This iconic leather jacket called "Ordonnansjacka" which translates to a dispatch rider jacket was used by the Swedish army motorcyclists in the 50s. It is one of the most iconic vintage military garments from Sweden and it sure is a unique jacket with a lot of eye catching details!

The front of the jacket is double breasted which will prevent the cold winds from slipping through the button holes. The double breasted front is buttoned on the right shoulder to secure the jacket properly, and the two top buttons are wooden toggles. It is said that the use of toggles made it easier to button and unbutton a garment if one was wearing gloves, a famous example being the wool duffle coats used by the British navy. It is possible that the same idea goes behind this design! The jacket is also fully lined with grey wool fabric for extra insulation and at the end of the cuffs there are knitted wool cuffs to prevent the wind from entering. 

The fit of the jacket is very boxy and it is obvious that it was not intended to be worn as a fashion garment, but as a protective and functional jacket. The arms are wide witch makes it easy to wear over other garments when riding a motorcycle.  

The condition of the jacket is just perfect for its age. It has been worn but it is in top condition and the leather is in great condition, soft and it appears to have been well taken care of through the decades. It has some wear on the right sleeve but it only adds a good patina to the jacket.

If you want to learn more about the store of this type of jacket we have a blog post about a similar jacket Here.

Douglas is 180 cm long with a weigh of 84 kilos.

- Vintage Swedish Army Dispatch Riders Leather Jacket "Ordonnansjacka"
- Size 50
- Black goat leather
- Produced by in Sweden by Oljon, short for Ohlsson & Jonsson
- Metal parts of solid brass
- Double breasted front
- Wooden toggles on the sholder
- One large breast pocket
- Fully lined with wool
- Stamped with the Swedish three crowns on the inside (but barely visible)
- Leather strings on each side for width adjustment 
- Knitted wool cuffs

All measurements are in centimeters and measured on a flat surface. Width is measured straight across the chest from armpit to armpit, length is measured at the back of the garment from the neck down and the sleeve length is measured on the underarm from the armpit to the end of the cuff.