Firefly - Mal Reynolds

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TD5422 @ May 5 2006, 08:38 PM) [snapback]1239120[/snapback]</div>
I guess they could be dyed darker, whats the finish on them?
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Not sure, But i think you could even ask for a different shade or leather, but that may make the price different
 
I am trying to put Browncoat style costume together and want to thatk everyone that posted so far
this is a wealth of information.

Would anyone have ideas of a shoulder rig instead of the belt holster? Maybe like one used in the Mummy of maybe one like Val Kilmer in Tombstone?
 
Thats true, just folded and glued. Have seen both the hero and the #1 a few months ago. I was so amazed at the time how soft they were. Just incase anyone is thinking of purchasing one of the J.Logan replicas. They're also unlined like the 3 originals.
 
On the boots front, I've been in contact with CABoots to see if they are willing to create anything in this style. Initial response was encouraging, so I've sent a few pics across - will post here if there's any outcome.
Andy
 
<div class='quotetop'>(Guardian Devil @ Jun 21 2006, 05:11 PM) [snapback]1265351[/snapback]</div>
Thats true, just folded and glued. Have seen both the hero and the #1 a few months ago. I was so amazed at the time how soft they were. Just incase anyone is thinking of purchasing one of the J.Logan replicas. They're also unlined like the 3 originals.
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Lordy. I've had my eye on the Logan replicas for quite a long time. They're a bit pricey, though, for a poor college student such as myself. *sigh*

Well, maybe I could try to figure out the pattern myself. How much does deerskin cost, anyway? :D
 
Deerskin cost depends here in Minnesota this time of you you can pick up a ton on the roadside if you don't mind tire tracts. hehe

Does J.Logan have a site?
 
<div class='quotetop'>(101RadioMan @ Jun 22 2006, 07:59 AM) [snapback]1265772[/snapback]</div>
Deerskin cost depends here in Minnesota this time of you you can pick up a ton on the roadside if you don't mind tire tracts. hehe

Does J.Logan have a site?
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He does have a site, but the Browncoat is not mentioned specifically on it. However, a friendly ol' Firefly fansite set up a handy information page. You can hit the link there to see the whole thing, but here's the important stuff:

"If you want the best in browncoats, you want Jonathan A. Logan.

He will make you a browncoat just like Mal's - which he certainly has experience with since he made all of the Firefly Mal coats - in sizes small, medium, or large. Custom sizes up or down are also available. The coats will, if available, include duplicates of the clasps which were cast for Firefly. Mr. Logan has researched and obtained leathers which will as closely match Mal's original browncoat as possible, just for the Firefly/Serenity community.

To get your Logan Browncoat, contact him at:

Jonathan A. Logan - Custom Leathers
8336 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90069

Phone: 800-472-5984 or 323-653-9155
Fax: 323-653-9730

Prices which may be quoted for browncoats include:

deer skin - available in small, medium, large - $1,200.00, +$100 for custom sizing up or down

Clasps are not available for sale separate from the coat. "

On that page, it also mentions cowskin and lambskin versions, for significantly less money than the deerskin one, but I e-mailed Mr. Logan expressing my interest and apparently he's chosen to only make deerskin coats. Seems he was not satisfied with the quality and lack of accuracy in the other materials.

By the way, I was wondering...does anyone know much about Mal's shirt from Serenity?

serenity-malshirtdisplay2.jpg


I've got a button-down shirt with similar color and overall look, but I've never seen anything like those clasps or the little strips of fabric that go across the front in place of buttons. I love the styling of it, though.
 
$1200 for a Browncoat is (in my humble Firefly-loving opinion)... insanely expensive, even if it is from the original maker. I know a little about tailoring, having made a few suits and longcoats, and Mal's coat should NOT be hard for any tailor to accurately recreate. Granted, I've not studied every last detail but the screen coat wasn't even lined. Even the clasps don't look too hard to do if you're a little handy with metal. I don't know, but it doesn't seem like too much value compared to, say, a Wested Indy jacket. Or compare it to the work involved in one of Davids X-men suits.

I've been thinking of doing a Serenity version Browncoat, but I don't look good in brown suede, so I'm kinda hesitant. (Also, I absolutely HATE using sewing machines.) :p

Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that the original maker is willing to do this for the fan community, but it could be a lot more affordable. $600 more for a different type of suede seems a little... much.

These are all just my personal opinions of course... no offense intended. :)
 
<div class='quotetop'>(joatrash @ Jun 22 2006, 03:46 PM) [snapback]1266059[/snapback]</div>
$1200 for a Browncoat is (in my humble Firefly-loving opinion)... insanely expensive, even if it is from the original maker. I know a little about tailoring, having made a few suits and longcoats, and Mal's coat should NOT be hard for any tailor to accurately recreate. Granted, I've not studied every last detail but the screen coat wasn't even lined. Even the clasps don't look too hard to do if you're a little handy with metal. I don't know, but it doesn't seem like too much value compared to, say, a Wested Indy jacket. Or compare it to the work involved in one of Davids X-men suits.

I've been thinking of doing a Serenity version Browncoat, but I don't look good in brown suede, so I'm kinda hesitant. (Also, I absolutely HATE using sewing machines.) :p

Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that the original maker is willing to do this for the fan community, but it could be a lot more affordable. $600 more for a different type of suede seems a little... much.

These are all just my personal opinions of course... no offense intended. :)
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Agreed. The AbbyShot Browncoat, at only $500, had me really excited while it was in development. But after perusing the gallery once it was finally open for sale, it seemed to me that it wasn't quite the right color, and it didn't seem to hang properly on the wearer. The former doesn't seem to be an issue of lighting, but the actual coat - sort through the "Newsletters" section if you don't believe me, but there are plenty of customer and convention shots that also show the incorrect color.

Perhaps it should become a project of the Verse-goers around here to try and develop our own Browncoat pattern, and find an accurate suede? I have to admit, I'm no tailor. But I s'pose I could help find materials, or try and design accurate buckles (which the AbbyShot coat doesn't appear to have, actually).
 
Alright folks, I have an important announcement for those interested in getting themselves a Browncoat, courtesty of Mr. J. Logan himself. From a recent e-mail:

<div class='quotetop'></div>
From : Jonathan A. Logan <jalogan@earthlink.net>
Sent : Friday, June 23, 2006 4:27 PM
Subject : Re: Firefly Browncoat

Ok; here is something for those of you who were not ready for the $1200.00
Browncoat in original A1 Deer skin.
For a limited time only the price of a Browncoat in selection 1B deerskin is
$685.00.
The other great news is there is a selection 2B which will be offered at
$540.00.
This is not an unlimited supply of deerskin, This is a special purchase from a
very good tannery and it is your time to score. Coat features original clasp and
cut from original pattern.

All the best
Jonathan [/b]

I e-mailed him back, asking the difference between A1, 1B, and 2B deerskin, but I haven't heard any reply yet.

With the way he speaks of it being a limited supply, it pains me to tell the whole community about it. But frankly, I can't manage that kind of purchase right now - darn college - even with the massive discount. So I just figured I'd pass along the tip, and hopefully it's been helpful to somebody here.
 
Does anyone have clear pics and/or dimensions of the browncoat clasps? Are they copper or bronze? I guess they were cast, but the pics on the abbyshots sight makes theirs look chased (shaped from flat stock). I have the ability to cast smaller pieces in non-ferrous metals, but if these clasps are simply chased, that might be quicker (the finish looks peened, not smooth).
 
Here's the response I got from Logan regarding the deerskin:
<div class='quotetop'></div>
Skin Qality Explainer;
We are only taking about Deer skin.
Here is the difference;
The "A" quality skins are usually large skins and do not have holes in the
skins or flaws that are visible to the eye. The "B" skins have slight
imperfections like surfaces scratches or holes and are smaller skins. = you have
to use more skins to make a garment 2B skins are complete second selection. The
usual most Tanner's give you an A/B combo. That is the usual way you purchase
the skins. I pay more to get just the A's.
The coats are made on the back side of the Deer skins anyway....meaning the
suede side, not the grain side which you might refer to as the leather side. and
only the cuff shows the "A" side of the skin.
Nothing beyond the quality of " B" would ever offered by me.
All the best
Jonathan
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So when he mentions that he only uses the suede side of the skin, that makes me assume that the grade refers only to the leather side. And of course, that means that we aren't really concerned about the grade since the leather side only shows up on the cuffs. Rockin'.

<div class='quotetop'>(Hero of Canton @ Jun 26 2006, 12:15 PM) [snapback]1268534[/snapback]</div>
Does anyone have clear pics and/or dimensions of the browncoat clasps? Are they copper or bronze? I guess they were cast, but the pics on the abbyshots sight makes theirs look chased (shaped from flat stock). I have the ability to cast smaller pieces in non-ferrous metals, but if these clasps are simply chased, that might be quicker (the finish looks peened, not smooth).
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One of the original hero Browncoats was up on eBay a couple months ago, and there were close-up pics of the clasps...they're a little more complex than they look, and AbbyShot's clasps simply look the same on the outside. They don't just stick into the round part, there's actually a little mechanism that goes through the hole, and...well, let me just see if I can round up a pic. It'll be easier than explaining.

firefly_hero_malcoat_11.jpg

firefly_hero_malcoat_10.jpg
 
Yup, that is quite a bit more complex than the Abbyshots clasp. I'm gonna have to think about how I would approach it. Does anyone have an opinion on the size?
 
<div class='quotetop'>(Hero of Canton @ Jun 26 2006, 04:40 PM) [snapback]1268719[/snapback]</div>
Yup, that is quite a bit more complex than the Abbyshots clasp. I'm gonna have to think about how I would approach it. Does anyone have an opinion on the size?
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I could always e-mail Logan and ask, since he apparently still makes coats with the original-mold casts. But I kinda doubt he'd tell us, since it would eventually lead to us not buying his coat. Relative to the rest of the coat, I'd estimate the round parts on either side of the clasp to be approximately quarter-sized, but that's just based on look-see.
 
I've picked up a brown suede coat, which I intend to convert -but I'm not sure what the rear view is like.
Straight up and down, presumably - no half belt or anything?
Andy
 
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