Possibles bag sizes.

[DennyDucet]

I would value a list of what you put in your bag. You seem to have a good grasp of the information I am looking for with this.

 

[Black Hand]

Brown leather bag containing 60 caliber balls

Tin containing 0.010 (Egyptian cotton) and 0.015-18 (pillow ticking) patches lubed with bear grease, worm and screw

Folding knife

Bear oil in glass bottle

Small copper funnel for filling horn

Flints in small leather bag

Brass compass

Flint & Striker

Awl with triangular blade

Bag of Tow (cloth bag)

Cap tin with earplugs

Mesh bag made from hemp twine

Leather thong

Cows-knee attached to strap

Pick & brush attached to strap and tucked into bag (handmade chain)

Missing but usually in the bag: 3-4ft of brass snare wire

 

[tenngun]

Pefect bag. Just when looking for thinner leather DONT use the tandy golden brigade deer skin. :nono: I tried several none worked

 

[Artificer]

Out of curiosity, do you have a gusset in your pouch? How about an interior divider flap?

Gus

 

[Grenadier1758]

Okay, I have two more Karl Bodmer paintings from the 1830's just prior to his travel to the far west. These are given the location as to where they were painted as New Harmony, Indiana.

The first is one of the Naturalist Charles Alexandre Lesueur

The other is of the Hunter Russe

The Naturalist Lesueur has a fairly large pouch with a flap with two buttons. The horn is barely visible on his back. Note the sling on what is most likely a fowler.

The Hunter Russe has a small shot pouch with a fairly large horn on a strap separate from the pouch.

 

[Billnpatti]

I found in selecting a bag I had to consider two things. First, I had to consider the size of my hands. I have very large hands, an XL glove is a very tight fit on my hands. So I need a larger bag just to accommodate my hand size. I tried a smaller bag but it was a real wrestling match for me to get my hand in the bag and find anything. I ended up with a bag that measures about 10 inches wide at the top and is about 8 or 9 inches deep. It is larger than I need just based on what I carry in it but size matters when you have big hands. I know there are a lot of people out there who are glad I didn't grow up to be their proctologist. :haha:

The second consideration is what you plan to carry in your bag. Some folks carry just the bare minimum while others carry everything but the kitchen sink. I fall somewhere in the middle.

So, consider what you will be carrying and how easily you can find what you are looking for in your bag when selecting a size and style.

My bag is large made of plain leather with no embelishments and has two pockets in it. In one, I carry my ball bag, my caps (if I am carrying one of my percussion rifles) or my flint wallet and my patching material. In the other pocket, I carry any tools and cleaning supplies such as some wiping patches and a cleaning jag as well as a jag to remove a lost patch, etc......and maybe a small snack.

 

[MountainRanger]

I have two that I use. For my SW Virginia Flinter, I have a later style 8 1/2 x 9" with a 2" gusset (that was the gross measurement. Stitched in, that comes down to about 1 1/2"). That bag also has a 5 1/2" pocket on the face of the bag. I made this bag from blacksmith (oiled) leather that is 9 oz.
The other bag is buffalo and is 6" x 7" with no gusset and a long flap. I tried to make this a very early style and will go with the Chief's Grade Trade Gun (if it ever get's done)

 

[Black Hand]

Out of curiosity, do you have a gusset in your pouch? How about an interior divider flap?

No and no.

I have a small pocket (~2x3") sewn in the bag liner that holds the Flint & striker, wingbone whistle, snare wire and my hunting license & tags.

 

[tenngun]

That makes me smile. Audobonns bag looks 'big' while the other bag looks smaller to me. Sometimes words like big and small are unhandy. None to precise.

 

[Black Hand]

The large pouch could be for specimens he has collected.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Lesueur's (the Naturalist) bag has depth of about 12 to 16" deep and about 10" across. Yes it does appear to be a bag that he is using to collect specimens.

Now the hunter Russe's bag is about 1/2 the width of his elbow to wrist or 6" and it is square so about 7" deep.

 

[Don Steele]

My bag is the October Country "Seneca".
10x9 with a 3" gusset. Outside pockets both front and back plus 3 smaller pockets inside. It also has a belt loop on the back to run your belt through and keep the bag from flopping around if that is a concern to you.
This bag carries everything I need to keep my flintlock running anywhere, and for as long as I might ever need. It's big...but I prefer that to being too small.
Your experience may differ.

 

[Billnpatti]

Sounds like a darned good choice. :thumbsup:

 

[DennyDucet]

I went with he Trail bag T-501 8"x7"x 1.5" gusset. Has 3 pockets total. That is all I need. I will be using this as a rifle support/shooting bag only. Ball, patch, some tools, flints, that is it really. I also went with the red hunter star inlay for good luck hunting, because I could really use the luck!

Thanks again all.

 

[BrownBear]

You'll be happy!