Another briefcase

[Spyros]

5 hours ago, toxo said:

If I were to nitpick - I'd like to see bullet loops for the handles coming up from holes in the top from a single piece of leather that's sandwiched between the top flap and the reinforcing bar. I always think that if the first row of stitches fail the rest will follow.

Thanks man 

I haven't even stitched the strap loops to the top flap, the whole system is held together by the rivets only.  And the reason is I don't want the loops pulling on the top flap at all, I like it 100% smooth and flat.  I want all the pulling force to be transferred to the reinforcing bar directly, and from there to be distributed across the flap from below.  Don't ask me why it just works better like that in my mind, but also in practice (I've made an identical briefcase for myself and it's my everyday carry).  I have however added reinforcing polyester tape inside the loops, and those are solid brass rivets, so I'm pretty confident the whole thing is not going anywhere.

I will however say that what you say probably looks better and I've been thinking about it so I'll see if I can build it in

 

[toxo]

On 4/17/2022 at 1:18 AM, Spyros said:

Thanks man 

I haven't even stitched the strap loops to the top flap, the whole system is held together by the rivets only.  And the reason is I don't want the loops pulling on the top flap at all, I like it 100% smooth and flat.  I want all the pulling force to be transferred to the reinforcing bar directly, and from there to be distributed across the flap from below.  Don't ask me why it just works better like that in my mind, but also in practice (I've made an identical briefcase for myself and it's my everyday carry).  I have however added reinforcing polyester tape inside the loops, and those are solid brass rivets, so I'm pretty confident the whole thing is not going anywhere.

I will however say that what you say probably looks better and I've been thinking about it so I'll see if I can build it in

 

Sorry mate. I didn't realise it was riveted. My very first build was a Dieselpunkro satchel and the handle was just stitched. even when I was doing it I knew it could be better and it's haunted me ever since.

[Spyros]

29 minutes ago, toxo said:

Sorry mate. I didn't realise it was riveted. My very first build was a Dieselpunkro satchel and the handle was just stitched. even when I was doing it I knew it could be better and it's haunted me ever since.

Yeah those Dieselpunk patterns (and pretty much all youtube patterns) are specifically designed for people with very basic stitching skills and equipment.  Hence all the round holes so people don't have to worry about slanted holes and awls and casting the thread and things like that, even though round holes is *technically* the wrong way because you remove leather and thus weakening the leather.  But the aim in those patterns is to keep things as simple as possible and encourage people to have a try (which is actually greatly appreciated and I'm not knocking it at all), not necessarily to achieve maximum strength and longevity.

But you know what Toxo?  I suspect that sometimes we're stressing too much for no reason... at the end of the day it's just a bag, people are gonna put a laptop and their car keys in it, it's not like they'll use it to carry bricks or pull crocodiles out of the water :D

I reckon 99% of the time a few stitches with good quality thread is more than enough for a bag handle to last 3 lifetimes.  Different story if you're making horse tack or safety equipment for firefighters or something like that, but leather bags are usually just shelf queens that spend their life commuting on the passenger seat in someone's car. 

From my end when it comes to handle and strap mechanics, I mainly just want to see that they don't deform or stretch the leather in any way during common everyday use, that's pretty much all I worry about.  That, and aesthetics of course.

Edited April 18, 2022 by Spyros

[Tugadude]

Very nice work indeed.  The lining looks very nice too.  I like the idea of the detachable bag inside.  That's a great solution to a common problem

I also was unsure of the handle attachment, but hey, if it works, it works.  And you obviously have tested it, so it is good to go.

[Samalan]

Beautiful work, I have a friend that makes that very same type of valise without the Accessory box, and he gets around $1,800.00 and more for his, that's nice work it would be worth every penny.

[JRLeather2]

Very nice work.

[Spyros]

Thanks everyone, much appreciated

On 4/19/2022 at 7:53 AM, Samalan said:

Beautiful work, I have a friend that makes that very same type of valise without the Accessory box, and he gets around $1,800.00 and more for his, that's nice work it would be worth every penny.

I can see those type of bridle briefcases usually go for anything between USD$1k - $1.5k.  It's not hard to see where the money is, it's a lot of leather and a lot of work, the problem is that it's hard to find the type of people who pay this kind of money for a bag.  I bet your friend has been doing this for a while to build up this kind of clientele and earn their trust as a maker.

[k200]

@Spyros very nicely made! May I ask a question? I guess you have sewn it by machine. Could you please share what machine you have used and how did you reached the corners? Uses a stitching plate like sirrup plat?
Thank you very much!

Edited December 26, 2022 by k200
forgot to mention name