Can you lend an eye on the AAF B-3 flight jacket??
Article about: Hey Folk's. I hope everyone is doing well during these times.. I found a USAAF B-3 jacket, I know there are reproductions of these. The reproductions look good to me, So good, I need help on
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Tough call for me! need to see the zipper, buckles and snaps, tag looks good but it's lacking a maker. Sorry Phil that I can't help in a better way! needs to be in hand. I was duped by an Eastman A2 once! and handed it back.
Last edited by reneblacky; 07-20-2020 at 07:14 AM.
Reason: added text & pics
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Wish I could help determine originality, but I barely know anything on these except that they can sometimes be found with leather strips that had the wearers name on them. While I know returns can be a hassle and having a lot of money tied up can suck, it might be better to buy it now and return it if its fake since finding one of these in this great condition can be hard.
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A nicely made jacket Phil and seems like almost no wear at all, but is it authentic ? As Rene says some close up photos of the zippers and buckles might be the best way to verify.
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FWIW - I’d call it a good quality repro. Originals are usually thinner hide, have more tone variation on the leather panels and some of the varnish should be flaking off, there should be some wrinkling where the varnish has caused the hide to shrink typically. These were poorly made when new and are fragile and don’t age well. the wool is too bright on this, old wool has a mellow yellowing usually and is more packed down. The collar straps on originals are usually a different shade, these are the same dye as the main jacket. The dye is darker too. I can’t tell if it has the shoulder tabs for the oxygen extension hose to clip too. The collar straps on originals often have different shaped tips, the one closet to the zipper is pointed and the outer is more squared off.
This site shows a great original example WWII Uniforms - Flight Gear 1943
And here USAAF B-3 Flying Jacket in USAAF Flying Jackets WW2
Overall it seems like a good Eastman, Lostworlds or Real McCoys repro. The Japanese jacket companies make some amazing copies too
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Sorry to say Phil its a nice reproduction from my point of view , Tag or no Tag , its a repro.
Photos of my 2 examples ,
You can play spot the difference yourself
Cheers Rick
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Thank you Gent's!!
The first thing I saw was the different leathers used to make these. The one I'm looking at doesn't have that two tone with the lighter horse leather patces used and also the horse leather seam tape. But read that later versions did away with the use of different leathers in its construction. So that had me wondering if this is a later war made Jacket?/ Not Sure!!!
I also noted that the neck straps are dark leather unlike the other examples I see with the lighter colored leather straps. But once again, Not sure if this was once again a later war produce jacket that had dark neck straps.
I also wondered if this jacket has been refinished in one color and all the leather is now dark. And again Not sure.
I have other photo's that are close ups of a small tears and wear on the jacket(Crinkling). They include the zipper and the buckles. When I get home I'll post those to see what other thoughts are.
I can ask about a photo of the snaps also if that will help.
So right now I'm going with the "I'm not touching this thing with a 10 foot pole" approach
Thank you all for your thoughts on this!
If you have more please share them.
Now Rick,
Those jackets you posted are very nice one's that checks all the boxes!!
Semper Fi
Phil
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I dunno Phil as I said it needs to be in hand for me mate. One of mine has the well.. matching leather colourings
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