Discuss Swaine Adeney Brigg cases - Page 5

The last time I looked at this thread, my pics were being blocked by imageshack, so I was about to upload them again using photobucket. Glad that problem has been fixed.

I've received a number of PMs over the past several weeks inquiring about my experiences with the bag since I purchased it. So I thought I'd post some pics of the bag after 9 months of daily use. I treated the bag using SAB's bridle leather feed back in August. I will probably do so again in the next couple of weeks and will try to remember to post pics afterward. Also, let me say that I am amazed that I still receive compliments on the bag from strangers and coworkers on essentially a daily basis. It really is an outstanding looking bag and exudes quality. This is one purchase that I have never regretted.

On to the pics:

First, a pic of the front. If you look (very) closely, you can see a few light scratches. Nothing big, and completely expected as part of the patination process.



Here's a close-up of the scratches.



As one would expect, the handle has also become a bit discolored from being carried every day (especially during the humid DC summers).





A view from the top of the bag. The top/inside of the newspaper pocket has become a bit discolored from...newspapers. I place a newspaper into it daily for my commute to work (very convenient both for quick placement as well as easy retrieval while standing on the subway; it's undoubtedly the most used bag pocket).





In the pic above, you can see a bit of discoloration from where the brass rings hit the bag.

Finally, a view of the rear of the bag. As you can see, the newspaper pocket has conformed to the overall shape of the bag.



So overall, not much has changed except a few scratches and a bit of discoloration in the most-handled areas. Not bad for 9 months of daily use. And I don't baby the bag--I could have handled the bag more carefully and probably avoided the scratches, but I have seen pics of what the bags look like when older, and I look forward to the day when mine looks the same. I have no reason to think that the bag won't continue to look good and perform well for the next several years.

I'm very happy with London Tan. Not only does the case look exceptional new, but pics of older cases show that London Tan ages very well. It's also just not a color that you see very often (at least where I live). My second choice remains Chestnut. It's a rich color, and I think I would have been happy with it, but if I had to do it again, I would still go with London Tan (even with a longer wait). Havana looks great new, and I certainly would not turn down a good deal on a bag in that color, but I would not pick it over the others because I'm not sure how well it would age.

I carry the bag daily, so that includes in the rain. I use an umbrella (one reason for the bag), but the case has gotten wet. I just wipe it off once I'm inside, and it's good to go. The rain doesn't really soak into the leather, though I do sometimes see wet spots around the brass rings. That said, I haven't had it out in the rain for an extended period, so it's never really been soaked. But just normal exposure to the elements doesn't really affect the bag (I also haven't spilled anything on it). The factory finish combined with the leather feed probably helps to repel the water.

That brings me to punch's question. The leather has certainly been treated, and they recommend "feeding" it every three months. But it's not a particularly shiny coating or anything. I imagine a deep scratch would be visible for a while, but would fade over time, particularly with regular treatments. Of course, it helps that London Tan is a lighter color, which hides scratches more easily. Perhaps that's another thing to consider when deciding between the colors.

I'd definitely go with classic luggage (Sterling & Burke). It was such a pain to deal directly with SAB, and the time difference and cost of international calls only made things worse. Sterling & Burke have regular business hours, seem to be responsive, and have a storefront in DC staffed by incredibly helpful people if you want to see the SAB bags in person. I think it's worth the small price premium.

I debated that one for a while too. The top frame would certainly be easier to open quickly, the interior seems cavernous, and some like the aesthetics better. I ended up going with the flapover primarily for aesthetics, but I also like that its size is adaptable to the contents of the bag, so it has a pretty slim profile if you're not carrying much. But the Westminster wrap is definitely not a bag for someone who needs access frequently. However, if you're only going to open it 2 or 3 times a day, it's totally fine. And you can also take the straps off if you're going to have a high-access day (though I wouldn't use that as a permanent solution). I don't think you can go wrong either way.

Thanks!

On the first point, I'd consider getting some pockets added for organization purposes. Very glad that I have mine. If you're ordering directly from SAB and you don't live in the UK, don't forget about customs charges. Also remember that they're quite slow.

On the last point, you might consider Papworth, which is part of the same company.