The most dangerous cargo in Spectre travels in the least dangerous-looking bag. The J.Crew Abingdon Weekender bag is khaki waxed cotton canvas, trimmed in burnished leather: the kind of bag a man takes to a country house for two nights. In the film it holds an armoury. We like it for that contrast, and because it is a bag you can use every week without anyone looking twice.
In the film
Bill Tanner (Rory Kinnear) carries the bag, loaded with weapons, and was photographed with it on set in London on 31 May 2015. At the Hildebrand safe house, M (Ralph Fiennes) takes several weapons out of it, the knife among them, in a scene shared with Daniel Craig’s Bond. The bag on screen is the khaki version.
The details of the J.Crew Abingdon Weekender bag
Waxed cotton canvas. J.Crew took its cues from vintage hunting gear, and the material shows it. Waxed canvas is chosen for outdoor kit because it sheds weather and takes wear without fuss. It also darkens and creases with use, so the bag looks better lived-in than new.
Burnished leather trim. Burnished leather has a soft, worn-in colour rather than a bright polish. Over time it will pick up the marks of the places you take it, which is the right way for a bag like this to age.
Brass-finish hardware. Warm metal against khaki reads old-fashioned in the good sense. It looks like gear, not luggage.
Built for repeated use. J.Crew describes heavy-duty shoulder straps and extra reinforcements in key spots, so that the bag can withstand repeated use. That is what you want from a weekender you intend to fill and carry week after week.
Khaki or green. The bag in the film is khaki. J.Crew has also sold it in green, though you should confirm what is currently available on its page.
Carrying it now
This is a bag for a short trip taken well: a night or two in the country, a weekend by train, a long lunch that turns into an overnight stay. It sits most naturally with country-weekend clothes, such as navy or grey knitwear, a field jacket, cord trousers and suede boots. It is less at home with a dinner jacket, and we would not try to make it so.
Which colour. We would choose the khaki. It is the version from the film, and it goes with more of a wardrobe than green does. Green is the quieter choice if you already own a lot of tan.
Let it age. Do not baby it. Scuffs and creases are what waxed canvas is for. Wipe it down with a damp cloth, let it dry away from direct heat, and do not put it in a washing machine. Follow the care label, and re-wax it if water stops beading on the surface.
Size. We have not listed dimensions, as we could not confirm them for the current version. Check J.Crew’s measurements against what you actually pack before you order.
Specifications
| Maker | J.Crew |
|---|---|
| Model | Abingdon Weekender Bag (listed by J.Crew today as the Abingdon Weekender Duffel) |
| Body | Waxed cotton canvas |
| Trim | Burnished leather |
| Hardware | Brass-finish |
| Straps | Heavy-duty shoulder straps with reinforcements at key points |
| Colour in the film | Khaki (green has also been sold) |
| Dimensions | See J.Crew’s current listing |
| RRP | See J.Crew for the current price |
Full details are on J.Crew’s own page for the Abingdon Weekender.
Questions
Is this the bag from Spectre?
Yes. It is the khaki J.Crew Abingdon Weekender that M and Bill Tanner carry in Spectre. J.Crew’s current listing is called the Abingdon Weekender Duffel, so small details such as colour range may differ from the 2015 bag.
Who carries the Abingdon Weekender in Spectre?
Bill Tanner, played by Rory Kinnear, carries it, and M, played by Ralph Fiennes, takes weapons out of it at the Hildebrand safe house. Bond is in the same scene.
What colours does the J.Crew Abingdon Weekender come in?
Khaki is the colour seen in the film. J.Crew has also sold it in green. Check the current listing, as availability changes.
How do you look after a waxed canvas bag?
Wipe it with a damp cloth, dry it away from heat, and keep it out of the washing machine. Re-wax it when water stops beading on the surface, and follow the care label on your bag.
More from the film is in our Spectre guide, with other travel pieces in bags and luggage and every title in the films.
