KotCS Backpack (UPDATED thread on Germany Army Rucksack!)

[lantzn]

Looks like MFH has the bags on UK eBay.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/MFH-German-Mou ... B00753MR4C

[lantzn]

WOW,
Somebody took the Indy backpack to a whole new level! This is a thing of beauty.

https://www.amazon.com/DRAKENSBERG-Kimb ... =8-15&th=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[lantzn]

I just finished member MCINTOSH275‘s backpack.

[MCINTOSH275]

Here is my backpack, as always amazing work from Lantz...





A greetings...

[lantzn]

Love the cabinet. These are huge rucksacks, I believe they say 30L. You should find the Coronado dagger Indy was going to take when Mutt made him feel guilty. Put that next to the flashlight.

[lantzn]

Updated lists for the Indy IV KotCS backpacks.

There are two manufactures of these bags;

MFH - model 30303B Website

https://www.military1st.com/30303b-mfh- ... olive.html
https://www.sofmilitary.co.uk/indiana-j ... ksack.html

https://www.amazon.com/German-Army-Moun ... B00753MR4C
https://www.amazon.co.uk/MFH-German-Mou ... B00753MR4C
https://www.amazon.de/-/nl/dp/B00753MR4C

https://www.ebay.com/itm/274302136306
https://www.ebay.com/itm/293776174313
https://www.ebay.com/itm/193291396447
https://www.ebay.com/itm/143593281886


Mil-Tec - UPC 4046872405280 Website

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mil-Tec-Mounta ... B08D63S4FY
https://www.militarysurplus.eu/product- ... ILTEC.html
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Backpack-Mount ... 4938204367

I own and have worked on both brands and prefer the MFH. I’ve also worked on original ones from WWII.

The MFH is built with far better material and hardware. The leather, canvas and vinyl are thicker and the hardware is stronger. MFH tends to change their canvas material in both color and weave with each batch. They let all vendors run out, then tool up for the next batch. If you are going to USE your bag or like high quality, definitely spend the extra money on this bag.

The Mil-Tec is popular with WWII reenactment folks. If you are using the bag for display only or light duty you could save a few bucks buying this brand.

Some photos of various backpacks.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/194041089 ... 9929180422
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085894326634

[lantzn]

MaverickFerg just sent me some picks of the backpack I did for him. That is a sweet skull!

[lantzn]

Just upgraded Rikimaru’s pack.

[lantzn]

Updated lists for the Indy IV KotCS backpacks.

There are two manufactures of these bags;

MFH
BW Mountain Backpack, old model, OD green
model 30303B
https://www.max-fuchs.de/cgi-bin/shop2/ ... 0303B,back

https://www.military1st.com/30303b-mfh- ... olive.html
https://www.amazon.com/German-Army-Moun ... B00753MR4C
https://www.amazon.co.uk/MFH-German-Mou ... B00753MR4C
https://www.amazon.de/-/nl/dp/B00753MR4C

https://www.ebay.com/itm/274302136306
https://www.ebay.com/itm/293776174313
https://www.ebay.com/itm/193291396447
https://www.ebay.com/itm/143593281886

Mil-Tec
German OD IMP. Mountain Rucksack w/Leather Straps
Article No.: 14016101
UPC 4046872405280
https://www.sturm-miltec.de/cgi-bin/sho ... 6101&all=#

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mil-Tec-Mounta ... B08D63S4FY
https://www.sofmilitary.co.uk/indiana-j ... ksack.html
https://www.militarysurplus.eu/product- ... ILTEC.html
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Backpack-Mount ... 4938204367

[Loneken]

Thanks! Are those screen accurate/ the ones used in the movie or replicas?

[IJJTM]

Replicas.

[lantzn]

Thanks! Are those screen accurate/ the ones used in the movie or replicas?

As stated both replicas of the original WWII packs. Each has pros and cons.

The Mil-Tec as is, has the more accurate leather shoulder strap, although it’s short same as the originals. The hardware is a bit heavier built.

The MFH used to to have MUCH nicer, thicker leather straps all around but with the latest version the leather quality and thickness has gone significantly down. The canvas is still very nice. The hardware is less heavy duty.

If you want a more screen accurate pack the replicas can have the HJ label and longer straps added as was done to the pack in the film.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?se ... 590&type=3

[lantzn]

I was sent this original pack from Andyman326 to add long straps.

The Indy long strap has a cream color, heavy thread that is hand stitched, 5 holes and a length down to the MKVII bag’s flap snap. The roller buckle is in the top hole. Indy usually carries the pack over his left shoulder with either his hand around the strap and resting on the buckle or with his thumb around the buckle and palm on the pack. There is a layer of cream colored painted under the green paint that is exposed from wear.

Here’s the original pack with its original strap. You can clearly see 8 holes and the short distance from the top hole to the top of the strap. The stitching is machine sewn and a dark green thread.

[Indiana Jeff]

Beautiful work.

Regards,

Indiana Jeff

[ChrisW]

Just chiming in on an MFH I got in 2023 had some poor stitching that’s been unravelling all over as of 2024. I don’t have a Mil-Tec to compare with but oddly the Mil-Tec description above sounds a lot like what I would describe my MFH in terms of lighter hardware and quality.

I still love this bag though, but definitely will have to make repairs.

Makes me wish Frost River or Duluth made a design like this given the leather quality.

[ChrisW]

Ok, just got a mil tec as well.

MFH is still better by far.

~2023 MFH has a straight body, the straps are still leather. The grain is loose but it is thicker. That said, it does look like their new offerings seem to be a plastic buckle version. The stitching quality is bad but the canvas is thicker. The inner pocket material is not so good and thin and closes with a velcro. So, looks like I’ll have to mend some of it over time, but the materials will stick around.

~2024 Mil tec tapers and narrows at the bottom. The straps are pleather or only have marginal leather layer that is thin. The stitching is neater but the canvas is thinner. The color is better. The inner pocket is better with a thicker pocket and button closure. Overall it is a neater product with thinner materials.

Again, wish someone like Frost River or Duluth (or Magnoli! ) would make a bag with this design…

[lantzn]

Ok, just got a mil tec as well.

MFH is still better by far.

MFH has a straight body, the straps are still leather. The grain is loose but it is thicker. That said, it does look like their new offerings seem to be a plastic buckle version. The stitching quality is bad but the canvas is thicker. The inner pocket material is not so good and thin and closes with a velcro. So, looks like I’ll have to mend some of it over time, but the materials will stick around.

MFH offers 4 packs in this style. Most vendors carry the one with plastic straps, and it looks like they’ve added a logo on the top flap.

Plastic buckles
https://www.max-fuchs.de/cgi-bin/shop2/ ... 904,30293B

Camouflage
https://www.max-fuchs.de/cgi-bin/shop2/ ... 904,30293V

The 30303B is the CS pack.
https://www.max-fuchs.de/cgi-bin/shop2/ ... 904,30303B

Black
https://www.max-fuchs.de/cgi-bin/shop2/ ... 904,30303A

[ChrisW]

Ok, just got a mil tec as well.

MFH is still better by far.

MFH has a straight body, the straps are still leather. The grain is loose but it is thicker. That said, it does look like their new offerings seem to be a plastic buckle version. The stitching quality is bad but the canvas is thicker. The inner pocket material is not so good and thin and closes with a velcro. So, looks like I’ll have to mend some of it over time, but the materials will stick around.

MFH offers 4 packs in this style. Most vendors carry the one with plastic straps, and it looks like they’ve added a logo on the top flap.

Plastic buckles
https://www.max-fuchs.de/cgi-bin/shop2/ ... 904,30293B

Camouflage
https://www.max-fuchs.de/cgi-bin/shop2/ ... 904,30293V

The 30303B is the CS pack.
https://www.max-fuchs.de/cgi-bin/shop2/ ... 904,30303B

Black
https://www.max-fuchs.de/cgi-bin/shop2/ ... 904,30303A

Nice! Thanks for the links! I got the CS one but had been seeing the other ones pop up a lot more on other sites than the CS version. Worried that they were phasing them out or something but glad to know that it’s just another model.

[Loneken]

To all the CS backpack experts on here: how screen accurate does this backpack look? The owner doesn't remember the brand, but said he purchased it somewhere on Indygear or the RPF.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/276683781597?m ... media=COPY


Thanks!

Sent from my Pixel 6a using Tapatalk

[Indiana Jeff]

It looks good to me. The straps seem longer than standard so it may be one lantzn added longer SA straps to.

Regards,

Indiana Jeff

[Loneken]

It looks good to me. The straps seem longer than standard so it may be one lantzn added longer SA straps to.

Regards,

Indiana Jeff

Thanks! That's what I thought too.

Sent from my Pixel 6a using Tapatalk

[lantzn]

My embarrassing retraction posted below. LOL
Those are not long straps nor is it one of my labels.
These are long straps and one of my labels.

[Loneken]

Those are not long straps nor is it one of my labels.
These are long straps and one of my labels.

IMG_2483.jpeg

IMG_2484.jpeg

Thanks!

Sent from my Pixel 6a using Tapatalk

[lantzn]

I’m truly sorry it was very late when I saw your post Loneken. The label threw me off since it looked so different from what I’ve been doing for years. The same with the straps. I’m embarrassed.

Upon looking at all the eBay photos close up and the description posted, I went back and looked at my photo library and this was the very FIRST customer pack I added a “HJ” label and later long straps too!

I made my first label, with my initials, in January 2012. I compared photos side by side and there’s no doubt. The customer sent me this pack, and I added the label April 2012. Then I made my first long straps for myself February 2013 and he sent me the pack again and I added long straps. I was still in the early stages of learning to leatherwork and my techniques are quite different now. This blows my mind.

[Loneken]

I’m truly sorry it was very late when I saw your post Loneken. The label threw me off since it looked so different from what I’ve been doing for years. The same with the straps. I’m embarrassed.

Upon looking at all the eBay photos close up and the description posted, I went back and looked at my photo library and this was the very FIRST customer pack I added a “HJ” label and later long straps too!

I made my first label, with my initials, in January 2012. I compared photos side by side and there’s no doubt. The customer sent me this pack, and I added the label April 2012. Then I made my first long straps for myself February 2013 and he sent me the pack again and I added long straps. I was still in the early stages of learning to leatherwork and my techniques are quite different now. This blows my mind.

Wow that's really cool you were able to recognize it! Then this is a piece of history of this forum!

Sent from my Pixel 6a using Tapatalk

[lantzn]

I’m 65 this month so you can call it ancient history now. I belong in a museum.

[Indiana Croft]

I resemble that remark, as I have turned 65, and I too feel like I belong in a museum.

Croft

[lantzn]

I resemble that remark, as I have turned 65, and I too feel like I belong in a museum.

Croft

We are last of the 50s babies, 1959. The older I get the faster time flies by, but not fast enough to put me out of my misery.