Chewbacca Original Trilogy Bandoliers

Chewbacca wears an ammo belt and satchel during all of his appearances.

Reference Images

Original Trilogy Bandolier "ANH"

This bandolier first appeared in the original Star Wars. It is simpler than later designs, has a medium-length concave taper at each end of the belt, and has the Solo gunbelt discs at both ends.

Original Trilogy Bandolier "Stitch"

This bandolier first appeared in the Empire Strikes Back. It has stitching along the sides, has a short straight taper at each end, and has the metal speaker disc that that also appears on Han Solo's gunbelt.

Original Trilogy Bandolier "Cavalry"

This bandolier appears only in the Magic of Myth exhibit. It appears to be the "Stitch" bandolier, but with a British cavalry coat button in place of the Solo disc.

Original Trilogy Bandolier "Spotlight"

This bandolier looks similar to the "ANH" bandolier, but has a longer, more curved taper, and no buttons or discs at either end. It's not clear if it ever appeared on screen or was just for publicity shots.

Unknown Original Trilogy Bandoliers

Several photos bandoliers that aren't clear enough to identify which one they are.

Solo: A Star Wars Story Bandolier

Chewie has a unique bandolier in the stand alone Han Solo movie.

General Information

Ammo Boxes

1. There are 10 large boxes on the bandolier, and 9 small boxes.

Original Trilogy boxes

1. According to GuntahKela, the small boxes are the Hammond Manufacturing 1590A Die-Cast Aluminum Project Box. It is still available from Mouser Electronics. It's dimensions are:
   • Width: 92mm
   • Height: 38mm
   • Depth: 27mm
2. From the photos, it appears that the small boxes have the lid attached on the A New Hope bandolier, and are mounted with the lid attached to the leather strap. The bandoliers for Empire and Jedi do not have the lid attached.
3. The larger boxes have not been identified. They appear to be wider and taller than the small boxes but not as thick. They also have a lid that is larger than the box. The lid has a pop rivet in the center on each side. It is mounted with the face of the lid against the leather bandolier.
4. According to scaling work done by kurtyboy of the RPF, the large box dimensions are:
   • Box:
     • Width: 82mm
     • Height: 54mm
     • Depth: 26mm
   • Lid:
     • Width: 85mm
     • Height: 56mm
     • Depth: 5mm
5. The ammo boxes on the Star Wars In Concert bandolier are not accurate, and the bandolier is probably not screen used.

Revenge of the Sith boxes

1. Both small and large boxes in the Ep3 bandolier appear to be as wide as the strap. They look like they are assembled from cut panels designed to fit together like a puzzle.
2. WookieeGunner and Dougie Fett did some scaling work on the Ep3 blocks.
   1. Large Box
      1. Face: 98mm x 52mm
      2. Top Edge: 98mm x 6.5mm
      3. Cutout: 12.5mm x 10mm x .5mm
      4. L Shape: 12mm x 12mm x 2mm
      5. Gap Between Edge and L: 2mm
      6. Front Edge Cutout: 10mm x 3mm x. 5mm
      7. Lip Width: 2mm
      8. Lip Depth: 3mm
      9. Depth: 17mm
   2. Small Box
      1. Face: 108mm x 34.75mm
      2. Top Edge: 108mm x 5mm
      3. Top Cutout: 10.5mm x 6mm
      4. Side Cutout: 3mm x 3mm
      5. Gap Between Edge and Cutout: 2mm
      6. Front Edge Cutout: 6mm x 3mm x .5mm
      7. Depth: 17mm
   3. Spacing between Boxes: 60.5mm

Bandolier Strap

1. The bandolier is always worn on the left shoulder, with the pouch resting on the upper right thigh.
2. The bandolier can be worn with the concho/discs in either front or back.

A New Hope bandolier

1. This bandolier has never been displayed as part of a traveling exhibit (as far as I know).
2. Using the small ammo boxes as a point of reference, GotWookiee has determined the dimensions:
   • Main strap:
     • Width: 82mm
     • Length: 1866mm
     • Distance from last ammo box to end: 140mm
     • Distance between ammo boxes: 38mm
     • Tapered ends:
       • Width at end: 39mm
       • Distance taper starts from end of bandolier: 52mm
       • Curve radius of taper: 5.85mm
     • End loop:
       • Length: 52mm
       • Width: 39mm
     • Silver snaps: (2)
       • Diameter: 16mm
       • Center distance from end of bandolier: 36mm
     • Silver discs (2):
       • Diameter: 32mm
       • Thickness:
       • Diameter of hole: 5mm
       • Center distance from end of bandolier: 76mm
   • Center strap:
     • Width:  19mm
     • Length: approx. 2760mm
     • Silver rivets (20):
       • Diameter: 6.5mm
     • Distance from end of strap to end of bandolier: 114mm
3. The discs are the same from Han Solo's ANH gunbelt. There is one on each of the bandolier.
4. It is a medium brown color; darker than the pouch.
5. The ends are capped by a long, concave taper.
6. There is a leather strap that secures the top of the bandolier to Peter’s neck to prevent it from slipping.
7. The ends of the bandolier are fastened with visible metal snaps or silver buttons.
8. A simple 1.5 inch metal ring attaches the pouch to the bandolier at each end.

Empire Strikes Back bandolier

1. This bandolier was built for Empire, and was used during the Tatooine scenes in Return of the Jedi. It is the bandolier being used on the "Where Science Meets Imagination" traveling exhibit.
2. While viewing the costume on display at “Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination,” I noticed the bandolier was also secured to black waist strap hidden under the hair. It is not clear if was present during filming or was added after it was archived.
3. This has a silver disc on only one end of the bandolier. Is sometimes worn with the silver disc in back and sometimes in front.

Return of the Jedi bandolier

1. This bandolier was built for Return of the Jedi, and was also used in some pre-production photos with the Revenge of the Sith costume. It was also exhibited during the Magic of Myth traveling exhibit during the late 90's.
2. Using the small ammo boxes as a point of reference, GotWookiee has determined the bandolier dimensions:
   • Main strap:
     • Width: 72mm
     • Length: 1862mm
     • Width of seam: 7mm
     • Distance from last ammo box to end: 138mm
     • Distance between ammo boxes: 38mm
     • Tapered ends:
       • Width at end: 26mm
       • Distance taper starts from end of the bandolier: 48mm
       • Angle of taper: 25 degrees
     • End loop:
       • Length: 48mm
       • Width: 26mm
     • Silver snaps (2)
       • Diameter: 16mm
       • Center distance from end of bandolier: 33mm
     • Silver concho:
       • Diameter: 28mm
       • Center distance from end of bandolier: 84mm
   • Center strap:
     • Width: 18mm
     • Length: approx. 2770mm
     • Silver rivets (20):
       • Diameter: 6.5mm
     • Distance from end of strap to end of bandolier: 113mm
3. It is a dark brown color; darker than the pouch.
4. A simple 1.5 inch metal ring attaches the pouch to the bandolier at each end.
5. There is a leather strap that secures the top of the bandolier to Peter’s neck to prevent it from slipping.

Revenge of the Sith bandolier

1. In some early publicity photos for Revenge of the Sith, Peter Mayhew wore his new Revenge of the Sith costume with the Return of the Jedi bandolier, presumably because the new bandolier wasn't finished. GotWookiee used the RotJ bandolier as a point of reference in determining the dimensions of the RotS bandolier:
   • Main strap:
     • Width: 3"
     • Length: 1864mm
     • Thickness:
     • Width of seam: 1/3"
     • Distance from last ammo box to end: 112mm
     • Distance between ammo boxes: 42mm
     • Tapered ends:
       • Width at end: 35mm
       • Distance taper starts from end of bandolier: 42mm
       • Radius of curve: 4mm
     • End loop:
       • Length: 42mm
       • Width: 35mm
     • Dark brown snaps: (2)
       • Diameter: 14mm
       • Distance from end of bandolier: 14.5mm
   • Center strap:
     • Width:  1"
     • Length: approx.
     • Thickness:
     • Width of seam: 1/3"
     • Loops (38)
       • Width: 5mm
       • Diameter: approx. 30mm
       • Thickness:
     • Distance from end of strap to end of bandolier: 88mm
     • Taper starts: 9.5
     • Copper rivets: (2)
       • Diameter: 1/3"
       • Center distance from end of center strap: 9.5mm
2. It is a dark brown color; darker than the pouch.
3. There is no leather concho or disc, as on the original trilogy bandoliers.
4. The center strap is held in place with leather loops, not rivets. These loops are placed at the base of every box, so there are two for each box.
5. There is a rivet at the each end of the center strap.

Pouch

1. The pouch is large, approximately 1’ wide by perhaps 8’ long. The flap covers almost the entire front of the pouch.
2. The flap is secured with a pair of belt-like fasteners.

A New Hope

1. The original trilogy pouch is made of heavily worn leather. There are several visible dark spot on the lower right hand corner.

Return of the Jedi

1. Suede

Revenge of the Sith

1. The Episode III pouch looks brand new and appears to be made of suede.

Materials & Construction Techniques

DIY Bandoliers

Bandolier Strap

Adam Savage's One Day Builds: Chewbacca's Bandolier!

Adam Savage's One Day Builds: Chewbacca and C-3PO!

Patterns

1. How To Use The Leather Strap Cutter
2. Basic Hand Stitching Set For Leather
3. Installing Eyelets And Grommets On Leather
4. Setting Snap Fasteners On Leather
5. Setting up a Leather Workshop
6. Leather Preparation For Tooling
7. Antique Stain And Finish On Leather
8. Edge Creasing On Leather Tutorial
9. How To Finish Exposed Edges On Leather
10. How To Punch Round Holes Using Drive and Rotary Punches
11. How To Set A Rivet In Leather
12. How To Cut Leather
13. How To Set a Copper Rivet
14. How To Overall And Inlay Dye

Tools You Will Need

1. Scratch Awl
2. Head Knife
3. Straight Knife
4. Strap Cutter

Pouch

1. You want 4 - 6 oz. leather for the strap, and 3 - 5 oz. for the pouch.

Licensed Bandoliers

Anovos Bandolier

Chewbacca Bandolier Large Aluminum Boxes (set of 10)