G&B Knits - are they okay?

[Who]

Sorry if this is a dumb question covered many times.... I'm thinking of getting one of their cheap ones ( I got an Expedition recently and it is seriously well made - I love it!) how do the knits hold up on their bottom dollar "air force A2" jacket? I just want one as a daily jacket. I think the design is pretty good regardless.

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry if this is a dumb question covered many times.... I'm thinking of getting one of their cheap ones ( I got an Expedition recently and it is seriously well made - I love it!) how do the knits hold up on their bottom dollar "air force A2" jacket? I just want one as a daily jacket. I think the design is pretty good regardless.

Thats the only problem-those knits pill up after a few months. They are still better than ELC knits but try and get them to install the wool knits if you can.

 

[Chandler]

My wool knits are holding up well on the older goat A-2 and a '50s G-1 I had Flight Suits repair with their M-422A knits (which are quite nice, actually).

Chandler

 

[airfrogusmc]

Their 100% wool knits are very nice.

 

[Doctor Strange]

The "textured nylon" knits on their standard/Civil jackets are indestructible... but they quickly pill and fray and take on a rather raggy appearance. They don't develop holes, and cutting the loose threads is difficult - the nylon is very tough. (I got my Civil A-2 in 2001, and the knits aren't actually worn down at all, but they LOOK very worn.)

So, it's not a matter of quality: I think they will last a long time. However, I think the fuzzy look is awfully ugly - a misguided effort to make the jackets look vintage, or something.

Their wool knits from the Historical line look and feel a lot nicer...

 

[rikitiki]

G&B wool knits stay new looking for a long time, but their nylon knits start to pill and fuzz immediately as others have noted. I occasionally take scissors to carefully cut away the pills and defuzz with an old electric razor.

I was defuzzing my A-2 knits at work with my spare razor, and someone asked, "What the heck are you doing?" I replied, "What does it look like I'm doing? Haven't you ever seen anybody shave their jackets before?"

 

[Anonymous]

That works great on G/B polly/knit cuffs. I had the 100% russet wool put on my G/B modern A-2, the dark jacket with russet knits look great.

Dont try shaving your ELC knits, they will fall apart at light speed!

 

[Anonymous]

I got the G&B historical knits to replace the old ones of my 1980s crappy cheap A-2 jacket.
I got the ELC at the same time. The G&B look much stronger, but they are a little short I guess. Also, they have a funny color like if they used to be white and someone dyed them afterwards. If you turn the inside out you will notice two-tone (while and light brown) threads!!!!

I can't say the ELC are poorly made. They are made like this intentionally, perhaps to immitate originals. (I haven't handled an original yet, so I wouldn't know).

From all the choices out there, the RMNZ has to be cool but very expensive. The Mash are sold out, so we're prety much left with G&B for the time being.

 

[fishmeok]

G&B knits are excellent, but you have to make CERTAIN you get the all wool "Historical A-2" knits. They have several different varieties and I have gotten wool knits from them that are not the same as the ones used on the Historical A-2. Chapman also told me the other day that they are getting a new supplier for the M-422A knits, much better than the old ones.
Cheers
Mark