The original Type A-4 is a knit cap made from an Olive Drab, 100% worsted wool.  The original A-4 caps have a unique construction style with the top forming six sewn segments and produced from a more dense worsted-wool knit than similar caps manufactured in the present day.

This offering is another joint effort between Buzz Rickson and William Gibson, whereby all of the original, classics details have been maintained, but the overall color has been changed to solid black.  The addition of the William Gibson name is your extra assurance that this item is the real deal, with quality that goes the extra mile.

Yet again, Buzz Rickson did a masterful job of recreating this classic style, right down to the use of vintage machinery for production and the proper-weight wool with the narrow weave on the outer edge graduating into the thicker, heavier weave of the cap body.  Outfitted with an authentic woven spec. label made on vintage looms, this cap is every bit as true to the vintage specimens as it is warm and good looking (and due to its extra-fine quality it's not itchy).  This is just the ticket to round out your cold-weather attire – get your cap while stocks last!

Sizes:  One size fits all

Imported from Japan

Buzz Rickson's brand is renowned for producing truly standout copies of the legendary G-1 Flying Jacket, and they really went over the top on this gem!  This limited-edition style combines the original features of the U. S. Navy G-1 Intermediate Flying Jacket (spec. 7823 from 1950) with styling from Buzz Rickson’s William Gibson Collection.  The original standards of quality and material types have been strictly adhered to by Buzz Rickson’s, but with a distinct slant toward supreme luxury and durability, and, of course, you have William Gibson’s personal approval of each item in the collection.  

G-1 jackets of the 1950's were originally produced in one of the strongest, most desirable leather types - goatskin - which was keenly sought after and which cost more than hides such as horse or steer.  The designers at Buzz Rickson's wanted to match the heavy grain and durability found in vintage goatskin when planning this jacket, and so they sourced some amazing goatskin.  This sumptuous goatskin is sourced from India, where a preeminent tannery selects only the best-of-the-best hides, all 3 ounces in weight, and fully vegetable tanned for a firm-yet-supple hand, then fully aniline dyed jet black for a luxurious, character-rich finish.

Beyond the industry-leading leather quality and character and beyond the supreme comfort and flattery of the genuine U. S. Navy fit, is the mind-blowing rayon lining and fur collar.  Buzz Rickson's brand has always had their heavyweight rayon acetate lining custom made to match Navy-spec. rayon fabric in weight, appearance, and hand, but the lining on this example is especially noteworthy - the color, weave, and weight just hit you as something only seen on a vintage example - it both looks and feels just as a vintage G-1 did and does from the 1950's!  Assembly follows original specs. using all-cotton thread, and vintage looms are used to create the incredible, heavyweight rayon-twill lining. 

Merino sheepskin is something Buzz Rickson has tweaked to perfection for at least the last 5 years.  Somewhere, the Buzz Rickson brand has located a tannery that seems to generate Merino sheepskin as if it had been genetically engineered to match the mind's fantasy of ideals:  The sheepskin used on the collars of these G-1 jackets is nothing short of mouth-watering, sumptuous, mega-plush, half-inch genuine Merino sheepskin that is just not of this Earth!

The sum of all of this is an heirloom jacket that can be handed down to the next generation - there's nothing disposable about a Buzz Rickson's leather jacket!  This Buzz Rickson William Gibson G-1 is a masterpiece of wearable jacket art crafted in rugged materials that are as beautiful as they are durable.  Please note the following materials and features:

• Copy of original maker’s label design produced on a vintage shuttle loom, not a modern projectile loom

• Custom manufacturing of the correct weight and weave rayon acetate lining dyed the original shade of a purple-like brown

• Custom manufacturing of the correct two-ply, worsted-wool cuffs with the narrow weave graduating into the wider weave at top, dyed jet black

• Custom manufacturing of the correct single-ply, bi-directional, worsted-wool waistband, dyed jet black

• Two button-down exterior pockets lined with all-cotton twill precisely matching 1950 USN specs.

• One snap-down interior pocket lined with heavy-weight, all-cotton duck twill precisely matching 1950 USN specs.

• All buttons are genuine urea, not incorrect, cheap plastic 

• Exact copy of the vintage-style, blackened-metal Conmar Conmatic zipper on jacket front, with zip tape made of 100% cotton HBT fabric that is rolled and glued at the base, not made of incorrect poly-cotton that is heat sealed at the base with plastics

• Leather pull tab on zipper for easy functioning with gloves

• Heavy wind flap protector located behind zipper closure 

• Bi-swing action back and gusseted armpits (with metal air ventilators) for greater range of motion without restriction

• Gorgeous, plush, genuine mouton-fur collar dyed jet black, with backing leather correctly reinforced with trapunto stitching to maintain collar shape and help keep collar up when the need arises

• Sumptuous, vegetable-tanned, 3-ounce, heavy-grained goatskin that is not overly stiff or heavy, maintaining the true feel of the original jackets.  The black dye coating is sprayed on, just as it should be for a 55-J-14 G-1; the result is a leather that will distress and age over time from use and wear to yield a vintage look that is on par with anything made in the 1940's-'50's

• Assembly using vintage sewing machines

Even sizes 36-44 Regular.   Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.

Buzz Rickson goods are imported from Japan

Buzz Rickson's brand is renowned for producing truly standout copies of the famous G-1 Flying Jacket and they really went over the top on this gem!  This limited-edition style combines the original features of the U. S. Navy G-1 Intermediate Flying Jacket (spec. 7823 from 1950) with styling from Buzz Rickson’s William Gibson Collection.  The original standards of quality and material types, except the leather type, have been strictly adhered to by Buzz Rickson’s, but with a distinct slant toward supreme luxury and durability, of course, and you have William Gibson’s personal approval of each item in the collection.  

The leather type is really at the heart of making this jacket so supremely magnificent.  G-1 jackets of the 1950's were originally produced in one of the strongest, most desirable leather types - goatskin - which was keenly sought after and which cost more than hides such as horse or steer.  The designers at Buzz Rickson's wanted to match the heavy grain and durability found in vintage goatskin when planning this jacket, but without actually employing goatskin.  The answer was shrunken buffalo hide!

Shrunken buffalo hide is sometimes referred to as goatskin on steroids.  The hide is even tougher than goatskin, yet it remains pliable, and the grain is larger and even more coarse than what is found on goatskin.  Shrunken buffalo hide is also considerably more costly than goatskin, largely because one is paying for the footage of hide that starts out before it is shrunken, then adding on the costs to perform the shrinking process, where one then has less hide to work with at a cost per square foot that then exceeds the original hide's cost per square foot.  Shrinking the hide increases the grain per square inch and the strength of the hide, hence why the process is employed.   

This sumptuous buffalo leather is sourced from the best leather country in the world – Italy- where a preeminent tannery selects only the best-of-the-best hides, all 3.5 ounce in weight, and fully vegetable tanned for a firm-yet-supple hand, then aniline dyed jet black for a luxurious, character-rich finish.  Assembly follows original specs. using all-cotton thread, and vintage looms are used to create the heavy, rayon acetate lining.  The sum of all of this is an heirloom jacket that can be handed down to the next generation - there's nothing disposable about a Buzz Rickson's leather jacket!

This Buzz Rickson William Gibson G-1 is a masterpiece of wearable jacket art crafted in rugged materials that are as beautiful as they are durable.  Please note the following materials and features:

• Copy of original maker’s label design produced on a vintage shuttle loom

• Custom manufacturing of the correct weight and weave rayon acetate lining dyed the original shade of a purple-like brown

• Custom manufacturing of the correct two-ply, worsted-wool cuffs with the narrow weave graduating into the wider weave at top, dyed jet black, and made in a heavier weight to better hold up in conjunction with the heavier leather 

• Custom manufacturing of the correct single-ply, bi-directional, worsted-wool waistband, dyed jet black, and made in a heavier weight to better hold up in conjunction with the heavier leather 

• Two button-down exterior pockets lined with all-cotton twill precisely matching 1950 USN specs.

• One snap-down interior pocket lined with heavy-weight, all-cotton duck twill precisely matching 1950 USN specs.

• Exact copy of the vintage-style, blackened-metal Conmar Conmatic zipper on jacket front, with zip tape made of 100% cotton HBT fabric, not incorrect poly-cotton

• Leather pull tab on zipper for easy functioning with gloves

• Heavy wind flap protector located behind zipper closure 

• Bi-swing action back and gusseted armpits (with metal air ventilators) for greater range of motion without restriction

• Gorgeous, plush, genuine mouton-fur collar dyed jet black, with backing leather correctly reinforced with trapunto stitching on the to maintain collar shape and help keep collar up when the need arises

• Sumptuous, vegetable-tanned, 3.5-ounce, shrunken buffalo hide aniline-dyed jet black and imported from Italy

• Assembly using vintage sewing machines

Even sizes 36-44 Regular.   Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.

Buzz Rickson goods are imported from Japan

This style slightly modifies some features of the original USAF L-2B Flight Jacket from 1957, though the original standards of quality and material types have been strictly adhered to by Buzz Rickson’s, of course, and you have William Gibson’s personal approval of each item in the collection. Modifications are few, which are as follows: outer shell produced in black nylon twill vs. the original sage green color, interior lining produced in USAF 1950 blue vs. the silvery sage green of 1957, and removal of the flap tab with snap fastener at the bottom of the frontal zipper closure. All other features remain true to the original 1957 L-2B Flight Jackets, including the sleek fit.   The L-2B was intended for wear in climates between 42 degrees F and 65 degrees F, thus ideally suited for spring, summer and fall, and it repels water, too, though it’s not a raincoat and it’s not waterproof.

Other than the noted feature changes, this L-2B Flight Jacket is replete with all of the authenticity William Gibson so eloquently wrote about in “Pattern Recognition” and that Buzz Rickson is renowned for around the globe. William Gibson items, especially this jacket, are available in limited quantities; though no one sells more than we do, they still tend to sell out more quickly than any other Buzz Rickson item, especially in the larger sizes.  Please note the following features found on this Buzz Rickson William Gibson masterpiece:

• Copy of original maker’s label design produced on a vintage shuttle loom

• Custom manufacturing of the correct 2/2 weave and weight Black nylon outer shell using vintage looms and precisely matching 1957 USAF specs. and treated to repel water

• Custom manufacturing of the correct 65% nylon 35% wool double-faced inner lining in 1950 USAF Blue

• Heavy, parachute harness nylon in black, correctly sewn to left front chest for attaching oxygen mask retainer clip

• Snap-down pocket flaps and shoulder straps crafted to match the style found on L-2B Flight Jackets

• Exact copy of the super-desirable, spring-loaded 1950s Crown zippers on sleeve pocket and jacket front, with zip tape made of all-cotton HBT fabric, not incorrect poly-cotton

• Leather pull tab on zipper designed for easy functioning with gloves

• Custom manufacturing of the correct, two-ply, 100% worsted-wool knit cuffs and waist skirt in black

• Zippered pocket on left sleeve outfitted with four pen/pencil slots and two anti-puncture pencil caps made of USAF-spec. brass

• Assembly using vintage sewing machines

Crown is a registered trademark in the USA of History Preservation Associates

Even sizes 36-44 Regular.  The fit is generous.  Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.

Buzz Rickson goods are imported from Japan

Buzz Rickson's has brought back their William Gibson black M-65 Field Jacket after a several-year hiatus and married it with the removable liner (a first for the William Gibson Collection), making this a cold-weather combination that is hard to beat for versatility and sharp looks.

The M-65 Field Jacket packs all of the same authentic detailing, quality, and construction found in the GI-issue Buzz Rickson's M-65 Field Jackets sold on this website, but the color is, of course, black in keeping with the William Gibson Collection, and the fit has been tailored to provide a more sleek, fashionable fit through the body and sleeves. This is a copy of a 1st-model M-65 Field Jacket, and correctly does not have the epaulets found on all subsequent M-65 Field Jacket versions

The Buzz Rickson's William Gibson M-65 is a smart-looking jacket that is a delight to wear, providing a superb balance of weight to warmth (functions from 65 degrees Fahrenheit – 50 degrees Fahrenheit with no layering, and the removable liner will extend use in even-colder climates) that will glide on your body with no effort at all.  All of the other features of an issue M-65 Field Jacket can be found on this William Gibson masterpiece including the capacious pockets, extendable cuffs with Velcro closures, water-repellent all-cotton outer shell and hidden hood that stows easily away behind the collar in a zippered compartment.  And as with all Buzz Rickson’s creations, they are built to function and take on plenty of hard use, just like the original garments they copy and unlike most other copies on the market that are merely costumes or fashion statements with no real function or utility of endurance incorporated in the design. 

The removable liner is also complete with all of the features found on the vintage liners, including the inner batting made of 100% polyester for cold weather and the button holes that allow the liner to be connected to the buttons on the inside of the M-65 Field Jacket. But this Buzz Rickson liner goes even further by having a zipper closure added, an interior pocket, and two exterior pockets; these additional features allow the liner to be worn as a jacket on its own!

Please note all of the features of this jacket and liner:

Buzz Rickson William Gibson M-65 Field Jacket

• This is a copy of a 1st-model M-65 Field Jacket, and correctly does not have the epaulets found on all subsequent M-65 Field Jacket versions

• Exact copy of the original military labels found in the lining

• Custom manufacturing of the correct weight and weave water-repellent cotton-and-nylon outer shell in black

• Custom manufacturing of the correct weight and weave all-cotton lining in black

• Exact copy of the heavy-duty 1960's Crown zipper for the frontal closure with cotton pull tab and the #5 size for the hood compartment, both of which have zip tape made of all-cotton HBT fabric, not incorrect poly-cotton

• All-cotton drawstring at waist in lining and on bottom hem of jacket to seal out wind

• Bi-swing double-pleated action back for greater range of motion without binding

• Snap-closure wind flap in front of zipper to seal out wind

• Adjustable Velcro closures on throat latch and gusted, two-position, extendable sleeve cuff

• Two pleated, generously expandable chest pockets with snap-down flaps

• Two large “grenade” pockets with snap-down flaps located on hip/thigh region

• Flip-up stand collar with zippered rear compartment that houses stowaway hood with drawstring  

• Assembly using all-cotton thread and vintage sewing machines

Buzz Rickson William Gibson M-65 Removable Liner

• Precision copy of a vintage label design (though the label states that the liner should not be dry cleaned, Buzz Rickson only endorses dry cleaning of their liner, thus the label text is reproduced purely for authenticity)

• Custom manufacturing of the all-cotton fabric using vintage looms

• Two open-top pockets on liner exterior

• One interior pocket

• Exact copy of a vintage CONMATIC zipper in brass with zip tape made of all-cotton HBT fabric and not incorrect poly-cotton. 

• Blackened-brass press studs on the liner closure to secure the wind flap over the zipper

• All attachment tabs and buttonholes to provide for securing the liner correctly to the  M-65 Field Jacket

• Assembly using vintage sewing machines

Sizes XS – XL.  Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.  

Crown is a registered trademark in the USA of History Preservation Associates  

Buzz Rickson’s goods are imported from Japan  

The story behind the black MA-1 Flight Jacket and its connection to author William Gibson can be read about on this website within the thumbnail photo link entitled "About William Gibson."

This Modified Tailored Cut is offered for those who prefer something slimmer and less bulky than the original MA-1 Flight Jacket design, whereby the armhole has been raised higher, the sleeves further tapered, and the body slimmed down vs. the full cut of the original MA-1 Flight Jacket design.   We also offer this Tailored MA-1 Flight Jacket in both a regular length that follows the waist-length design of the original MA-1 Flight Jacket, and in a longer-bodied configuration to satisfy those who prefer a fit that goes a few inches beyond the waist.  Other than the tailored fit, this MA-1 Flight Jacket is replete with all of the authenticity William Gibson so eloquently wrote about and that Buzz Rickson is renowned for around the globe.

William Gibson items, especially the MA-1 Flight Jackets, are available in limited quantities and they tend to sell out more quickly than any other Buzz Rickson item, especially in the larger sizes.  Please note the following features and details found on this Buzz Rickson William Gibson masterpiece:

• Copy of original maker’s label design produced on a vintage shuttle loom

• Custom manufacturing of the correct weight and weave Black nylon outer and inner lining shell using vintage looms  and precisely matching 1957 USAF specs. and treated to repel water

• Modified tailored fit with higher armholes, tailored body and tapered sleeves

• Correct USAF-spec. inner lining of warm wool fiber filling sandwiched between the outer and inner shell lining

•Two snap-down exterior pockets lined with warm 80/20 wool-rayon fabric precisely matching 1957 USAF specs.

•Two snap-down interior pockets lined with heavy 100% cotton-twill fabric precisely matching 1957 USAF specs.

• Exact copy of the heavy-duty 1953 Crown zippers on sleeve pocket and jacket front, with zip tape made of 100% cotton HBT fabric, not incorrect poly-cotton

• Leather pull tab designed for easy functioning with gloves

• Heavy wind flap protector located behind zipper closure

• Correct, USAF-spec. leather pull tab on sleeve pocket

• Custom manufacturing of the correct, two-ply, 100% worsted-wool knit collar, cuffs and waist skirt in black

• Heavy, parachute-harness nylon in black correctly sewn to left front chest for attaching oxygen mask retainer clip

• Two snap-down tabs (one on each breast) for retaining headset and microphone wiring leads, exactly as on original 1957 MA-1s

• Zippered pocket on left sleeve outfitted with four pen/pencil slots and two anti-puncture pencil caps made of USAF-spec. brass

• Assembly using vintage sewing machines

Even sizes 34-44 Regular or 34 - 44 Long Body.   Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.

Buzz Rickson goods are imported from Japan

This style combines the original features of the USAF N-3B Hooded Flying Jacket with styling and tailoring from Buzz Rickson’s William Gibson Collection.  The original standards of quality and material types have been strictly adhered to by Buzz Rickson’s, of course, and you have William Gibson’s personal approval of each item in the collection.   

A sleeker fit has been incorporated in this N-3B for those who prefer something slightly more tailored and less bulky than the original N-3B design, whereby the armholes have been raised slightly higher, the sleeves slightly more tapered, and the body slightly slimmed down vs. the full cut of the original design. 

The N-3B design is renowned for its hood, which is trimmed in very expensive, luxurious genuine coyote fur, test proven to be the best material to use for wicking away moisture that may freeze on the trim of hooded jackets intended for wear in snowy conditions.  Hood positions can be personalized in a number of ways depending on weather conditions:  worn down but with the drawstrings cinched securely around the neck and the inner fur turned high on the head, worn fully up and fully or partly zipped or, in blizzard conditions, worn fully zipped and with the coyote fur trim portion fully extended, thus creating the peephole, snorkel look that completely seals the wearer in warmth, keeping out snow, moisture and winds.

Other than the tailored fit and black coloring, this Buzz Rickson William Gibson N-3B is replete with all of the authenticity of the vintage N-3B’s of the USAF.  Please note the following features found on this Buzz Rickson William Gibson masterpiece:

•   Copy of original maker’s label design produced on a vintage shuttle loom

•   Custom manufacturing of the correct weight and weave black nylon outer and inner lining shell using vintage looms and precisely matching 1950 USAF specs. and which repels water

•   Designed for temperatures near and below freezing

•   Modified fit that lends slightly more of a tailored look to the vintage design

•   Correct USAF-spec. inner lining of warm wool fiber filling sandwiched between the outer and inner shell lining

• Full-zip frontal closure that runs all the way up through the hood for maximum insulation against cold and snow

• All-cotton drawstring closures at hood and waist for maximum insulation against biting wind

• Soft, acrylic boa-lined hood that’s seductively cozy and warm, and trimmed in genuine coyote fur to wick away moisture without freezing

•   Fully adjustable hood via drawstrings, extendable snorkel snout trimmed in genuine coyote fur, and strap and buckle on hood top to add or decrease hood length in relation to face

•   Reinforced elbow area with second layer of nylon twill

•   Reinforced lower pocket corners in horsehide leather

•   Exact copy of the heavy-duty 1950 Crown zippers on sleeve pocket and jacket front, with zip tape made of 100% cotton HBT fabric, not incorrect poly-cotton

•   Leather pull tab on zipper designed for easy functioning with gloves

• Two snap-down exterior hand-warmer pockets lined with super-thick, warm 60/40 wool-rayon insulating fabric precisely matching USAF specs

• Two snap-down, lower-set exterior storage pockets lined with super-thick, warm 60/40 wool-rayon insulating fabric precisely matching USAF specs

• Heavy wind flap protectors located both behind and in front of zipper closure; frontal closure seals with buttons and provides overlapping insulation against biting winds

• Custom manufacturing of the correct two-ply 100% worsted wool knit cuffs in black to keep biting winds from entering sleeves, which are located up inside the sleeves to preclude knit from getting snags

• Zippered pocket on left sleeve outfitted with four pen/pencil slots and two anti-puncture pencil caps made of USAF-spec brass

•   Correct, USAF-spec. leather pull tab on sleeve-pocket zipper

•   Assembly using vintage sewing machines

Crown is a registered trademark in the USA of History Preservation Associates

Sizes XS - XXL.   Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.

Buzz Rickson goods are imported from Japan