Bill Kelso owners - how has your horsehide worn?

[P-47 thunderbolt]

Anyone with Bill Kelso jackets, particularly liberty horsehide, I'd be very interested to see how it has worn in. If you could share pics and info on age/amount of wear it gets that would be great.
To me it looks like initial wear is pretty drastic but over time it buffs in and tones down.

 

[Brettafett]

Ill try get some pics uploaded. TBH both my jackets have hardly any 'wear' per se. Over a year old now...
Some great character and grain coming through. I do have a few jackets that get cycled through...

 

[mulceber]

My Liberty Russet got exposed to some pretty heavy rain on a couple of occasions, and developed some great character:

 

[Greg Gale]

I was just about to open a similar thread. I’m not afraid of character but I wouldn’t like my bk to develop high point wear and other kinds of ‘color losses’ too soon. Looks like you guys have not experienced any of this so far?

 

[D97x7]

Liberty seal after around five years wear and one visit to the washing machine.

 

[s4rmark]

Stunning! Nick.

 

[Greg Gale]

Nick, that looks pretty natural to me, it doesn't look artificial nor overdone, especially for 5 years wear. I'd be happy with that kind of wear in 5 years.

 

[P-47 thunderbolt]

That looks pretty perfect! tell me did your jacket have those deep wrinkles on the front panel pre washing machine visit?

 

[D97x7]

Yes I think it did, the wash didn't really make much difference apart from freshen up the lining, which was what hoped really. Jacket has also gotten wet several times before and since.

 

[virgil-hilts]

I always wondered effectively how to clean the collar lining , if it is in contact with the skin of the neck it quickly darkens .
can someone give me some advice?

 

[B-Man2]

Yes I think it did, the wash didn't really make much difference apart from freshen up the lining, which was what hoped really. Jacket has also gotten wet several times before and since.

First off let me say that your jacket looks friggin awesome Nick . No doubt about it . But I just don’t have the stones to put a $700.00 to $1200 Horsehide jacket into a washing machine and hit the wash dial . It goes against every instinct in my brain . Sort of like stepping off a 500 foot bridge with a bungee cord wrapped around your ankles . No body thinks that’s a good idea .... do they ?

 

[Kermit3D]

The washing machine... oh my god...
And yet your jacket is soooo beautiful D97x7... it looks like an elephant skin !

It's decided, as soon as there's heavy rain, I'm going to put on my Bill Kelso A-2 and I'm going to run 10 laps around my garden.

 

[D97x7]

It was a case of having to wash it or not wear it anymore, the lining was smelling when it warmed up. I'd tried various methods non of which worked, so I thought why not, nothing to lose really, fortunately all went well.
Edit
Don't know why this is in a different font.

 

[mulceber]

It was a case of having to wash it or not wear it anymore, the lining was smelling when it warmed up. I'd tried various methods non of which worked, so I thought why not, nothing to lose really, fortunately all went well.
Edit
Don't know why this is in a different font.

This was without detergent, right?

 

[D97x7]

Yes.

 

[Brettafett]

Nick that could pass as an original...
Looks like those knits stood the test of time, usually they stretch out with a soaking/ wash... At least they did with other (non-BK) A-2s I drenched in the past.

 

[P-47 thunderbolt]

Well, I've been wearing this for 6 months now, it usually gets worn at least once a day for one thing or another and I certainly don't baby it.
Been caught in downpours on a few occasions and the character has certainly benefitted from it.
Now the wear on this liberty is certainly not as drastic as I feared. In fact its probably on par with ELC warhorse. The folded seams show edge wear but the rest is still remarkably untouched....in fact I was looking forward to some more wear .....whether this batch is more hardy than their early stuff I don't know. Also of note is that this liberty doesn't go blotchy in the rain, I would say it is water resilient (not proof) and not a sponge like most veg tanned semi analine finishes.

 

[P-47 thunderbolt]

Wanted to share some shots of Liberty hide I the sun.

 

[B-Man2]

Awesome looking jacket. That Liberty hide is some of the nicest out there.

 

[P-47 thunderbolt]

I totally agree, it really is accurate, a matte chocolate brown.
And I'm surprised at how long it it taking to wear. I was geared up to the finish wiping of after all the hype. It is harder wearing than elc warhorse for sure. Perhaps they've toughened up the recipe!? Very pleased with that!