1st Shot Pouch attempt

[Artificer]

Spence,

Thank you, that's good to know.

Gus

 

[Brokennock]

It's odd. The big square/rectangular pieces that make up the bag are a little stretchy, but not so bad the bag will loose it's shape. But when this leather is cut into narrow strips, it's very easy to stretch and pull.

 

[Brokennock]

I actually did want the flap wider at the bottom to match the bag. The bag is about an inch and a half narrower at the top than the bottom. When I trimmed the edges of the flap post construction, I failed to trim them symmetrically.

I'd like to find a different way to do the strap. That is the biggest thing keeping me from jumping into making my next bag.

 

[Brokennock]

Spence, the numbers you came up with for bag material are great. Do you have any numbers for how the bag's straps were constructed and/or attached? I.e buckles vs. no buckles, D-rings (or other metal ring), buttons, etc?

 

[Artificer]

It's odd. The big square/rectangular pieces that make up the bag are a little stretchy, but not so bad the bag will loose it's shape. But when this leather is cut into narrow strips, it's very easy to stretch and pull.

There is no way to know if that was just the "temper" of that individual piece of pigskin or if the tanning process caused it. This is where leather working becomes something of an art because you never know what the temper of the leather will be until you cut into each hide.

Gus

 

[BrownBear]

I'd like to find a different way to do the strap. That is the biggest thing keeping me from jumping into making my next bag.

If pre-stretching the pig leather or making the strap wider doesn't work to your satisfaction, why not just use cow dyed to match? Even 4-5 ounce cow will stretch a little at first, but if you stretch it good before cutting to length, that's limited. You could also use a woven strap. I forget who, but someone here on the site advertises some really nice ones now and then in the classified section.

 

[George]

The straps of my pigskin bags are done in the most simple and straightforward way. Both are two-piece, a short and a long piece, connected with a buckle so the length can be adjusted as my clothing changes...heavy or light. They are simply sewn to the upper back of the bag at a slight angle so the pull is straight when the bag is being worn.







My bags are supposed to emulate ones made by a man for his own use, not a professional, and with the simple tools he would have had at hand. They ain't fancy, or even always well designed, but they work for me.

Spence

 

[George]

I'll bet this pouch wound up being an interesting looking one.

"John Cutright was in this fight, sporting a brand-new shot-pouch which was badly rent by a ball and its contents scattered on the ground. The Indians were routed, and in the short pursuit made by the whites, Cutright was left behind. When the party came back, he was sitting on a log stolidly mending his damaged shot-pouch, embellishing his crude work with an occasional emphatic expletive.”

_The Border Settlers of Northwest Virginia from 1768 to 1795_, Lucullus Virgil McWhorter

Spence

 

[Artificer]

Spence,

Your sewing and construction of that Shot Pouch is good work! No doubt why it has held up well for over 20 years.

Brown Bear,

A woven strap for a Shot Pouch is certainly correct for the period, but like Spence, I also prefer a two piece strap with an adjustment buckle. I found that out on my very first pouch, which did have some adjustment, but it was by overlapping strap edges and lacing in the holes - sort of the best I could do with the suede leather I bought before I knew better.

Also, using that first pouch gave me a chance to figure out where I prefer to carry my shot pouch as to how far down my body it went. I found I like it in a rather specific place. The adjustment of the two piece leather strap and buckle allows it to always sit there, no matter how many clothes I add on.

Gus

 

[BrownBear]

Yeah, the two piece buckled leather is my preference too, and for the reasons you cite. I read the hoopla for woven straps and made a couple. I understand the hoopla now, but even so I missed the adjustments and went back to leather.

I haven't tried pre-stretching pig skin, but that might be the solution in this case.

 

[Artificer]

I'll bet this pouch wound up being an interesting looking one.

"John Cutright was in this fight, sporting a brand-new shot-pouch which was badly rent by a ball and its contents scattered on the ground. The Indians were routed, and in the short pursuit made by the whites, Cutright was left behind. When the party came back, he was sitting on a log stolidly mending his damaged shot-pouch, embellishing his crude work with an occasional emphatic expletive.”

_The Border Settlers of Northwest Virginia from 1768 to 1795_, Lucullus Virgil McWhorter

Spence

That is a great quote. I can see how with the adrenaline and fear subsiding, he sat down to do something useful and can almost hear him cussing.

Gus

 

[George]

Also, using that first pouch gave me a chance to figure out where I prefer to carry my shot pouch as to how far down my body it went. I found I like it in a rather specific place. The adjustment of the two piece leather strap and buckle allows it to always sit there, no matter how many clothes I add on.

I learned from Mark Baker that if the bag is worn high it won't flop around if you wind up moving at more than a walk. Also, with the powderhorn adjusted correctly, it will hold the flap down nicely.



Spence

 

[BrownBear]

Agreed. With a "higher" ride (about belt high like yours) it's also convenient to simply press your arm against your side to stop bag flop when you're moving through, around and over obstacles. That simple little adjustment is important for making a bag really fit my activities.

 

[Artificer]

This is for both Spence and Brown Bear and of course anyone else who would like to chime in.

Maybe I don't understand something when people talk about wanting their shot pouch high up, but to me the way Spence has the pouch slung,it does not look that "high?" To me it looks sort of like a "middle position?" Not sure if I am making sense here?

This is just curiosity on my part and I am not trying to infer anything about the way a shot pouch rides is either right or wrong.

Gus

 

[BrownBear]

You'll see a lot of guys carrying them a fair bit lower. Doesn't work for me at all. Truth be known, I carry mine something like 2" higher than what Spence is showing. It just works better for me when controlling it in the rough stuff. I'm 6'4" and my wife is 5'7", so if she grabs one with the strap adjusted for, it's hanging about half way down her thigh! :rotf:

Good question.

 

[Black Hand]

You'll see a lot of guys carrying them a fair bit lower.

...usually by people who haven't spent any time trying to walk through the woods/brush while hunting/scouting in primitive gear.

Too low is uncomfortable and annoying, catches on every branch/shrub and hits the leg with every step. I prefer the bag at about waist level, where I can comfortably reach all the contents (R-handed with the bag carried on the right).

 

[Artificer]

I'm only between 6' and 6'1", but as my best friend in life used to say, I have "Orangutan" length arms and/or my knuckles almost drag the ground as I walk.

What I prefer to do is have the pouch hang just below where my leather waist belt rides comfortably around my middle/belly. I actually put the shot pouch on first and then have the belt go over the straps, which keeps the pouch solidly in place even when running at full tilt and not having to put a hand on it other than holding the powder horn close.

That way when I am shooting in a match, I actually put the flap of the pouch up and have the waist belt also wrapped around it to hold it up, so I can easily get items out of it.

Have to admit I have not seen too many other people carry their pouches that way, though.

Gus

 

[George]

If i carry my pouch much higher than shown I have difficulty getting my hand into it easily, but I would prefer it higher than shown rather than lower.

I wouldn't be comfortable with my belt over the straps. Rather than that I would use a belt bag. :grin:

Spence

 

[BrownBear]

If i carry my pouch much higher than shown I have difficulty getting my hand into it easily, but I would prefer it higher than shown rather than lower.

This might be an notable difference between us, unless you happen to be a lefty like me. With the bag on my right side as usual, I am reaching across my body to get into it. Actually kinda pulling it in front of me as I do so. No problems with the higher bag.

 

[George]

A cross-draw pouch? Never would have thought of that.

Spence