Pouch design question
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onefeather
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i wouldnt think it would matter.it is all in what the person chose.but i like my straps on the back :front:i think the person might have it either way for personal confort :m2c:
And if the bag's back or sides are not fairly stiff, mounting the strap on the sides might cause the weight of the bag to "pinch" the straps towards each other. Might make getting the flap open a hassle.
Even modern military bags (map cases, etc) have the straps on the back... looks like a proven design.
Even modern military bags (map cases, etc) have the straps on the back... looks like a proven design.
Yeah, I agree. Most of the originals seem to have the straps sewn on the back. To sew on the sides the bag must have a gussett/side piece. On my first bag I didn't know any better so I stitched the straps to the side- worked fine, used it for years. Never the less, the strap on back is the more common and that's all I use these days.
Most early examples I've seen have the straps attached on the back. I do handstitched bags and have tried side attachment and on the back, and the back attachment seems to hang better. Also helps if you angle the straps out a few degrees. I use a pretty stiff cowhide for the bodies of my bags so the pouch keeps its shape.
As I understand it..the straps on the back are more "correct", that said however...a lot depends where you are going to use the bag. Where I shoot..the club I belong to...it is a 1/2 mile climb to the range..so my bag is somewhat on the large size, made out of buffalo hide with the fur still on and the straps are on the sides. Yes, there is a gusset sewn into the bag to provide for attaching the straps and for ease of opening. All in all..I guess it really is up to each person to use the bag design that best fulfills thier need.
Flap opens better with strap on the back in my experience.
I've built/used both style of bags,I find the straps on the back to be easier to work the flap,and as was said the bag straps on the sides tend to squeeze in with a heavy load causeing the flap to hang-up on the straps.The side mounted straps don't seem to catch on the heavy brush as much as the back strap bags.As far as PC/HC several Native American bags wore side straps,(some were fabric as opposed to leather)Overall I prefer the back mounted straps. :front: :results:
Bountyhunter
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Years ago, I came across a big book in a little town library that was all about shooting pouches. The history and documented examples from here and yonder, museum pieces that could be documented, and chock full of pictures of different styles through the years. It showed personal bags of famous people, bags used by the French and British for trade, and how bags differed as time went on and people moved west.
I do not know the name of the book but it exists. I checked it out as much as they would let me and used it to make my bag.
Early bags and Indian bags were hand sewn. Trade bags and commercial made bags after about 1800 were mostly machine sewn, as the sewing machine was invented about 1790 and was put to good use sewing leather goods. Or, ~~sew~~ that book said. :hmm:
Bill
I do not know the name of the book but it exists. I checked it out as much as they would let me and used it to make my bag.
Early bags and Indian bags were hand sewn. Trade bags and commercial made bags after about 1800 were mostly machine sewn, as the sewing machine was invented about 1790 and was put to good use sewing leather goods. Or, ~~sew~~ that book said. :hmm:
Bill
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Claude - Very Interesting collection! Y'know, for a long time I've heard so many comment that priming horns were not used back in the day, they were not practical, etc and here seems to be proof to the contrary. I myself have been questioning this as of late, but seeing this site gives me enough to keep that lil' horn of 4F in my pouch. Thanks!
It's become apparent to me that they did exist, but I'm not sure why. I can load and prime with FFg, so for me, a separate horn with different powder just isn't necessary. Perhaps the type of gun they used had something to do with it?
I can also pull my knife from my belt to cut my patch, so an additional knife just for that task isn't necessary either. Some of my friends just like the gear and want to carry "stuff". I guess I'm just a one horn, one knife kind of guy. ::
Okay, if I go any more off-topic, I'll have to warn myself. :redface:
It seems to me we have some pics of originals and a narrative by someone claiming there to be priming horns, whether the stuff was all together and used as such 200 years ago is another matter, I think there is some mention of military use of two horns but is there any doc. of a true priming horn being in use along with a main horn?
Marc,
The priming horn controversy is not whether priming horns existed, but whether they existed and were used during the 18th century.
There is no question that priming horns existed, but rather when they existed and were used. There being priming horns in the Tom Wnuck collection gives no documentation or proof that they were used during the 18th century. Could be maybe the priming horns in his collection were actually 19th century priming horns??? Can't tell just by looking at the horns.
Everyone is still looking for any documentation that priming horns were a common 18th century accoutrement.
Harddog
Priming horns were in fact in use as early as the mid 18th century. I know of at least two examples that I have seen that are dated to the F&I war period.
With that being said it is important to note that I have never seen a priming horn among the accoutrements of what one might describe as a "common man's" hunting pouch, at least nothing verified as being originally associated with the gear. Every example that I have seen, either in person or in photographic references, has been among shooting accessories clearly made for the upper class.
This type of over accessorizing of the rich as compared to the no nonsense approach by the poor can be seen in nearly every material interest, even today.
The examples in the auction are poor as they are from a private collection, apparently undocumented in relation to place of origin, date of manufacture and give no indication as to whether any of the items attached and/or associated with the pouches shown have been with them since their original creation.
Although the images on the auction site are interesting references; short of giving some indication of shape and strapping, they offer little historical data; especially in relation to the priming horn question.
Human nature is fickle... what might be used by one person might be considered totally unneeded by another. Since there are priming horns known from the period, it only makes sense that at least a few found use on the frontier. How common they were is still in question, but their existence is a given.
With that being said it is important to note that I have never seen a priming horn among the accoutrements of what one might describe as a "common man's" hunting pouch, at least nothing verified as being originally associated with the gear. Every example that I have seen, either in person or in photographic references, has been among shooting accessories clearly made for the upper class.
This type of over accessorizing of the rich as compared to the no nonsense approach by the poor can be seen in nearly every material interest, even today.
The examples in the auction are poor as they are from a private collection, apparently undocumented in relation to place of origin, date of manufacture and give no indication as to whether any of the items attached and/or associated with the pouches shown have been with them since their original creation.
Although the images on the auction site are interesting references; short of giving some indication of shape and strapping, they offer little historical data; especially in relation to the priming horn question.
Human nature is fickle... what might be used by one person might be considered totally unneeded by another. Since there are priming horns known from the period, it only makes sense that at least a few found use on the frontier. How common they were is still in question, but their existence is a given.
Bear Rider
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Sneakon,
Some years back, I used to make bags. I had two basic designs, based on intended use. Field and trail bags had the straps on the back for ease of carrying, and because the flap would automatically fall forward, closing the bag. Bags intended for competition where you were loading from the bag, had the straps on the sides. This allowed you to flip the flap over the back, leaving the top of the bag open and making it easier to remove and return items. Of course you had to remember to close the bag or risk having things fall out.
Some years back, I used to make bags. I had two basic designs, based on intended use. Field and trail bags had the straps on the back for ease of carrying, and because the flap would automatically fall forward, closing the bag. Bags intended for competition where you were loading from the bag, had the straps on the sides. This allowed you to flip the flap over the back, leaving the top of the bag open and making it easier to remove and return items. Of course you had to remember to close the bag or risk having things fall out.
