Period Correct Hunting Pouches.

[crockett]

I am mostly interested in the Rocky Mountain, pre 1840 era on hunting pouches. A lot of replica pouches come with buckles to adjust the length on the strap and many have brass rings near the bottom of the straps. I have only seen a few pictures of actual bags but most seem to be plain, non adjustable straps of leather. How popular were buckles and rings? How many bags had cloth lining? I don't see many original bags with a sheath for a patch knife. It seems a rawhide thong with a charger hanging down mid-chest is about the only common strap item.
What about the size? Most of the pictures indicate a rather small bag, maybe about 8" by 8". The bags seem to conform to the wearer indicating soft leather that was rather thin. Any comments appreciated!

 

[LRB]

Hey Crockett. I would avoid the brass rings, but a buckle is good. I prefer a bag that is on the soft side, but has some body to it. It is also a very good idea to have a positive closure, such as a button or such. I have that the front wall should come up high enough that stuff won't fall out if you turn the bag upside down. You can buy a book by Madison Grant that is on bags, many pictures, but I do not remember the title. One day if you have the time, come shoot with us. I am in the phone book. We shoot almost every Sun morn before it gets too hot. There are usually 2 to 6 of us, this is at my place on the river. Take care.

 

[rusty]

Hi Crockett.If you can get your hands on the March,April 2004 edition of Muzzleloader magazine Rex Norman has a great article on the types of bullett pouches used by the pre 1840 rockey mountain trappers.most appear to plain with a little fringe with a button closeur about 8x8 not much larger some with a single buckel, shoulder strap 2 inches or a little under no knife sheath or stuff hanging off of it just plain and practical.Hope this helps.rusty and oh they apear to be soft to mediem weight leather elk,deer etc.

 

[Stumpkiller]

http://www.colonialgunworks.com/images/THE_KENTUCKY_RIFLE_HUNTING_POUCH.jpg

Here's the book by Madison Grant. It gives some excellent insights on hunting pouches. I'll see if I can't find a more specific bit of info on the Rocky Mountain possibles.

Let me stress that the Rocky Mountain period is not my primary interest - but I'll toss out some general thoughts.

I'm thinking the majority of the bags in Madison's book were produced by a professional leather worker, not a homespun or fireside item. From memory, most 'commercial' bags had a simple adjustment buckle but not the jute strap & loop rings that seem to be common in the latest reproductions. Either Muzzleblasts or Muzzle Loader MANY years back had an article (I think also written by Madison Grant) that listed the articles found OUTSIDE the bag as observed in a sample of some 50 bags. As you note, most had just one or two items carried externally. I've seen fellows with so much stuff hangin off the strap that you'd wonder what they found still needed carryin inside? Usually they get all tangled and are less than handy.

A soft leather bag also conforms to what is carried inside, keeping things from jingling and rattling about. The size, 8" X 8" +/- is because only the items needed to fire & maintain the gun were carried in the hunting bag. You didn't want to fumble with a spoon, two pretty stones and your pipe when you needed to swap a flint in a hurry. Possibles were carried in a haversack or on the horse's pack. Your strike-a-light and firestarting kit were carried on your person (maybe in a belt bag or tucked inside your frock).