Original Briefcase
A legendary, durable bag with excellent build quality, but currently overpriced at $450 and stripped of previous features. The reviewer appreciates its patina and construction but has concerns about shoulder strap placement and heavy zipper teeth that can scratch laptops.
Specifications
- Material
- wax twill (British), vegetable tanned leather
Recommended by 2 experts
Expert Reviews
YouTubeCarl Murawski
A legendary, durable bag with excellent build quality, but currently overpriced at $450 and stripped of previous features. The reviewer appreciates its patina and construction but has concerns about shoulder strap placement and heavy zipper teeth that can scratch laptops.
Pros
- Excellent patina development over time
- Heavy-duty construction and durability
- Beautiful oily leather that ages well
- Smooth zipper operation (older Talon model)
- Made in USA from imported materials
Cons
- Shoulder strap attached at center point can cause bag to tip and dump contents if not packed properly
- Heavy gauge zipper with large teeth can scratch laptops without a sleeve
- Unsecured side pockets allow items to fall out when bag tilts
- Recent price increase to $450 is not justified
- Company has removed features like pen slots and card holders from current version
- No luggage strap
YouTubeCarl Murawski
A legendary briefcase that achieves near-perfect design spanning professional to casual use. Incredibly durable with timeless appeal, though the zipper tangs can scratch laptops.
Pros
- Exceptionally durable 22 oz rugged twill material
- Versatile design works across professions and use cases
- Solid brass hardware and quality leather components
- Multiple security layers (zip, snap, keeper)
- Develops attractive patina over time
- Talon zippers with leather pulls on vintage models are smooth
- Excellent organization with multiple pockets and dividers
- American sourced materials
- Unchanged design for 27 years shows it got it right initially
Cons
- Heavy duty zipper tangs will scratch laptops without a sleeve
- Dense leather may be too heavy for lighter textiles
- No modern tech pockets (intentional design choice)
- Expensive at $325 new
- Takes very long time to develop visible patina even with heavy use
- Larger size may not suit everyone
