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.

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!

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Comments

9 comments

GD

Gary Duffeyon November 04, 2025

Gary Duffey on April 1, 2015 at 12:05 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!
SC

Simon Clodeon November 04, 2025

Simon Clode on April 1, 2015 at 9:49 am

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

Mark Mitchellon November 04, 2025

Mark Mitchell on April 1, 2015 at 8:20 am

A small hammer might be handy
JR

John Romanson November 04, 2025

John Romans on April 1, 2015 at 5:14 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.
TW

tim wilkeson November 04, 2025

tim wilkes on April 1, 2015 at 4:51 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.