Torpedo Jacket - Natural

PATTERN:
Inspired by vintage 1930s-40s American sportswear leather coats, and other period outdoor jackets, revisited by the Mister Freedom®  Design Department.
LEATHER:
Vegetable-tanned full grain cowhide leather, natural color, milled and supple, about 3-4 Oz weight. Exclusively developed for MF®.
NOTE: We use genuine full grain leather, not the cheap top-grain type corrected/buffed/sanded to level surface inconsistencies.
No two hides are alike and each panel may feature variations in texture along with natural imperfections.
LINING:
Full lining, combination of NOS cotton plaid flannel (body) and NOS cotton woven stripe (arms)

DETAILS:

• Vintage sportcoat hip length.
• High five-button front closure style.
• Classic keyhole button-front closure.
• Corozo wood buttons with bone button backing.
• Slim notched lapel with “stand collar” option.
• “Western” arcuate front yokes.
• Split front panel construction.
• Double hip buttoned flap pockets.
• 30s style split-back single expansion gusset (action-back).
• Half-belt back.
• Gusseted cuffs, buttoned cinch.
• Fully lined, NOS cotton fabric.
• Lining chest pocket.
• Mister Freedom® ‘The Sportsman’ woven neck label.
• Sturdy poly-cotton thread stitching.
• Made in California, USA.

The MF® TORPEDO does not require any type of pre-treatment or conditioning and is ready to wear as-is.
We recommend referring to our sizing chart and comparing measurements with a similar style of jacket that fits you, according to your own style/expectations.
I tend to fluctuate between size 36 and 38 in MF® leather/woven jackets and — at 5’7 ~145 lbs — opted for a comfortable size 38 in the TORPEDO, with enough room to layer during winter.

Embrace the fact that the natural veg-tan leather is prone to get tanned/stained/nicked/scratched, unavoidably showing signs of aging as your jacket is doing what it was designed to be doing: being worn without moderation, and passed-on to future generations.
Occasional conditioning when needed (according to actual frequency of wear and activities) will contribute to an attractive warm tone natural patina, and a healthy-looking leather.
For maintenance, we recommend Pecard Leather Dressing, following our usual method outlined here.
Do not use neatsfoot oil or leather conditioners specific to footwear.

Our first batch of TORPEDO was initially released in black tea-core veg-tan cowhide leather, for vintage references loosely inspired by WW2 U-Boat Kriegsmarine reefer-style leather jackets, matching our SUBMARINER storyline and recent deep dive in the Silent Service.
For those into historical references, Charles A. Lockwood, iconic figure in WW2 US Navy submarine history, and adored by both his men and superiors, had his first command in 1919 on an ex-German sub U-97, in order to evaluate enemy U-Boats performances.

This follow-up release of our TORPEDO pattern features our classic proprietary veg-tan cowhide in natural color, 3-4 Oz weight, same grade/color/specs as the “blank canvas” of our original Campus Jacket and Ranch Blouse Randall.
The full lining is a combination of NOS cotton plaid flannel (body) and NOS cotton woven stripe (arms.)

To give it a head start, I set-up my natural TORPEDO outside on a bust form for about 2 weeks, let the California sun pull some tanning magic, and wrapped-up the process by conditioning the leather with Pecard, following the usual routine outlined throughout this blog, here and there.

All was left to do was wearing the jacket without watching the water boil. I embraced the inevitable stains/nicks from daily wear, enjoyed the evo and “killer jacket” comments from random strangers.
Wear your MF® TORPEDO without moderation for a guaranteed attractive natural patina over time!

The MF® TORPEDO Jacket in veg-tan natural cowhide leather is designed and made in California, USA, by Mister Freedom®.