This A-2 jacket, bearing contract number AC18091, is part of Rough Wear’s second production batch. It features a collar with neckband and a pattern that—despite being designed as a symmetrical body without a front placket—forces the front placket onto the jacket, a design characteristic of the company. At the time, the military specified horsehide for A-2 jackets, but this production lot, perhaps due to procurement constraints, uses goatskin—a rare choice for an A-2. Goatskin is often associated with the G-1, the iconic Navy leather jacket, but compared to horsehide, goatskin has a smaller yield (the area of leather per hide). Consequently, as with the G-1, the leather must be cut into small pieces to use it efficiently without waste. When cutting small pieces of goatskin to fit a single-piece back pattern like that of the A-2, the remaining leather around the edges has limited utility for other cut pieces. In other words, this represents an exceptionally luxurious use of the material. The leather used is carefully selected, thick goatskin tanned with vegetable tannins. After a base dyeing process, layers of dye are applied from light to dark to achieve the final color, resulting in a natural, uneven coloration. The beautiful, vertical grain of the goatskin is emphasized, captivating the viewer once again with the unique charm of this material.