Gunny or Wotoncraft

[Luke Warm]

I'm considering pulling the trigger on a '74' strap from either Gunny or Wotoncraft and was wondering if anyone here has owned one or both straps from these makers. I'm after something that is super soft and not as stiff as a steel cable. :helpsmilie:

These are the 2 I'm looking at -

http://gunny-straps.com/new/regular...id_0_1=7&page_num_0_1=2&prod_name_0_1=&back=1

http://www.wotancraft.com/product.php?pid=40&lan=_en

Happy to consider alternatives also.

 

[T3RM1N4T0R]

Gunny hands down for me

sent from my noob Samsung V5

 

[Norrie]

Gunny or Malio

 

[T3RM1N4T0R]

Gunny or Malio

Oh good option I just got my 2st Malio and very soft

sent from my noob Samsung V5

 

[matsukoy]

On the same boat. Any comments on the bakeka straps?

 

[slaughterer62]

Well, Gunny is often softer than Wotancraft, which is good and bad. I had both of those 74 straps. I still have the Wotancraft. I sold the Gunny to Chris3007.
Corrigia, Mays Berlin, Simona, Green Straps, Tunx, Dirk, Kostas, AB Paris, Analog, Haut Strapmakerie--had very good experiences with all of those PAM strap makers.

 

[WalkerDH]

Gunny for the 74!

 

[trailboss99]

On the same boat. Any comments on the bakeka straps?

I have a few, real nice straps and a great guy to deal with.

 

[ShadyManc]

I have had 3x Gunny 74's, a Malio '74 and I still own a Wotancraft '74. In truth you can't go wrong with any of these and it will largely come down to personal preference. For me, I still have the Wotancraft and that tells its own story in terms of my personal preference. I prefer a strap that's thicker and stiffer to start with, that ages with my ownership and builds its own character.

 

[kilowattore]

Well, Gunny is often softer than Wotancraft, which is good and bad. I had both of those 74 straps. I still have the Wotancraft. I sold the Gunny to Chris3007.
Corrigia, Mays Berlin, Simona, Green Straps, Tunx, Dirk, Kostas, AB Paris, Analog, Haut Strapmakerie--had very good experiences with all of those PAM strap makers.

I totally agree, a softer strap is not necessarily a better strap. And a good vintage strap must not only be "painted" to look vintage.

In my experience Orloff, Dirk, Bakeka and Greenstraps in this order have had the best in leather quality, stitching, hole punching, keepers shape and overall strap shape (of course I know Dirk straps are not handmade, but his pre-v hides are just too great not to mention).
I reckon Corrigia and Kostas make great straps as well, but too expensive for me. For some reason I haven't tried Simona yet, but this is an issue I will address ASAP
Manifatture serioso (betmen) makes incredible looking vintage straps as well, check him out on 'Risti or HF.

To get back OT, among those two the wotancraft looks better to me.

 

[swdivad]

Kevin (ADEEOS) is the original maker of ammo straps and in my opinion the best quality in stitching, leather, cut and true to vintage. I've bought many of these cheaper 'ammo' straps and frankly, there's no comparison.

They are pricey but you can find them on 'risti second hand for sale sometimes...

I bet he'd write any number you want on the strap... what is the significance of '74' anyway?

http://www.network54.com/Forum/674579/thread/1425522610/last-1425682991/-+ADEEOS+Ammo+Straps+-

Ted Su also makes great ammo straps, but also pricey.

http://www.tedsustraps.com/

For true to Pre-V / Pre-A OEM straps with a wide variety of options, I think there is no better than Dirk.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/353393/message/1300917787/Dirk+Pre-V+Straps+(PAV+91+content+inside)

 

[chris3007]

Well, Gunny is often softer than Wotancraft, which is good and bad. I had both of those 74 straps. I still have the Wotancraft. I sold the Gunny to Chris3007.
Corrigia, Mays Berlin, Simona, Green Straps, Tunx, Dirk, Kostas, AB Paris, Analog, Haut Strapmakerie--had very good experiences with all of those PAM strap makers.

And I'm very happy with the gunny 74. The strap is SUPER soft and comfortable.

Here is the gunny 74 at my KW127

Sent from my iPhone 6

 

[Luke Warm]

Thanks for all the feedback and suggestions guys. Looks like I'm spoilt for choice but I'm leaning heavily towards a Gunny and also maybe get a Bakeka or Greenstraps. And after that a......

This is never going to end is it? :wink:

 

[matsukoy]

I have a few, real nice straps and a great guy to deal with.

Thank boss!

 

[slaughterer62]

Kevin, Ted Su, Kostas--those 3 are all very high end straps with high-end prices. Very nice stuff.

 

[trailboss99]

.. what is the significance of '74' anyway?

A good question and the subject of much debate. It's modeled after a strap on an early PAM in the collection of an Italian (IIRC) museum. Debate rages on the gen boards (google it) but one popular explanation is it may just be a mark made by the curators. There are several other theories of equal popularity.

 

[Therion666]

I read a bit about this topic yesterday:

http://forums.watchuseek.com/f75/whats-history-74-strap-698088.html

I'm also looking for a nice pliable strap for my Noob 372, and I think I'll go for a Bakeka for starters. Or even Meyhofer, this one looks nice:

http://www.watch-band-center.com/watchstrap-p9042h123s142-Watch-band-Trondheim.html

You guys have any experiences with BOB straps? They're quite affordable. Do they look cheap in person? I ordered a custom made strap from a TD on RWG and it looks really great, but it's stiff and I have problems putting it off my wrist...

 

[kilowattore]

I read a bit about this topic yesterday:

http://forums.watchuseek.com/f75/whats-history-74-strap-698088.html

I'm also looking for a nice pliable strap for my Noob 372, and I think I'll go for a Bakeka for starters. Or even Meyhofer, this one looks nice:

http://www.watch-band-center.com/watchstrap-p9042h123s142-Watch-band-Trondheim.html

You guys have any experiences with BOB straps? They're quite affordable. Do they look cheap in person? I ordered a custom made strap from a TD on RWG and it looks really great, but it's stiff and I have problems putting it off my wrist...

You get what you pay for.
BOB straps are nice, but not the highest quality. They're good if you're looking for.something inexpensive, def better than any rep strap anyway.

Meyhofer I necerr tried, but I bought a few straps from that website, and they were all decent quality. They also Hirsch, I hear they are the gen OEM asso makers for Panerai.

Bakeka straps sometimes need some break in period in my experience, they will become more and more comfortable with use though and leather quality is amazing. Check with Alfio before you order which hides suit your needs

Check this one (very pliable yet thick)



Or this one I have on my 372 (this one needed a short break in period, now it's one of my fav)

 

[Luke Warm]

Thank you again gents. I ended up ordering a Gunny 74 (photo courtesy of Peter G)



and a Bakeka #54-VITELLO NATURALE (photo courtesy of Alfio)



Now the wait begins.

BTW, both Peter and Alfio were fantastic to deal with.

 

[Therion666]

Thank you kilo for your informative reply. Those straps look really amazing. I'm very dissapointed with the strap my Noob 372 came with, it looks ok, but feels like cardboard. I did some research and I find Gunny straps outstanding. I'd like something that would match the lume color and I'm thinking about getting his Caitlin 1 or maybe the suede gator strap from Orloff. The thing is I see different colors on my computer, my tablet and phone and I'm afraid I won't get what I want. My current custom strap is also darker in reality than it was in the pics. And another thing-it keeps pulling the watch from the center of my wrist, maybe I should order different length of the part with the buckle this time...Oh decissions ...