Club Obi Wan

Saddle Bags!! Yes, I said saddle bags as part of collecting for Indy Gear. You wonder, has old Sergei fallen off his rocker.

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. "

That's pretty cool. Of course that's a piece of gear that would do me no good as I don't own a horse. It's neat to see the whip fit in there just like the stories say it does.

Thanks for sharing.

Pyroxene wrote:That's pretty cool. Of course that's a piece of gear that would do me no good as I don't own a horse. It's neat to see the whip fit in there just like the stories say it does.

Thanks for sharing.

I don't own a horse either. Joe Strain, and now myself, we use a saddle bag just like you would a brief case or a back pack. You sling the bag over your shoulder and carry your gear. It's really cool. In Texas, you probably wouldn't get a second look. I pack anything from my whip gear, to when I go to the office I put my office gear in the pouches even my notebook PC. It's really cool.

-S

Sergei,

That is such a cool idea! I love it! I may just have to look into getting one now. Thanks for sharing your story and your find, my friend.

-Kyle

Being that I am a SASS shooter (Single Action Shooting Society) I have a set of Saddle bags I use at CAS matches (Cowboy Action Shooting). I will say the are very handy indeed. I pack all my ammo an extra hog leg and empty brass. I never thought of using them with Indy Gear.

Now Sergei, why did you have to go and do that!? Dagnabit, there goes another hundred plus bucks ... you know how much of an LC fan I am. ;)

Chamorro wrote:Now Sergei, why did you have to go and do that!? Dagnabit, there goes another hundred plus bucks ... you know how much of an LC fan I am. ;)

I knew I was going to get at least one response like yours, Chamorro! :-)

-S

I added a post script to the original post. But I want to make sure that everyone noted the companion product.

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. "

Yep i have collected several WW1 Cavalry saddlebags myself.Well at last my favourite (other than Indy)subject
The US cavalry from 1912 to 1946.
Yes the saddle bags in LC are US cavalry saddle bags.Officially the designation is M1904 Saddle Bags.The replicas pictured in the above posts are actually not the greatest copy ever.The buckles are way of as are the billet straps.
http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Barracks/2189/
This link may help with Cav related stuff

Hmm.... I wonder what acetone would do to them? There's got to be a way to distress them effectively without sandpaper. One would certainly create a sense of rugged individuality to use them as a briefcase. I think we should all get them.

Sergei wrote: Joe Strain, and now myself, we use a saddle bag just like you would a brief case or a back pack. You sling the bag over your shoulder and carry your gear. It's really cool. In Texas, you probably wouldn't get a second look. I pack anything from my whip gear, to when I go to the office I put my office gear in the pouches even my notebook PC. It's really cool.

-S

That is a great idea. Second looks, you are probably right. I like it a lot.

Thanks.

golpeo_rapidamente wrote:Yep i have collected several WW1 Cavalry saddlebags myself.Well at last my favourite (other than Indy)subject
The US cavalry from 1912 to 1946.
Yes the saddle bags in LC are US cavalry saddle bags.Officially the designation is M1904 Saddle Bags.The replicas pictured in the above posts are actually not the greatest copy ever.The buckles are way of as are the billet straps.
http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Barracks/2189/
This link may help with Cav related stuff

Thanks Sam! This is a help. I was trying to get out of Joe what designated model this was. So I thought someone here would clarify it. I found some pictures of the M1904.


I had a hunch the buckles were off, but for the price and what I was using these bags for, they were good enough.

Thanks again.

-Sergei

Sergei,

Do you think I can use these as motorcycle saddlebags or are they too nice?

Very, very cool. Great idea. Thanks for passing it on. Cheers

Chamorro wrote:Sergei,

Do you think I can use these as motorcycle saddlebags or are they too nice?

I'd say that they would be perfect for motorcylces.

Segei
No sweat,another usefull link for Cav stuff is www.militaryhorse.org
they have a very active forum and www.borderstatesleather.com
There actually is a specific saddle bag for WW2 Harley and its similiar to the 1904.
Best to all
sam

Wow, Sergei. That's cool! What an outstanding idea!

I.J.

Chamorro wrote:Sergei,

Do you think I can use these as motorcycle saddlebags or are they too nice?

You could use them as motorcycle saddlebags, I guess... and it would be a fast way to destress them!

Way cool!! I want one!!
Indiana Philip

On closer inspection the saddle ridden by River is also US military,it is an 1917 Packers saddle(not strictly cavalry however),it also apears to be the WW2 type with rounded skirts.

Sergei, are the saddle bags as red as they appear to be in your pics?

Indiana Jess wrote:Sergei, are the saddle bags as red as they appear to be in your pics?

Well it's hard to answer that question based on what I see on my monitor vs. your monitor. But all things being equal, I would answer your question that leather is reddish. I am sure it can darken with age. In fact I have a leather conditioner called "Leather New" that I bought in a tack shop that darkens leathers. I might try it.

For it being reddish, it doesn't bother me. It more burgandy, brown. I am sure I have thoroughly confused for now. Get it and you can always return it. Make sure to get the liners.

-S

The site that golpeo_rapidamente linked to says that the leather turns into a rich dark brown with age. I guess that's a mark of a true Calvary man. I just bought one with the liners and am awaiting it's arrival. Dang you Sergei!

Sergei wrote:

Indiana Jess wrote:Sergei, are the saddle bags as red as they appear to be in your pics?

I am sure it can darken with age. In fact I have a leather conditioner called "Leather New" that I bought in a tack shop that darkens leathers. I might try it.

Sergei,

If you do try it, let us know how it works out. It may be something gearheads can use to darken their holsters, straps, etc.

I.J.

p.s. I guess someone always has to go first on these things, huh?

Indiana Joe wrote:
Sergei,

If you do try it, let us know how it works out. It may be something gearheads can use to darken their holsters, straps, etc.

I.J.

p.s. I guess someone always has to go first on these things, huh?

Well this "Leather New" product I picked up earlier this year and bought it at a tack shop. I applied it on a small spot on my Alden's and it turned the spot almost black. I mean, black. So I'm glad I did a sample test. I then tried it on my Lee Keppler Raiders bag strap. Same there, it left it real dark, brown. Then I left it in the back of my mind that this product could be used to darken anything. I tried it on the WPG Repro bag strap, and it didn't even phase it.

So it just depends. It's cheap stuff and the ingredients look safe. It cleans and restores leather.

Do a google search on "leather new" and check it out.

-S

Chamorro wrote: I just bought one with the liners and am awaiting it's arrival. Dang you Sergei!

Chamorro, I know how you feel - mine will arrive tomorrow ... "Dang you Sergei!"

Hey, everyone is their own gatekeeper. So what color Optimo did you order, Jess? )

Sergei wrote: ...So what color Optimo did you order, Jess? )

LOL ... I'm still trying to decide... it depends on what color will disguise grey hair the best

Mine finally arrived and it's great. It actually hangs off the shoulder well and doesn't slip. It's not wide enough to hold all my documents, but the daily things that I pack back and forth to work fit fine. Mary(on) and ITG will appreciate the fact that it the same color as my Aldens!