All natural Swiss army backpack

[RonW]

Hi guys,
usually I am not the kind of guy who likes to brag about his gear, but I'm so happy with this one, that I'll do it anyway...

It's a 1944 Swiss army backpack, made of horseskin/leather with leather straps and a wooden frame.
It needs some TLC, because it's quite old and has been stored for a long time. Despite it's age it has a comfortable fit, but I haven't tried it fully packed on a longer hike, yet.
But the best thing; it has no artificial materials in it!! Well, except for a few metal studs and fastenings...

Can anyone tell me how it was used and what some of the fastenings and straps are for?

 

[Mastino]

Poor Garfield! They've made a bag from him;-)

I think the strap on the back is for fastening the mess tin. Great find!

 

[Ronnie]

No wonder they were neutral...

 

[comeonbabylightmyfire]

I've got a 50s model that uses the salt'n'pepper canvas that you have on the inside. Never seen a skin like that. Cool.

 

[HHazeldean]

That is fantastic, really love that one!

 

[blacktimberwolf]

I think this is a camp(ing) fashion accessory !

 

[mrrivers]

my daughter had one like this for school, it was pink fur though

 

[Samon]

eeewwwww!

haha just kidding, I think it's cool! what do you intend on doing with it?

 

[Retired Member southey]

Brilliant find matey! Looks cracking.

 

[woof]

Poor Garfield! They've made a bag from him;-)

LOL !

Should go well with a leather bikers cap, leather shorts,yodeling & the blue oyster club...

Rob

 

[swissgearlabs]

Can't believe you got one of those!! Where did you get it from??

It was nick-named "De Aff" (Swiss German for "the ape"...) and I remember my Grandfather doing his Military Service with this kind of pack.

 

[mountainm]

Do you hoover, comb, or wash that thing? Brilliant find!

 

[Harvestman]

Do you hoover, comb, or wash that thing? Brilliant find!

You cuddle it and stroke its fur.

 

[mountainm]

You cuddle it and stroke its fur.

Just don't feed it after midnight...

 

[RonW]

Thanks for the comments, guys.
I'm very pleased with this backpack.
Treated the leather with leather grease and it looks and works much better now. Less like cardboard, but it will need another coat or 2.
I will be using it on my dayhikes, untill I can get my hand on a couple of wool blankets for a bedroll. Fits perfectly in my views on using natural stuff instead of artficial materials.

I found it on a Dutch sellingsite (marktplaats.nl) and it came from a guy, whose Swiss mother brought it with her many years ago, when she moved to Holland.

This is how it was intended to be used;

And I want to something like this with it;

 

[Mastino]

I was walking in Sweden a couple of years ago, when I met some German scouts in lederhosen and thes packs (the German variant). The girls had long woolen skirts and it was anachronistic to say the least.

The fur can be reconditioned with some lanolin.

 

[RonW]

That's a very usefull tip. Thanks!!

 

[Mad Canoe]

Looks like it needs some frontline lol

 

[Tengu]

Its very....erm...cute, isnt it?

 

[blacktimberwolf]

Only chewbacca could get away with wearing it.