SECOND GENERATION IMPROVEMENT!
(12/16/2010)
SEVERAL YEARS AGO I HAD PURCHASED AN EARLY VERSION OF WPG'S IRVIN JACKET AND I WAS IMPRESSED BY THE QUALITY AND DESIGN OF THE JACKET, ESPECIALLY THE PRICE WHEN COMPARED TO AN EASTMAN OR THE US WINGS REPROS. WELL I HAD LOST THAT JACKET A YEAR AGO THROUGH CARELESSNESS. RECENTLY I HAD BEEN CONTEMPLATING IN SAVING MONEY FOR AN EASTMAN 1942 PATTERN RAF IRVIN JACKET BUT DECIDED TO SAVE MONEY AND AGAIN PURCHASE A WPG MODEL. WELL I MUST SAY THAT WAS ONE OF THE BEST DECISIONS I'VE MADE! I LOVE THIS JACKET SO MUCH THAT I HAD PURCHASED TWO WPG IRVIN'S IN SIZE (40) WHICH IS A PERFECT FIT FOR A (5'8) PERSON. GENTLEMAN THIS IS AN IMPROVEMENT OVER THE EARLIER VERSIONS! LET ME EXPLAIN.
THE EARLIER VERSION'S USED WHITE METAL (CHROME COLORED) METAL HARDWARE FOR THE WAISTBELT BUCKLE AND THROAT RINGS. THE ACTUAL SECOND WORLD WAR IRVINS USED SOLID BRASS. THESE NEW MODELS HAVE CORRECTED THIS ISSUE AND ARE NOW SOLID BRASS! THE WAISTBELT IS ALSO MORE SUBSTANTIAL MORE HEAVIER.
THE EARLIER WPG IRVIN USES A DARKER BROWN SHEARLING SIMILAR TO THE PRE-WAR JACKETS. THE SECOND GENERATON USES MORE OF A GOLDEN OR HICKORY BROWN SHEARLING. IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN I FIRST SAW THESE JACKETS THEY LOOK JUST LIKE THE 1942 PATTERN RAF ISSUE IRVIN'S BECAUSE OF THE COLOR. AS A MATTER OF FACT I HAVE A TIME-LIFE MAGAZINE PHOTOGRAPH THAT WAS DONE IN COLOR DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR. THE PHOTO SHOWS AN RAF AIR CREW CLIMBING INTO A BRISTOL BEAUFIGHTER AND BOTH ARE WEARING 1942 PATTERN IRVIN'S IN THIS SAME COLOR!
THIS IS BY FAR EXCELLENT VALUE FOR THE MONEY! BUY THEM WHEN YOU CAN! BUY TWO IF YOU CAN!
THE EARLIER VERSION'S USED WHITE METAL (CHROME COLORED) METAL HARDWARE FOR THE WAISTBELT BUCKLE AND THROAT RINGS. THE ACTUAL SECOND WORLD WAR IRVINS USED SOLID BRASS. THESE NEW MODELS HAVE CORRECTED THIS ISSUE AND ARE NOW SOLID BRASS! THE WAISTBELT IS ALSO MORE SUBSTANTIAL MORE HEAVIER.
THE EARLIER WPG IRVIN USES A DARKER BROWN SHEARLING SIMILAR TO THE PRE-WAR JACKETS. THE SECOND GENERATON USES MORE OF A GOLDEN OR HICKORY BROWN SHEARLING. IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN I FIRST SAW THESE JACKETS THEY LOOK JUST LIKE THE 1942 PATTERN RAF ISSUE IRVIN'S BECAUSE OF THE COLOR. AS A MATTER OF FACT I HAVE A TIME-LIFE MAGAZINE PHOTOGRAPH THAT WAS DONE IN COLOR DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR. THE PHOTO SHOWS AN RAF AIR CREW CLIMBING INTO A BRISTOL BEAUFIGHTER AND BOTH ARE WEARING 1942 PATTERN IRVIN'S IN THIS SAME COLOR!
THIS IS BY FAR EXCELLENT VALUE FOR THE MONEY! BUY THEM WHEN YOU CAN! BUY TWO IF YOU CAN!
WWII RAF Irvin jacket
(12/11/2010)
Like many who have commented here, I took a long time before I decided to purchase this jacket. I ordred it on a Saturday and it arrived a week later (from Dubai via Leipzig). I have to say that I am very happy with the jacket and I feel I really got my money''s worth!
Is it an Eastman? Absolutely not, but for $350.00 this is an awesome copy of a 1941 pattern Irvin. It is cut ture to size: I am 6''1" and 175 lbs. I normally take a 42 long, I mentioned this when I placed the order and WPG automatically ordered a 44 and it fits great with room for an RAF sweater underneath. (If you look at photos of RAF pilots of the time, all of their jackets are oversized and bulky). I would reccommend as so many others have to order a size up. The leather is a bit lighter than a $1,200 Eastman, but frankly, it is much more wearable and feels softer and more broken in. It does NOT have the "uselless elastic strap under the collar" as orignals did and it does not have "Lightning Zips" ;it uses Talons, which are just fine. It is warm and it looks great and at a cost that will allow you to use it as it was intended and not be worried about hurting it. Is it a perfect WWII Irvin reproduction? No. But for the money, I would be very surprised is anyone who bought it would not be happy with it. Oh, and did I mention that it is very warm! Good job WPG....not sure how you are making any money on this one!
Is it an Eastman? Absolutely not, but for $350.00 this is an awesome copy of a 1941 pattern Irvin. It is cut ture to size: I am 6''1" and 175 lbs. I normally take a 42 long, I mentioned this when I placed the order and WPG automatically ordered a 44 and it fits great with room for an RAF sweater underneath. (If you look at photos of RAF pilots of the time, all of their jackets are oversized and bulky). I would reccommend as so many others have to order a size up. The leather is a bit lighter than a $1,200 Eastman, but frankly, it is much more wearable and feels softer and more broken in. It does NOT have the "uselless elastic strap under the collar" as orignals did and it does not have "Lightning Zips" ;it uses Talons, which are just fine. It is warm and it looks great and at a cost that will allow you to use it as it was intended and not be worried about hurting it. Is it a perfect WWII Irvin reproduction? No. But for the money, I would be very surprised is anyone who bought it would not be happy with it. Oh, and did I mention that it is very warm! Good job WPG....not sure how you are making any money on this one!
Write a Review
I had always wanted one of original Irvin jackets like my earliest heros wore.
Fast forward another 35 years or so and after my own military adventures I end up in Texas of all places with my American wife. Nostalgia creeps in and I remember my desire for an Irvin, but it's hard justifying purchasing a Jacket one can only wear for about 2 months of the year here in Texas.
Imagine my surprise when I discover that WPG has this excellent reproduction for a fraction of the cost. So, I took the plunge and ordered one after reading the reviews.
The jacket exceeded my expectations and it's arrival coincided with a nice little cold snap here in the Lone Star State.
My only complaint is DHL, whilst the jacket made it from Dubai to the DFW area in just three days(very cool tracking it on line - I can honestly say that my RAF Jacket was in the air over Germany!). Unfortunatly to get it just 20 miles from the DHL terminal to my house took an additional 50 hours of waiting. It was on the delivery truck for two days before the courier "had time between his pickups" to drop it off.
I will echo everyone else's suggesstion, buy a size larger than what you normally take. I take between a 42 to 44 depending on the cut so I ordered a 46 and it hangs the way it should on my 6ft, 185 lb broad shouldered frame.
Hackett - US