About: I have too much free time and I like to make expensive-looking things out of leather. I have been at it for 1.5 years.

I've been doing leatherworking as a hobby for about a year and a half, and I wanted to do a copiously detailed write-up of my latest project: a green shell cordovan bag partly inspired by Napoleon's briefcases. It is lined with Italian Buttero leather in pimp purple. Vive l'empereur!

This Instructable is a hefty, 38 step tome with around 200 pictures, aimed at the intermediate leatherworker with some familiarity with sewing and pattern making. If you want to view a shorter, abridged version with the most interesting build photos (around 40), go here: http://imgur.com/a/crjdz

For those of you unfamiliar with cordovan, it is leather made from the arse cheek of a horse, prized for its natural luster and durability. It is one of the finest leathers in the world and is used primarily in smaller items such as footwear due to its low yield and great cost.

I started this project after I saw a green briefcase believed to have been carried by Napoleon and his archivist, the Baron Fain. I especially liked the ornate locks and the curved flap shapes. There is another example in red which was left in Germany after the emperor's failed Russian campaign, made in a similar style. My design is very loosely based on the briefcases pictured.

I spent around 80 hours making this over the course of two months, and this was the fifth bag I made. This bag is held together by 2,313 stitches, all done by hand. Yes, my hands hurt after finishing this.

Please excuse my rather poor photography skills!

Still reading? Let's get started!