After months of looking for a good opportunity — and reading forum posts about flight jackets — I successfully bought the jacket of my dreams. Used, obviously, but for 180 bucks plus shipping, thanks Yahoo Auction, I can't really complain. The first thing that impressed me is the sheer weight of it, much more than my Alpha Industries MA-1 which feels terribly cheap now. I didn't really get what people meant when they mentioned that Buzz Rickson's irregular stitching — but I see it now, and it makes it feel much more authentic. The AI is a size Z but falls way below that BR1180, which I got at a size 36. I imagine that's just how the real MA-1 jackets are supposed to fit, and I really love that higher waist bottom.
Now I have a couple of small snags with it. The ribs' black color are faded — but that comes with age, and there's nothing much that can be done about it. The fabric is kind of itchy, though. I don't know if, again, it's all due to aging, but I can definitely feel it.
Does anyone have a tip on lubricating the zipper? It's quite hard to pull out when unzipping it at the bottom. Other than that, it's a wonderful jacket. I'm getting a Bronson L-2a jacket in a couple of days for the upcoming summertime and I'll be able to make a full comparison for myself, hahah.
Now I have a couple of small snags with it. The ribs' black color are faded — but that comes with age, and there's nothing much that can be done about it. The fabric is kind of itchy, though. I don't know if, again, it's all due to aging, but I can definitely feel it.
Does anyone have a tip on lubricating the zipper? It's quite hard to pull out when unzipping it at the bottom. Other than that, it's a wonderful jacket. I'm getting a Bronson L-2a jacket in a couple of days for the upcoming summertime and I'll be able to make a full comparison for myself, hahah.
