Club Obi Wan

I am thinking about offering these on my website for those not wanting to shell out alot for a MkVII bag. They look great, even though they do not have the drain holes, metal disc, nor the funky patterned brass buttons. The canvas is very very slightly lighter in weight than the actual MkVIIs. There are no inside pockets, just a white canvas divider. The color in the pics represents the actual color of the bags well, and is spot on in my opinion. The last picture is a comparison between my MkVII (right) and the repro (left).

http://www.geocities.com/menrnotpigs182/PB060006.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/menrnotpigs182/PB060007.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/menrnotpigs182/PB060008.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/menrnotpigs182/PB060009.JPG

Would anyone be interested in this item? I don't have an exact on price yet, I'm thinking about 20 bucks - but don't hold me to that. Might be more, might be less. I know that other repros that are more accurate go for only $40, so I'm not sure if I would get any bites. Any suggestions?

By the way, a big thanks goes out to my Aussie friend Merrick for helping me out with this item. He has surprised me with his generosity and kindness. Thanks, Merrick!

I voted 'no' as I probably wouldn't buy one myself, in truth.

However, as an Indy on a budget type bag, $20 is a fair enough price for a close-enough bag, so I think there probably would be a market out there for them.

Good luck with it!

I concur with OB1AL. I wouldn't buy one, but I'm sure that it is close enough for alot of fans that don't want to shell out big bucks for mint conditioned, un-issued bags.
'Blues

Never. Not when there are real bags out there.

I agree with Blues and Al.

Regards,
Rebbeard

Well it looks pretty good, but I'd buy a real one or a WPG.

I, too, agree with those above. I would not get one, especially if you can get good repros with the drain holes and metal disc for around 40 bucks. To me, the bag (repro) has always been about the most affordable of the recognizable Indy gear. As for budget minded Indys, you could always pick up a map bag or the like at a surplus store for pretty cheap (no more than $15) without having to pay shipping. The bag you show looks pretty decent, but my feeling is that if you're going to have to pay $20-$30 for this bag, plus shipping, you might as well save up the extra couple of bucks and go with a more accurate repro. If you'd sell this bag for around $15, then I think it would make a better buy. There's my two cents. Regardless, I think it admirable that you're trying to offer good Indy gear at good prices.

bink

I would...and I might if you offer them. I already have a mkvii, a real one...but I wouldn't mind having my own Daryl bag to use and to distress myself. and if they're cheaper than the WPG bags, then sure, as for a satchel I don't really need it to be a mkvii gas mask bag, but the same size would be cool. Now its not a sure thing I would buy one as I like my current mkvii just fine and dandy, but I might buy a second bag. Also, I like the interior

Regards, Daryl.

When you can get a real MKVII (used) for 10 pounds (which is about $22 Canadian or $18 US), I really don't see the point in a fake near-enough that costs more.

Okay, I know its possible to get real mkvii's for these low prices, but how often do you see them go that low? I've actually seen them go rather high as well, so there's not really any definate price. It's not guarunteed that you'll have to pay a whole lot for a real bag, but its also not guarunteed that you'll get it for cheap either. At least this guy's price is consistant

Regards, Daryl.

Kentucky Blues wrote:Okay, I know its possible to get real mkvii's for these low prices, but how often do you see them go that low? I've actually seen them go rather high as well, so there's not really any definate price. It's not guarunteed that you'll have to pay a whole lot for a real bag, but its also not guarunteed that you'll get it for cheap either. At least this guy's price is consistant

Well, the 10 pounds I'm quoting is consistant, too. See Soldier of Fortune.

My detailed instructions are here:

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

I just can't stand all the FUD that gets thrown around and leads to people, such as yourself, thinking that a MKVII is a really lucky catch, and possibly out of reach. They're not. I want everyone to see how easy it is to obtain one for cheap.

I got my last issued bag in great shape for only $14. Yes, $14.

Thanks Swindy.

More proof that the bags, like the truth, are out there.

Thanks Mulder

Soldier of Fortune only has 30 bags left and they are not in the best condition. All of them have the black stripe.

Hemingway Jones wrote:Soldier of Fortune only has 30 bags left and they are not in the best condition. All of them have the black stripe.

That's what I heard too when I contacted them a few months ago... then, all of a sudden, another board member happily announced that he had received a stripeless, mint-ish SoF Mk VII... the "30 bags left"-mail seems to be their standard reply to gearheads.

As far as I understand, SoF restocks when "military supplies" go "surplus", that is when official gear is released by the MOD and there are thousands of Mk VII's still kept in government warehouses. I believe.

Either way, there are Mk VII's out there, just waiting to be unearthed...

Scandinavia Jones,
Thanks for the information. Here is a copy of the email I received from them on Friday. Perhaps, it's a standard reply.

Sorry but I now only have about 30 picecs left from an orignal 300
pieces I had 1 year ago and all had the black stripe, these are very
rare even in england. If I manage to get any without I will place on the
web site but do not hold out much luck at the moment.
Regards,
SoF

Hemingway Jones wrote:Scandinavia Jones,
Perhaps, it's a standard reply.
Sorry but I now only have about 30 picecs left from an orignal 300
pieces I had 1 year ago and all had the black stripe, these are very
rare even in england. -SoF

As of this morning, there's only 28 left. Wheeeeeee!

I put an unissued, mint condition 1943 Canadian gas mask bag through the laundry and... well... I shouldn't have. The machine beat it to Hades (I got a spare to replace it, fortunately). So I would recommend never doing that with a MK VII. Clean them like a museum might.

I believe the biggest drawback, in my opinion, is the lack of strap rings that would allow someone to at least add a leather strap to this bag. Regards. Michaelson

I have to agree. That's why I'd personally go ahead and save up the extra couple of bucks for a good repro with all the metal parts. It'd be worth the extra money to me knowing that I wouldn't have to find the rings, try to do the restitching, etc., just so I could ad a leather strap. If it came with a canvas strap, but satrap rings, then I'd be more interested.

bink

Never fear, I of course would redo the straps and add the round rings, and also offer it with or without the strap. Like my other products, there is no need to worry about having to do anything to it after receiving it.

I think there are two discussions going on in this thread, I am referring to my first post.

When it comes down to faded black stripe that you hardly notice on a bag for less than US$20 versus an absolute fake in the wrong colour with material that feels all wrong (but, hey, no stripe!) for US$40, I'm with the original every time... call me strange, but I am

The one being discussed would cost about $20, according to Texas Jone's first post. Which one are you talking about, Rob? WPG? If so, I'm not sure I agree, as their bag is pretty good match to the original, in my opinion. Regards. Michaelson

I'm afraid I'd have to say no for myself too. It is a nice reproduction and
the color looks very good. But when it comes to the bag, I'm a purist; it's
got to be original.

With that said, I'd encourage you to make a few and put them on your site.
I say this because they may sell well to someone looking for a close
enough option for a costume or ...??

Good luck,

Indybill

I like the fact that the interior is completely open. I have a MkVII and ended up removing the center divider, because it was unusable with the divider if I needed to carry books or work folder/documents.

Michaelson wrote:The one being discussed would cost about $20, according to Texas Jone's first post. Which one are you talking about, Rob? WPG? If so, I'm not sure I agree, as their bag is pretty good match to the original, in my opinion. Regards. Michaelson

Yes, I am talking about the WPG bag @ $40 as it would be unfair to compare a real MKVII to this bag being proposed by Texas Jones.

I disagree on the WPG bag - stylistically, yes, it's a good copy. Colour-wise, no it isn't (especially if you want the screen look), and feel-wise, I don't believe it feels like a real MKVII, either. Similar, but not correct.

Having said that, if I was forced to compare a real MKVII for less than $20 with this proposed bag for $20, I'd still go with the real MKVII, faded stripe or no, each and every time.

I just couldn't reconcile paying the same money for a fake that isn't even based on the real thing, when for less $$$, you can have the real thing, albeit with a 90% chance of it having a stripe.

Understood. Good points. Regards. Michaelson

Snakewhip_Sable wrote:

Hemingway Jones wrote:Scandinavia Jones,
Perhaps, it's a standard reply.
Sorry but I now only have about 30 picecs left from an orignal 300
pieces I had 1 year ago and all had the black stripe, these are very
rare even in england. -SoF

As of this morning, there's only 28 left. Wheeeeeee!

... until their next shipment drops in, I'm pretty sure.

And, for the record, I wouldn't put one in the wash, either, unless you are either a master of the washing machine or have some kind of multi billion dollar unit that can wash in very delicate ways.

Mine actually has a 'delicates' setting. I assumed that was just another euphemism for 'unmentionables'. I asked my wife but she won't talk about it. Just said I ought to be careful w/ them.

I lost my Wife Manual...now I'm lost altogether.

(Translation: The nice Maytag washers can pretty much wash a kleenex w/o screwing it up. Okay, that's an exaggeration, but you get my point. It can wash non-paper-pulp delicate unmentionable things w/o mucking them up. When, that is, I remember to check all the pockets for little screwdrivers and other pointy things. Man, I am STILL paying for that one...)

It seems that this thread is being hijacked with another topic. I am really trying to see if these repro bags would be worth offering for sale.

So far it seems that there is general interest in the bags, and I would have no doubt that they would sell if this site was better known off COW. But I think I'm going to stick around with selling screen-accurate products only. I think if I put these bag on my website I could compromise the screen-accuracy integrity of my other products. Offering them doesn't look very favorable right now. Besides, the WPG version is a GREAT product, as I have one, and I am not looking to beat it.

Texas Jones wrote:It seems that this thread is being hijacked with another topic. I am really trying to see if these repro bags would be worth offering for sale.

Threads go through different stages, mate. Regardless of what has been said in the thread, your best data is in the poll result, and that's not tainted in any way, shape or form.

Hey, Texas, was the prototype a bag you made, or was is a pre-made bag you found somewhere? Just curious.

bink

A third of those who voted said they would be interested, so I think these would sell if you stocked them, Texas.

I'd be interested to know the background to these bags too - they do look very close to the MKVII!

Check out this thread:

http://www.indygear.com/forum/viewtopic ... native+bag

Merrick has helped me locate where I can get these bags in bulk. There's quite a bit of info in that thread. Like I said, I will of course add the rings and remove the web strap.

Threads go through different stages, mate. Regardless of what has been said in the thread, your best data is in the poll result, and that's not tainted in any way, shape or form.

Very true Rob. No hard feelings, my friend. I am always thankful for any and all input.

DOH! I forgot about that thread, and I even liked the bad over there! For about five bucks, it IS a good bag. If it can be updated with metal rings and can be offered for $15 or less, then I think it would be a good addition to your site.

bink

Texas Jones wrote:Very true Rob. No hard feelings, my friend. I am always thankful for any and all input.

And none on my part, either. I just wanted to let you know that even though we had gone off on a tangent, there was still good info here

Texas, is that a WWI reproduction bag? If it's not, it's very similar. They do make good "close enough" Indy bags, and after all, in the 1930's, that's what would have been available.

The product is called a "Gas Mask Haversack," and the tag on the inside reads "Made in India." That is all the info I have. I'm not sure what bag they are trying to reproduce. Anyone have any thoughts?

Here's my modified WWI bag. From what I see, the differences in yours actually work out to the Indy fan's favor. There are no D rings on the front, the buttons are not push through, and the color is a perfect green. I actually dyed mine, and the color has faded considerably due to sunlight and wear.

That bag looks good enough for me, I´d possibly buy one.
I´ve considered making one myself and have to say yours looked pretty much like what I had in mind,colour would only be blue and one inch narrower

Hey MARQ, have you checked out the Finnish Army Bags? I have one myself. http://kauppa.varusteleka.fi/tuotteet/?nayta=sa-naslauk

VP wrote:Hey MARQ, have you checked out the Finnish Army Bags? I have one myself. http://kauppa.varusteleka.fi/tuotteet/?nayta=sa-naslauk

That's a great close enough. My Finnish is worse than my Egyptian...what's it run you?

Umm, what do you mean?

Sorry, slang. $$$. What would it cost. Finnish is fine, although in my sad Amero-centric existence I only understand US$.

P.S. Love your new avatar. Very retro.

Paljonko maksaa?

Yep, VP, that's a seriously cool avatar. And I see you turned your Akubra as well... nice!

I got it for 5 bucks. It's brand new.

Well done, you've earned your Indy-On-A Budget Merit Badge.

(Unfortunately, we're trying to save money, so all we use for this is SpongeBob Square Pants stickers...)

Well, I think for Indy on a budget, the ideal is still found in the purchase of a real MKVII from Sof For US$18, and try not to get too pysched about the (faded) black line which might be on it.

True true true. $5 for a close enough and $18 for the real McCoy is a nice scale any Indy-On-A Budget can live with! Good work...here, have a sticker.