Who makes the most screen accurate Raiders back strap?

QuantumGirl · Post by **QuantumGirl** » Wed Aug 25, 2004 9:39 am

Yeah, that's my question. From what I've heard, Lee Kepplers is a good choice?!

I'm going for the Raiders style and want it to be screen accurate to that particular movie. Any thoughts?

Also, another quick question: When ordering from Lee, do you have to pay right when you order or whenever he's ready to ship? 'cause I don't wanna pay now and then wait 6 months or so to get the stuff.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Wed Aug 25, 2004 9:45 am

All I can say by way of an answer is, pay the most attention to the people who reply and actually own multiple straps from multiple vendors. Why?

I see a lot of people on this forum go nuts for the brands and vendors they like - which is understandable - but they haven't necessarily compared products.

Try and find people who actually own a Keppler, Noel Howard and Todds Costumes strap to comment, rather than people who own a Noel Howard, saw a Keppler once sometime last year and have 'heard things' about Todds.

Rosenet · Post by **Rosenet** » Wed Aug 25, 2004 9:47 am

I've also recently gotten a WPG MkVII replica and Hemingway Jones has recommended I get a new strap. So a comparisson of straps by someone who own them would be _very_ useful.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Wed Aug 25, 2004 9:50 am

There will be some people who own all three and can do that for you, Rosenet. Watch this space. Congrats on getting a WPG bag, BTW - they are great. Good fun to weather as well

ob1al · Post by **ob1al** » Wed Aug 25, 2004 10:16 am

I own straps from all three vendors (4 straps in total including the old vesion WPG and the newer brown version). I can rate them below if it helps, but of course these are just my opinions.

The least accurate and worst quality strap is the old WPG - too orange, I never liked the finish or feel of the leather and too short (for me anyway) with a gold, rather than silver, buckle. (4/10)

The Keppler strap is very nice - good leather, supple, right length, excellent colour, nice buckle. (10/10)

If you want Lee keppler's strap you have to wait quite a while, according to reports on COW, unless you can catch him at a gun show.

The Noel Howard strap is also good quality, supple, nice buckle, colour - plus it has an embossed border on each side of the strap, running lengthways like this II. Hard to tell if the original strap had this feature, but I like it anyway. (10/10)

I talked to Noel a couple of weeks ago and he is back in business, but I don't have prices or wait times, you'd have to email him to find that out.

The new WPG strap is quite nice too. Much better colour, fairly supple after a break in period although not as nice as the Keppler or NH IMO, more roughly cut - the buckle is silver now at least - however, I do like this new strap, it's a big improvement on the earlier version (8/10).

Personally, I mostly use my NH strap with the Keppler buckle - just a configuration I happen to prefer.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Wed Aug 25, 2004 10:21 am

Al, it might be an idea to stress that Todd's $20 offering isn't either of the WPG offerings you mention above; I've seen people get confused by that in the past. We know what we mean, but people don't always see the difference.

ob1al · Post by **ob1al** » Wed Aug 25, 2004 10:29 am

What he just said.

Actually, I can't comment at all on the Todds version as I don't know much about the company or the bag straps they make. I remember reading that they might be finished on both sides - I'd quite like to see one in person.

Cheers,

Al

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Wed Aug 25, 2004 10:32 am

Re: Todd's strap, I will be able to comment, but not in a comparison sense, when mine arrives sometime in the next week or two.

I believe Rick5150 has a Todd's (it's the one that was unsealed and ran on his shirt during a hike and he made a thread about it recently), so he might be able to do a comparo for us?

ob1al · Post by **ob1al** » Wed Aug 25, 2004 10:39 am

Sounds good Rob - try and post a few pics if you can.

indiana_dudley · Post by **indiana_dudley** » Wed Aug 25, 2004 12:03 pm

ob1al wrote: The Noel Howard strap is also good quality, supple, nice buckle, colour - plus it has an embossed border on each side of the strap, running lengthways like this II. Hard to tell if the original strap had this feature, but I like it anyway. (10/10)

The 'embossed border' is actually called 'Edge Creasing' and you can see it clearly on the
left hand picture here:

<img src="http://www.lost-ark.net/images/montage.jpg">

I don't think it is screen accurate either, but I agree is does look good, and is featured on
Todd's strap too according to the picture on his site.

ID

Mr. Das · Post by **Mr. Das** » Wed Aug 25, 2004 12:26 pm

Todd's strap is a darker colour. More of a TOD or Crusade than Raiders. Also, the buckle is a bit loose, but Todd said he'll fix that in the next batch and/or ship replacements to people who don't like the loose fit.

And Lee does charge before shipping....and I'm still waiting since December for either a refund or the product.

Scandinavia Jones · Post by **Scandinavia Jones** » Wed Aug 25, 2004 1:48 pm

Here's my Todd's strap with some buckles... posted it in an earlier thread.

And my bag w/ Todd's de luxe strap:

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Wed Aug 25, 2004 7:45 pm

Niiiiiice

Skippy · Post by **Skippy** » Wed Aug 25, 2004 11:23 pm

plus it has an embossed border on each side of the strap, running lengthways like this II. Hard to tell if the original strap had this feature, but I like it anyway

I've seen at least one Raiders picture that has a line or shadow that might be this line & support the theory

Just need to find it again

I have a Todd's strap. Nice. Good quality leather & whilst it is dyed on the reverse/underside, it isn't finished/sealed (like bridal leather is) hence the issue Rick had with dye leakage

Don't know if it's Raiders accurate tho'...

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Wed Aug 25, 2004 11:47 pm

Hey Scandinavia, how do you think the WPG buckle would go on the deluxe Todd strap, in terms of slippage? Better or worse than the Todd's buckle? I've naturally gor the WPG buckle at home, but am about to get the deluxe Todd's strap... just pondering what it might be like if I used the old buckle ont he new strap? Hmmmmmm...

Skippy · Post by **Skippy** » Thu Aug 26, 2004 12:15 am

Sorry to speak out of turn as it were, but I'd say the WPG buckle will be worse than the current Todd's buckle.

I've spoken to Todd about his new buckle & suggest to leave your order until the end of this month & then place an order & specify you want one of his new buckles, which he's having custom made I believe & will be much better for avoiding slipping

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Thu Aug 26, 2004 12:39 am

My order's made... the strap will be here with the alleged slipping buckle anytime now. I was just curious because I actually don't mind the look of the WPG buckle. The strap's awful, but the buckle looks OK to me.

Scandinavia Jones · Post by **Scandinavia Jones** » Thu Aug 26, 2004 2:53 am

Hey Scandinavia, how do you think the WPG buckle would go on the deluxe Todd strap, in terms of slippage?

I can't really say - never experienced any slippage problems with Todd's buckle. I second Skippy's opinion regarding the WPG buckle, though.

Any chance of Todd/Puppetboy chiming in, maybe with a pic of this new buckle?

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Thu Aug 26, 2004 3:29 am

I'd love to see it!

Skippy · Post by **Skippy** » Thu Aug 26, 2004 8:05 am

Todd isn't due to have any of the new buckles in hand until the end of the month I'm informed

Puppetboy · Post by **Puppetboy** » Thu Aug 26, 2004 11:38 am

Hey, all!

I will see the first castings are made and I will inspect to evaluate the finish by the end of the week. It will be the end of the month before they are ready.

Ghos7a55assin · Post by **Ghos7a55assin** » Thu Aug 26, 2004 3:18 pm

I use a NH strap with Keppler buckle combo, as well. Thanks, Indyken for the strap!

Ray

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Thu Aug 26, 2004 7:39 pm

Puppetboy wrote:Hey, all!

I will see the first castings are made and I will inspect to evaluate the finish by the end of the week. It will be the end of the month before they are ready.

Thanks Todd! Too late to ship on my recent strap purchase, but great to hear they are in the works!