Distressing a MKVII bag

LuckyLighter · Post by **LuckyLighter** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 1:34 pm

I just got mine from What Price Glory, and I was wondering if anyone knows a few good distressing tricks.

For anyone who doesn't own a WPG replica, it really is very well done. I recommend it highly.

Starman Jones · Post by **Starman Jones** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 2:00 pm

Wish you had asked sooner. You could have bought an original from Soldier of Fortune in the UK for half the price of the WPG, and trust me, you don't need to distress it! I did spray mine with Febreze because of the dank smell. All the hardware is corroded, so I'm going to use the metal disc of my WPG to replace the one on the orinal, and have Tandy leather make a strap for it. The original is about 5% larger than the WPG, and is of much heavier fabric. The small pocket is large enough to put a WWII prismatic compass in. As to distressing the WPG, I washed mine in the washing machine and that removed the stiffness and made the color more of an OD. The WPG bag color is nowhere near the color of the original. The orignial is way darker. Of course, that could be 60+ years of dust, dirt, and grime. I'm going to scrub it down a bit with some carpet shampoo. I don't dare put it in the washer. It might come apart!

LuckyLighter · Post by **LuckyLighter** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 2:59 pm

Thanks, I'll give that a try.

Actually, I just joined the site yesterday, the day after I got the bag. I've kinda only recently gotten back into "Raiders" and the Indy movies.

I've been covering a lot of film related stories for the paper I write for. The owners of this one production company in Fort Lee, NJ, that I interviewed are real Indy fans, and I guess it rubbed off on me. I was always a fan, but my interest has really grown within the last few months. I'm really looking forward to using the bag to carry around my notebooks and reporter stuff.

Sir Ernest · Post by **Sir Ernest** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 4:41 pm

I think the best way to age a WPG bag is to use it. That's what I'm doing with mine; now 3 weeks old. I was going to dye it at first, but I think I'll just leave it as is since it is a cool color. You do have to darken the strap and make it softer.

BTW...if you like writing check this out http://www.indygear.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6532

We started it a month ago and it's cool!

whipwarrior · Post by **whipwarrior** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 4:42 pm

Yeah, I've done it to a vintage unissued Mk-VII. Just get some very fine sandpaper (220-grit) and break the edges while taking care not to abrade the stitching or seamwork. Then do some light rubbing on the surfaces of the bag. Following that, you can soak it in water repeatedly and hang up to dry with a heavy book inside to help the leather strap conform to the curve of the O-rings. That's about the sum of it.

Swindiana · Post by **Swindiana** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 8:23 pm

Starman Jones wrote: All the hardware is corroded, so I'm going to use the metal disc of my WPG to replace the one on the orinal, and have Tandy leather make a strap for it.

I just feel I have to save you from making a mistake here, not trying to be a "wise guy" or anything. Use soaped steel wool for all the hardware on your Mk VII bag and it will be as good as new, even with heavy corrosion. Me being a bit too picky about these bags, as some might know

, I think the WPG disc is a bit too off from the original escpecially if you want to put it on an original bag! Just my 2 cents, or 2 SEK in my case.

Kind regards
Swindiana

JrZyBud · Post by **JrZyBud** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 9:37 pm

Man, Im still looking for an original bag in good condition, but until then my WPG has to do. I just sanded the bag lightly and washed it a few times without the leather strap. I find that you should leave something heavy in it when it dries because it will wrinkle up horribly if you dont. Oh and Swindy, Ive got some pictures of a bag I picked up the other day. I thought it was a MK-VII at first, but after recieving it I have no idea what it is. Its def not a MK-VII. PM me so I can send you some pics, I dont know how to host to post them on this forum

IndianaJames · Post by **IndianaJames** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 11:31 pm

Hey, post them if you can, I too just recieved one in a small cache I found, that says mk VII under the flap, but it only has one snap in the middle of the top flap, and 3 drain holes.... very odd.

I J

Starman Jones · Post by **Starman Jones** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 1:43 am

I just compared the WPG disk to the original. The original disk is slightly larger in diamer and the edge turns up whereas the WPG is flat. The original is too far gone to clean up. Besides, if I was that much of a stickler for 100% accuracy, I never would have cut the original web strap off.

Swindiana has several links for MKVII bags. I fot mine from Soldier of Fortune in the UK for about $19. There is a place in Nevada that has a bunch for $40. My S of F bag was in acceptable shape for $19. The brass and strap ringa will clean up, but the cord disk is history.

Swindiana · Post by **Swindiana** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 4:14 am

PM sent.
IJ; Interesting! Got any pics?

Regards
Swindiana

Starman Jones · Post by **Starman Jones** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 6:17 pm

an original bag question. Did you guys that have original bags keep the body cord that's in that little pocket, or toss it. I guess tossing it would sort of like be blasphemy.

Pyroxene · Post by **Pyroxene** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 7:52 pm

I remove it. I think you can untie it.

Pablo_Che · Post by **Pablo_Che** » Thu Feb 19, 2004 7:05 pm

I am convinced that the cords are present in the movie, so I left both.

LuckyLighter · Post by **LuckyLighter** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 10:47 am

How about making the leather strap darker? What does Pecards have for that?

Post by **Ken** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 11:03 am

There is Pecard's dark brown dressing or you could go with Rabittooth's method and use a zippo lighter to carefully deposit soot on the leather (works really well!).

Ken

Renderking Fisk · Post by **Renderking Fisk** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 12:44 pm

Everyone here who said wash it and use it are correct - 100 extra points for you!

Use it, wash it, use it, wash it... You got the picture.

Post by **Dalexs** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 12:51 pm

LuckyLighter wrote:How about making the leather strap darker? What does Pecards have for that?

You can also go to your nearest shoe repair store and buy some
Fiebings brown leather dye. Work it onto the strap by hand, with a cloth, not the dabber, rubbing it in to produce a nice, antiqued, sort of marbled look. Works great.

Dalexs