mcmaasters
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I've just purchased a briefcase from ebay that was advertised as a Swaine Adeney case in "new without tags" condition. You can see the listing here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-SWAINE-...906?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item58c63b5baa
The listing itself has some errors and irregularities, although the seller is a reputable one. I just received the bag two days ago and, from perusing this and other sites, I have a few questions about whether it's entirely authentic. It certainly seems to be but for the price I'd like to be sure. (I've sent questions to the seller but haven't received a response.) I have two weeks to make a return if necessary.
1. Should the hardware be solid brass? A magnet doesn't stick to the surround strap buckles. But it does stick, ever so slightly to the spring latches that connect the carry strap to the top of the case (perhaps it's the spring inside that does it - the attraction is extremely weak; the magnet will drop if the piece moves). The original listing claims that the hardware is "gold-plated" which sounds dubious, but I'm curious whether that's something SAB would/might do.
The magnet doesn't stick to the barrel of the lock, but it sticks very strongly to the rectangular plate surrounding the lock, and slightly less strongly to the latch on the flapover lid. It sticks most strongly to the brads on the lower rectangular plate. Is this a normal configuration? Are other cases of comparable quality/price using solid brass for these parts? I've read about problems encountered with the Filson leather satchel, and I'd rather not deal with flaking or worn plating if I can help it.
(Incidentally, although I don't have a photo, the lock plate is backed with a separate leather patch on the interior of the bag.)
2. Should the rivets on the handle mounting straps be copper? They differ substantially in color from the other hardware.
3. There is a Swaine Adeney patch on the inside rear surface which appears similar to others I've seen on this forum. That seems like a good sign.
4. The wrap straps are stitched on the edge, which seems unusual for SAB. In fact, there was a thread just a month or so ago raising this question about a different ebay-sourced SAB. I just checked, and I don't think that issue was ever resolved. Is this a red-flag? Or is this a variation that SAB sometimes employs? I don't mind the way it looks, so if it's authentic it's a non-issue for me. The green backing on the strap pad seems genuine, but again, I don't know enough to confirm.
5. My assumption has been that the bulk of the case is machine stitched. But I think that the handle and the strap mount patches are hand-stitched. Does anyone have any thoughts? Here's the handle:
And here are the strap mounting tabs:
6. In the earlier thread I mentioned, the bag in question also had pointed rather than squared strap tabs, and also featured the "x" pattern. Although it wasn't definitive, I gathered that this is typically not an SAB feature.
7. The bag has pen loops and two pockets for business cards and a small device on the front of the rear-most divider (the larger pocket has an envelope with keys for the lock). I gather this is usually an option; the stock bags don't have them.
8. There is no rear pocket, which I understand is the default state for the Westminster model. Incidentally, the exterior width of the bag is 17", which I think makes it the English variant.
9. The gussets are where, to my untrained eye, the bag looks to be the product of genuine skill. It's a single piece, folded and shaped into three gussets. There was quite a bit of bloom when the bag arrived, so I polished briefly with a cotton cloth.
I'm sorry to run on so long, and to clog the post with so many photos. But I'd love to have the benefit of the forum's collective wisdom on the provenance of this case.
Is there any reason to doubt that it's a real SAB?
Thanks,
The listing itself has some errors and irregularities, although the seller is a reputable one. I just received the bag two days ago and, from perusing this and other sites, I have a few questions about whether it's entirely authentic. It certainly seems to be but for the price I'd like to be sure. (I've sent questions to the seller but haven't received a response.) I have two weeks to make a return if necessary.
1. Should the hardware be solid brass? A magnet doesn't stick to the surround strap buckles. But it does stick, ever so slightly to the spring latches that connect the carry strap to the top of the case (perhaps it's the spring inside that does it - the attraction is extremely weak; the magnet will drop if the piece moves). The original listing claims that the hardware is "gold-plated" which sounds dubious, but I'm curious whether that's something SAB would/might do.
The magnet doesn't stick to the barrel of the lock, but it sticks very strongly to the rectangular plate surrounding the lock, and slightly less strongly to the latch on the flapover lid. It sticks most strongly to the brads on the lower rectangular plate. Is this a normal configuration? Are other cases of comparable quality/price using solid brass for these parts? I've read about problems encountered with the Filson leather satchel, and I'd rather not deal with flaking or worn plating if I can help it.
(Incidentally, although I don't have a photo, the lock plate is backed with a separate leather patch on the interior of the bag.)
2. Should the rivets on the handle mounting straps be copper? They differ substantially in color from the other hardware.
3. There is a Swaine Adeney patch on the inside rear surface which appears similar to others I've seen on this forum. That seems like a good sign.
4. The wrap straps are stitched on the edge, which seems unusual for SAB. In fact, there was a thread just a month or so ago raising this question about a different ebay-sourced SAB. I just checked, and I don't think that issue was ever resolved. Is this a red-flag? Or is this a variation that SAB sometimes employs? I don't mind the way it looks, so if it's authentic it's a non-issue for me. The green backing on the strap pad seems genuine, but again, I don't know enough to confirm.
5. My assumption has been that the bulk of the case is machine stitched. But I think that the handle and the strap mount patches are hand-stitched. Does anyone have any thoughts? Here's the handle:
And here are the strap mounting tabs:
6. In the earlier thread I mentioned, the bag in question also had pointed rather than squared strap tabs, and also featured the "x" pattern. Although it wasn't definitive, I gathered that this is typically not an SAB feature.
7. The bag has pen loops and two pockets for business cards and a small device on the front of the rear-most divider (the larger pocket has an envelope with keys for the lock). I gather this is usually an option; the stock bags don't have them.
8. There is no rear pocket, which I understand is the default state for the Westminster model. Incidentally, the exterior width of the bag is 17", which I think makes it the English variant.
9. The gussets are where, to my untrained eye, the bag looks to be the product of genuine skill. It's a single piece, folded and shaped into three gussets. There was quite a bit of bloom when the bag arrived, so I polished briefly with a cotton cloth.
I'm sorry to run on so long, and to clog the post with so many photos. But I'd love to have the benefit of the forum's collective wisdom on the provenance of this case.
Is there any reason to doubt that it's a real SAB?
Thanks,
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