My Swiss Army Saddlebag restorations

[gavidoc]

Hello everyone, 

Thought I'd show off some restorations/conversions that I have recently done. While not as impressive as making my own stuff, this was my first foray into larger leather items outside of watch straps which I started making about 6 months ago for myself. 

While looking for material for watch straps I came across some beat up old swiss saddlebags in a box under a table of an old military surplus store. This first set was from 1939 and were in pretty rough shape. The bags were so nice that I decided I wouldn't reuse the leather for straps and instead put them away and began a slow process of softening up the stiff leather. Fast forward a few months and I bought another set, these dated 1941 and 1942. These were slightly different from my previous set and in much better condition. It was with these that I decided to try my hand at converting them into something different. For this first bag I did the following:

1. Removed all threads and rivets
2. Cleaned and flattened the leather pieces
3. Conditioned the leather
4. Put it all together again by hand using Tiger thread that was a good match for the original thread and custom made aluminum rivets
5. I also added some additional pieces:

•  Handle (used the original connecting strap between the bags)
• A back pouch for papers (this used one of the original saddlebags that wasn't restorable)
• a lower luggage strap (used a 1942 K31 swiss rifle sling)
• An upper luggage strap (this used the pieces/hardware from a 1946 Swiss canteen)
• Shoulder pad (used more leather from the 1939 nonrestorable saddlebag)
• Should strap (2 K31 rifle slings from 1945 and 1952).
• A Swiss Army dog tag
• A center strap using swiss army accessory straps
• Modified single ammo pouch from 1944 (also torn apart, cleaned and restored)
• A large ammo pouch from 1962 (same as the rest)

 

The 2nd bag is one of the originals from 1939. Unlike the 1942 bag that had 2 straps on the interior for horseshoes, this one only had a single pocket for one horseshoe. In the process of restoring this bag I again took it apart, cleaned it up and restored it. At some point in it's past a connecting bar had been poorly riveted to the back that I had to remove. It also had its original D-Rings for attaching to the horse saddle removed so I had to add new square rings to accomodate the shoulder strap.

When I put it back together I decided to add an additional pouch to this one and installed it between the front piece and the gusset and the welt. I also added a pencil pouch from a Swiss Army Officer's Bag from 1970. I also installed one of the straps from the unrestorable bag and moved the interior pocket to the side. 

I also decided to make a sleeve for my Macbook Pro just for a bit of added protection and used the same leather that was used for the handle wraps of both bags.

Modifications done to this one:

1. Removed all threads and rivets
2. Cleaned and flattened the leather pieces
3. Conditioned the leather
4. Put it all together again by hand using Tiger thread that was a good match for the original thread and chicago screws
5. I also added some additional pieces:

•  Handle (used the original connecting strap between the bags)
• A pencil pouch (from a 1970 Officer's bag)
• Shoulder pad (used more leather from the 1939 nonrestorable saddlebag)
• Should strap (2 K31 rifle slings from 1943and 1944).
• A front center strap using swiss army accessory straps
• A large ammo pouch from 1962 (same as the rest)

 

 

Thanks for looking.

[klutes]

Nice love old leather bags. Glad you put them back in usable condition 

[FoxyD]

Wonderful! Thanks for posting. I love looking at the construction of leather bags.

 

[JazzBass]

Now that's what I call, "Character"!
Marvelous job - a LOT of work, and well worth it.

[Retswerb]

What a cool project. Nice idea, nice execution.

[Alisdair]

The Swiss army leather goods are incredible quality. We see them on the markets all the time here in Geneva.

I recently purchased a Swiss Army Saddler's clamp for 50 bucks...I haven't yet received it, but it looks pretty decent.

[Scoutmom103]

Very nice on both the bag and the clamp

[gavidoc]

Thanks everyone. I've really gotten into modifying these old bags and enjoy it quite a bit. Have a few vertical pack saddlebags inbound for something similar. 

[kiwican]

Great job!

[Roustaboutgoods]

They're beautiful!!