Habermas 2071: A Single Gusset Is a Different Argument

Almost every Habermas I build has two sections and a divider between them. The 2071 has one. It is cut from harness leather, it carries two brass Marcellino latches, and it behaves differently from its two-section cousins in ways that start with the gusset.

One room instead of two

A single gusset gives you one open section, and nothing in the middle to organize the load. Papers and a laptop go in together, the bag stays slimmer, and it sits closer to the body. The Habermas has always been built for people who open and close a briefcase many times a day.

The glossary of briefcase parts names every piece in the photos if the vocabulary is new.

A flat handle for a slim bag

The 2071 has a flat handle. In the video above I say that flat handles suit single-gusset bags better than heavy ones, and the 2071 is a bag where that applies.

I stitch the handle by hand, and the page on hand stitching describes the stitch I use.

Two latches, chains on

I designed the Marcellino latch for lawyers who wanted a quick closing without a buckle. The 2071 carries two, in solid brass, and the photos show them with small chains attached. The loop and chain are optional and come off if you prefer the plain latch. The latch pulls tighter as the bag fills, so a stuffed single section closes firmly.

The page on high-end locks covers the other closings I build, and the article on solid brass hardware explains why I use brass.

Harness leather on the outside

Harness leather is thick and rustic. It scratches and it patinas faster than bridle, and the back panel in the photos already shows scuffs and light scratches, which is the leather doing what it does. I almost never line a harness briefcase, so the inside matches the outside.

The article comparing bridle and harness leather sets the two against each other, and the page on leather choice explains how I pick leather. Harness is vegetable tanned, and the article on vegetable tanned versus chrome tanned leather covers what that means for aging.

Rings on the side and a strap

The shoulder strap rings sit on the sides of the 2071, not on top, and the strap ends in a brass snap hook. In the photos the strap is laid out beside the bag, and the same harness leather runs through it.

The leather care page covers conditioning for vegetable tanned leather, and the article on caring for a bridle leather briefcase adds the habits that carry over.