U. S. sourced, drum dyed, hand cut, heavyweight 3 - 3.5 oz. steerhide leather
Large back panel design, a signature of Schott's uncompromising Perfecto® quality
Asymmetrical main zipper pattern for added warmth and protection
Snap down lapels, collar and shoulder epaulets
Custom embossed “SCHOTT” snap faces
Bi-swing back panels with grommet vented underarm footballs
Traditional zippered sleeve cuffs
Attached belt with durable nickel plated square buckle
Three outside zippered pockets plus small coin flap pocket
Lower inside map pocket
Sewn in fixed 5.5 ounce nylon poly quilt insulated lining
Water resistant leather finish
U.S.A.
Model is 6'1", weighs 175 lbs, with a 37" chest and is wearing size 38.
Leather Type, Fit and Construction:
We consider the Model 618 as a close cousin to our popular Model 613 with just a few subtle differences, namely the 618 has Schott logo snaps and no stars on the epaulets. Perfecto® Model 618 leather jackets for men are made with U. S. sourced, chrome-tanned, drum dyed, heavyweight steerhide leather. This hide has a medium to firm “hand” and a matte finish. It is chrome tanned and processed to provide many years of use without the need for treatments or conditioners. Right out of the box this jacket will have a stiffer feel and fit. We always tell our customers that to make this leather jacket their own requires a profound commitment. Wear it often, explore the open road and watch how it conforms to your body over time. This Perfecto® model 618 leather motorcycle jacket was designed and built for the long haul, the short ride, whatever you decide to throw at it! Schott NYC uses steerhide to help your leather jacket or “second skin” resist the elements. Motorcycle jackets need to be as tough as the people wearing them. You will enjoy the benefits of stain resistance, sturdy protection and water resistant leather whether you are riding on your classic motorbike or venturing out in the chill of a winter storm. For wind protection and added warmth the 618 features an attached belt, zippered sleeve cuffs and a durable insulated nylon quilted lining sewn into the body of the jacket. Our bi-swing back panels and under arm footballs ensures that this tight fitting jacket moves with you eliminating that restrictive feel often found with other leather motorcycle jackets. Nickel plated brass hardware complete this timeless American made classic that is built to last a lifetime.
As with all Perfecto® leather jackets, Schott only uses the best, highest quality leather available. In the same tradition used in the 50's, highly skilled workers hand-cut each panel for the 618 from patterns that date back to the early Perfecto® leather jackets. In keeping with their original custom style, Schott designed this jacket to fit tighter than most for that classic bold and streamlined look. Offered in sizes 32 to 54, we suggest you carefully check our sizing diagrams and measurements to determine best fit. Many of our customers prefer to “size up” in this style due to its classic, close-fitting cut. Ordering based on your chest size will give you that snug, t-shirt only, bad boy look pioneered in the 1950’s. The Schott Perfecto® Model #618 is still proudly made in the U.S.A. Our customers know that the quality and construction of our jackets are unparalleled. From the heavyweight nylon thread we use to the strong American hands that do the crafting. We build our leather motorcycle jackets to the same indestructible standards as the old style leather medicine balls. One-hundred plus years of being the best is your assurance that Schott Brothers stands behind every jacket we make.
History:
The three pocket design of the Schott Perfecto® One Star dates back to the late 1940's. In those days this leather motorcycle jacket was referred to as just “Perfecto®” or “Beck model 999” (manufactured by Schott). The small coin flap pocket started out as a custom option offered in the early 50's. By 1955 this coin pocket became a standard feature of this biker-style jacket known as “the Perfecto® One Star".
Considered to be the best motorcycle jacket it caught the mainstream public's attention after Marlon Brando epitomized the coolest of cool, wearing his Perfecto® in that iconic classic film “The Wild One”. Originally referred to as "the One Star", it was officially banned from schools across the US for an entire year in the mid 50’s. Some believe this action served to make the Schott Perfecto® even more desirable to America’s young renegades with their “Wild One” tendencies. School Boards wanted to burn it and youthful rebels saved every penny to buy one. At the time, this jacket retailed for close to $50 which amounted to roughly 100 hours of work if you were a gas station attendant making fifty cents an hour!
The customized asymmetrical leather motorcycle jacket worn by Brando became the must-have anti-establishment symbol for 1950’s youth. The orders skyrocketed for this leather jacket causing Irving Schott and his son Mel to increase their workforce and expand the Schott factory. By the mid 1960’s the Perfecto® mens jackets had also caught on with the emerging rock n roll movement. Once again, due to increasing sales, Schott had grown out of their current factory on King Street in Perth Amboy, NJ. A few new factories later and still in New Jersey, Schott proudly continues this iconic American classic motorcycle jacket as the Model 618 for the wild side in all of us.
