Alternative bags?

Snakewhip_Sable · Post by **Snakewhip_Sable** » Fri Oct 22, 2004 5:33 pm

Do you guys see anything at Rothco that would make a passable alternative Indy bag?

My boss orders a lot of hunting gear from these guys and likes to add little items like that to make the minimum order for shipping.

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Fri Oct 22, 2004 6:08 pm

With or without modifying?

Without modifying, I don't really see anything, certainly not of the right strap configuration.

With modifications, you could probably start w/ this:

8108 G.I. style O.D. canvas
http://www.rothco.com/general/index.cfm ... &from=left

And at least sew on some O or D rings on the top of the sides in order to sling it, but you'd still need some sort of strap. I'd also remove the front tied-down straps, but then you'd probably have to do SOMETHING to keep the flap closed.

I know your main intent was to piggy back on this order, but my best suggestion for a 'close enough' is to find some other gas mask bag at a surplus store - a lot of others are much cheaper, and if you find something (I'm going American on you here) of the Korean-War or Vietnam-War era, with some mods you'd be close.

I've got an M17A1 that is only VAGUELY the right shape, so it would require me to change...oh...EVERYTHING about it to make it look more like a MKVII...but I love changing things, so that's okay w/ me.

At least it's green canvas and got some aging to it, so I figure I'm at least working w/ the right materials.

Kentucky Blues · Post by **Kentucky Blues** » Fri Oct 22, 2004 6:20 pm

Well, while I agree that nothing there would do the trick really, I must say that it doesn't have to look like a MKVII to be an alternative indy bag. I myself am looking for something a bit bigger than the mkvii I already own, so that I can carry more stuff with me. Don't wanna go much bigger really, but a tad bigger...might resort to making something myself.

High Regards, Daryl.

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Fri Oct 22, 2004 6:27 pm

Yeah, but I was thinking at LEAST something that could be worn shoulder strapped would be the minimum requirement, no?

Most everything there is a backpack, fannypack, or beltpouch. Although I have to admit, I was looking for green, so I may have missed something of the right configuration but in nylon, a bright color, or camo.

Snake, what is the minimum requirement to you? Configuration, color, size, material...?

Indiana Jess · Post by **Indiana Jess** » Fri Oct 22, 2004 6:38 pm

If you select "Shoulder bags" from the drop down list there's a whole page of them. The map bags might be a good place to start but they're a bit small. the classic paratrooper bags might work for you.

Snakewhip_Sable · Post by **Snakewhip_Sable** » Fri Oct 22, 2004 6:45 pm

Well, I have a few 1943 Canadian M.H. & Co. Light II bags (as a side note, never, ever run one through the washing machine!), which are small and boxy with thick canvas, but über handy. I also have a 1990's Russian gas mask bag that's soft canvas and way off. Both types are vertically rectangular though. I'd like something closer to Indy's than what I have, but the real thing might be... out of hand.

Indy's was khaki, wasn't it? I see that olive is acceptable to a lot of you.

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Fri Oct 22, 2004 6:48 pm

Indiana Jess wrote:If you select "Shoulder bags" from the drop down list there's a whole page of them. The map bags might be a good place to start but they're a bit small. the classic paratrooper bags might work for you.

DING!

How did I completely miss that section? My apologies.

Yep, Jess is right (oh, I'm making a habit of that...that's gonna leave a mark)...that map bag is the closest looker, if you could shorten the flap a bit. Is it small? Looks MKVii -sized...hunh.

The WWII replica od combat bag looks good if you're going for size rather than looks.

Personally, if I weren't trying to match something, that canvas od ammo bag looks pretty darn functional, but considering it is an ammo bag it's gotta be pretty small. Purse-like.

Indiana Jess · Post by **Indiana Jess** » Fri Oct 22, 2004 7:05 pm

Indiana Jerry wrote: Yep, Jess is right (oh, I'm making a habit of that...that's gonna leave a mark)...

Don't worry I won't tell - yeah right!

Indiana Jerry wrote:Personally, if I weren't trying to match something, that canvas od ammo bag looks pretty darn functional, but considering it is an ammo bag it's gotta be pretty small. Purse-like.

You mean "Man Bag", don't you?

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Fri Oct 22, 2004 7:16 pm

Indiana Jess wrote:
Indiana Jerry wrote: Yep, Jess is right (oh, I'm making a habit of that...that's gonna leave a mark)...
Don't worry I won't tell - yeah right!
Indiana Jerry wrote:Personally, if I weren't trying to match something, that canvas od ammo bag looks pretty darn functional, but considering it is an ammo bag it's gotta be pretty small. Purse-like.
You mean "Man Bag", don't you?

Good point - I think anything that can carry bullets could be a man-bag.

Say! That explains that song: "The Gun In Betty Lou's Man Bag". $\:D/$

Kentucky Blues · Post by **Kentucky Blues** » Fri Oct 22, 2004 7:34 pm

Where are the prices?! I'm considerin this: http://www.rothco.com/general/index.cfm ... &from=left But I doesn't know the prices!

Regards, Daryl.

Serial Hero · Post by **Serial Hero** » Fri Oct 22, 2004 7:44 pm

Indy's was khaki, wasn't it? I see that olive is acceptable to a lot of you.

Old WWII equipment is notorious for not holding its color. WWII khaki is not the same as the modern stuff (i.e. Dockers). When new it had a sort of green tint to it, even being as dark as to what is referred to as OD green. It doesn’t take much to bleed the color out. Even just soaking in laundry soap for 30 minutes will turn a once green item into a khaki one.

Also, I kind of like those map cases. Though only about half the size of a MKVII, they are large enough to hold a couple of note books and some pens and pencils.

-Serial Hero-

Snakewhip_Sable · Post by **Snakewhip_Sable** » Fri Oct 22, 2004 7:57 pm

I have a price list at work, but I'm not back here til Monday - sorry.

Snakewhip_Sable · Post by **Snakewhip_Sable** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 12:38 pm

Now these look pretty good, particularly the second link here:

http://rddusa.com/product_info.php?cPat ... cts_id=413

http://rddusa.com/product_info.php?cPat ... cts_id=402

At around four bucks US it beats the Rothco ones which were around $20-$30 anyway.

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 12:53 pm

I've got the second one right here. Mine's actually an M17A1. I love it, good size, but you need to know it's meant to be hung sideways, w/ the flap opening facing forward. I'm reanchoring a strap on the other side of the flap opening so it hangs the same way as the MKVII, but if you don't care about that, no prob.

For accuracy, it also has some built in supports that require face stitching, which would need to be removed. I may keep them anyway. The small strap on the front is a waist stay, it came off VERY easily.

The weirdest part about this one is also the part I love. It's got extra pockets that would have been on the back the way it's supposed to hang, but hung like a MkVii they are on the bottom. One is HIDDEN in the seam so it is nearly invisible, the other is affixed on the outside...but I love these, so I'm keeping them, accurate or not.

Although I may move the externally-affixed pocket to the INSIDE of the bag - there are NO dividers at all inside mine.

When I get done modding mine I can post before and after. In the meantime search the forum for M17A1 - I posted pics from when I first bought it if you want to see.

For what it's worth.

J

EDIT: Looking back, no, I DIDN'T post pics, I just asked questions. Sorry about that. If you want them, let me know and I can post them here or just PM you links.

Snakewhip_Sable · Post by **Snakewhip_Sable** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 3:18 pm

Posted pics would be appreciated!

Four bucks for a 'close enough' bag versus, what? $60 not including shipping to Canada from the UK for an authentic reproduction? Sounds pretty sweet.

Tell me more about the orientation of the bag(s) though. What's this sideways versus other ways thing? Isn't that just a matter of which way you put it on?

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 7:05 pm

First, fair warning, I consider it 'close enough' - for me. Most gearheads probably wouldn't.

Also, for $4, you still need to do mods yourself. I have no issue w/ that, but it isn't a quick thing...there's sewing involved. Mostly unsewing, which is easy, but some original work. Not a lot, but enough to make it 'pause-worthy' if you have never sewed. I don't sew so well (what terrible sentence structure), but I know I'm getting what I pay for - shoddy work donated for free from a computer geek.

I'll save pics & orientation discussion for next post, up shortly. This will also give you a sense of how much mod is required, and if this is 'close enough' to you.

Jordan · Post by **Jordan** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 7:46 pm

Snakewhip_Sable wrote:Posted pics would be appreciated!

Four bucks for a 'close enough' bag versus, what? $60 not including shipping to Canada from the UK for an authentic reproduction? Sounds pretty sweet.

Tell me more about the orientation of the bag(s) though. What's this sideways versus other ways thing? Isn't that just a matter of which way you put it on?

Any reason why you don't want to go with the real thing? Or do you simply just want to help your boss fill his order? Just curious...

Heck, for $60 you "should" be able to find a real MKVII in good condition...Might try Soldier of Fortune and see if they have anymore of the black stripe versions available...They were like $10 a few months back and I picked up a few...Decent shape, though they may not have anymore...(I apologize if you already knew about this source)...There for a while you could find MKVII's on EBay for around $20 or so, until they caught on...Now those things go for small fortunes! Makes me want to consider putting one of my unissued ones on there and see what happens!

Anyway, best of luck with you search!

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 8:29 pm

Snakewhip -

Don't want to muddy your thread w/ my pics and ramblings, so I'm posting my M17A1 mod updates in my old thread, over here. Pics included, and I do discuss the orientation of the bag and what I'm doing to change that to be more MKVII-like.

http://www.indygear.com/forum/viewtopic ... ight=m17a1

Hope it helps you make your decision to buy it or get something simpler to use.

J

P.S. This is the bag I'm putting an HK rifle sling w/...I think it's going to look good when I get done, but that's just me.

Snakewhip_Sable · Post by **Snakewhip_Sable** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 8:35 pm

I'd rather spend $4 and sew than $60 for now. I ain't ashamed to admit I can sew by hand and by machine - I took a costuming class in theatre arts in university and such.

Right now it's just a matter of cost - I gotta pay for that Fortune and Glory Fedora by Fedora before I go to town on a bag.

Snakewhip_Sable · Post by **Snakewhip_Sable** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 8:44 pm

Ooooh! Cool stuff, Indiana Jerry! That will do very nicely until I can get the proper one! Much appreciated!