The last of a stash of World War II Swiss leather mule saddlebags.  We haven't done much.  We didn’t need to.  These are all hand-made by Swiss master saddlers when saddle making was a middle-class profession.  If you look at the back of the bag (in the upper middle) you can see the each saddlers’ maker’s mark stamped into the leather.  There is variation: some have copper rivets, some steel.  Who knows where each bag has been.  Who knows what action they have seen.  Production lasted from 1937 until 1945 so each bag is at least 70 years old and still useful — the two digit number on the back tells you the year it was made.  You’ll also see a Swiss cross stamp.  They scream quality.

There are only 25 of these bags and when they are gone I have no idea if I will be able to find more.  So as they say, "Get 'em while they last!"

There is enough fat and oil in the leather so its still supple — and a real danger to white clothes! — until the leather naturally polishes itself from daily use.  You could probably buff it with a terry cloth towel if you like.  I didn’t.  It made a real mess of a white shirt.  A month later my white shirts were safe, after a year it's got that shiny patina from being well used.

Sign of a happy bag.