pouches lined or not

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onefeather

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i have a question.do you guys perfer your pouches lined with ticking linen cotton ect,orwould you rather have them unlined? i perfer unlined.what do you guys think? :thumbsup:
 
The lined pouches keep the leather crumbs off my pre-lubed patching strips.

Lining the flap adds weight and keeps it down better.

Also, depending on what the leather is treated with it can attack the brass and other metal items in the bag.

I like a lined bag.
 
At present I prefer unlined, but then my bag is sort of different. Bought it at a muzzle loading convention and it is made out of buffalo hide with the fur still on on the outside....kind of on the large size, but for my purposes it suits me fine. The only brass thing I have in it is a powder measure and well...the finish on those don't stay pristine anyway. Actually, I am one of those that do not like shiney brass so that doesn't bother me. The only thing incidentally that I wish mine had was a divider...thinking about putting one in.
 
I'm in favor of a lined bag. The ones I make are about 80% of them are lined and the other 20% are unlined. The lined ones sell better even though they'er 20-30 dollers higher in price. It seems the folks like a finished look to their pouches.
Pathfinder
 
I've been making pouches for years and nobody ever ordered one with a lining. No, wait, there was that one lady... Never mind, she ordered a handbag! :grin:
 
I line all of mine with pillow ticking. I actually consider that to be a standard part of the process of making them.....just a personal preference.
 
I actually offer them with linings but nobody has wanted one. I dunno why!
I build with cowhide, mostly, and make the interiors smooth enough that they don't trap lint or shed crumbs. I guess they wanted simplicity.
 
im not saying that it couldnt be done.but.i think that most people on the fronteir would make a simple un lined bag.cause they could use cloth for other things.like to clothe there families.ticking for their guns patches.linen for clothes.silk for clothes or patches.so tghink most pouches would be simple i would think :grin:
 
Maybe so.

remember, the original question was "what do you prefer"

I have bags lined in muslin, trade wool, and even a buckskin lined elk (the lining gives the flap weight to keep it closed without a button and gives support behind cut-outs in the flap). And unlined bags, too.

I don't have to justify my own preference, do I?

I figure a feller had to get to town to buy the gun, lead and powder. The gun's no good without balls and other things to feed it. Why not get the pouch while you're there to get the gun? Leather making is a specialized talent. Smoked buckskin bags were probably never lined. A "professionally" tanned leather bag was more likely to be made by a craftsman and offered for sale by a sutler, tack shop, gunsmith, saddlemaker, dry goods store, etc.

If you lost or wore out the "good" one you repaired it or threw together what you could with what you had. I've seen a few made from the tops of boots.
 
i dont think skinning and tanning a hide was a special talent.i skined and tanned my first hide two or three years ago. :grin: i might try that weighted down flap thing.i just use buttons :grin: but i will give it a try :v
 
Something else we haven't hit on. The pouch that will "look" right hanging across a tattered capote will be different from the one on a buckskin pullover, or a wool great coat, or a finged hunting frock. A lot depends on the where and when you are trying for.

Townsfolk vs. farmer vs. longhunter vs. ranger vs. militian man vs. regimental rifleman vs. voyageur vs. woodland vs. plains, etc., etc.

We probably be speakin cross purposes.
 
i know i know.i try to do differant stuff.all depends on what i want to make that day :grin:
 
Just my experience, but of
the dozen or so "original"
pouches I have had the chance
to restore and pattern over the years
, none that I can remember were ever
lined with fabric....and at least several
were very fancy "Penn.Dutch" bags of
professional made quality and design...
that should have been lined if lining
was then en vogue so to speak...
But all were post 1840 bags though,
so maybe lining was used more extensively
earlier?
Again, this has only been my experience,
and I dont claim its the rule...but Ive always
thought because of it that lining was maybe
a recent construction technique.
 
I don't think many bags would have been lined. What for? Lining just adds more work if it is homemade, and increases the cost if it is a commercial bag. As far as buttons, I would not have a bag without one. It keeps things inside the bag if you are transporting your gear, or happen to fall.
 
What for?

Soft leather is quiet, but looses it's shape. The lining helps the bag keep stiff. You can also use a thinner leather if it is lined to reduce bulk and weight.

Works like a sock in a boot to keep things from rubbing in the bag ~ squeaks, rattles and wear is reduced.

A light lining allows you to see into the bottom of the bag. Nothing like rooting for a jag and finding a sharp flint with your thumb instead.

My father-in-law was a cabinetmaker and taught me to never show a wood's edge grain when building. Lining gives the "backside" of the leather a finished surface.

Why carve a stock, engrave a patchbox, add an inlay? Style.
 
i use buttons on most of mine.except for my native shoulder bag whick deosnt even have a flap :grin:
 
I agree with everything stumpkiller said and I would like to add that if a persona is important, you may want to consider that aspect. Some of the Pennsylvania bags were made of fine leather, sometimes two different colors, with cutouts in the flap, binding on the edges, etc. That kind of bag would go well with a lining since you will need a backing for the flap cut outs, etc. If on the other hand you want to depict a mountain man with more basic gear, then a lining may not be appropriate.
 
What thoughts do guys have about furred shooting bags? Are any of these period correct? I like the looks of them but do not think that a mountain man would of carried one. I would think that if it were raining or snowing they would get wet and therefore soaking you thru your clothes. I have several coyote hides and thought of making one but the thought of carrying a soaked bags has me thinking not.
 
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