Looking for opinions on closure for leather haversacks. I have normally used a buckle closure but am rethinking going with a button on bag and buttonhole in flap. If you were to choose, what is your preference and why.
Haversack preferred closure
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Capt. Jas.
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The originals used buttons yes?
I have pewter buttons on mine. Unit records and the Morier paintings show buttons on the Grenadiers' haversacks.
I think buttons were typical for original canvas haversacks, at least up to the Civil War. I do have a Span-Am period (1890’s) canvas haversack with a leather strap and buckle, though. I don’t know that there is an advantage either way.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen an original all-leather haversack, although I’ll be the first to admit I haven’t seen everything.
I’ll be interested in reading what others have to say.
Best regards,
Notchy Bob
I don’t think I’ve ever seen an original all-leather haversack, although I’ll be the first to admit I haven’t seen everything.
I’ll be interested in reading what others have to say.
Best regards,
Notchy Bob
Today many of us use haversacks as odd and ends bag. Fire kit, house wife, car keys,whet stone ect. Traditional use was food. A soldier had his bread and meat for a day or three.
Bags got greasy and nasty, and were replaced several times a year. Simple construction was normal.
Should you have a civilian haversack, you wouldn’t have called it that back then, but we’ve come to say it now, it might be very nice. So a buckle, embroidery contrasting colors could be the norm. It might even be waxed to make water proof. Look at existing haversacks and game bags, see their general build and shape, then let your needs and taste be your guide
Bags got greasy and nasty, and were replaced several times a year. Simple construction was normal.
Should you have a civilian haversack, you wouldn’t have called it that back then, but we’ve come to say it now, it might be very nice. So a buckle, embroidery contrasting colors could be the norm. It might even be waxed to make water proof. Look at existing haversacks and game bags, see their general build and shape, then let your needs and taste be your guide
smoothshooter
50 Cal.
Originally, haversacks were considered by armies in the 1700’s to be disposable items with a relatively short service life, and so were made relatively cheaply without buckles or leather.
But if someone wants to deviate some and make a nicer one, who can say there were not any period home made ones that were of better quality if one is worried about authenticity?
I saw an original confederate leather haversack made from converting a saddle bag.
Attachments
I just finished this bag yesterday, more of a possibles bag, but lined with pillow tickin and has an internal leather pocket. Decided to go with a buckle closure as it looked more finished and better balanced visually.
Attachments
One of the deals we have today is stuff. Too much stuff. Paintings and drawings from the frontier and more settled area don’t show men with multiple bags.
They had pockets.
There are three known rifleman shirts from the revolution. One has pockets.
Waistcoats were pretty universal, even in the frontier. The riflemans shirt was worn to protect the good clothing underneath.
Even without pockets or a waistcoat when you belt your shirt you have a built in place to store extra odds and ends
We walk our treks today, and go on woods walks as if outfitted for a week away from camp. Old timers didn’t do that. They had a horse or boat to carry gear in.
So your fire kit, and smoke was stuffed in a pocket or in your shirt and you were good to go.
They had pockets.
There are three known rifleman shirts from the revolution. One has pockets.
Waistcoats were pretty universal, even in the frontier. The riflemans shirt was worn to protect the good clothing underneath.
Even without pockets or a waistcoat when you belt your shirt you have a built in place to store extra odds and ends
We walk our treks today, and go on woods walks as if outfitted for a week away from camp. Old timers didn’t do that. They had a horse or boat to carry gear in.
So your fire kit, and smoke was stuffed in a pocket or in your shirt and you were good to go.
Well stated!
While pondering this question of haversack closure, I remembered this:
This sack is Catalog No. 50/5712 in the collections of the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH). They describe it as a "Braves [sic] Food Bag," which was collected from the Montana Blackfeet by Clark Wissler in 1905. The description indicates the materials used were "Hide, Fur, Sinew, Pine Needles." From that, we infer that the body of the bag, the pouch itself, is all leather, although just looking at it I would have thought it was heavily soiled canvas due to the overall form and the tight stitching around the edge of the flap. I can't tell for sure how it is fastened, with that jumble of items on the front of the pouch, but I'm assuming it is tied closed with thongs.
As noted in the posts above, a "haversack" is essentially a food bag, "havers" being an obsolete term for "oats." So, if this Blackfoot pouch is a food bag, it is a sort of native haversack. It isn't very big, though... the dimensions given indicate it is only 18.5cm wide, or slightly over seven and a quarter inches.
I don't think I can link directly to the item in the digital collection. If you want to look it up, click this link: Anthropology Collections Database ... and enter 50/5712 in the search box in the upper left corner of the screen. Click the blue "Search" button and it should pop right up.
Best regards,
Notchy Bob
Nice find.
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