Finished this shooting bag last night

[dhaverstick]

This is a shooting bag/purse I finished last night. I'm donating it to the United Bowhunters of Missouri Festival live auction held this coming Saturday, February 9th. The body of the bag is elk hide and the trim is deer hide. The dark brown bling is elephant ear and the scaly stuff is ostrich leg skin. I carved the D rings and hooks from moose antler and the buttons from deer antler. Everything was sewn by hand using artificial sinew. The bag has a large main compartment and a patch pocket on the inside. It has a gusset pocket on the front and a patch pocket on the back.The strap is adjustable. Hopefully, it will make the club a little money.

Darren

Front of bag

Back of bag

Inside main compartment

Front outer pocket

Back outer pocket

Side of bag

Strap closeup

 

[Meriwether]

That is amazing! You do such nice work. It should bring a good deal of "something" for the event.

 

[necchi]

Wow! That is a ton of detailed stitching!!

 

[Shot deer]

Now that is a really nice bag!

 

[Kansas Jake]

I too marvel at the attention to detail and the stitching.

 

[Flintandsteel]

I have a question!

Your work is very impressive, I just wonder why you choose to use such exotic materials, instead of traditional materials originally used for these bags.
You could make some really nice traditional bags.

 

[Elkeater]

Outstanding!

 

[dhaverstick]

Thanks, everyone!

I have a question!

Your work is very impressive, I just wonder why you choose to use such exotic materials, instead of traditional materials originally used for these bags.
You could make some really nice traditional bags.

That is a good question that has several answers. When I am designing a bag, I look for textures and colors of leather that I think will look good together. If those come from exotics then so be it. I've made bags with carp hide and snake skin on them too, both readily available in the 18th century. I know this is heresy but I find most "traditional" bags boring because I like color and contrast. Many traditional bags that I've seen lack those attributes. I also think that if mountain men would have had access to colorful exotic skins that they could afford then they probably would have used them too. I'm not knocking traditional period correct bags, I'm just saying they are not for me.

Darren

 

[Rifleman1776]

Very interesting. Hope it brings enough money to compliment your craftsmanship.

 

[Flintandsteel]

I get it, but this sport is much about traditional. Doubt most didn't have access to Ostrich, or elephant.
To me, kinda like building a longrifle out of bubinga, or wenge. Pretty, but not what they had to use.

 

[FishDFly]

You are a craftsman, no doubt about it.

 

[Jim Evans]

I like it and I would have no problem carrying that bag

 

[Steve Milbocker]

Beautiful bag, great craftsmanship!

 

[smoothshooter]

This is a shooting bag/purse I finished last night. I'm donating it to the United Bowhunters of Missouri Festival live auction held this coming Saturday, February 9th. The body of the bag is elk hide and the trim is deer hide. The dark brown bling is elephant ear and the scaly stuff is ostrich leg skin. I carved the D rings and hooks from moose antler and the buttons from deer antler. Everything was sewn by hand using artificial sinew. The bag has a large main compartment and a patch pocket on the inside. It has a gusset pocket on the front and a patch pocket on the back.The strap is adjustable. Hopefully, it will make the club a little money.

Darren

Front of bag

Back of bag

Inside main compartment

Front outer pocket

Back outer pocket

Side of bag

Strap closeup

 

[smoothshooter]

Looks like great workmanship, but aren't the white and yellow colors a little bright for a hunting bag?

Would really make the hunter easy to spot.

 

[Griz44Mag]

I have a question!

Your work is very impressive, I just wonder why you choose to use such exotic materials, instead of traditional materials originally used for these bags.
You could make some really nice traditional bags.

Geez Dane, Open your other eye please. That is some beautiful handcrafting. I would be proud to carry that. The textures are amazing, the blend and flow of colors in the pattern are smooth and contrasting at the same time. This is real artwork. Please turn your period correct electronic monitor off and unplug your period correct modem if you find it displeasing.

 

[WRustyLane]

Now that's what I call a "very impressive bag." Very nice work and great stitching. I like the hand made antler D rings. Very nice!

 

[PluggedNickel]

Absolutely beautiful! What a talent you have. Well done!

 

[tenngun]

Thanks, everyone!



That is a good question that has several answers. When I am designing a bag, I look for textures and colors of leather that I think will look good together. If those come from exotics then so be it. I've made bags with carp hide and snake skin on them too, both readily available in the 18th century. I know this is heresy but I find most "traditional" bags boring because I like color and contrast. Many traditional bags that I've seen lack those attributes. I also think that if mountain men would have had access to colorful exotic skins that they could afford then they probably would have used them too. I'm not knocking traditional period correct bags, I'm just saying they are not for me.

Darren

That’s a fine looking bag, and no it’s not traditional. I admire your work. I’m a traditionalist so I want my stuff to look like what they had then. We can’t forget those that enjoy the sport and want a fine double or an English sporting rifle but not keep fully HC.

 

[hamanky]

I don’t see that bag as ever getting used for it’s original purpose. I see a guy buying it at the auction and his wife taking it for a nice purse! He’ll never see it again lol.
Amazing craftsmanship!