I have been on the search for a screen accurate Raiders bag strap (even though the Last Crusade is my favorite movie) simply because I love how the color of the weathered tan compliments the British Gas Mask bag so perfectly. While I decided on the color of the hide, I preferred the functionality of the roller buckle which was not screen accurate to the Raider’s bag strap. Fortunately, with the images that are surfacing on the internet that reveal the first glimpse’s of Indy’s gear in Indy 5, I was thrilled to see a roller buckle on a tan strap which is a combination I had always wanted and now will be part of canon. In my quest for accurate gear, it has always been fair game to me to have a combination of mix and match gear from the franchise, just so long as it is accurate to what is seen on screen regardless of the movie in the franchise.
THE STRAP:
One of the characteristics that I find so appealing about Indy’s gear is the character ingrained in to it, that hand made feel and quality. Steele & Jones are specialists at this and the same is true Penitent Man Leather.
I informed Kyle that I wanted an Indy 5 bag strap, and he went over a few details to ensure I received the most screen accurate looking strap that could be made. Apart from the color and groves, Kyle informed the roller buckle having a slight curve making it not totally flat, a detail that I had not heard other vendors of gear mention before. Also, another detail that Kyle pointed out was the Indy 5 strap was secured to the bag’s hardware with the aid of a riffle stud and not the traditionally used Chicago screw as seen on other reproductions.
The more I looked at the images Kyle provided me, I liked the idea of riffle strap stud was used since the original sling were fused riffle straps as Kyle pointed out. It’s those little details, that were largely ignored that drew to me what Penitent Man Leather was offering and it really has made the difference. The strap follows the dimensions of being an inch thick in width, with a thickness of 2.7mm and sized to your height and those who worry about the effects of a newly hand made strap and Indy shirts, fear not as there is no bleeding of dye here.
If the current global pandemic has taught humanity anything is that we must all do our part to lookout for each other, and one of the many ways to we can help is by supporting small business get on their feet in these uncertain times. At the same time from a gear perspective, upon receiving this strap I am reminded by the words of Robert Frost, and about “two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”
So if looking for a custom piece of gear for where your next adventure may take you, why not buy local and support a fellow COW member for the last 13 years and give his company, Penitent Man Leather a consideration in the quest for screen accuracy from our beloved franchise.
