Club Obi Wan

I have ordered a strap for my bag, and now have to face removing the old strap from the bag. I am having issues because the bag has survived since 1942 without alteration. Any ideas on how to remove the strap without destroying it? Illinois.

Not really. I have several bags (and still have three), have converted some and have now given up on the Indy bag. I prefer my MKVIIs as they are.

I like the original straps better then the leather ones. The original straps are much more comfortable.

Swindiana helped me overcome my own 'strap dilemma' by kindly giving me a great original strap, except its on quick-release clips so I can take it on and off and use the leather strap when I feel like it.

To remove the original strap , you can try and carefully pick out the stitching rather than atacking it with scissors, that way it can always be sewn back on later if you desire.

Or...just keep the original strap.

Al

I like the leather strap look more, and I feel it would be more sturdy, i just don't know though, I just don't know...

IJ,
I understand your dilema, when I recieved my MkVII I was scared to remove the original strap.so what I did was I stuck the original strap in the bag and put the leather strap on.you could try that and see what you think.
Best Regards,
Joe

Think about it this way if it helps. Most of these bags have been stashed away for over 50 years not seeing the light of day. You have got it and are using it and valuing it in a totally unexpected way.

Removing the strap is the next step in it's aging, keep it by all means but your new leather strap is now part of it's history too.

I wouldn't worry about the moral issue, there are literally millions of them about, at least this way you are using it for someting positive. Can't think of a better epitaph than that.

Just do what i did.

You put the web strap in the outer pocket, hiding it and the rings are free to host the second strap (the leather one )

Go to a fabric/hobby store, get a stitch remover. It's a little tool witha sharpened, curved pick on the end. You can take out the stitches without damaging the strap. I did this. My wife uses the old strap as a belt (looks great on her!)

I wouldn't worry about "destroying" this item. If you really want to be part of preserving history, buy two, and leave the second one unaltered. So much militaria was coopted, altered, or just destroyed after WWII. You're part of a long tradition of using military gear for civilian purposes.
=jp=

Can anyone tell me what the heck is that silver disc on the side of the bag is for?

Puzzled!

Attatching the bag to your waist.

???what do you mean???

There is a string on the mk VII inn the front, it wraps around your waist and is then wrapped around the sivler disc in the back. Illinois

Oh OK!

Not entirely sure what you mean, but I can gather thanks.

Harrison,
The bag was originally a civilian issue respirator bag with a gas mask and filter. They weren't designed to be worn diagonally like Indy's. You're supposed to sling it around your neck and let it hang down on your chest. While weraing the gasmask the bag supported the filter. To keep it from flopping around the "quick fix" idea of the lanyard and disc was added. You wrap the lanyard around your back and wrap it around that disc. It functions exactly like the closure on a file folder. It was basically a cheap, "afterthought" method of adding a second strap for the waist.

As far as removing the strap, it's easier than people think. You need to get rid of the rings, too. The Raiders bag had thicker, heavier rings. In some scenes they're bright silver. The welds on the stock rings are hastily done and can be easily cut with a dremel tool with minimal damage. You can carefully bend them and slip them out and you won't have to destroy anything. You can find the heavier, accurate replacement rings at most hardware stores. Un fortunately, putting the new ones in is far harder than removing the old ones. But it just takes a bit of patience

I think it was a British military bag, not civilian. I have seen an awful lot of pictures of British soldiers wearing them on their chest while in combat. Can't really remember any pictures of a civilian wearing one, until Indy came along.

Maybe it was the civilian model that didn't have grooves on the strap. I'm sorry, that comment belongs in another thread, but I just couldn't help myself. Bad Bufflehead, bad Bufflehead.

I think you are right buffle...

If i remember correctly the civilian version from what i remember of my history where made from cardboard.

http://www.enfield.gov.uk/museum/educat ... s_wwii.htm

Thanks for the great explanation really helped to visualise it.

The Raiders bag had thicker, heavier rings. In some scenes they're bright silver.

Never heard that before, thanks.

You're welcome, Illinois. Or at least that's what I see. Check the scene where Indy and Marion exit the Well. When Indy is just standing there waiting for Marion, you can see it.

Well for now I unstitched the strap and put on my leather one, but I plan to look for more accurate rings this weekend. Illinois.

Shawnkara wrote: You need to get rid of the rings, too. The Raiders bag had thicker, heavier rings. In some scenes they're bright silver.

I haven't gone back and looked at pictures yet, but is your bag a W&G like was used in the movies? The reason I ask is because I own a W&G and it has what I would consider to be rathar thick and heavy rings. I also own a Woods (Canadian MkVII version) and it has kinda small D-shaped rings that appear to be brass. So maybe an original W&G has the right rings?

Junior,
That's possible. I got this from the main site, it's an actual W&G. The rings are the same as mine were. However, my bag is NOT a W&G. Some of them may have had thicker rings.
http://indygear.com/gear/images/Seamus.jpg

is your bag a W&G like was used in the movies?

No, my bag is a H and sons bag.

At the moment I've got 3 bags - 2 W&G and 1 M&Co. THey all have the same rings as have all the other bags I've owned. Incidently, I may put a mint condition W&G fitted with a Todd strap into the classifieds or onto ebay. I have more bags than I really need.