Club Obi Wan

I'm looking at both sites for reproduction bags with leather strap. Price is almost double at magnoli, but I'm interested in the new interior redesign of the magnoli.
Of course WPG has some original bags as well to add to the mix.
Thoughts on either one?
Real world use and durability is most important...

Magnoli is expensive.

WPG has originals and I’ve bought one and love it. Just be prepared for possible dry rot on the strap holder’s on the sides. Mine did but was able to find someone to reinforce them. Now it’s my go to bag. And he had at the time one’s from the same make as used in the movie

Croft

I’ve had a WPG repro in the past and I currently have a Magnoli as well. Overall, I like them both. My preference is for the Magnoli and I do think it is worth money. He has never once steered me wrong, and I’ve bought a number of things from him. For practicality, the redesign seems very smart to me, but I don’t own one.

I think the Magnoli is the higher quality of the two, but it isn’t perfect when compaired with the original. It’s the best reproduction out there, in my opinion, and is probably as faithful as we are going to get. The hardwear on the bottom, the disc on the side, the loop in the seam; all great stuff. The only thing that discourages me with regard to any of these reproductions is that if you hold one of the originals, there is something about the fabric that seems stronger, smoother, and more dense. Now these originals are obviously very old at this point, so I wouldn’t say they are stronger in point of fact, but I do prefer whatever canvas they were made from back in the day to any of the modern reproductions which seems to have a bumpier, looser, and cheaper-feeling weave. Magnoli also went to the trouble to find snaps that at least evoke the feelings of the snaps on the originals that had the unique, warble-like pattern and outer ring. Because they are actually nickel, or some material similar to that in color, and are plated, you will notice that with use the bronze plating will wear off. The snaps are not the quality of the original bags. I don’t snaps of that quality could even be found today, frankly. I’ve tried. I replaced the snaps.

So all this in mind, I would say you are probably in good hands with a Magnoli with the new interior for quality and functionality.

Go original

I have several and they eventually wear out. Especially if the go to bag. For the tags on the side they will wear more quickly but i discovered if you wax them with a proprietary wax like Barbour it stops the degradation in its tracks. The first think to make the originals more practical which the movie guys also did was take a scalpel and carefully detach the stitching of the central divider .. this leaves you with two large side by side pockets and a smaller pen and phone pocket.

Wested also have stock of the originals in the UK and you can ask them to dig out a particular vintage if they still have them .... i have four spares at the moment and will be getting more as they last about 6-7 years of long constant use.

TC

WPG reproduction is $28 versus Magnoli's is $36.

Both are about $10 bucks shipping.

Magnoli isn't that much more expensive at all and for their replica you can be assured quality. The "modern interior" is $10 dollars more but I think it's a pretty neat feature.

I went with an original 22 years ago from Noel Howard. It last me until 2 months ago when the webbing on the ring for the leather strap finally snapped. I was shocked it lasted as long as it did. So, I definitely got my money's worth with an original. But I also acquired one that had been in really good condition at the time. I'm not sure but it might be a mixed bag going with an original Mark VII.

My thoughts are if a 60 year old product lasted me 20 years.... than a modern replica should last even longer. Especially with quality construction avoiding any issues of rot, etc. Maybe it's just me, but I don't want to have to purchase one every few years, etc.

I'm actually about to order the Magnoli version with modern interior any day now.

I'm leaning toward going with an original bag with a leather strap and see how long it lasts before going to reproduction. I guess the historical feature and they won't be around forever is why I'd like to check one out. My only concern is dry rot or how much weight they can hold on a daily basis. Coffee thermos, wallet, phone, ipad etc. I'm not throwing a lot of stuff in there but I'm hoping it could hold 5 lbs of stuff?? I assume with a reproduction though it could probably handle more weight and abuse?
Thanks for the input!

fortysixandtwo wrote:I'm leaning toward going with an original bag with a leather strap and see how long it lasts before going to reproduction. I guess the historical feature and they won't be around forever is why I'd like to check one out. My only concern is dry rot or how much weight they can hold on a daily basis. Coffee thermos, wallet, phone, ipad etc. I'm not throwing a lot of stuff in there but I'm hoping it could hold 5 lbs of stuff?? I assume with a reproduction though it could probably handle more weight and abuse?
Thanks for the input!

As I said before, my original lasted 22 years for not ever day use but probably very frequent and heavy use. I've carried books, iPads, cameras, flasks, etc in them as well as having coats and hoodies hanging on them if I got too hot.

I'm sure I've had 5lbs or more in it. I've travelled across the US and the world with it, including 2 trips to Disneyworld. I was last using it to carry my coffee mug and lunch to work every day when it finally gave up.

I'd say, as long as you get one in decent condition, I don't see why it wouldn't last you some years. These babies were made to go into war, back when things were made to last.

The Character wrote:The first thing to make the originals more practical which the movie guys also did was take a scalpel and carefully detach the stitching of the central divider .. this leaves you with two large side by side pockets and a smaller pen and phone pocket.

Great tip! Less is definitely more in this case-- the bag is instantly more usable. And like the webbing strap (which I've already used to replace one dry-rotted ring tab), the canvas divider is now stashed for future patching.
Now you can turn the bag inside-out and treat the cut edges with Fray-Check to keep them from unraveling.

The originals, unfortunately, can also simply dry rot from age.

Yep, they went to war, but that was 81 years ago (1939-45), so you have to take account of their age when purchasing originals for regular use.

That's why I like the repros for use, and keep the originals for special occasions like cons or summits.

I'm in the market for one myself to replace the original my eldest daughter (D.Jones here) has finally worn out after constant use since the 90's.

Regards! Michaelson

Michaelson wrote:The originals, unfortunately, can also simply dry rot from age.

Yep, they went to war, but that was 81 years ago (1939-45), so you have to take account of their age when purchasing originals for regular use.
...........

I completely agree. I think I was really lucky with the one I purchased from Noel back in the day. That's why I'm looking towards a repro now as I don't want to have to purchase a new original every few years. I don't use it every day but I use it enough to want something that will go the distance.

Good points on getting a reproduction for daily use, and the original for special occasions. I would use it for daily work commute..

That was my course of action, a reproduction for daily carry and I save my original for display and costuming.


Regards,

Indiana Jeff

For the money, the Magnoli bag is amazing. You won’t be disappointed. Just my humble opinion. Go Magnoli!

-Chuck

I ended up getting an original bag with leather strap from wpg. I'll order a magnoli bag next to use for daily work if the original is too weathered.
Thanks!

Nosirrah wrote:

The Character wrote:The first thing to make the originals more practical which the movie guys also did was take a scalpel and carefully detach the stitching of the central divider .. this leaves you with two large side by side pockets and a smaller pen and phone pocket.

Great tip! Less is definitely more in this case-- the bag is instantly more usable. And like the webbing strap (which I've already used to replace one dry-rotted ring tab), the canvas divider is now stashed for future patching.
Now you can turn the bag inside-out and treat the cut edges with Fray-Check to keep them from unraveling.

Do you have a pic of the interior or the bag with it cut out?

fortysixandtwo wrote:

Nosirrah wrote:

The Character wrote:The first thing to make the originals more practical which the movie guys also did was take a scalpel and carefully detach the stitching of the central divider .. this leaves you with two large side by side pockets and a smaller pen and phone pocket.

Great tip! Less is definitely more in this case-- the bag is instantly more usable. And like the webbing strap (which I've already used to replace one dry-rotted ring tab), the canvas divider is now stashed for future patching.
Now you can turn the bag inside-out and treat the cut edges with Fray-Check to keep them from unraveling.

Do you have a pic of the interior or the bag with it cut out?

I'm not set up to post pix online, but I measured the center pocket, with the partition removed. It's now 10" long, 4" wide, and 9" high.

fortysixandtwo wrote:Do you have a pic of the interior or the bag with it cut out?

You can see the verticle stitch lines from where the center panel was removed. Very many of the original bags come this way, the folks back in the day (or in the decades since) figured out removing the center panel made the bags more practical for daily use. I got my bag this way. For years I didn't understand what people were talking about with removing the center panel until a member posted a picture with the panel in place.



Regards,

Indiana Jeff

Indiana Jeff wrote:
You can see the verticle stitch lines from where the center panel was removed. Very many of the original bags come this way, the folks back in the day (or in the decades since) figured out removing the center panel made the bags more practical for daily use. I got my bag this way. For years I didn't understand what people were talking about with removing the center panel until a member posted a picture with the panel in place.



Regards,

Indiana Jeff

Wow.... I've had my bag for 20 years and never noticed that. Seems my center panel was removed as well.....

Exactly. For the longest time I thought people were referring to removing the panel that makes up the front flat pocket. Never made sense to me why people would remove that panel claiming it would make the bag more functional.

Ironically, Magnoli's "modern" inside configuration essentially adds that panel back to the design to hold a water bottle. Which is not to say I don't like the modern configuration, I very much do.



Regards,

Indiana Jeff