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
I just received my XL Classic Briefcase (Dark Coffee Brown), and I couldn't be more excited. I got all of my major Saddleback purchases through the Dave's Deal's (discounted from 10-25% off) feature on the Saddleback web page and I highly recommend you check out those for great discounts. I won't repeat what you already know about the awesome quality, incredible customer service and unbeatable warranty with Saddleback leather products, but suffice to say...its all true. If you're reading reviews, you may still be on the fence about whether to buy, or which size. I will say first: ignore the complaints you may sometimes read about the bags being too heavy. They aren't. Now, as to the question of XL or Large? Of course it is up to what you want to use it for. If for carrying a laptop, some books and a file or two, the large would be good. If you want to carry more than that, the XL is the way to go. I am 6'3", and....big, shall we say, and the XL fits my XL lifestyle (hehee). Now I will warn you that once you buy one Saddleback leather product, you will become addicted to their quality, and the great feeling you have owning such a high quality product. So far I have the Large Satchel, the XL classic briefcase, the messenger bag, medium travel case, the pouch, and a small bi-fold wallet (all in DCB). About the prices: they are actually relatively inexpensive compared to other "luxury leather" makers' stuff that retails in the thousands for what I would consider inferior craftsmanship and materials. As Dave says, "buy nice or buy twice." (I think he said that in one of his videos). Dave and Suzette: keep doing what you do. Thank you for making such awesome products and I wish you (and the whole saddleback leather 'family') love, happiness, and peace.
One of my good friends got me on to the Saddleback brand and I have been a fan since. I now have the medium wallet, moleskine cover and now the medium classic briefcase all in the coffee color, and I don't know where to start!! I was worried that I did not buy the right size since Dave says guys over 6 feet should look at the larger briefcase but, I am quiet happy with the medium. When I first got it I had to put all my everyday essentials in it and I accomplished that with plenty of room. I will be happy with this bag for a long time!
I own one of Dave's wallets, a portfolio, and this large classic briefcase. I'm currently Jonesing for the square backpack. All in Coffee Brown. Clearly, I'm a fan. What I like about the classic briefcase: it's stout, attractive (in a rugged Indian Jones sort of way), and makes the sort of statement I like (it says "I bought this because I liked it -- not to demonstrate how much money I have"). It'a also very functional as a briefcase and an overnight bag. It gets a LOT of compliments and gets noticed far more than I would have expected. Bear in mind, however, that Dave's commitment to durability means that the bag isn't as easy to live with as, say, a nylon bag from LL. Bean. Zippers may not last forever, but they are easier to use than straps and metal hardware. So be sure you know what you're buying before you commit. But if you're like me, you'll cherish this bag -- and most of Saddleback's products -- simply because they work well, feel honest, and are aesthetically gorgeous.
I just opened the box of my new Classic Breifcase in size large and I am speachless! This bag is what I have been looking for for years and now its mine! I love, Love, LOVE it! What else can I buy now! If you ever had any reservations about the quality of this product, there is no reason for it. Just buy it and you will see why everyone LOVES this stuff!
I bought mine back in 09. When I first bought it, I was overly cautious with the handling of this bag. Not so much anymore. I use it at least 5 days a week. More if I'm out of town, which is a lot. I've taken this bag all over the United States. I've crammed it full with items and have truly tested out the stitching. I've jammed it under countless airline seats (I have a medium size). I've had airline stewardess offer to take it off my hands. It has been thrown into the back of countless rental cars. It has been jammed behind the seat of our work truck. It has ridden in many elevators. To every location I've gone and every hotel I've stayed at, this bag has been by my side.
