Good Wear Leather Coat Company — Sale Original Rough Wear 1401-P A-2 Jacket

This item has been sold.
Original Rough Wear 42-1401-P A-2 Jacket
Price: $1,950.00 (used condition) — note shipping costs below
Fit: this pattern is comfortable in the correct size
Leather: horsehide or cowhide, russet finish
Lining: 97% original, with some damaged areas fixed by Good Wear
Knits: replaced by Good Wear
Zipper: original Crown, works great
Thread: mid-brown cotton
Size: 44

This original Rough Wear is in very solid condition. Jackets from this contract aren't easy to find, and those in this larger size are far more difficult to find. This jacket was used during the war, but obviously not very hard, and the knits most likely suffered from mothball damage, rather than damage from use. We replaced the knits, and applied some patches to the lining where holes were present. No squadron patches or name tags were ever applied to this jacket, which is another very rare trait among vintage A-2s.

The leather is a little heavier than other 1401-P originals we've handled. We don't know if it's horsehide or cowhide, but do keep in mind that in 1940 the Army gladly placed cowhide among leathers that could be selected for contracts, and it was most definitely used in A-2s during WWII. We've seen contract requests for "cowhide aviator jackets", and that could be no other flight jacket than the classic A-2.

As is typical of vintage A-2s, the lining had a number of breaks along the top of the collar stand, and one near the lower neck, so we placed patches of near-perfect matched cotton fabric in those weak areas. We were able to get inside the lining when replacing the knits, and sewed some patches behind the collar stand. The knits are new, and the original Crown zipper that was applied to the jacket when new still works great, which is a joy. A few other areas were buffered with new stitching, but otherwise, this is quite a solid jacket. Should someone play football with it on? No. But light wear of this jacket would be fine. The leather is truly robust, soft, but dense.

It's fascinating to think that this jacket was made in the same factory, with most likely the same hands, as the Rough Wear 1401-P worn by Jimmy Stewart.

The jacket would ideally fit someone in the range of 5'9" to 6', with a chest of 40.5-42", and a weight of about 175-195 pounds. If you observe the jacket on John, you can see that it's a little too short in both the sleeves and the body, and it's a tick snug on him in the chest.