The Franklin is the latest offering from Lost Dutchman Leather and it’s a winner! Being a non-stitch type wallet, there is no sewing, it’s all done through folds and clever cuts. As a minimalist wallet, it’s handmade and great edc addition and performs as a cash wrap for much less money than its brother the Lost Dutchman Big Finn.
(if you want to see all the features and how many cards and cash it can hold, please watch the video)
Today’s wallet is our new ranking leader. If it shows anything, it would be that Nate, from Lost Dutchman Leather, is taking the feedback and continuing to fine-tune his wallet offerings, while innovating in a stitchless design. This one has taken over the top spot as the highest scored wallet I have ever reviewed.
Also, if you are interested in how the unique design of this wallet works and would like to see this stitchless wallet taken apart, I invite you to watch the video.
All of Nate’s products come in a cotton bag. This wallet, the Franklin, is very clean and looks very similar to the Loyal Strickland, otherwise, it is unique in the back. This is a no stitch wallet, meaning it has no sewing and almost looks like an envelope in the back. It has a stamp and we got a card slot right as we open it. I have a couple of ranking criteria that offset each other in the scoring system to make it harder for a wallet to get close to a perfect score. Although this just happened to be and it is not done on purpose, I will explain that as we go along. This wallet is a vertical cardholder, slim, and has a security flap that keeps the cards and cash inside. If we turn it over, we see a little slit that serves as a quick access card slot on the exterior, with a capacity of one to two cards. The interior has one big pocket or slot that is available for cards or cash. This overall wallet can handle up to 12 cards and cash folded either once or put in and wrapped over, as it functions as a cash wrap as well.
The wallet measures 3.6 x 2.9 x 0.5″ and weighs 33 grams or 1.2 ounces. From an accommodation perspective, I had inserted six cards and five slips of cash. The cash wrap works amazingly, however, it does not fit tall currencies like the yen and the higher denomination euro. Still, with all that inserted, the wallet has yet quite a bit of room, which shows how well the measurement is done.
This wallet is designed and made in the United States, in Mesa, Arizona. It is made from a full-grain vegetable-tanned Wickett and Craig glazed harness leather, which measures out to be about 3.5 ounce leather weight, a quite good weight, besides it has a very good and pleasant smell. The top edge, all the way around, is lightly burnished, while the other edges are not. Moreover, you can get a monogram, up to six characters for free. In addition, due to it not being sewn, it has the same capacity as the Big Finn, but it is not as wide, it is a little narrower and that is okay. The difference in the Big Finn is provided or rather forced by the sewing. The distinction with the Big Finn is that it provides more separation. There are a couple of dividers, but other than the size is essentially close enough because it is a cash wrap and a great one on top of that. As I mentioned, the fold provides security besides the fold that is on the back, which I think provides great security and helps lock everything into place. The maker stamp is not seen anywhere on the outside, which provides a demonstration of what makes an elegant and nice look and, of course, it will develop an awesome patina over time with use.
Please watch the video to see how I unfolded the wall to witness the elegant genius at work. I can tell you that it was loads of fun. This wallet is simple, yet it is not, it is very cool.
The final score of the Franklin is 5 for quality, it is consistent with all of Nate’s work at Lost Dutchman; 4 for the price, as I mentioned earlier, it is the ranking criteria that works against quality, when you have a high-quality product you generally pay more, which is why this price does not seem high. If the price is good it generally means quality is lower, but it is not the case with this wallet. Due to the ease of construction, meaning no sewing, Nate is able to offer this wallet at a low price. Features score a 3, usability score a 5 since Nate found the sweet spot for usability by adapting over the Big Finn design. Finally, perception score a 5. Lost Dutchman continues to prove, through Nate, that he is a true craftsman and takes care of his customers, and that gives a final score of 4.6 out of 5.
The Franklin is a stitchless card holder that combines minimalism with usability. Main interior pocket holds up to 12 cards with unfolded or halved cash.
