Quigley saddle bags

[fortdick]

Quigley saddlebags « on: Yesterday at 04:46:41 pm »   Howdy folks, I am starting a project to make a knock off of the saddlebags Tom Selleck carried in Quigley Down Under.   It seems pretty straight forward, except for the strap and how it works.  IT looks like it comes down the front flap and then loops through a slot to hook into the front cover of the bag, back out and secure to a buckle attached to the front flap.   This doesn't seem very strong, but it looks good. I am including a link to a picture of a beautiful professional copy done by Chisholm Trail Old West Leather.  Their website is full of great leather and is the source for much inspiration to me.  I hope I am not doing anything wrong by linking their picture, but it is perfect. http://www.westernleatherholster.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Als-Quigley-saddle-bags.jpg Does anyone have an idea how this strap works and is attached? Thanks Dan

[Josh Ashman]

I don't know why a person would put the top "billet" strap through a slot on the flap like that. I usually secure the bottom strap that has the buckle on it to the front of the bags so it doesn't flop down when you unbuckle it. Not that it's that big of a deal if it does flop down. Just personal preference I suppose. In my opinion the straps should rivet down wherever they are attached to. Could be the back side, the top flap, or wherever you wanted them to be. 

Here's some examples of how I do them. 

Good luck on your project, 

Josh

[Goldshot Ron]

The strap running through two slots in the flap appears to be a hold over from cavalry bags.  The leather that was used in cavalry bags wasn't a heavy veg tanned leather, and the straps over the flap gave it some support.  To replace the straps when a horse chews them requires sewing, so I think riveted straps are easier to replace.

Also Josh, is your bag with the gun have a pouch on the gun side, or is it just a holster covered by the flap?

Ron

[Josh Ashman]

43 minutes ago, Goldshot Ron said:

 

Also Josh, is your bag with the gun have a pouch on the gun side, or is it just a holster covered by the flap?

Ron

Hey Ron! it has holsters on the front of both pouches. It's actually a Will Ghormley pattern. Here are a few more pics. 

[Josh Ashman]

I built those for my Dad a few years ago. As I recall the pouches finished to be about 3" deep. I usually don't do vegtan gussets like that, I like them to be chap leather with the front seam sewed under, but Dad likes them flat. Aside from a few little details and splitting the yoke piece I followed will's pattern to a "T".

All the best! 

Josh

[Goldshot Ron]

Thanks for the info. Josh.  You bags look really good.   I'm working on a design for a pommel bag with a holster covered by the flap.  I'm leaning toward using a buckled strap, but it is actually attached on one end with a button for a quick thumb release for quicker draw of the pistol.  Have you seen anything like that?

Ron

[Josh Ashman]

Ron,

That sounds like a great project! I have seen pictures of the old time pommel bags with a flap covered holster on one side and a pouch on the other. I know the book "Packing Iron" has quite a few different types shown. I haven't ever made anything like that, but I a replica set would be pretty fun to tackle!

Are the ones you're designing more modern, or are you going for a replica look? Either way I think your strap idea is solid. Having a quick thumb release would be a lot handier then fussing with a buckle. Were you thinking of a "Sam Brown" stud, or a snap?

All the best, 

Josh

[Goldshot Ron]

I'm leaning toward the "Sam Brown" ball stud for the thumb release.  But, I need to experiment first to see what will work best.  The gun I'm using is a 45 colt revolver, but the design for the bag will be more modern.  It's a practice piece to keep creative, and move away from making headstalls and repair work.  Dan, sorry for hijacking your post.