Bag feet are only one part of the underside of a bag. To describe what meets a surface, record the feet together with the base panel, seams and corners. A useful observation shows where contact occurs in a stated arrangement; a count of metal feet alone cannot do that.
Feet and corner protection serve different positions
Mulberry’s repair guide describes base feet as metal components intended to protect the base from wear. It lists leather corner protectors separately. That distinction is useful when reviewing a bag: feet beneath the base and caps covering the corners are different features.
Record their presence individually. Avoid turning a feature description into a promise that every part of the underside will remain clear of every surface.
Separate component height from the actual gap
Buckleguy’s B1615/C6323 foot listing specifies a diameter of 9.5 mm and a height of 6.7 mm. Those are dimensions of that component. They do not establish a 6.7 mm gap beneath every part of a finished bag.
For the bag itself, look along the underside at surface level. Which feet are touching? Is the panel between them clear, or does a seam, corner or curved section also touch? If you report a gap, identify the location and the bag’s contents rather than giving one number for the whole base.
A photograph of a loose foot cannot answer those questions. Neither can a view taken only from above the bag.
Include the attachment and supporting layers
The Buckleguy listing distinguishes compression-fit and screw-fit versions with different corresponding back posts. Its post-selection table also relates the choice to material thickness. Similar-looking foot heads therefore do not establish that the concealed attachments are interchangeable.
For its 13 mm screw-in feet, Country Cow Designs instructs bag makers to include stabiliser at the attachment, either through the existing layer or with added pieces behind the feet. This is a construction example for those components, not evidence of the layers inside another bag.
Keep hidden parts marked as unknown unless reliable documentation identifies them. If a foot needs repair, provide the maker or repairer with photographs and the exact bag model. A matching finish colour is only one part of identifying a replacement; access behind the lining and the condition of the surrounding base also need assessment.
Make a simple contact record
The following editorial table keeps visible observations separate from assumptions about hidden construction:
| Area | What to record | Keep separate |
|---|---|---|
| Feet | Count, positions, visible condition and which ones meet the surface. | Appearance versus confirmed component identity. |
| Base panel | Visible shape and any contact between the feet. | Observed shape versus an assumed internal reinforcement. |
| Seams and corners | Any piping, seam edge or corner touching the same surface. | Base feet versus dedicated corner protectors. |
| Arrangement | Surface used and whether the bag is empty or carrying its usual suitable contents. | An empty-bag observation versus a loaded one. |
- Empty the bag and photograph the underside, including all feet and the surrounding seams. Note existing marks before changing the arrangement.
- Set it down gently on a clean, dry, flat, non-abrasive surface. Look from the side without pressing the base down or forcing the bag to stand.
- If the bag is sound and intended to stand this way, repeat with its usual suitable contents. Record those contents; do not add test weights or search for a maximum load.
- Photograph any changed contact point. If a foot is loose or the surrounding material is damaged, end the check and ask the maker or repairer to assess it.
Do not twist an unidentified foot, open the lining or add holes as part of this record. This observation does not establish load capacity, abrasion resistance or long-term stability.
Sources and scope
The linked brand and component references explain terminology, dimensions and attachment examples. They do not identify the feet or hidden base construction of any historical Möhel bag. No physical sample or durability test was used for this article.
For the surrounding material, see leather thickness, temper and the finished assembly. For putting a bag away between uses, see shape, covers and hardware in storage. Browse the practical guides directory for related topics.