Possible bag set up

[Pete G]

I've always been disappointed that authenticity isnt applied among the purists when it comes to demographics, at least reasonable percentages of them should be infected by various STD's; Scurvy; Dysentery; Small pox; Genital rashes; Lice and various verminous body afflicting skin disorders.

Why is it that the diseased population of 18-19th century Soldiers, Explorers; Settlers and Mountain men are deliberately ignored ?

Because nobody wants to share a tent with them!!!

 

[Trigger]

..

The issue isn't what you personally call your own stuff. It never has been. The issue is that the word/s is not what the item was called at the time,,,, and many of you insist on telling people outside of the "hobby" that it was. And this applies to many things that get argued over here in the same way.
Call you bag, on your own, whatever you want, but when someone asks about it on the range or out someplace you encounter the public, a shot pouch is a shot pouch, not a "possibles bag." Same goes for discussions within the community about gear and methods. Knowing the common misuse of the terms, when someone asks a question about a "possibles bag," I'm going to have to ask them to define their terms. Are they actually asking a out a shot pouch or are they asking about a bag for generalized stuff?

When you are gathering your stuff to leave for a shoot or hunt and can't find it and want to ask your significant other, "where's my "possibles bag?" in your best fake "mountainy man" voice,,,, go for it. But please stop telling the outside public that the people who would have originally used such a bag called it that.
You want to put your wife's apron around your tighty-whiteys and call it a breechcloth and then your bathrobe and call it a hunting frock and go shoot or hunt, and use your little short stick to start the ball? Go for it. But don't tell people this is what they wore and how it was done in the frontier and colonial days.

 

[Banjoman]

Around 1830 when Zeke and Simon were coming back from the Rockies after three years in the wilderness Simon had a bag with his shooting stuff that had been repaired about twice as many times as his moccasins.

Zeke remarked that he did not think Simon's bag would make it back to civilization but it was possible.

Simon's possible bag made it back and they have been called that ever since......that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

And now we know,,,,the rest of the story.

 

[Mad L]

If I said you had on tennis shoes, gym shoes, trainers, basketball shoes etc. would you know what I meant.

Actually to me, who played a lot of sports in my youth, each of those names puts a different picture in my mind; only thing common is they are all shoes but they are different types of shoes often for different use....'tennis shoe' a bit more universal in my mind but if I was a tennis play they I might disagree as well.

But all in all; I try to use proper terms for what things are. Kids can 'evolve' language all they want, and they do, often to the point one walks away wondering "What'd that kid say?"

Anyway; I use one's choice of terms to let me know their background, their knowledge of a subject. Personally don't care what they call it.
If someone tells me they are grabbing their 'shot bag/pouch' or 'rifle bag' or even their 'hunting bag' then I pretty sure I know what they will come back out with; but they say they are grabbing their 'possible bag' and come back out with just a small 'shot/rifle bag' - I just say "Okay, hope in!" ...while thinking in head *okay, here we go, Nube*

 

[nchawkeye]

Some want to learn and use the correct terminology and some don't. If a person doesn't care about what it was called during the time period it was used then it is a waste of time to try to change his mind.

Just like learning how to use and hunt with a flintlock, mold your own balls, make a fire with a flint and steel, properly use a compass, sharpen a knife, butcher and cook game some want to learn through the experience, some don't.

 

[Rancocas]

I think I'll call my three bags, Betsy, Matilda, and Sue.

Frankly, folks, this site is beginning to get on my nerves. There is too much modern stuff slipping in, both in terminology like this topic, but also in the gun talk and other subjects. I'm not just talking about what you call your bag. Some of it is just plain anal, and others are just plain stupid. Some of it in violation of the rules, at least so far as I see it.
I know some of you will jump all over me with some snide, derisive remarks just for saying this.
I think I will take a little hiatus. Maybe come back in a few months and see how things are going here then.

 

[Trigger]

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[Moonshine Joe]

Guffaw!

 

[Banjoman]

Ask me about airy one of mine and I’ll tell ye, hits a poke with what we call the makins in hit.

 

[Flintlock Fellow]

I think I'll call my three bags, Betsy, Matilda, and Sue.

Frankly, folks, this site is beginning to get on my nerves. There is too much modern stuff slipping in, both in terminology like this topic, but also in the gun talk and other subjects. I'm not just talking about what you call your bag. Some of it is just plain anal, and others are just plain stupid. Some of it in violation of the rules, at least so far as I see it.
I know some of you will jump all over me with some snide, derisive remarks just for saying this.
I think I will take a little hiatus. Maybe come back in a few months and see how things are going here then.

I think I'll call my three bags, Betsy, Matilda, and Sue.

Frankly, folks, this site is beginning to get on my nerves. There is too much modern stuff slipping in, both in terminology like this topic, but also in the gun talk and other subjects. I'm not just talking about what you call your bag. Some of it is just plain anal, and others are just plain stupid. Some of it in violation of the rules, at least so far as I see it.
I know some of you will jump all over me with some snide, derisive remarks just for saying this.
I think I will take a little hiatus. Maybe come back in a few months and see how things are going here then.

This community is diverse, with people approaching the hobby from different angles. That’s part of what makes it interesting! While staying true to tradition is important, drawing a hard line on what’s ‘acceptable’ can come off as needlessly rigid.

If you’re frustrated, taking a break might help, but I’d also encourage a bit more tolerance for others’ approaches. We’re all here because we share a love for muzzleloading.

 

[longcruise]

Despite insistence that this isn’t a matter of the evolution of language, language can and does evolve; terms like “possibles bag” have become widely used in the modern muzzleloading community, even if they weren’t the exact terms used historically. Insisting that everyone adopt strict period-correct terminology in every context—especially on casual forums or at public events—feels unnecessary and elitist.

I think @Brokennock has a valid point. I'm not a re enactor but I admire those who do it and try to recreate accurately every aspect including language. Most of the serious re enactors that I know consider themselves educators and as such want their portrayal to reflect their chosen place and period.

My chosen period is early 21st century so I'm free to use just about any terminology that suits me as I go forth with my very early pre 21st century TC or GPR. Mine are just "shooting bags".

 

[French Colonial]

I think @Brokennock has a valid point. I'm not a re enactor but I admire those who do it and try to recreate accurately every aspect including language. Most of the serious re enactors that I know consider themselves educators and as such want their portrayal to reflect their chosen place and period.

My chosen period is early 21st century so I'm free to use just about any terminology that suits me as I go forth with my very early pre 21st century TC or GPR. Mine are just "shooting bags".

Reenactors do not even come close to accurately using the language of the periods they reenact.

Read any first hand documents from the period...that's how they talked, sometimes it is even hard to read.

 

[longcruise]

Reenactors do not even come close to accurately using the language of the periods they reenact.

Read any first hand documents from the period...that's how they talked, sometimes it is even hard to read.

I've read many period articles and documents. I don't have much trouble understanding. In fact, I think that many in that time wrote with better clarity than some do today.

Speaking the language as used would indeed be very difficult, IMO. And, I don’t think I've ever heard anyone do it. But the context here is more about terminology. The names applied to items can give a lot of insight into how they thought about the object and how they viewed it's use.

Just my views on it though.

 

[Rató:rats]

 

[Flintlock Fellow]

Reenactors do not even come close to accurately using the language of the periods they reenact.

Read any first hand documents from the period...that's how they talked, sometimes it is even hard to read.

As I’ve already said, I have a deep respect for the historical reenactment community and the effort it takes to preserve traditions. From hand-sewn clothing to flintlocks that look like they stepped out of the 18th century, it’s incredible how much care goes into recreating the past.

But there’s an amusing contradiction in all of it. Many will hassle you mercilessly for not referring to something by its historical term— even resorting to personal attacks in some cases. Yet when the day is done, they head home and clean that carefully faux-aged flintlock with hot tap water, dish soap, and a paper towel roll that definitely didn’t exist in 1770. Then they wipe it down with a coat of Ballistol or some other modern silicone-based gun oil. They lovingly grease their patches with store-bought mink oil from a plastic tub or lube them with a product that smells like it belongs in a candle shop.

It’s not a criticism—this mix of historical devotion and modern practicality is part of what makes the hobby approachable. But it is worth acknowledging the irony. For all the insistence on calling things by their ‘proper’ historical names, we’re still reliant on tools, materials, and conveniences our ancestors could never have imagined.

In the end, though, it’s not about rigid purity— at least not to me. It’s about preserving the spirit of the past, sharing it with others, and keeping the stories alive. If that means pairing period-correct terminology with a plastic bucket of soapy water at the end of the day, so be it. The important part is that we’re out there, honoring the history that inspires us.

 

[Banjoman]

And then we discuss all this period correct terminology on devices that 18th and 19th century folks would consider some type of witchcraft.

Don’t get me wrong though. I enjoy studying 18th and 19th century guns, accoutrements, lifestyles and language. I think we should all strive to maintain the intent of this here forum, but I ain’t gonna no way, now how fall out with someone I don’t even know who gets things side tracked a little every now an agin.

 

[French Colonial]

Can we read this, yes we can, do reenactors talk in this manner, no we do not.

 

[tenngun]

Couple of my bags
My advice to a new shooter is buy a el cheapo haversack
Stick everything you think you need in the bag and go shooting
Take it on a dozen trips and take out what you didnt use and get a bag to carry what you need
As to possibles vs shooting, many say possibles bag as it’s gotten common. But it’s like calling one’s rifle or fowling gun a musket.
It’s your bag so call it what you want.
Shooting pouch or shooting bag was what they called it then
Just as a note, most of us like Allen Ekrit works, bot he often calls any shoulder arm of the time a rifle. In spite of wrong terminology we often recommend his books at good introductions to frontier history.