Good Wear Leather Coat Company — Sale Cagleco Sportswear MIL-J-7823 G-1 Flight Jacket

This item has been sold.
Cagleco Sportswear MIL-J-7823 G-1 Flight Jacket
Price: $850.00 (used condition) — note shipping costs below
Fit: this pattern is comfortable in the correct size
Leather: superb soft chrome tanned seal brown goatskin
Mouton: original dark brown mouton
Knits: excellent replacement set of cuffs and waistband
Zipper: original No.5 aluminum Conmar zipper, which operates perfectly
Size: 46

We have this wonderful vintage G-1 made around 1957 by Cagleco Sportswear. The company was later named Ralph Edwards Sportswear, and they lasted until the mid-1980s. We believe this is the last Cagleco-labeled G-1 contract. Based in Cape Girardeau, MO, they were prolific in making G-1 jackets for the Navy with many contracts. This example is an excellent, large, and easily wearable original with soft goatskin.

The leather is almost as-new, shows tiny bits of wear along the zipper track. The nylon lining is in almost new condition, with just two small holes by the waistband end, most likely happening during construction. The knits are replaced by us, with correct seal brown and weave, and are ready for another 70 years of use. The mouton is exquisite and solid, with no bald spots. The zipper is a strong No.5 aluminum Conmar, and is as solid as the day it was installed. The nylon thread is superb.

The Cagleco design is very comfortable as G-1 jackets go...no tight areas or small shoulders. The goatskin is so soft, you'll feel as if you're wearing a flannel shirt, but have the warmth and wind protection of leather. The pockets are close to the zipper, which is a trait of Cagleco, and it has a kind effect of keeping the stomach area of the jacket from puffing out as wider spaced pockets will do.

Speaking of pockets, this jacket has little white dots that are original makers marks to position the pockets on the front body panels. They were meant to be cleaned off once the pockets were sewn, but in some cases, they weren't. Also, the marks for the pen slot in the pocket are visible. It's fun to see these human touches from the factory, still there from when someone applied them.

The jacket fits typical of a size 46 in 1950s G-1 jackets. It would ideally fit someone in the range of 5'11" to 6'2" with a chest of 42-45", and a weight of about 190-210 pounds. The wearer is 6' and 178 pounds, with a 41.5" chest.