Schott 617.. Horsehide or Steerhide?

[wasisnug]

Hello everyone! I'm currently planning on buying this Schott Perfecto 617 series.. It has Scovill zipper and looks in great condition!

The leather grain doesn't look like the usual 618 Steerhide to me,
could it be a Horsehide? Could be wrong assumption from me tho as the tag doesn't say HH. Any info would be great!

And what year could it probably be?

Sorry for the bad quality pictures

 

[jeo]

It’s steerhide. The jacket was made between 1986 and 1993.

 

[Monitor]

Don't buy this jacket. It doesn't look good. Leather is of the flimsiest kind and the back of the jacket is ugly.

 

[wasisnug]

Don't buy this jacket. It doesn't look good. Leather is of the flimsiest kind and the back of the jacket is ugly.

Interesting.. Would you say that it's due to improper care of the jacket? Or just bad leather?

 

[wasisnug]

It’s steerhide. The jacket was made between 1986 and 1993.

Thanks for the input! Do you have any experience about quality-wise on Perfecto from that period?

 

[Monitor]

Interesting.. Would you say that it's due to improper care of the jacket? Or just bad leather?

It just isn't a good jacket, that's all. Most Schott jackets on the used market are of good to high quality and you cannot go wrong with them. Some, though, aren't and this is one of those jackets.

The leather doesn't look like steerhide to you because it's trash. Thin, formless, heavily sanded leather with plastic finish plus cheap hardware (look at that tin can stamped buckle) et cetera.

 

[jeo]

Thanks for the input! Do you have any experience about quality-wise on Perfecto from that period?

Yes, although I’ve never seen this 617 before. A 617 is a just 618 with a removable lining. This jacket doesn’t look like a 618.

Does this one have a removable lining?

I believe this was a budget option. I’ve only seen this label on mid to late 80’s jackets and only on specific styles. The number 6 denotes first grade steerhide but the construction of this jacket is that of the 518 or 418, both of which are budget options with the number 5 and number 4 in the model name denoting lower grade cuts of leather. The leather does look thin. But moreover, it looks wrinkled, as if it was balled up and thrown into a corner of a closet and some of that grain on the back look like cuts almost. Hard to tell with the quality of these pictures.