Bag Fixes (Help)

[Smokey Plainsman]

Well hi, all.

Went to the rendezvous today at Fort de Chartres in Illinois and got a bag and horn. I quite like them both, but each has a small problem.

The horn is attached to the bag strap, and when I adjusted the strap to fit my body, the horn now points up at a near 45 degree angle into my chest. It is not so comfortable, and rides too high. Seems I will need to detach the right side strap that connects the horn to the bag and move it down and reattach it so the horn is level and comfortable. A picture:

I am not sure how to do this or what tools I'll need, any help is most appreciated. I am willing to send it to someone if they can fix it.

Also the stopper on the powder horn is pretty loose. It is "bottomed out" and not very tight. I fear it might come loose, it's not as secure as the ones on my other horns, and I don't want it to become a safety hazard. I am pretty sure I will need to get a new stopper and fit it to the horn. I am having a time sourcing lone stoppers that don't come with a horn attached. Any leads gang?

Thanks so much all! I think when I get the horn leveled out and the stopper fixed it'll make a nice set for sure, it's really swell. Thanks in advance for the help!

Smokey

 

[Mean Gene]

An easy fix for your powder horn strap problem would be to buy a separate powder horn strap that wraps around your body.
If you prefer it attached to your bag strap the way it is then you will have to do some shopping for leather and replace it.
Look for a Tandy leather shop in your area, bring it there and show them the problem, they can give you good advice and help you find the right leather.

Hope this helps your situation and good luck.

 

[Artificer]

Smokey,

I am guessing the strap was originally too short for you and you had to let the strap out so it would hang down further? I assume the tops of the horn straps are sewn to the pouch strap, correct?

If that is the case, the easy fix is to cut the stitching on the tops of the horn straps, that hold the horn straps to the pouch strap . You don't want to cut the horn straps, just the stitching. Then pick the cut threads out of the horn straps and pouch strap. This is going to leave the bottom of the horn straps attached to your horn.

Put the pouch back on where it feels good. Now, it is best if someone can hold the tops of the horn straps lower on and against the pouch strap, to see where they will allow the horn to hang well for you. While the other person holds the horn straps, you can try simulating where you prefer to hold and use the horn. You may need to move the straps around a bit, but you will eventually find the positions where they work best for you.

Then you can mark the position of where the top of each horn strap should be re-sewn to the pouch strap. You can do this by the other person placing a bit of masking or scotch tape on the pouch over the top of each horn strap. Or perhaps the other person can use a pen or pencil and go through the holes in each horn strap to mark where the holes need to go in the pouch strap.

If you placed masking or scotch tape over the top of the horn straps should go, you take the pouch off and lay it down on a table. Put the horn straps where they should go on the pouch strap and you use a pen, pencil or even a small nail or needle and then go through the horn strap holes and mark the position on the pouch strap.

Now you will need some kind of an awl to pierce the pouch strap for the horn strap holes. You could also drill the holes IF you have very small drill bits. Then you will need a small amount of rather heavy linen thread and two good size needles to hand sew the horn straps to the pouch. If you don't have a Tandy store in your area, a craft store like Michaels or Ben Franklin or even a fabric store will have the thread and needles to do the job.

Questions? Please ask.

Gus

 

[Artificer]

Oh, after you move the horn straps further down the pouch strap and if you find the horn straps are not long enough to use the horn as you like, then you will need to either sew on pieces of leather to make the horn straps longer or just make two longer straps. But before we go into that, there is a good chance that just moving the current horn straps further down the pouch strap will work fine for you.

Gus

 

[Black Hand]

I'd suggest putting the horn on its own strap. Far easier, as you can use the horn independent of the bag.

As to the plug - soak it in melted beeswax. This will cause it to become marginally larger and may fix the issue. Another fix is to make a new plug that is a snug fit. Resist the urge to force the plug into the spout when sizing as you can split the horn spout. Then soak the plug in melted beeswax and scrape until it just fits.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

If it was me, and this is just what I do..., nothing incorrect about what you have there ..., which is SCHWEET by the way..., I'd put the horn on it's own strap, and I'd use the front attached-horn-strap to hang the powder measure, and I'd use the back attached-horn-strap to hang a touch hole pick .
:idunno:
I like my horn on a separate strap as I find it doesn't get pulled forward along with the bag. Also when I fill it, I don't need to take off the bag to do so. If I have a problem with a loaded rifle functioning, I prefer to have my horn back behind my right elbow when I pull my bag toward the front to root for a knapping tool or other tool, not below the lock hanging from the bag. :shocked2:

NOPE never had a problem myself, nor have I ever heard of somebody having a problem with their gun having an A.D. with the horn below and slightly to the rear of the lock...,
Superstitious I guess... :youcrazy: :haha:

As for the horn plug..., put it in a 1-cup measuring cup with about 1/2" of mineral oil, and place a 3/4-cup inside and on top to hold the plug under the surface of the oil. The oil will make the wood swell, and the wood won't shrink back later due to low humidity. See if that doesn't snug it up for you..., if it's still loose.., time to replace it.

LD

 

[BrownBear]

Good fixes suggested for your strap issues.

As for the horn plug..., put it in a 1-cup measuring cup with about 1/2" of mineral oil, and place a 3/4-cup inside and on top to hold the plug under the surface of the oil. The oil will make the wood swell, and the wood won't shrink back later due to low humidity. See if that doesn't snug it up for you..., if it's still loose.., time to replace it.

LD

Interesting approach, but I'm not confident in mineral oil and swelling- mostly cuzz I've never tried it.

My fix for loose plugs is quick and easy. I just smear them all around with beeswax, then "spin" them a little as I push them back into the horn. Done.

 

[George]

My fix for loose plugs is quick and easy. I just smear them all around with beeswax, then "spin" them a little as I push them back into the horn. Done.

I've done that, but sometimes a bit more is needed. I have had good luck by putting a lashing of thin thread on the plug and then treating it with melted beeswax. Works well, is a bit more of a permanent fix.







Spence

 

[Artificer]

Though I wrote out how to lower the horn so it might fit your use better, I have to go along with the majority and say I learned long ago that I much prefer a separate strap for my powder horn, as well.

Some folks like their horn attached to their bag so the horn rests over the flap and helps keep the flap closed. Some folks like a very long front flap on their pouch and the attached horn is kept under the flap. I have found the horn gets in the way a frustrating amount when done either way.

IMO, if you decide to carry the horn on a separate strap, I would not use the current horn straps to hang a vent wire or measure or anything else. That because they have a tendency to get hung up or caught when hunting in brush or tall grass.

Gus

 

[BrownBear]

My fix for loose plugs is quick and easy. I just smear them all around with beeswax, then "spin" them a little as I push them back into the horn. Done.

I've done that, but sometimes a bit more is needed. I have had good luck by putting a lashing of thin thread on the plug and then treating it with melted beeswax. Works well, is a bit more of a permanent fix.

I guess I'm more on the "replace it" side of the ledger. If the plug is so undersize that beeswax doesn't do the job, I just hack out another plug. It's quick and easy. Even got frustrated with an uncooperative plug on a hunt once with no beeswax on hand, so I whittled another plug from alder. Didn't take so much as 5 minutes. Come to think of it, I'm still using it 10 years later.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Yes, I decided to remove the horn from the bag straps, along with the horn straps. I used a sharp knife and sliced the threads between where the leather met.

I also ordered an adjustable loomed jute powder strap that should allow me to put the horn exactly where I want it on my body.

I also ordered a couple fiddle pegs to use as a stopper. I soaked the stopper in Ballistol (mostly mineral oil) for 24 hours and it was still just a loose as before.

Also I am going to attach a small powder measure, probably under 40 grains (once I figure an accurate load for my new rifle) to the bag strap with some sturdy natural string of some kind, as well as a pick to clean the nipple flash hole.

Thank you so much gang! It looked good hanging up in the suttler's tent but I am having to work with it a little to fit me. I really do like the bag and horn and am actually kind of happy that I get to customize it to my liking.

 

[Black Hand]

I also ordered an adjustable loomed jute powder strap that should allow me to put the horn exactly where I want it on my body.

From personal experience, Jute doesn't last very long with a high-wear item such as a powderhorn strap (or tumpline). I've had far better luck with a hemp strap, though I believe a thin veg-tan (or stiffer, thicker braintan) strap would be the best of all possible options.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Oh? When it wears out I will try something else I suppose, already ordered one.

 

[Black Hand]

Oh? When it wears out I will try something else I suppose, already ordered one.

Sell/trade it and get a leather strap...

 

[Gene L]

I'm a quick-fix sort of guy. My plugs are made from violin pegs. They fit tightly and look pretty good, too.

 

[BrownBear]

I also ordered a couple fiddle pegs to use as a stopper. I soaked the stopper in Ballistol (mostly mineral oil) for 24 hours and it was still just a loose as before.

Those will work fine, perhaps with a little adjustment.

Coupla things to watch for:

The taper on the pegs may not match up real well with the taper in the hole on your horn. First thing to do is to shove the peg in and spin it a bunch to mark the contact points. Pretty easy to spot where it's contacting by the shiny band you'll make.

You're likely to want to adjust the taper of the peg so you increase the width of the contact point. The more contact you have along the length of the peg, the better the fit. I use sandpaper (usually 320 grit unless there's a lot of peg to be removed) to adjust the taper, just gripping the paper around the peg and spinning the peg while only squeezing on the part of the peg that needs sanding. If you follow that.

If you've got a pretty good fit but with lots of peg sticking up above the horn, I'd keep that taper but start moving it up the peg until the peg is seated pretty deep into the horn. I don't like more than 1/4" or so of the peg shaft above the horn mouth. Longer ones are sure more prone to snagging or even breaking off.

When you're done, cut off any peg below the contact area. It's never going to contact the horn anyway, and it's likely to get in the way.

Once you're done and happy, I'd give the peg a light rubbing with beeswax or rosin to help add a little stickum. Doesn't take a lot, and it sure helps keep even well-fitted pegs from working loose. And they will work loose.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

They're that bad, eh?

 

[Black Hand]

They shred easily...and for whatever it's worth, not HC or PC.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Sounds good. I will probably still use it until it gets worn out since I'm not a reenactor, then I'll get a leather strap.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Hey gang!

Got my new strap and stopper in:

I really like the strap and I can adjust it to the ideal ride and cant for the horn, unlike when it was attached to the bag. I really like it and think it looks good! It's jute which some are saying can break down over time, if that happens I'll replace it with a hemp one, but for right now it works. The violin peg stopper fits my horn very nicely, much more secure than the stopper that came with it.

All in all very pleased and glad I decided to detach the horn from the bag, I just don't think that carry method is for me.

Unfortunately there will be a delay on my custom rifle. Let's just say the maker is having... issues. Hopefully he can get everything straightened out soon, he is already many weeks past when he said he could have the rifle delivered, and has had a slew of problems along the way.

Here's to hoping this bag and horn can have a rifle to go with it soon!