stanier
Well-Known Member
So here I am on another Saturday pondering what to do about my next A-2 and I thought I’d share my conundrum. Very happy to hear any other positive thoughts or suggestions.
To start, I now only have one A-2, my ELC Star which I am really happy with and is now starting to get a lot of wear.
But I’ve been thinking for sometime of at least another couple of A-2’s, one to have painted and one to keep plain. That doesn’t mean I can get them all now, but it’s my plan over time. But it is something to factor in.
Anyway right now (and for sometime) I’d really like horsehide really mixed smooth(ish) and grainy, Crown zippered (really want a Crown zip) Dubow with purply knits heading my way. I think I’m flexible on whether it’s seal or russet. However this feels not an easy ask. It seems to me that ELC are best positioned to provide, but they don’t. So, my options feel like they are:
1/. Order a Platon Dubow and forget the Crown, or try and source a Crown and send it to be fitted by Platon’s company. But then would I be really happy with this ultimately?
2/. Order a BK Victory horse Dubow and source a Crown as option 1., but assuming BK are doing Victory, again, would I be happy with this ultimately?
3/. Wait for ELC to release their Dubow unpainted and forget the Crown. But I’m not sure I could forget the Crown!
4/. Go for the Crown and forget Dubow and order an ELC RW 1401P. But I’m not sure I would forget Dubow, though I might be very happy with 1401! Though I’m not sure about RW collars.
5/. Go a different direction again and talk to Aero about what they could do for me. I just might do this one anyway.
6/. Get an original,. Now this is a new option for me as I’m not really a fan of the thought of 70 or 80 year old jackets and my (quite possibly only my perception) hygiene problems of funny smells etc. However I’ve seen a couple of originals that have been relined with new knits and labels. And cleaned and / or refurbished zips and fasteners that look sweet. The finish didn’t look 70 plus years old per se but was very nice so maybe that’s answer, but what I want is maybe a tough find in my size 40ish depending on final measurements.
7/. Bite the bullet and order 2 or 3 jackets (back to my long term want list) from Goodwear and get in the queue. I love John’s Work but not the 2 year wait! 2 years of excitement wishing my life away and would it be 2 years or more? and I’d be 55 by then, I don’t want to think of it! But I’d almost certainly be very happy with the jackets eventually.
8/. Look for a used Goodwear, I’m kind of doing this anyway, but my pereception is that a Crown zippered Dubow in size 40 (or possibly 42 depending on measurements) is an unlikely find.
9/. Look to Japan and see what I can find, but again would I be happy ultimately?
10/. Do nothing and just see what time brings? This is what I am doing by default, and I’m not happy with this choice now
So gents, what to do? Is there another option that give me what I’m looking for reasonably quickly?
Cheers
Chris
To start, I now only have one A-2, my ELC Star which I am really happy with and is now starting to get a lot of wear.
But I’ve been thinking for sometime of at least another couple of A-2’s, one to have painted and one to keep plain. That doesn’t mean I can get them all now, but it’s my plan over time. But it is something to factor in.
Anyway right now (and for sometime) I’d really like horsehide really mixed smooth(ish) and grainy, Crown zippered (really want a Crown zip) Dubow with purply knits heading my way. I think I’m flexible on whether it’s seal or russet. However this feels not an easy ask. It seems to me that ELC are best positioned to provide, but they don’t. So, my options feel like they are:
1/. Order a Platon Dubow and forget the Crown, or try and source a Crown and send it to be fitted by Platon’s company. But then would I be really happy with this ultimately?
2/. Order a BK Victory horse Dubow and source a Crown as option 1., but assuming BK are doing Victory, again, would I be happy with this ultimately?
3/. Wait for ELC to release their Dubow unpainted and forget the Crown. But I’m not sure I could forget the Crown!
4/. Go for the Crown and forget Dubow and order an ELC RW 1401P. But I’m not sure I would forget Dubow, though I might be very happy with 1401! Though I’m not sure about RW collars.
5/. Go a different direction again and talk to Aero about what they could do for me. I just might do this one anyway.
6/. Get an original,. Now this is a new option for me as I’m not really a fan of the thought of 70 or 80 year old jackets and my (quite possibly only my perception) hygiene problems of funny smells etc. However I’ve seen a couple of originals that have been relined with new knits and labels. And cleaned and / or refurbished zips and fasteners that look sweet. The finish didn’t look 70 plus years old per se but was very nice so maybe that’s answer, but what I want is maybe a tough find in my size 40ish depending on final measurements.
7/. Bite the bullet and order 2 or 3 jackets (back to my long term want list) from Goodwear and get in the queue. I love John’s Work but not the 2 year wait! 2 years of excitement wishing my life away and would it be 2 years or more? and I’d be 55 by then, I don’t want to think of it! But I’d almost certainly be very happy with the jackets eventually.
8/. Look for a used Goodwear, I’m kind of doing this anyway, but my pereception is that a Crown zippered Dubow in size 40 (or possibly 42 depending on measurements) is an unlikely find.
9/. Look to Japan and see what I can find, but again would I be happy ultimately?
10/. Do nothing and just see what time brings? This is what I am doing by default, and I’m not happy with this choice now
So gents, what to do? Is there another option that give me what I’m looking for reasonably quickly?
Cheers
Chris
