Vintage 1980s Redskins Motors Buffalo Hide Leather Motorcycle Jacket

Redskins Riders — the motorcycle-focused arm of the French Territoire Redskins label, founded in 1984 and built around American road and rock culture. The interior label reads Redskins Garment & Accessories, Original Fabrics, Riders, On The Road Again, centred on a V-twin engine graphic that makes its purpose clear. The Redskins Motors name is embroidered directly into the leather on the left chest, stitched into the hide itself rather than applied. The leather is buffalo hide. This is the motorcycle jacket that sub-line was made for.

The front closes on a centre zip with a Liru pull, running up to a high collar with a snap-close storm tab. The right chest carries a double pocket construction, with a horizontal zip pocket above and a vertical zip pocket set directly below within the same raised panel, giving both a map pocket and secondary storage within easy reach. A vertical slash pocket sits to the left chest beneath the embroidered panel. The sleeves are fitted with full-length outer zips running from shoulder to cuff, allowing the jacket to be worn over riding gear without removing gloves. The waist carries a broad separate belt with multiple eyelets, a keeper loop and a substantial rectangular Redskins-branded buckle. Two further zip pockets sit at the lower front. The layout is deliberate throughout, built for practical use rather than appearance alone.

The zip pulls are not all matching. Over time, individual pulls have been replaced as needed, each one slightly different. It is the kind of detail that speaks to a jacket that has been used and maintained rather than set aside.

The lining is a Royal Stewart tartan in red, navy and yellow, bright and clean, and in excellent condition throughout. The sleeve lining is black quilted nylon. The contrast between the heavily worn exterior and the vivid interior is particularly strong on this piece.

The leather is buffalo hide, heavy and substantial, and it presents with pronounced variation across the jacket. Buffalo hide is naturally less uniform than cowhide, and long use has drawn that variation out fully. Areas of exposure such as the shoulders, collar, yoke and sleeve heads have worn back to a lighter, drier tone while the more protected lower panels, pocket surfaces and belt retain their original depth and firmness. The back yoke shows the transition at its most dramatic, the upper panel lightened to a warm mid-brown, the body below still dark and deep. Across the front the chest panels shift between tones depending on the light. In the protected areas the original grain of the hide is still clearly visible, open and characterful, firm and strong to the hand. Some areas remain supple while others are dense and unyielding, this is the nature of buffalo hide and the mark of a jacket that has lived. It has been cleaned and treated in house with our heritage workshop conditioner to support the leather without altering its surface.

All zips function. The belt is present and complete. The structure is sound throughout with all seams secure.

Key Details

• Early 1990s Redskins Riders motorcycle jacket, Territoire Redskins
• Buffalo hide, heavy and firm with spectacular natural patina
• Redskins Riders label present and legible, V-twin engine graphic
• Redskins Motors embroidery to left chest panel
• Centre front zip with Liru-marked pull
• High collar with snap-close storm tab
• Double right chest pocket, horizontal zip and vertical zip within raised panel
• Left chest vertical slash pocket
• Full-length outer sleeve zips from shoulder to cuff
• Separate waist belt with eyelets, keeper loop and branded buckle
• Two lower front zip pockets
• Mixed zip pulls, replaced over time, all functional
• Royal Stewart tartan body lining in excellent condition
• Black quilted nylon sleeve lining
• Pronounced tonal variation across shoulders, yoke and panels
• Original grain visible and strong in protected areas
• Belt present and functioning
• All zips functional
• Structure sound throughout
• Cleaned and treated with heritage workshop conditioner in house

Garment Measurements (Laid Flat)

• Chest (armpit to armpit): 24.5"
• Shoulders (seam to seam): 21.5"
• Sleeve length (underarm to cuff): 16"
• Sleeve length (shoulder seam to cuff): 23.5"
• Back length (collar seam to hem): 28.5"

Best suited to a 46" chest with a shorter arm length. Please compare against the measurements above before purchasing.