Regular viewers of our site will hopefully be pleased to see that this product page has now been upgraded - we apologise for what was formally not so illustrative.

The Upgrade:The product spec itself has also received an upgrade - our latest Rough Wear 1401 now comes made in our new, and highly acclaimed War Horse Horsehide leather as standard. This new hide has been specially created, with great difficulty, to emulate the broken grain character that is often found on originals. It should be understood that the broken grain only appears in confined areas sporadically across the hide (just like the originals), so when made up into jackets the grainy areas will only show up here and there. Collectors and enthusiasts understand this, and have been asking for this type of effect for many years, and so we have decided to use this leather as standard on this model A-2 from now on.

And last, but by no means least, our 1401 now comes fitted with our amazing new Crown Chevron Zipper. This is the correct make zip for this model A-2 - we've even had them made with the correct Tan coloured tape. Check out the side by side images in the picture gallery which you can link to at the top of this page.

The original maker:This contract's full designation was W535 AC 20958 (42-1401P). Awarded to Rough Wear in 1941, it was made from a veg tanned, aniline dyed, Russet coloured Horsehide - the typical finish for the leather of these pre-war contracts. The original jacket we picture in the gallery may at first glance seem as though it is a lighter shade than our reproduction. However, this is only because the leather has become very scuffed and faded over the years. We have taken colour matches from areas on the jacket where the original colour is still perfectly preserved. The original would have looked the same as ours when it was new.

Sometimes, with photographic and documentary history it is possible to establish where certain makes of A-2 saw service. Excellent proof exists for this with regards to the Rough Wear 1401 contract. 8th AF veteran and Hollywood film star the late James Stewart, wore a Rough Wear 1401 whilst serving with the 703rd Bombardment squadron. Hub Zemke, commander of the famous 56th Fighter Group also wore one. Both Zemke and Stewart's jackets are on display at the Air Force Museum in Dayton Ohio. A photograph of Mr Stewart wearing his 1401 can be seen in the picture gallery at the above link.

The reproduction:Our 1401 emulates every detail of this contract's house style. We use a veg tanned, aniline dyed, Russet Horsehide (War Horse)for the shell, along with Olive Drab coloured thread and authentic 1401 Rough Wear label. The cut and stitch style has been faithfully reproduced to the finest detail, and as a pre-war contracted A-2, it is made with the correct and traditional 'collar stand' style collar giving you a reproduction so accurate it could be mistaken for a dead stock original.

The Eastman Rough Wear ® 1401 is a front runner from our A-2 stable!

Available in sizes: 36 - 48.