Hidden reinforcing nylon straps - these are hidden between and beneath the leather in all areas that receive stress of any kind
8 Exterior D-rings - for attaching umbrellas or whatever you may need
1 Back newspaper pocket
Removable shoulder strap that is also used to make it into a backpack
1 Open expandable and collapsible interior pocket for cords and gadgets
2 Side interior pen pockets
Outside Dimensions:
Medium - 15" (38.1 cm) Wide, 11 ½" (29.2 cm) Tall, 4 ¼" (10.8 cm) Deep
Large - 17" (43.2 cm) Wide, 12 ½" (31.8 cm) Tall, 4 ¼" (10.8 cm) Deep
NOTE: Dimensions are for the outside of the bag. Interior dimensions are ¼” (0.6 cm) less to account for stitching at the seams.
Weight
Medium
Pigskin lined - 4.25 pounds (2 kg)
Large
Pigskin lined - 5 pounds (2.3 kg)
Rear compartment is 2 ¼ ” (5.7 cm) deep
Front compartment is 2 ¼” (5.7 cm) deep
One 6” (15.2 cm) x 6” (15.2 cm) interior pocket, expandable up to 2” (5.1 cm) deep and collapsible to make way for files and folder
Thick double zero continuous filament polyester marine-grade industrial thread
Thick vertical leather seams to absorb the shock from an impact or a fall
Hypoallergenic 4-5 oz. (2-2.2 mm) thick chrome tanned leather
Stout rivets at all stress points
Handle riveted to metal bar for stiff upper rigidity
Only three major seams
Shoulder strap is adjustable from 36" (91.4 cm) to 59" (150 cm)
Tough pigskin lining. Pigskin is the second strongest hide in the world, second to kangaroo.
This item is currently shipping with the shoulder strap clasps pictured
Where can I see one of the bags in person?
I don't have any of the items in stores and we're not big fans of folks coming to our home in San Antonio because of the weirdo factor. My sister, Patricia and her husband (my Chess and Scrabble nemesis), send out the leather from their place near Ft. Worth, Texas, but again, because of the weirdo factor they're not set up to show either. If it helps, everyone tells me that they look better in person.
How can I get my spouse to understand that I need this?
Here's your rationale: Buy the best, cry once. It's all about the cost per year. In college, I bought a pair of very expensive shoes for my job as a waiter. I couldn't afford them, but I bought them anyhow. They were really light and comfortable and took me through two years of waiting tables and one year as a limo driver and another year of occasional use. And then they still looked good for a month of Sundays. Cost per year was about $25. Most of the other waiters bought a new pair of $55 heavy and uncomfortable shoes every 6 months because theirs wore out and looked ratty by then. One of the principles the successful in the world understand is this: If one buys quality from the start they save money. Don't be penny wise and dollar foolish. This will be one of the most savvy investments and inexpensive leather pieces you'll ever have. And remember, you must truly love yourself before you can love others. A couple of other things to think about you'll be more popular. Everybody isn't buying one. I'll invite you to my birthday party. What's wrong, you chicken?
Which color should I get?
Pick the one that fits who you are. I've observed what the bag owners tend to be like based on the color they have chosen over the years. The category below that fits you best is probably the color you'll enjoy most. Remember, your first inclination is usually the correct one.
Tobacco Light Brown (Sanguine)
Easy going
Laid back and casual
Likes old Land Cruisers
Forgives quickly
Creative (enjoys writing)
Loves big dogs
Traveler
Never met a stranger
Low maintenance
Lots of random thoughts
Inventor
Funny
Loves the outdoors
Adventurous
Only wears clothes because you have to
Carbon Black (Phlegmatic or Choleric)
You look good in a thick black leather jacket
Rides a cruiser type motorcycle
Wear thick black framed glasses
Drives a Volvo or Saab
Perfectionist
They know your name at the coffee shop
Sci-Fi is your favorite genre
Are very interested in Oriental culture
Prefer cats over dogs
Loves modern contemporary style square furniture
Chestnut Reddish Brown (Choleric or Melancholy)
Professional
Highly educated
Belongs in a Mercedes Benz or Jaguar
Classier than most
Perfectionist
Has excellent taste in dressing and decorating
Great sense of humor
Intellectual
Smokes a pipe instead of a cigarette
Appreciates the finer things
Dark Coffee Brown (Phlegmatic or Choleric or Melancholy)
Loves the outdoors
Is the best friend of many people
Reads a lot of books
Loves big dogs
Intellectual
Loves adventure
Independent
Musical
If you still aren't sure, then just buy all four colors.
Are the animals tortured before they are slaughtered?
Absolutely not ! With some pigs we do use water-boarding and sensory deprivation techniques previous to slaughtering them, but the cows do not require any special handling.
How do I change the bag into a backpack? Watch video
Disconnect the shoulder strap completely. Attach the end of the shoulder strap that is closest to the buckle of the shoulder strap to a rear bottom d-ring. Run the shoulder strap through the d-ring beneath the handle along with one shoulder pad and then attach the other end of the shoulder strap to the opposing rear bottom d-ring.
Are the animals tortured before they are slaughtered?
Absolutely not ! With some pigs we do use waterboarding and sensory deprivation techniques previous to slaughtering them, but the cows do not require any special handling.
How much do they cost you, Dave?
Well, I lived for three years in a $100 a month apartment in Mexico with no hot water, because of these bags. My dog, Blue, and I drove for thousands of hours all over the North American continent because of these bags. I had a crooked Federale sent to kill me because of these bags (I convinced him that Señor Alarcon would never pay him) and we became friends). I've shed gallons of blood and tears and sweat and at least a quart of other people's, because of these bags. I've slept in my car or on the rack of my old Land Cruiser at least 150 times because of these bags. I've lost weeks of sleep and have gone hungry for days because of these bags. I was broke for years and even had to trade two of Blue's little puppies for a month's worth of tacos in order to eat because of these bags. I've been detained by who knows how many Mexican police because of these bags. I've thrown away thousands of dollars and made hundreds of mistakes because of these bags. I've been stolen from, taken advantage of and robbed because of these bags (they even stole Blue once, but I got him back). All of these things and more have happened to me because of these bags. They cost me a lot.
I thought I would take the time to possibly help you in your decision making. The large thin brifecase (dark coffe brown) was my fist purchase from saddleback. Iabsolutly love it! the quality of the product is by far the best I have scene. this thing is, LIKE A TANK!!!! the feel of the leather and the feel of the pigskin. I AM ADDICTED TO THESE PRODUCTS.
Bury With Me!
The tagline is "They'll fight over it when your dead". I have a solution for that. I love my Saddleback Thin Briefcase so much, I am having it buried with me when I pass on. And yes, my Saddleback wallet will be in my back pocket.
Medium Thin Briedcase
Got the Medium Thin Briefcase in Chestnut in back in January, and it hurt watching the money leave my account. Four months later and I'm wondering why I waited so long. This bag is the most functional thing I've ever owned. I keep a 15" MacBook and charger, iPad mini, Large Notepad holder, headphones, keys, pens, and my 5x8" moleskin. There's a bit of extra room for a book or whatever in the front pocket. Everything fits snug without being impossible to get out. The d-rings provide a useful way to attach water bottles/sleeping bags/lunch boxes/yoga mats/whatever. The big "backpack converter" ring at the top, I will confess hasn't been used for its intended purpose. I use it to attach stuff and hang the bag up on the wall. Functional to the extreme.
Only cons - this is quality leather so everything comes a bit stiff. Two or three weeks of use will help with that. The bag is heavy. The strap is a bit long but I found that it doubles back on one of the loops securely so this isn't to much of an issue. Once again, this is leather - scuffs and scratches will (and should!) happen. If you're fastidious about tiny scratches be warned - this bag, and leather in general, are probably not for you.
If, however, you want a bag that gets better looking with time, this is the one. Each ding and scratch fades into the leather and gives it character and uniqueness. This bag is my bag now - if you put it in a line with 100 Saddleback Co. Medium Thin Briefcases in Chestnut, I could pick this one out in a second. And I plan to use it till the end of my life.
Which brings us to the famous durability. I can't imagine how this could be more durable. The seams and rivet points give the bag a sturdiness that's hard to describe - there isn't anything I could do to rip those apart. The leather itself is as strong as you could hope for.
I couldn't be happier with this purchase. Use it everyday.
Large Thin Briefcase
I purchased the large thin briefcase in March 2012 and have used it for work and travel since. The quality of the bag is exceptional. One would be hard-pressed to damage this bag. It's also very functional; the ability to transform the briefcase into a backpack comes in very handy when you need to carry other pieces of luggage. I'm very happy with my purchase. Because of the quality of construction and the classic styling, I doubt that I'll need to purchase another briefcase in my lifetime.
Great laptop briefcase
I love Saddleback products and when I got a new 17' laptop I knew exactly what my next purchase would be to carry it around. The large thin briefcase in DCB looks great and snugly carries laptop in separate compartment, with plenty of room in other compartment for files, books, whatever. Inside pocket holds pens, phone, and keys.
I'm a lawyer and whenever I carry it to courthouse I get compliments on my Indiana Jones bag. Even had a couple people stop me and say "Hey, is that a Saddleback bag?" "Cool bag"
I carry it 3-4 days a week and it's not even beginning to break in yet, no wonder these bags have a 100 year warranty.
If you are hesitating buying a SBL bag because of the price, pull the trigger and do it. You will not regret it.
Amazing Product!!
I ordered this briefcase along with a tote bag for my spouse - and we both couldn't be happier with the product. When I got the packages in the mail two days ago - I opened the boxes and placed each piece in my truck. By the time I got home from work - I had the best leather smell in my truck for the rest of the night. This is the real deal and have no doubts that this will last a lifetime. My briefcase already has gotten a couple of character marks and hoping to get more once it is broken in.
Overall - I cant see someone not being happy with this purchase. I have my bucket list of Saddleback products that I'm going to purchase over the next year or so - all new luggage is on the horizon.
The Most amazing Piece of Leather I've Ever Ownee
After looking at almost every leather briefcase south of I-10 in Houston and being very disappointed at the selection and quality I found, I took to the internet. I kept coming back to Saddleback. While it was slightly more than I was looking to pay, I was sold on the story and Dave's passion for creating quality without compromise. I pulled the trigger on the thin briefcase and the MacBook Air sleeve in Chestnut and, as promised, it shipped the same day and delivered a couple of days later.
Both products were everything described on the website and more. Just fantastic quality and beautiful, beautiful leather pieces. I fell in love....so much so that I immediately applied for a job with this amazing company (we'll see how that turns out).
Anyway, I've carried this bag with me everywhere I've gone for about a week now and have received more compliments than I can keep up with. It really is an amazing product...you'll love it too!!!!
Just Love It
I agonised over buying this product having had a sandstorm thin briefcase for the last 15 years but which sadly gave up the ghost recently. We forget how much simple things like our briefcase become part of our identity and it took a lot for me not to go straight out and buy the same thing again, but I didn't.
The briefcase from SB is fantastic, I winced when I paid, winced again about the carriage from the States and winced again when HMRC taxed me a fortune to get it into the UK. Having said all that I was so pleased when I pulled it out of the box that, a bit like childbirth, I've now forgotten all that because I'm so happy with the result.
The bag is heavy, but that's kind of reassuring and you should adjust the strap so that it operates as a shoulder strap day to day otherwise you look like a teenager with an over large satchel or a wally using the backpack function with a suit. We are a bit conservative in England about that sort of thing.
My father was in the leather business in England selling leather for British high quality hand made shoes. He taught me never to buy cheap shoes because they never last, are bad for your feet and cannot be repaired. Some of those reasons hold true here.
Lastly, we sell a specific type of insurance that is difficult to obtain and seemingly expensive, just like these cases if you live in the UK. A wise man called John Ruskin, about 150 years ago, once said the following; which is how we feel about our insurance and your bags:
It is unwise to pay too much, but it is worse to pay too little. When you pay too much you lose a little money - that is all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought for. The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot. It cannot be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder it is well to add something for the risk you run, and if you do that you will have enough to pay for something better. JOHN RUSKIN (1819-1900)
Exceptional Quality as Advertised...but
I spent a few casual hours a week researching bags from all over the world and settled on the Thin Briefcase from Saddleback Leather. I was like a school boy waiting for it to arrive. The bag was exactly as Dave described and demonstrated. 1st rate material and workmanship..however I did return the bag for a refund. Here's why:
-Very heavy. For everyday use, it would wear on me.
- Too stiff.
- The shoulder strap that comes with it is super long so you can thread it through one of the D-rings and wear it as a backpack. Not sure who would do that with this bag? seems like wearing it like a backpack would happen maybe once a year? but if you're not wearing it like a backpack the shoulder strap is way too long. It just kind of hangs off the bag, and it's boot leather (thick), so not like you can tuck it away. They should offer shorter shoulder straps with this.
- Zero..and I mean zero internal organization. There's a small pocket off to one side, but other than that it is just an open box. I started looking at buying a small portfolio or organizer to put in there, but that would just add more weight. I don't need cell phone, keys, business cards, pens..etc., just rattling around the bottom of my briefcase.
- A lot of D-rings. not sure what they are all for. One of the first questions anyone asked when looking at the bag "what are all these D-rings for?". Dave may know.
For me, with the world getting more compact, more organized and efficient..an empty briefcase that weighed almost 6 lbs with enough room for 4 laptops didn't seem prudent investment..because I did plan on this being my last briefcase.
Other than that, excellent customer service and response and really a wonderfully constructed bag. I just didn't dig the design.
I don't know what I love more, the bag or the customer service
Picked up my bag from the local post office this morning. I loved the color and the sturdiness of the bag. Didn't like the stiffness but I understand I have to wear it in. It truly is the experience that makes items of quality like this worth it. The bag shall gain character through how you treat it. Back to the manly bag, sturdy, leather is thick and feels like it can withstand a stab, and spacious (I got the large). It is heavy and that will be a decent workout for me during my long commutes. On a funny note, I did slip on ice today (canadian winter) and wished I had fallen on the actual bag for some decent battle scars. Alas, I fell on my bottom. Cheers and hope all who consider this bag enjoy it in good health.
Great Dave's Deal
I bought a large thin Tobacco Brown briefcase as a Dave's Deal with a 10% discount and received it yesterday. It is terrific and fits the bill with all the usual hallmarks of Saddleback quality. (I already own medium and large classic briefcases, a knapsack and sundry other items, so you know I'm a true believer. And I'm ordering two more items tonight.)
It's the Dave's Deal part I wanted to comment on. On the Dave's Deal page, the 10% discount is described as reserved for pieces with defects only visible when you look for them when the item is actually in your hand, and that was exactly the case. My item had slight discoloration along one gusset seam and slight warping along one outer corner. My guess is that it would have looked like that within one week of normal use by yours truly. I think I've gotten a great deal and couldn't be more pleased.
Thanks Dave and team!
Love Affair
I've had my bag for about a year now. At first I felt I made a mistake in getting chestnut over dark coffee brown, but with each passing day, I love the colour more and more. This bag has been one of, if not, the best purchases I have ever made. It works as a fantastic book bag, briefcase, and overnight bag. Its hard to put into words how I feel about this bag. I feel like it grows with me. It just keeps getting better with age and I'm looking forward to many future years of use.
I'd like to thank saddleback leather for such a great product.
Classic Bag
I bought the Large Thin Briefcase(Chestnut) 3 Months ago and have enjoyed it very much. While it does have some weight to it, it is not too bad. This is a very manly bag that screams American Classic. This bag seems to get better every day. The scratches and dings certainly add character to the bag. After some initial breaking in it starts to get softer and develops a rich patina. I travel quite a bit for work and regularly receive compliments from fellow travelers. I own several SD products( bible cover x2, Old Bull Belt Chestnut, Black, Slim Wallet. Medium Wallet, Medium Portfolio) and have been very pleased with all my purchases. I would warn folks who want a piece that is not going to show scratches and wear to look at another company. These items are made to show wear and for me that adds character to the leather. Over all Saddleback products do not disappoint. Like Dave says" buy the best and cry once". God Bless.
Oh it's NICE!
Just received my Briefcase Thin Medium in Tobacco (light tan...like the color of the side-tabs on this website)...and man is it nice.
I needed a briefcase for everyday between home and the office and presentations. I still will use my Tumi roller to carry all my computers (6-8) when I go on site to manage social media for events....that is until Dave put's wheels on something! :)
I love Dave's quote and it's true...today is the ugliest it will look as every little scratch adds more and more character. It's true!
Other note is that the inside little pocket nicely stashes an iPad mini for those Apple fans playing along at home.
Another added bonus is my new leather cologne that is detected whenever i'm carrying this thing! "Rich Corinthian Leather" as Mr Montalban would say....or something like that!
A Day to Day Bag
I've been carrying a bag every day of my life since I entered grade school. At first it was a big canvas military backpack, then a Timbuk2 messenger bag, and now the medium thin briefcase from SBL.
If you're looking for the bag to carry every day, this is probably the best one money can buy. At 4lbs, it's got some heft to it but isn't the 6lb monster the Classic briefcase is. My daily carry includes an ipad (or occasoinal laptop), DS, all my chargers/cables, earbuds in case, pen and paper pad, wallet and occasional other materials with room to spare. It's a bigger bag than you might expect given it's the smallest briefcase SBL offers.
After a few weeks use it's already developing a really nice look to the leather, softening up in the joints and getting a couple battle scars from the weekly grind.
My only complaints would be in the strap hardware that attaches to the bag. If you're the type who would remove the strap occasionally, or convert it to a backpack, it can be quite difficult and slow to unscrew the hinged latches. They aren't quick release by any means.
Beyond that tho. This is the day-to-day office warriors dream, and it's tough enough to stand up to any boardroom jungle. Couldn't be happier.
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