Our hope is that you’ll be proud of your bag because of the compliments you get and how long it lasts. But our deeper hope is that you join our community of those nurturing the vulnerable and loving the unloved. We do more than just quality leather bags; we do quality in all areas of our business.
Our purpose is not to change the world by loving orphans, single moms and ex-prisoners one at a time. It’s to work with a Love 41 community/family of loving and nurturing people to do it. If you want to but you’re not sure how, then join us on Facebook or sign up for our newsletter to learn more. We’ll help you get plugged in.
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The materials in our leather briefcase are full grain leather, pigskin lining, 316 stainless steel hardware, and German industrial marine-grade polyester thread. Our leather is tough and resilient, and our pigskin lining is super strong. Our hardware is 316 stainless steel and is rated to hold up to 750 lbs. Our thread is UV-resistant and German industrial marine-grade polyester thread. In addition, our hidden reinforcing straps ensure that the bag will never stretch and those straps will never deteriorate. This is over-engineering.
Full Grain Leather is the key to a quality leather briefcase. If you take off the top part of the leather (grain) it's like taking the shingles off of the roof. They get rid of the toughest and most resistant layer of the hide. When tanneries get a leather hide from the slaughterhouse, it's really thick. So, the tannery splits the top half with the grain from the bottom half. Now they have two hides to sell. The tough and beasty hide that still has the full amount of grain (full grain) is expensive, and that's what we buy. The bottom half is great for making low quality budget leather briefcases or laptop bags that will dry out and fall apart in a short time.
We glue and sew tough, strong pigskin leather to the cow leather. And the pigskin is even stronger than the cowskin. We've chosen this instead of using a shiny pretty fabric lining. We want all of our real leather bags to be durable, rugged, and sturdy.
Our custom hardware is 316 Stainless Steel. If you are a metallurgist, then I'm sure you just gasped. It's the metal you want to be used when your life depends on it. The testing laboratory told us that our clips were rated to hold up to a 750 lbs. bag of cats.
Our thread is unbelievably strong and UV resistant German industrial marine-grade polyester thread. It doesn't deteriorate when the sun hits it like nylon thread does. And we use the thick double ought version of it. It's the same thread used on ship sails and parachutes (things your life depends on).
Polyester is good and bad. The good is that it doesn't stretch and never deteriorates. The bad is that it never deteriorates. When it comes to polyester in your sheets and blankets, you won't sleep as well. But, when it comes to polyester straps sewn into the stress points of a bag, it's the best there is to get that extra strength.
The classic leather briefcase converts into a laptop backpack with a shoulder strap with two shoulder pads. Clip one end of the strap onto a d-ring on the bottom, run the strap through the o-ring, and clip it to the opposite side and you've got yourself a backpack. Now your hands are free to carry the wife and kid's luggage.
You can remove the side straps to use as an emergency size 36 full grain leather belt, tie-down, or tourniquet (hopefully you won't need that). But on the bag, they are great for holding wet umbrellas and blueprint tubes to the top of the flap.
The d-rings on the bottom are designed to strap on blankets, dirty boots, fly rod tubes, or blueprints. And you'll use these d-rings to convert your leather briefcase into backpack mode. The d-rings up top are great for clipping keychains, carabiners, or extra gear too.
The shoulder strap is adjustable (40" - 65") and it's removable. You can take it off to tie down the Christmas tree to the roof of your car. The shoulder strap comes with two strap pads for backpack mode.
There is a hidden flap on the bottom of this leather briefcase for hiding passports, extra cash, your collection of rubies, or whatever else you don't want anyone to know about. This false bottom can be a lifesaver in itself.
A small detail, but the main center strap has a hole all the way at the tip for closing when your laptop bag is really overstuffed. This gives you that much extra space in your leather briefcase, for "just in case." Comes in handy when you need it.
There is a pocket on the side, a pocket on the back, and pockets on the inside. From a place for your pens to a spot for your wallet in case you lose your pants. With two main compartments inside, you can take two laptops if need be, with room for chargers and accessories. These quality leather briefcases will protect your belongings and your reputation.
Classic Leather Briefcase Explained by Dave
Large Sized Briefcase Comparison
The Classic Briefcase in depth description and explanation on design
How to Knock Off a Saddleback Leather Co. Briefcase
Had it a while now. Got asked if I was the Manager by a customer the other day. Also got the phone/wallet/note shoulder cowboy type bag. Use it everyday... girls notice and say it is 'cool'. Hell I am 61 years old. It gets buried with me for the return trip. Will be buying a couple of suit cases, mac things etc . Top quality and they make me happy, being strong & practicable is an extra.
I bought the large bag for a business day trip from D.C. to San Fran...a very long day trip. I was able to pack my large laptop, charger and mouse, a change of clothes for after the meeting, an iPad and charger, an ebook reader, and random assortment of other things I may need. Everything fit perfectly and fit (albeit tightly), under the seat in front of me, and even protected the contents well. Upon arriving in San Fran, I met up with my boss who immediately noticed the bag and took a couple of minutes to check it out and ask where I'd purchased it (he has extremely expensive and refined taste). Since then I've received numerous compliments and questions on the bag, something I'd read about here, but doubted the veracity of the comments. With all that said, that's not the strength of the bag; this bag can go anywhere from the middle of the Montana to the boardroom without missing a beat. It's durable and ages well; this is not your typical department store bag, that looks good, but lacks substance. The only reason I'm back here writing this review is because I'm looking to add additional items from Saddleback leather...that alone represents my view on the quality and durability of their products. My bag hasn't endured the rigors that others have, but would I recommend this product? Only if you're looking for something that you can rely on and are focused on quality above superficial name brand recognition.
To all new customers: if you think you're not doing great financially...run..run quickly because it's like a drug, if you bought one then it'll be too later for you...you're stuck for life...in SBL case you're children and grandchildren will be stuck for life because of you... To Dave: i think you should start an SBL rehab plan or something...for example if a customer bought items for more than 700 USD a month, his account will be blocked so he won't be able to buy anything until next month... jokes aside, i got lucky and snatched a large "discontinued leather" tobacco classic briefcase with suede lining, it was on 10% Dave's deal...i wanted it to be a gift for my old man...since i got it, i don't think i'll be able to give it to him...i'll give him a satchel or something else... as for the Dave's deal..the 10%...there's nothing wrong in the bag... P.S: for the new tobacco i got a moleskine cover, so i think i have an idea how it looks like... today i received the classic briefcase in "old" tobacco, and i think you guys should bring it back...it's ok believe me, i'm speaking for myself and the majority of your customers, i think if it costs you guys a bit more to make it, we are ready to pay extra to own it...so you'll end up having 5 colours instead of four...the discontinued tobacco (or the fifth colour) will cost a bit more for those who are willing... SBL items are not just leather bags they are a state of mind...
I own a medium dark brown briefcase, and it has been one of the best purchases I have ever made. I have carried it every day for the better part of two years and it is beginning to mold to my hip and shoulder and wears like it was tailor made for me. I have fit everything from my laptop and a few notebooks, a couple bottles of wine, my full EDC kit, AND my Nikon camera with its accessories, in it at one time. Beyond function, my coworkers refer to it as my "Indiana Jones" bag, and more people have asked me about it than about anything else I own, and I use a lot of different, and unique items! If I had one complaint, it would be the weight, but I associate that with its quality and I've hauled it so many miles I don't feel it anymore. Final advice: buy one! You will not regret it!
Hi....Did I say in my recent review that I'd rate this item at 5 stars? If I didn't, I meant to.
