Made a Shooting Bag and Powder Horn

[Tumbledown]

I just finished up a little project. I know they're not historically accurate to any time period, but I just wanted something that looks good and is functional for when I go out shooting.

The bag is veg tanned goatskin from Hobby Lobby, dyed dark brown, then oiled with olive oil. (Olive oil works well, EVOO doesn't go rancid and darkens up leather even more.) It has a single pocket inside, using the natural edge for the flap. It does not have a gusset. It is all hand sewn with a saddle stitch. The rings are from steel rod, heated red hot and hand formed, then wiped with oil while hot to blacken. The shoulder strap is a cotton/jute trim I found at Hobby Lobby.

The horn is from an unfinished horn I had laying around after my medieval reenactment days. I heated the opening with a heat gun and put a poplar disc (cut with a hole saw) in to keep it round. When the horn cooled, I couldn't get that disc out! So I trimmed the horn flush, then glued a larger maple disc on top. The finial and plug are shaped from oak dowel. (I don't have a lathe, I used a sanding disc in my drill, which was then clamped in my vise, holding and turning the dowel as the disc spun.) The wood is all stained and waxed. The horn hangs from the bag straps on waxed linen thread looped over buttons on the straps.

The final fit seems pretty decent. There are some accounts of the horn being at elbow length so it can be easily held down while running, and it does seem like a workable position. I'll know more once I can try it out. Heck, I haven't even shot my ML yet!

 

[Treestalker]

Your horn and bag look good and functional without any 'chrome'. Good Job! And Wow, I didn't know Hobby Lobby sold leather; I'll have to check it out, thanks for the resource.

 

[ZionHeritageFarm]

It is a nice looking bag and horn. I wasn’t aware Hobby Lobby sold leather either. Or strapping like that. Thanks for the info.

 

[S.Kenton]

I especially like the strap... makes me wanna go shop at Hobby Lobby and make one..

 

[Steve Milbocker]

Nicely done!

 

[jrmflintlock]

Looks good and functional. You might want leather instead of the linen thread to hang your powder horn. It will hold up longer to abrasion.

If you are like the rest of us, the first of many!

 

[Tumbledown]

Looks good and functional. You might want leather instead of the linen thread to hang your powder horn. It will hold up longer to abrasion.

If you are like the rest of us, the first of many!

I wasn't having luck with the leather I have. I either couldn't tie it snug tight enough or it would stretch. Maybe I'll cut down some latigo lacing I have and make thinner strips.

 

[Tumbledown]

I especially like the strap... makes me wanna go shop at Hobby Lobby and make one..

Thanks. I was quite surprised to find it. Maybe I should go back and get more. They might even carry it on their website.

 

[Shot deer]

I really like the horn and the bag, but awww, that bag is awesome!

 

[S.Kenton]

I really like the horn and the bag, but awww, that bag is awesome!

I agree, simple but yet looks to be somthing that you'd see back in the day for sure! Still like the strap!

 

[Huntschool]

I wasn't having luck with the leather I have. I either couldn't tie it snug tight enough or it would stretch. Maybe I'll cut down some latigo lacing I have and make thinner strips.

I have used some of that HL goat skin. Just cut some strips, more then the length you need, on a taper from 3/8 down to 1/4 about 18" or more long. Get them wet and stretch them. Dont try and tie them to the horn but loop them round, pull them tight and sew the tag end tight to the loop. If ya have trouble wet the end again and stretch them to fit and clamp them in place. Allow to dry clamped and then sew as above.

EDIT: As Brown Bear says below, I think you may find this bag a bit tight for you. I also think you may have made the strap a bit short especially when you wear a heavier outside coat. Along with that, the horn "straps" may be a bit short to maneuver the horn well for loading. When I fit bag I generally hang it a bit lower and give the horn straps a good bit of length so that moving the horn to load is not a problem.

If you have questions PM me here.

Good luck. Nice set up by the way…...

 

[BrownBear]

Great looking outfit and well made. I'm particularly fond of smaller bags like that, so you have my attention.

Looking at that last photo I have one concern though. Looks like the bag is sewn flat and reversed, while your hands are fairly large like mine. You might come away feeling the bag is "too small" when in fact it's too skinny for big hands. If you have issues pulling your hand out after reaching in to grab something, try making another version the same size with a 1" or 1 1/2" gusset for more "thickness." It will make all the difference without increasing the overall size. My test for bags is reaching into the bag and closing my fist, then drawing my hand back out. If it hangs up, time for a gusset.

After all the fun you had building this one you needed an excuse for another build, didn't you?

 

[Brokennock]

I dig the bag man. It may or may not be hc/pc, but if you don't care it doesn't matter, but I Really like that antler through the ring idea for not using a button to keep the bag closed. Good work around.

 

[Brokennock]

You'll need a wide enough heavy leather thong to be able to cut a slit in it lengthwise a bit back from the end on both ends. Pass one end through the slit at the opposite end and pull through till you have a little loop that can be cinched down around that stem on the base plug of your horn. Now the tricky part if the leather is stiff, start back a few inches from the slit in the free end and fold the thong and push this folded "end" through the remaining slit the other end of your horn goes through the folded section that is on the other side of the loop, then the whole mess gets worked down tight around the horn.
It's a lot harder to explain in writing than it is to do. I'll try to take and post some pictures tonight/tomorrow morning when I get home from work.

 

[Tumbledown]

Great looking outfit and well made. I'm particularly fond of smaller bags like that, so you have my attention.

Looking at that last photo I have one concern though. Looks like the bag is sewn flat and reversed, while your hands are fairly large like mine. You might come away feeling the bag is "too small" when in fact it's too skinny for big hands. If you have issues pulling your hand out after reaching in to grab something, try making another version the same size with a 1" or 1 1/2" gusset for more "thickness." It will make all the difference without increasing the overall size. My test for bags is reaching into the bag and closing my fist, then drawing my hand back out. If it hangs up, time for a gusset.

After all the fun you had building this one you needed an excuse for another build, didn't you?

Thanks, Brownbear. It is indeed a flat bag. I don't intend to carry a lot in it, only some balls, patches, nipple pick, capper, and a powder measure. My hands are actually only a medium glove. Time will tell, though. I know how pockets and tool boxes can accumulate things.

 

[Tumbledown]

You'll need a wide enough heavy leather thong to be able to cut a slit in it lengthwise a bit back from the end on both ends. Pass one end through the slit at the opposite end and pull through till you have a little loop that can be cinched down around that stem on the base plug of your horn. Now the tricky part if the leather is stiff, start back a few inches from the slit in the free end and fold the thong and push this folded "end" through the remaining slit the other end of your horn goes through the folded section that is on the other side of the loop, then the whole mess gets worked down tight around the horn.
It's a lot harder to explain in writing than it is to do. I'll try to take and post some pictures tonight/tomorrow morning when I get home from work.

I understand what you're describing. I do have some veg tan 7/8oz I could try that with, or would that be *too* heavy?

 

[Einsiedler]

Great job! You did good. Nice bag and horn!

 

[Brokennock]

I understand what you're describing. I do have some veg tan 7/8oz I could try that with, or would that be *too* heavy?

Try it. I have trouble cutting my own strips/straps. But cutting your own would allow you to make it slightly wider for a couple inches at each end where the slit will go.


Do yourself a favor, if you are tempted to punch a small hole at each end of the slit to keep it from tearing further,,,,, buy individual punches as a set, even one of the Tandy ones that Hobby Lobby sells with one shaft and replaceable/changeable punch sizes. Don't waste money on one of those plier contraptions with the wheel you turn to get to each size punch, it will fail, at the worst time.

 

[Brokennock]

I understand what you're describing. I do have some veg tan 7/8oz I could try that with, or would that be *too* heavy?

So how did your strap come out?

 

[Rifleman1776]

Good job. Doin' yer own thang.