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What is Capeskin ?

John Lever

Moderator
Not promoting Bill Kelso in any way. This is a very interesting article full of usefull information with references.

 

Brettafett

Well-Known Member
Very interesting, yes. Not a heck of of a lot of info out there... Theres this also...
 

Nik

Member
Interesting read, thanks for posting. Some more images to illustrate what the articles have already pointed out.

20s to early 30s American capeskin unlined cossack jacket. This is a reverse capeskin jacket, so the outside is the suede (flesh) side. I flipped the jacket to its left side for these photos.

The sleeve in the first image is inside (left) and outside (right) of jacket.

First, the heavy, almost embossed-looking long stretch marks - you may have to view the images scaled down in order to see the stretch marks as clearly as they appear in real life. They're really quite conspicuous and easily visible even from several feet away.

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And below, the finer honeycomb pattern type of stretch marks. These were not easy to capture on film, but they're rather striking in real life although not as clearly visible from a distance as the other type of stretch marks. The last image shows the inside (hair side) of a patch pocket.

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The jacket flipped back for wearing/ right side:

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Grant

Well-Known Member
Wow, beautiful jacket! With the repairs, it looks it's still a wearable jacket.
Also, the original cat eye buttons are so cool!
 

Nik

Member
Wow, beautiful jacket! With the repairs, it looks it's still a wearable jacket.
Also, the original cat eye buttons are so cool!

Yeah, still wearable. Haven't seen many of those that weren't about to fall apart.
The button shape is what leads me to believe that the jacket is American - which is the most likely origin anyway. I'd love to see an original European one up close. I mean like this, unlined and everything.
Obviously the second waistband button is a replacement.
 

Nik

Member
Two more pics. The front shot illustrates that on this jacket, the long stretch marks actually show through to the flesh side. However, the leather is very lightweight (the entire jacket weighs 800 gram although at size 36 and 20.5" back length, mind), so the hide whether shaved down or not is thin. Still, impressive nasty scars.

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B-Man2

Well-Known Member
Two more pics. The front shot illustrates that on this jacket, the long stretch marks actually show through to the flesh side. However, the leather is very lightweight (the entire jacket weighs 800 gram although at size 36 and 20.5" back length, mind), so the hide whether shaved down or not is thin. Still, impressive nasty scars.

ZKoBYp5.jpg


a9Y2vzR.jpg
This looks a lot like a Waldo Pepper type of design which would have been typical of a few flight jackets of that period.

Five Star Waldo Pepper for comparison
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