Well, I first started in collecting when I was a huge LC fan. So, my point of reference has been that movie. Now, let me zip you back in time to last March. Last March I attended the WWAC convention and there I ran into Joe Strain. Joe Strain, walked into the show every day carrying his saddle bag over his shoulder. He used it like his brief case or backpack, but this thing was way cooler.
Inside his bag he carried all the equipment he needed for the show. Usually he was around to do minor to some serious repair on whips. So he carried in his two pouches: utility knife for lace cutting, fid, some roo hide, pecards, falls, poppers, etc. You get the picture. I really admired his bag and he mentioned that it was a US Cavalry bag that was copied from the one displayed at the Smithsonian. That bag John Wayne carried about in some of his US Cavalry movies. He said a buddy of his made one, however Cabelas made a very close replica at a very reasonable price.
So I happened to be watching Last Crusade right around that timeframe and noticed the following scenes:
You guessed it. The above screen grabs show that this is a geniune three strap US Cavalry saddle bag.
I then took Joe's advice and went to the Cabelas site and saw that they offered their US Cavalry version for $109. It's the Triple K Cavalry Saddle Bags Item: IC-221421 for Price: $109.99 . "Cavalry Saddle Bags are designed from original government drawings and made from oil-treated select-grade saddle leather with extra-long straps and latigo ties."
Here is the picture from the Cabelas site:
Here are some pictures amongst my gear:
As you can see it easily holds an 8 foot David Morgan whip with plenty of room for other gear.
Thought I share this weird Indy connection. But it is legitimate. If anybody else has more interest I do have contact information for a guy that makes them out the exact copy of the pattern at the Smithonsian. I guess they run about $250, but the Cabelas is close enough.
-Sergei
p.s. The campanion product is the liner:
Triple K Saddle Bag Liner Item: IC-222876
Price: $14.99
"Line your leather saddle bags with these slip in liners. Heavy cotton duck construction with two pockets in each liner just like the original. Solid brass snaps mate with snaps in saddle bags.
Per Pair. "
)