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Blog Post Featured Image

A Swiss Army Tool Roll on the way to becoming a Safari Tool Roll.

Besides a very large and very expensive pile of wood, the only other thing I purchased when I visited the IWA show in Nuremberg earlier this month, was a small collection of vintage leather bags and ephemera. This I bought from a man who was using the items to decorate his stand, he was selling leather coats amongst many other things, his stand was certainly the best dressed stand in the whole of IWA, unfortunately I have lost the photo I took of it. Things were perhaps kind of slow for the stand, so he sold me his props.

Tool Roll 1

Vintage leather has always been very desirable to a leather shop like ours. We are not so much trying to design something new but rather authentically reproduce and reintroduce items which was very well made, nicely detailed, and which had a distinct purpose use, just like this Swiss Army tool roll, a totally practical and nicely presented piece of kit.

Having sourced all the materials to do just that for this tool roll including the correct canvas, I am now left with the dilemma as to exactly what to put in it. I personally always take a small bag of tools and cleaning kit on safari with me, I can strip a rifle, clean a rifle and try and fix a camera with the bits I carry.  I think that this roll with the correctly edited contents will make a much nicer piece to take with me on future expeditions.

I wonder if anyone has any bright ideas as to what should or could be included, besides of course the obvious ( essential tools and cleaning kit)? So far a Leatherman, torch, turn-screws, disc key, cocking tool, allen keys, a small cleaning rod, bore snake and various jags come to mind.

Please leave suggestions in the comments box!

Tool Roll

9 Comments

  • Mark Mitchell on April 1, 2015 at 9:20 am

    A small hammer might be handy

    • Simon Clode on April 1, 2015 at 10:49 am

      Yes, I know you gunmakers can't live without a hammer!

  • Gary Duffey on April 1, 2015 at 1:05 pm

    I have assembled quality tools to use in making these up for specific rifles to fit their screws as they should as well as a stuck case remover. The Leatherman is almost always the wrong tool for any specific task, but it has to be in there I agree and will likely be used for something. I have added a tube of superglue, a short strip of leather and a couple of Chicago screws. The most important piece for me is a small pocket size magnifying glass that folds back into its leather case. This I cannot leave out!

  • tim wilkes on April 1, 2015 at 5:51 pm

    In the army we always carried a 'housewife'. It contained needles, thread, wool and spare buttons. Amazing how useful that was out in the ulu.

    I would also suggest waterproof matches.

  • John Romans on April 1, 2015 at 6:14 pm

    How about including a slim diamond knife sharpener for touching up the edge on a field knife?

    Are you not tempted to make a full leather tool roll like those Westley Richards originally sold around the turn of last century, I believe those were supplied by the firm of Holtzapffel & Co.

    • Simon Clode on April 1, 2015 at 7:03 pm

      I am sure we will do a full leather version as well as the canvas version. I have always liked the combination of canvas and leather, it works well and I like to offer, as I do, the original pea green canvas rifle cases with leather trim.

      Thanks for your ideas!

  • Vance Daigle on April 2, 2015 at 8:17 pm

    Afternoon Sir,

    It appears to me as though you may have most things covered with the help of your followers. Two things I find I need often is a good pair of reading glasses to see my work at hand, you can never find a pair when needed. And a high quality very small flash light for the small items you may drop while working.

    In Christ
    Vane,

  • Vance Daigle on April 2, 2015 at 8:22 pm

    Simon, I hate to get off topic, but today you posted some pictures of a beautiful take down rifle. I cannot recall any story that you have done on this type of gun. I would love to learn more of the working of such guns? Thank you for taking the time to consider doing such a topic.

    The Gun in the photo is Stunning!!!!

    In Christ
    Vance,

    • Simon Clode on April 2, 2015 at 8:45 pm

      Tonights project Vance, I shot the photos last night and put them on Instagram which was quicker than writing!

      Simon

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