Irvin Jacket Zipper Question

[Jennison]

Hi: I’ve got a 1987 Avirex Irvin (“Irvin”) jacket and I’d like to make the zippers just a bit more period correct (without going down a rabbit hole). The zips on the jacket appear to be high quality, heavy duty, US made Scovill ones, but the pullers are those wire things. I’m hoping I can just replace the pullers on the sliders (not the sliders themselves) with Lightning repros, or an equivalent. Is it possible to have these sliders be opened up to install new pullers?

As an aside, I’m also planning on installing a new buckle and an elastic collar strap, maybe putting “parachute-rigger added” outside pockets to hide the awful installed ones, but I’m not going to venture further. There are too many things wrong with this jacket…

Thanks! Jennison

 

[flyincowboy]

Does the jacket have side entry pocket? If so leave it like it is. And save some money to get a good reproduction one or a second hand one.

 

[Jennison]

Indeed it does and I even cut out the floppy inside pocket parts years ago. As I mentioned above, I'd like to have outside pockets sewn over the fantasy ones, like an early AAF airman who ended up with an Irvin. This jacket was a gift that I've owned and worn for years. Aside from those pockets, I realized how many details were off once I joined this forum. I'll fix the little things that I can, but I wouldn't buy another Irvin for myself.

 

[B-Man2]

I would just live with it as it is . You’ve been wearing it for quite a while that way . Any attempts to sew up pockets or change out zip
pullers usually ends up looking worse .

 

[Jennison]

Yeah, you're right. Throwing good money after bad for a Frankenjacket wasn't my intention, but reality often doesn't care about my intentions.

Thanks for the advice, both of you.