Filson Bag Thread: With Pictures

[OtterMeanGreen]

I think the dates are pretty close.

The sportsman bag and fly rod case are YKK zippers, haven't checked all the others but ones I did are Filson. Timeline adds up.

That Sportsman looks BROWN, I had no idea they made that in BROWN and that they were made with YKK. I originally thought it was only offered in Tan, Otter Green or Black

 

[OtterMeanGreen]

No problems with that. Yes, the 256 received the lanyard during the ykk era. The first ykk 256's would have started in mid '02. At some point it was added, no idea exactly when.

As far as the leather, it is all based on where it is located, usage, and that climate. I posted 4 of the same bags. A barely used one had beautiful reddish brown leather and one still had the original leather color. I do not know exactly what causes the exact changes, but since leather is a natural product, it all ages differently. Your bag is one of the lucky ones.

OMG - I may be wrong on the 257 lanyard as I do not have any pictures or current inventory of any 257's with a lanyard and talons. I thought I had one or previously had one but cannot confirm. I'll keep an eye out on this.

Thanks @GzStudio I really do appreciate it.

 

[GzStudio]

My work-around for no key clasp in my Restoration talon'd 256.

 

[OtterMeanGreen]

View attachment 844790 My work-around for no key clasp in my Restoration talon'd 256.

Awesome idea, I'll have to stop off at Eastern Mountain Sports and get something similar from their rock climbing section.

 

[speedy611]

Awesome idea, I'll have to stop off at Eastern Mountain Sports and get something similar from their rock climbing section.

I like the S biner style. They sit quite well on the leather tabs, and can accomodate a lanyard for key/knife, and/or the back strap of a baseball hat.

 

[Soletrane]

That Sportsman looks BROWN, I had no idea they made that in BROWN and that they were made with YKK. I originally thought it was only offered in Tan, Otter Green or Black

I saw a navy blue Sportsman at the upscale dept store Fortnum & Mason in London a couple years back. It was amazing but expensive. Should have bought it [sigh]

 

[Mattsky]

Filson in the wild...I'm new to this forum (a few weeks ago) and recently grabbed a bunch of Filson items (maybe too many) from the outlets during their Labor Day sale. I recently used two of them on a trip to Wyoming along with various Filson coats and wool vests. I found them to be thoroughly up to the task and I understand the enthusiasm here. Beautifully designed and the build is rugged. This is my 256 in green and a new, old stock, special edition Heritage Sportsman Bag with Horween leather accents, which I used as a camera bag. It performed flawlessly. Never a worry about the strength of the strap, buckles, etc. and didn't worry about possible weather which may have harmed the contents. I know these aren't 'vintage' items, but I appreciate them nonetheless.

 

[Mattsky]

Thought I'd share what I scored at the sale...I've got to start using these items to get some wear on them now. Pullman, Suit Cover, Rucksack, Heritage Sportsman, 256, 258, Medium Duffle. My wife took the 24-Hour Briefcase, 48-Hour Duffle in about 1 day.

 

[mgrennier]

Wh

Thought I'd share what I scored at the sale...I've got to start using these items to get some wear on them now. Pullman, Suit Cover, Rucksack, Heritage Sportsman, 256, 258, Medium Duffle. My wife took the 24-Hour Briefcase, 48-Hour Duffle in about 1 day.

View attachment 845061

View attachment 845062

View attachment 845063

Whoa and, what the hell, talk about diving in with both feet!!!!

Don't worry about all these talonites and ykk zippers and patinated Filsons and pre-Bedrock and 266-loving people on this forum. We are, generally speaking, a friendly bunch that appreciates ALL Filson lovers Welcome to this crazy club!

You got quite a score there and you now have some traveling to do!

 

[Cold Iron]

Pictures are worth a thousand words it is said. And I agree some great pictures lately!

That Sportsman looks BROWN, I had no idea they made that in BROWN and that they were made with YKK. I originally thought it was only offered in Tan, Otter Green or Black

Yes it is brown, my favorite Filson color, depending on the case that is.

In the beginning you had a choice of tan or in some options otter green. Navy and Black are the new kids on the block. Before that, after tan and then otter it was brown. For fly rod cases and shotgun\rifle cases Boyt Harness down in Iowa had been making gun cases, luggage and steaming trunks in green since the early 1900's. And also likely the Herters cases up until the 1968 gun control act started to put them out of business. Tan fly rod and shotgun cases for me stand out as distinctly Filson. Unmistakably so.

Not that there is anything wrong with Otter green, my older Pullman that can be a carry on or stuffed to check in capacity works well in that color. And one of my most used bags. But I like the Brown most of all and have it in the Sportsman, 258, and wheeled carry on.

Don't see myself ever purchasing a Navy Filson. I have a black Filson weekender jacket but no luggage thank you very much. I do have a black Samsonite hard briefcase courtesy of the US Navy given to me in 1983. It works well for storing my hackles, fur and other fly tying supplies. But today would not be seen in public carrying a black case even if made by Filson.

GzStudio has a brown bag for sale left and can't believe no one has jumped on it yet.

Not a lot of places to spend the night where I hunt ruff grouse between the North Shore of Lake Superior and Canadian Border. If I am only hunting over a weekend will often sleep in the back of the truck instead of a cabin or making camp.

My favorite brown is the Filson Flask sitting on top of the Pullman next to the Garmin Alpha TT15 being charged off the inverter on the Tacoma. At my age I should have 2 of them filled with brown likker, one for the end of the day after the hunt and another after climbing my old carcass into the back of the truck to sleep. But it is no longer offered in brown, just tan. Grouse hunting for me is a solitaire experience and done in one of the most remote areas of CONUS.

Pheasant hunting in the Dakotas is a social event for me and 3 other retired Navy guys. And a few others including some AF pilots that cycle through. Long story but the Admiral and me dress, think and act a lot alike. About 5 or 6 years ago a dozen city dudes were standing on the other side of a section road (a section is 1 mile x 1 mile for those not aware) when the 4 of us pulled in on the private side where we know the land owner. In 30 seconds we had the dogs out and were using hand sign to communicate and already hunting and they went from grab assing to watching us and saying wow, holy ****, hot damn. The Admiral (2 star, upper half) worked his way over to me and with a **** eating grin on his face and whispered there is nothing like well worn and duct taped Filson to tell the Orvis crowd no need to apply for membership.

Orvis sells Barbour, not Filson.

Likely the only damn section of land in SD without a fence post to sit the gun on LOL.

 

[nevadabob]

Sheeooot, if this thread has an impact on Filson resale prices, then anything older than 2013 totally blows with their thick durable bridle leather that fades in color with time and their nasty heavy weight and sharp zippers that cut into the leather. Don't even get me started on those dumb ykk zippers or, even worse, the older Talon zippers that don't say Filson on them. I mean, who would, in his right mind spend a couple hundred bucks on a bag that has zippers with a brand that doesn't match the maker of the bag? Right, guys? Who is with me?

 

[nevadabob]

 

[speedy611]

Welcome @Mattsky. That’s quite a collection to acquire in one go! How did you decide to go from no Filson to so much so quickly? I’m curious to hear how you like the suit carrier - often thought about one of those myself, but never had a first hand account of one in use.

Your collection will be tremendously flexible - you’ve got something there for pretty much every scenario, except perhaps really long trips. I assume your Pullman is the smaller version? In any case, combining Pullman + Duffle + any of your 256/8/24/rucksack will hold a lot of gear.

Welcome to this interesting board, and hope you enjoy your gear.

 

[mgrennier]

Pictures are worth a thousand words it is said. And I agree some great pictures lately!



Yes it is brown, my favorite Filson color, depending on the case that is.

In the beginning you had a choice of tan or in some options otter green. Navy and Black are the new kids on the block. Before that, after tan and then otter it was brown. For fly rod cases and shotgun\rifle cases Boyt Harness down in Iowa had been making gun cases, luggage and steaming trunks in green since the early 1900's. And also likely the Herters cases up until the 1968 gun control act started to put them out of business. Tan fly rod and shotgun cases for me stand out as distinctly Filson. Unmistakably so.

Not that there is anything wrong with Otter green, my older Pullman that can be a carry on or stuffed to check in capacity works well in that color. And one of my most used bags. But I like the Brown most of all and have it in the Sportsman, 258, and wheeled carry on.

Don't see myself ever purchasing a Navy Filson. I have a black Filson weekender jacket but no luggage thank you very much. I do have a black Samsonite hard briefcase courtesy of the US Navy given to me in 1983. It works well for storing my hackles, fur and other fly tying supplies. But today would not be seen in public carrying a black case even if made by Filson.

GzStudio has a brown bag for sale left and can't believe no one has jumped on it yet.

Not a lot of places to spend the night where I hunt ruff grouse between the North Shore of Lake Superior and Canadian Border. If I am only hunting over a weekend will often sleep in the back of the truck instead of a cabin or making camp.

My favorite brown is the Filson Flask sitting on top of the Pullman next to the Garmin Alpha TT15 being charged off the inverter on the Tacoma. At my age I should have 2 of them filled with brown likker, one for the end of the day after the hunt and another after climbing my old carcass into the back of the truck to sleep. But it is no longer offered in brown, just tan. Grouse hunting for me is a solitaire experience and done in one of the most remote areas of CONUS.

Pheasant hunting in the Dakotas is a social event for me and 3 other retired Navy guys. And a few others including some AF pilots that cycle through. Long story but the Admiral and me dress, think and act a lot alike. About 5 or 6 years ago a dozen city dudes were standing on the other side of a section road (a section is 1 mile x 1 mile for those not aware) when the 4 of us pulled in on the private side where we know the land owner. In 30 seconds we had the dogs out and were using hand sign to communicate and already hunting and they went from grab assing to watching us and saying wow, holy ****, hot damn. The Admiral (2 star, upper half) worked his way over to me and with a **** eating grin on his face and whispered there is nothing like well worn and duct taped Filson to tell the Orvis crowd no need to apply for membership.

Orvis sells Barbour, not Filson.

Likely the only damn section of land in SD without a fence post to sit the gun on LOL.

Great story, Cold Iron. Really enjoyed that...

 

[mgrennier]

Sheeooot, if this thread has an impact on Filson resale prices, then anything older than 2013 totally blows with their thick durable bridle leather that fades in color with time and their nasty heavy weight and sharp zippers that cut into the leather. Don't even get me started on those dumb ykk zippers or, even worse, the older Talon zippers that don't say Filson on them. I mean, who would, in his right mind spend a couple hundred bucks on a bag that has zippers with a brand that doesn't match the maker of the bag? Right, guys? Who is with me?

NevadaBob - reminds me of the Steve Martin scene in 'The Jerk' when he orders the "really fresh wine - I don't want any of that OLD stuff!".