Saddle Pack - A Design of Yesteryear

[ClaimedVacancy]

Hi everyone,

I recently completed a saddle pack of Swiss design origin. The horizontal type that just so happens to make a fantastic satchel/briefcase. I’ve been battle testing it in the world for four months and it’s been fantastic. I’ve only made one change to the strap area with the d-rings; changing out the thinner Russian calf for a piece of thick bridle (shown in the pictures with the needles for alignment).

I stuck with the traditional materials; bridle, harness, and even a bit of Russian calf here and there. Let’s just say that having to get a working pattern took a lot of time and work. Building it took many, many hours. There are parts of the bag that are just shy of 1” thick, and required high degree of accuracy and precision.

All of it is saddle stitched, 3.85mm spacing and some occasional 2.7mm spacing on smaller bits, linen thread, stainless hardware, and original Swiss aluminum studs. 

Does there happen to even be a market for saddle packs and the likes? I’ve yet to find anyone willing to tote a bag with 15oz harness and a shell made of 8oz bridle!

 

Edited Thursday at 03:00 AM by ClaimedVacancy

[Dwight]

That's a good looking rig.

Reminds me of the new briefcase(s) I gotta do for myself.

I need one for church (Bible and song books) and one for my laptop / keyboard / mouse / charger.

Would like to do one . . . make it good for both . . . doubt that I'm that ingenuity minded though . . . make one do for both jobs.

But thanks for showing yours . . . got a couple Ideas out of it . . . I may put into play.

May God bless,

Dwight

[chuck123wapati]

Really nice work!!! You could thin down the leather a bit for human use if you're going to build them to sell, lol. But it will last a lifetime or two. 

[ClaimedVacancy]

Thank you both! 

@Dwight, if you need to get a pattern my only recommendation is get one of the Swiss saddle packs, preferably for “restoration” on ebay. Take it apart, and build your template off that. You can make all your changes and adjustment there, if you’re up to it!

@chuck123wapati
Haha i certainly could use a thinner weight. Maybe by just one margin. Getting harness in split maybe difficult! I will say though that the weight and how substantial it is has not been a problem for me. The Swiss were really onto something with the weights they choose and how the bag supports itself under a load, even if it’s just my shoulder. 

[BlackDragon]

Great craftsmanship! 

My hands were screaming at the thought of hand stitching all of that. lol

You can find harness leather split to your liking from Wickett & Craig. I've been using their leather for a while and it's great quality.

[FrankHester]

Very nice!

[ClaimedVacancy]

 

@BlackDragon Thanks! The interior piped seam is by far the worst, followed by the d-ring attachment pieces. If ya don’t pull the needles excessively when saddle stitching (and use beeswax when hard to pull on the needle!!) its not that bad. You wont singe the tendons and ligaments in your hands. 
For the harness from W&C, I've got some! But i had to use J&FJ Baker harness for the rigidity of the back and lid. Herman oak harness would be more than sufficient though. It just needs to be real stiff so it maintains its shape. 
 

@FrankHester Thank you! It’s been a labor of true love. 

[dikman]

Very impressive work, that thing looks bulletproof!

[ClaimedVacancy]

@dikman Thank you!

Its stout. But not like the motor oil type drinks, more like a Guinness extra stout