Most Authentic Irvin Jacket as of 2024?

[Jennison]

Thanks to B-Man2 and Flyincowboy's candid advice, I'm abandoning an Irvin Frankenjacket project. It was a really dumb idea... I'm not surprised that idea was mine. Please forgive me if this has been beaten to death, but there seems to be rapid improvement with WWII repros. As such, and cost aside, what is the most authentic Irvin jacket offered right now (2024)? I've read what I could find here and I'm just confused. If you wish to be blunt and just post a link that I might have missed, no offense taken!

Thanks, Jennison

 

[mulceber]

Probably Eastman's. I've also heard rumors that John Chapman has looked into making an Irvin repro. I'm sure he'd do a bang-up job.

And I wouldn't berate yourself about the "Frankenjacket." I'm pretty sure everyone here has gotten in too deep in a fixer-upper project.

 

[CBI]

Eastman Leather but 5-Star is making damn good Irvins for much less $$$$$

 

[bseal]

Probably Eastman's. I've also heard rumors that John Chapman has looked into making an Irvin repro. I'm sure he'd do a bang-up job.

And I wouldn't berate yourself about the "Frankenjacket." I'm pretty sure everyone here has gotten in too deep in a fixer-upper project.

Anything is possible, but I am of the opinion that John won't be offering RAF Irvins. Headwind on the other hand, has lots n' lots in the pipeline, who knows?

 

[blackrat2]

Agree Eastman..Aero also put together a nice Irvin and what I wouldn’t give to see Chappie put an Irvin together

 

[B-Man2]

If money isn’t your primary concern then Eastman does a nice job but be prepared to spend a lot . Next step down would be an Aero Light weight as that particular model looks really Authentic and will cost you in the area of $900 + or - dollars
If you don’t mind some small deviations from authenticity the 5 Star will meet all of your expectations for a lot less money and no one but you will know the difference.
You should check them all out before you make your choice.

 

[Jennison]

That's the confusion, both Aero and Eastman aren't quite right, and for the price paid, you'd certainly think that would be reasonable to expect, no? Or are they?? Of the two FiveStar Irvins offered (without side pockets), which is more correct? The darker one with russet reinforcements (sold out at the moment), or the all russet one?

 

[mulceber]

All-russet, imho.

 

[B-Man2]

Earlier ones are Russett later years are darker.
Here’s an original 1939 jacket for comparison

 

[Jennison]

Great answer and thanks for the photo! What a wonderful example. Do you ever wear it?

 

[Micawber]

'Irvin' jacket is a loose term that 'covers a type of jacket that was produced not only by the Irvin Parachute Company, Letchworth, Hertfordshire but also a number of other companies all producing a similar pattern but when examined have detail differences.

TBH unless companies or, individuals ,start making up accurate copies based on variations in pattern to reflect these nuanced differences between manufacturers - and not just pre war, early war, mid and late war versions - you are not going to get anything but a generic type reproduction.

 

[B-Man2]

Great answer and thanks for the photo! What a wonderful example. Do you ever wear it?

Sold it a while back

 

[Jennison]

Another question: In measuring for an Irvin Jacket (or any jacket), I don't see any instructions for the proper length of the jacket. Is that somehow interpolated from sleeve length?

 

[Micawber]

Lots on this forum already, have you seen this?

Need help on buying my first Irvin!!

Hi there, my name is Brandon and I'm fairly new here. I say fairly new because I've been reading posts on here for a while but just never posted anything myself. I've been looking for a flight jacket for a couple of years now, have looked everywhere and had no luck. Came across these forums...

www.vintageleatherjackets.org

Or this?

Show Us Your Irvins.

So it’s been a while since I posted anything that was even remotely interesting, so I thought I’d go back to a jacket that has held my interest for several years, the RAF Irvin. I’ve always been fascinated with this jacket and more so it’s history. It was developed in the 1930s for open cockpit...

www.vintageleatherjackets.org

Plonk a few keywords into the search facility..

 

[Jennison]

Very helpful. Thank you.

 

[Jennison]

Actually, I just took a look at both of those threads. I have seen those already.

 

[Smithy]

Eastman without a doubt.

The latest Aeros are lovely but Eastman are that bit better in terms of fleece and patterning in my subjective opinion.

Yes they're expensive but if you've really been hankering after a fantastic Irvin repro you won't regret the price.

I love mine - had it since I bought it new from ELC in 2007. If I lost it or it caught fire I wouldn't hesitate to splurge the funds on another one.

If you're a real Irvin fanatic don't arse around, get an Eastman, you'll love it.

 

[Micawber]

Of course you could look for pre loved examples. I'm not sure what hemisphere you are in @Jennison [apologies if I have overlooked your intro post] but what with the arrival of Spring here in the north the warmer weather is often a good time to seek out winter jackets.

 

[Jennison]

That’s a good point. I’m in New England in the US. Do you think that the warmer weather will have an effect when it comes to the heavy Eastman or Aero jackets? It’s probably just my luck, but, at least in looking for A-2s, any decent deal on either one of those gets snapped up no matter when.
I must admit, you didn’t overlook my intro post, I did. I’ll hop over there and add one. Apologies for that.

 

[Micawber]

If you keep your eyes peeled on the for sale section on here, Fedora Lounge and a number either places including the Eastman Classifieds chances are something will pop up but you will need to be a bit patient. You might find something if you pop a wanted advert in those places too. Of course you could fork out the readies and buy a new repro.

Welcome to the forum BTW