Possible bag

[tx50cal]

Where can I find some patterns, and what supplies and tools will I need to make a possibles bag?

 

[jackc]

As I reklect, there was a pattern or two in the old Mountain Man's Sketch Book years ago...For myself, I never really used a pattern but just decided what size I needed and sorter improvised.

Granted, some of my possibles bags were no things of beauty or anything...but they did work. What I typically do when making something like a possibles bag is to visualize what I want, draw it out on paper, and then make a prototype out of cloth to see if if's what I want. Obviously you've got to bear in mind that leather is going to go together much differently than the material from an old sheet.

In fact I've often thought that a thick towel would be a better pattern maker for this...though I confess I've never tried it.

As for materials, my tastes run toward a fairly heavy leather but one that is soft and supple. Many shooters prefer the stiffer leather such as you would find on an expensive leather satchel.

For stitching material, I prefer artificial sinew. Tough as can be and pretty easy to work with. (Now I must confess, I haven't made a possibles bag in years and wouldn't know where to purchase the artificial sinew today. Our local buckskinner supply store went out of business years ago.) A good quality awl surely helps with stitching with this material but I have also used large eyed needles. I think I bought both at Tandys.

I have also used leather to lace up at least one possibles bag. A leather punch sure helped make that operation easier for me.

I realize that this info isn't much in the way of a 1-2-3 explanation of how to make a possibles bag but it's the way I've always done it.

Good Luck and have fun! Makin' your own stuff is a big part of the fun of black powder shootin' and carryin' on!

Rocky Point Jack

 

[CrackStock]

You can get tools and or leather from:

http://www.brettunsvillage.com/leather/

http://www.tandyleather.com/

http://www.braintan.com/

http://www.clawantlerhide.com/

http://www.hideandfur.com/

(With the exception of Brettun Leather, these were actually taken right from our own sight at:
http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/ubbthr...mp;page=0#13132
courtesy of Musket Man)

There was a pattern offered with a recent issue of the BackWoodsman Magazine, but as RockyPointJack pointed out, bag making is not rocket science. You should be able to come up with something. Just try to study where the stitches all go and make sure that the straps go on the back so it is not a purse!

Your first bag project will likely cause you mixed emotions, so you might get extra leather for the second at the same time. Many people wind up making a bag for each gun that they own so as to have it all ready to go.

(I actually like my cartridge box better and plan to make one without that bright white buff strap to scare all the game away)

YMHS,
CrackStock

 

[ebrunner45]

There was an articial in last months muzzle blasts about making cloth lined bags. I bought a kit from tandy and made a pattern before i put it together both came out pretty good