Briefcase finished this week

[leathersmyth]

The handle rings do go through a rod. They are a screw pin type. So instead of being a solid ring the one spot is threaded so you take the pin out slip through hole and reinsert pin. I use locktight on threads to hold in place . I prefer solid rings but as long as the pins stay in place there should never be a issue. As well, sometimes you can not make solid rings work with designs.......

Some rings use a watch pin sort of. so instead of being threaded there is a spring loaded pin that you push in, place pin where it is suppose to go and then release. Those do work, but i prefer the threaded types of pins. if using the screw pin,you do see the screwdriver slot (usually phillips) where as the "watch pin type" both sides of the d ring are finished and look solid.

[JamesR]

I like the way the rod distributes the load evenly across the top. What is the rod made of? It looks like something I would like to try.

Thanks