I have used the Levenger pocket briefcase for a while and while it's pretty good (I love the leather, probably one of the more luxurius leather for anything under $50), something is lacking. Oh yea, i still need a pen case! Some days I have a shirt pocket, some days I don't. Comes the Franklin covey Leather Index Card holder wallet.

Features:
- pen holder
- id window, two slip on card holders
- receipt flap
- general pocket
- index card holder (top and bottom flaps similar to Levenger's)
- pocket underneath index card holder, presumably to hold empty ones
- wallet pocket

Cons:
- the leather isn't as nice as Levenger's
- while the wallet option is nice, it makes the whole thing "untidy"
- only comes in black
- the stitching is ok, not the best
- my Pelikan 215 is barely too large in diameter for the pen holder
- the Pelikan 215 is within 1/4" from being too tall
- not enough card slots (? enough for me)

Pros:
- the leather is nice enough for $15
- very functional for what I need (pen case, index cards, credit card/id, business cards, receipts)

Only time will tell if I use this for long term, so far it looks like I will. I hope the leather doesn't damage my Pelikan. All in all, I'm happy with it so far. Not as nice as a Levenger, but it's almost 1/3 the cost (after you figure shipping).

Also, if you're looking for a cheap pocket briefcase, look at Staples under the buxton brand. It's darn near the same thing. I almost bought one just because ($10).

Here are some pics. Thanks!

Nice find! I think that this is what someone was referring to in the comments of my blog post about hacking a cahier to fit inside the pocket briefcase.

I think the M215 fits it pretty nicely, too (from an aesthetic point of view).

Does anybody know if Franklin Covey products, or, something similar to this are available in Staples in the UK?

I purchased the same item a few weeks ago, as I wanted to be sure I would get use out of a "pocket briefcase" like product before spending the extra money on the Levenger product. I've been quite satisfied with it so far. The real test will come over the next two weeks when I'm traveling for business and will have this double as my wallet.

However, based on the past few weeks, I think it was $15 well spent.

french

I did hack a Moleskine Cahier to fit this very item.
I had to cut the back cover top and bottom to make it fit. It only took about 3/16" (material removed) to do so.
It works just fine in terms of size and fit.

I liked the leather on the slightly older version of this item. The latest stock does not seem as
soft or supple. It also seems slightly rougher.

I recently started using the Levenger Bomber Jacket 3x5 card pocket folio. It is very similar to what is described here. The leather is great and the product is excellent. This is the latest in my never ending search for just the right pocket notebook. The pen holder area is not suitable for large pens. All and all, a useful and well made product. Oh yes, it was more expensive than the Franklin Covey product.

I also have Franklin Covey. I chop the moleskin cahiers to fit. I use a roller cutter to chop the cahiers. They look very nice when finished.
I don't carry my pen inside it though. I haven't been comfortable with the tight fit of the pen holder and I have a pen pouch for two pens that I carry
in my bag.
Mary


Edit to correct bad spelling.

So.... which of your pockets does this rather bulky item fit into?

My tailor insists that I carry nothing bulkier than a few 3x5 cards in the breast pockets of my suit jacket. He says that even a standard checkbook (which would be considerably slimmer than one of these pocket briefcases) causes unsightly bulges in a man's suit.

Or do you carry it in your briefcase?

I can only say I've had a Levenger Intl for at least 6 years and I finally stopped using it the other day. It is still in beautiful condition, the leather is delightfully supple, and for containing bills and receipts as well as a few credit cards AND the 3x5s, it was perfect.

I just decided I wanted to move to a smaller wallet for a while and the blue/kelly duet ID central was on sale. Got the last one in stock for $20-something. The ID Central of course, is just a wallet and not big enough if you carry lots of cash or non-US bills.

My still lovely Intl sits in the closet for that time when I will probably go back to it. I really love the bomber jacket version and would like to move to that someday (I know it's not very girly but I don't care) and if it is as solidly built as the regular leather version then it will last a lifetime. For that, these things particular items are examples of "you get what you pay for". No tears in mine where you might expect (the pen slot where I consistently jammed too-fat pens, the lining of the bill pockets) and no other indications of age except for the slightest rough edge on one corner. And I was very hard on this thing. It's been in a dozen different bags, thrown around the car, dropped I don't know how many times, etc.

If the FC version is nearly as good in terms of quality, then it is $15 well spent.

You might possibly consider the Levenger Bomber Jacket Pocket Briefcase.
It has a pen holder in the center fold. Although it is too small to accommodate a fountain pen, I have found that a Fisher Space Pen fits perfectly.
The leather itself has held up well after a years use. The only defect seen is the separation of the clear plastic window over the ID space. This is attributed to way too many flights

Picked up one of the FC IC holders at Office Depot yesterday. So far my only complaint is that it is available only in black. I prefer brown or tan, but I can live with black. The one I purchased came with a few cards preformatted for Daily TaskList. Price is now up to $15.49 plus tax, but that is a negligible increase. I will give a report in a month or so on how I like it. BTW, a Pilot Knight fits handily in the pen loop.

Donnie

I took a look at the Franklin and I think it's too thick with it's cover for me to carry in my shirt pocket. On a whim i stopped at Staple and discovered the Buxton Note Jotter for $10.99(MSRP 9.95) and it seems quite perfect for my needs. It's well made and a soft brown (there might have been black) leather. I don't see it on the Staples web page but I'll try to get a picture in the next day or so. I was at an event this weekend and all my batteries need charging. It holds 5 or 6 3x5 cards in the front; has a center pocket that holds another 6-10 and a back pocket for written cards and or a blotter. All in all very nice for 10 bucks.