretch, but a slight giving or yielding is accurate) the leather...rather than stretching i'd put it that there will be some conforming to your body shape, and shapes your body moves into...

however, i wouldn't equate that with being able to increase the size of the jacket by even as much as a half size...but rather, wearing it will have it fit more specific to your shape, with some give here and there

of course, if you try jules verne type techiques with inner tubes, inflatable *** dolls, or other expand-O devices, you may get an increased half size out of it, though it wouldn't be worth the time or effort i'd think...unless doing so is in itself enjoyable, which would likely be the subject of a forum other than the fedlounge

good luck

 

[Doublegun]

Very well said, JJ. Conform or relax is a much better way to explain it.

 

[Flying Mariner]

Hi....
I have had my Aero A2 for about 6 weeks now and it feels like it has given a bit and is a looser fit.
Either that or I haven't eaten as much this Christmas
Cheers,
Wayne.

 

[kojax]

thanks for the reply i have told my father what you people are telling me... his jacket is a A-2 gibson -barnes horsehide thank you people

 

[Corky]

G & B has an excellent return policy...

G & B has an excellent return policy...

As most customers who order a premium jacket via mail or the internet find something wrong with the fit or the color, etc.

Call them up first and then send it back and get one that fits the old man perfectly.

I prefer the fit of a flight jacket which is a size or two larger than my suit size.

It is possible that your Dad might also prefer a larger jacket.

Best of luck...

 

[Flying Mariner]

I prefer the fit of a flight jacket which is a size or two larger than my suit size.

It is possible that your Dad might also prefer a larger jacket.

Best of luck...

Hi Corky...
I certainly agreew ith your comments.
I learnt the hard (and expensive) way, especially with A2 jackets.
I now have a very nice fitting Aero "real deal" A2 size 46" chest with a extra 2inches in the arm length and 3 inches extra in the body length.
If I where buying a suit jacket it would be a standard 42-44" chest.
Regards,
Wayne.

 

[Fletch]

You can stretch horse, but in my experience (using hot water and wearing it till dry) you're not likely to get more than 1" extra out of any part of the jacket - more likely 1/2". Better than nothing, but it's hardly going to give you a whole new fit.

What won't stretch permanently is anyplace with sturdy stitching . Sleeves can come down a bit, even waistlines, but collars and arm holes? Forget it. They'll expand when wet and then pull back to size as it dries.

Goatskin is pretty much a no-go - it's just too resilient. All you can do is shrink it!

 

[kojax]

thank you people what happen with my father he got use of wearing is a-2 goatskin jacket. now with the new horsehide it feels stiff with him it is loosing up just alittle......they are both gibson barnes jackets same size 36

 

[kojax]

after a couple of weeks my father a-2 horsehide jacket is getting better..every night i stuff some bath towels in the sleeves he said the jacket seems better for him........

 

[kampkatz]

Glad to hear that the jacket is becoming more wearable for your father.

 

[kojax]

thank you buddy

 

[Whithead]

How does the horse hide jacket fit now?

I ordered a size 48 goatskin A2 from US Authentic and it fits pretty well...I am thinking about returning for the Seal Brown Horsehide. The 48 is a snug military fit and I wouldn't be disapointed if it loosened up a little when I breakin the horsehide.

 

[mosten]

You can stretch horse, but in my experience (using hot water and wearing it till dry) you're not likely to get more than 1" extra out of any part of the jacket - more likely 1/2". Better than nothing, but it's hardly going to give you a whole new fit.

What won't stretch permanently is anyplace with sturdy stitching . Sleeves can come down a bit, even waistlines, but collars and arm holes? Forget it. They'll expand when wet and then pull back to size as it dries.

Goatskin is pretty much a no-go - it's just too resilient. All you can do is shrink it!

When I bought my FQHH Ace I had wished that I ordered the arms an additional 1-1" longer since this is for motorcycle riding and when I'm riding the arms ride up. So.....I put the arms in the hot shower and pulled on it until it dried. The arms stretched 2".

 

[Peacoat]

When I got my Goodwear A2 it was a bit tight through the shoulders while wearing a sweater. After a week or so of wearing a sweater and hugging myself to stretch the jacket, it did loosen and become comfortable to wear, even with the sweater. I believe G&B uses about a 3oz. leather, so it should loosen up fairly easily. Of course if it is tight all over, it is likely to stay that way. As the others have said, best to start over with a larger jacket.

He might try misting the part of the jacket that is too tight and then doing stretching exercises until the jacket dries.

Glad to see you are still with us, Kojax. Jx2 and I are still waiting on those photographs you promised about three years ago.

I just noticed we have a new member: Welcome to the Lounge, Mosten.