bags&horns

[joseph mcdonough]

hey has anybody made their own possible bags and horns from scratch ? not a kit just looking for ideas
thanks in advance. :redthumb:

 

[Huntinfool]

Yea I've made four or five altogether. Here's the bag I use the most right now.

Chuck

 

[Stumpkiller]

On gosh yes. I think three bags and four horns. I bought a pattern at Tandy Leather for a hunting pouch, and made one to the pattern. The follow ups were variations.

It would be worth your while to track down a copy of Book of Buckskinning VI which has tips and suggestions on hunting bags.

If you make one too big you tend to fill it up with manure you don't need. A small one with just the essentials is a lot nicer to wear in the woods. Same with a horn. Enough powder for 80 shots is well and plenty enough for 99.9% of situations. I see guys with horns that contain 2-1/2 pounds of powder and look like pointy golf bags bouncing around on their sides. :youcrazy:

My current favorites are an 11" horn (measured around the curve) and a 7" x 8" bag with a round bottom (sort of like these in Madison Grant's book).

Very simple bag with no inner dividers. One tiny 1" x 2" flint pocket inside the front

 

Not the best photo but I made the horns and bag all from total scrap. No patterns, just looked at photos and jumped right to it. It may look rough but at least I made it myself. I learn as I go.

 

[Chuck Thom]

I've made at least 100 pouchs over the years. smaller seems to work best , tend to carry fewer items less weight and only things you'll need. made 200 or so horns. prefer plain and medium size. use cereal boxes for patterns. want a couple patterns? when I use thinner leather such as deer hide I line the pouches with pillow ticking. thinner leather could be a coat from a garage sale. I also like to use old feed sacks or hemp material lined with pillow ticking, I have a pouch made of gunney sack line with canvass for my matchlock , no flap, open top...Regards Chuck Thom

 

[Powderhorn]

I make and sell 2 to 3 dozen screw tip horns a year and 5 or 6 shot bags (pouches). I prefer medium size horns that hold between 1/2 to 3/4 lb of powder. I don't see the need to lug around any more powder than that. Patterns for bags are fun and they're easy. Go to Wal-mart and buy a package of regular sized paper in 110 lb thickness. That will provide all you need to make a lot of bags. Fold the paper lengthwise and pencil in a shape, keeping in mind that everything cut out will be symmetrical. After a series of trial and error, you will have your pattern and a lot of cut up sheets of paper.

 

[doverdog]

The picture shows a commercial production bag, in this case one made by The Leatherman, and a copy I made. The Leatherman bag cost about $150 and I needed some more for new guns I had gotten but didn't want to spring for that much money. Figuring in the cost of leather, dye, buckles, straps, buttons, etc., I still have about $45 in the bag. I decided to make one of my own and blatently used the same design as the Leatherman bag. I used thin posterboard to make a pattern from the first bag and stitched it with one of those stitchers that has the spool in the handle. You will find that Barge Cement and some clamps are a big help in construction. It was my first attempt at leather work and I was very pleased with the result. If you are going to make one, think it through first and make sure you kind of work from the inside out, sewing things together that you will not be able to reach after it is made. It is fairly obvious that the Leatherman bag is on the left and mine is on the right.

 

I like the one you made better!

 

I agree! Yours is the one I would pick from the two. I bet that's the last time you spend that much bread on a leather bag. What are those little hammer things for? (just kidding, I coned my barrel and I think everyone should)

 

[Bob J]

Seriously, yours looks more "original"! :imo: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[Chuck Thom]

I agree your pouch looks better

 

1840's Rocky Mtn style - buffalo horn main horn - cow horn cap horn - pony beads and mink over buffalo hide.

 

[BillinOregon]

Chuck: You must sleep well at night and be a happy guy making such lovely things ...

 

[Al Bateman 1]

Gray Wolf...That is BEE UTE E FULL!! Now I havta clean the drool offa my keyboard.

 

[Aggie99]

I've been trying to find some leather to make my own bag, but I can't seem to locate any. Where do you usually get your leather. If I can't find any by fall, I'm threatening to keep my deer hide and tan it for a bag. Heck, I may do that anyway.

 

[mglampson]

Try Moscow Hide and Fur. I've bought leather from them and was satisfied. Very big selection!.

Britches

 

[riarcher]

Try Ebay!
Just bought a whole tanned Deer hide with fur on for a couple of bags (and lacing) for under $25.00.
Doing a deal with a guy from there that makes inkle straps. Got one to use on the bag, and he's making one for the powderhorn to match. I'll have enough fur from the hide to incorporate the patch knife, loading block/ball bag, and whatever else I come up with. The strap for the horn willbe incorporated into the bag's strap to be "all inclusive".
At least that's the plan that's not "finalized" yet. (lots of scrap paper around the mental drawing board!) :hmm:
I love a "prodject"! ::
Inkle straps try; [email protected]

 

[soggy]

Haven't tried to make a bag (yet) but here's a horn that I just finished. Had lots of help from fellow forum members

[/img]
Soggy

 

[Rebel]

I have a tanned with hair on deer hide i would sell for $30 including shipping in the continental U.S. if anyone is interested. Hope it is ok to post this here.

 

[OTHERN]

Rebel
I'll take you up on that deer hide!! Send me a private post.

Thanks
Othern