Are these for real? I have never even heard of such a thing. Any vintage experts, please comment

Well, I know they weren't into pattern painting frames back then. Solids with paint splatters at the most like the Rosa hand painteds. Is it real snakeskin/leather or a custom job?

I have no idea...I just ran across them on ebay and was like WOW! there is something you don't see everyday. http://cgi.ebay.com/Oakley-Sunglasses-Origional-M-Frame-Design_W0QQitemZ8233051356QQcategoryZ79727QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I've never seen or heard of that either.
The lense is far to old,its a factory pilot lens 1985/1986, and they didn't do wrapped frames back then like Phil said.
Maybe were wrong though,it could be some kind of special edition.

I just asked the seller a few question about it's origin. Let's see what I get back.

I'm watching those, too. Phil, let us know if he gets back to you.

He used to be an Oakley rep

It seems very un-Oakley-like to have part of the Logo obstructed by the frame

I have spare lens that came with the lens decal unaffixed some where so that dosen't really throw up a red flag to me.

I looks to me to be a "paint effect" like cow print frogskins, Wildberry n'Milk frogskins, carbon fiber or splatters blades.



Someone could have done a custom job like the home made black leather Mars.

The real question is whether or not the earstems have snake on them.


and we really need close ups on it

Sellers answer:

These were purchased in the mid 80's. The Snake skin is real, not painted. I'm not exactly sure what exact reptile the skin is from. Good luck bidding.

Can the guy provide a story other than he used to be a rep? We here at the O review like to collect the stories behind the rare pieces as much as the item itself

He didn't even say to me he was a former rep. That's all I got.

Maybe It could have been a limited edition last run frame,like the Carbon Fiber and Cobalt Razor Blades that came out around 1988/89,but I still think that Factory Pilot lens is far too early to be the original lens.
Still very interesting though.

The Cobalt and Carbons were going well into the mid 90s. But they the snake skins were most likely special editions.

Lee what do you mean by "far too early to be the original lens."

also i have 2 M frame lens a clear sweep and a blue iridum hybrid with the Oakley across the front like that.

Yeah, the Carbon Fiber and Cobalts were still available in the 90s,and Jake,Those Factory Pilot Mumbo lenses you have came out in 89,but I was talking about the Blade lense anyway.
Most likely the Blade lense was surplus stock,and added to the newer frame.