Powder Horn attached to Bag

[Bob J]

How many of you use such a set-up? Do you find it advantageous? I was thinking of a new bag for the jaeger Roger Sells me is building and saw one with straps for a horn. Got any pictures of your set-up?

 

[rabjr]

I like it cause everythings together.
http://www.nimrodsplace.com/neriflebag7.jpg

 

[boar]

Have all my bags,7-8 set up that way. Everything on one strap. Dilly

 

[blacksmithman64]

some refer to the horn being fastened to the bag strap as a "military rig" Everything in one place; and the horn keeps the flap closed. Never did see the point in all those straps!

 

[tg]

THis bag came with a gun I bought second hand the horn was already attatched I tried it and it seemed to work OK, I still use it now and then but my preference is a seperate horn/bag.

 

[Coot]

All three of my rigs have the horn attached to the bag straps. All in one package & as Stumblin Wolf said, the weight of the horn helps the bag flap shut. There are enough other possible straps if you choose to carry a canteen, hawk, haversack or whatever. There seem to be plenty of examples of both systems so use whichever suits you.

 

[longcruise]

This doesn't show very well, but this bag has the straps attached to the bag straps with buckles (no horn on it in this pic). Most of the bags I've made are this way with a few having the horn straps sewn to the bag straps. Using the buckle system allows changing horns, easily changing strap lengths, etc., just in case the eventual owner of the bag wants to carry the horn higher or lower.

For my own carry I've settled on the horn just under the bag rather than over the top or across the bag. Under the bag makes the straps a little longer and allows more movement of the horn which suits me at 6'2".

 

[MSW]

swamp rat- nice looking bag (and on a pretty rifle, too)!

i've tried both ways, and i prefer the strapped to the bag deal (with the horn slightly under the bag).

inasmuch as this is a matter of personal preference, go with what works for you.


(as an aside, i noticed that your bag, like mine, has the buckles of the horn straps mounted to the bag strap itself. the horn straps then go through the buckles and their ends will with time flop down. on the next bag i make, the buckles will be on the horn side, and not the bag side, and their ends will thereby flop down straight and not curl... it's just one of those 'little things' that end up bugging the :cursing: out of you)

 

[Bob J]

Thanks to everyone for the pictures and comments. Very nice bags

 

[redwing]

Militamen carried their horns on a strap and the bag on another strap. The reason being horns were turned in to be filled. They did not want the bag attached to the horn. One reason for horns having names and other things carved on them was that you could get your horn back. It was very common for horns to be stolen ..

 

[boar]

I have my horns like Swamprat up above the bag. I like my horns back to be lower then front so if the plug comes out I might not lose to much powder. Dilly

 

[SgtSchutzen]

The setup I use in the field has my horn attatched to the bag. The horn strap has buttons made from scrap horn that "buttons" through slits in the bag strap. That way they hang together as one unit, but are easy to seperate to fill or swap horns.

 

[DNICK]

I like to have them on seperate straps that is what seems to work the best for me, having the horn on the bag strap it all seems to get in the way guess it's whatever you get used to.

 

[CARBABY]

I have several hunting bag set ups. The one I use when in anticipation of walking thru brush, has the Powder Horn attached to the bag strap. The powder horn is flat. The advantage to this set up is the horn seems to lay closer to the body under the arm. This seems to help when bucking brush, less to get hung up. I wear the hunting pouch below my hunting belt. I tuck the front strap thru the belt, and leave the back strapping out. When leaning over to pick up something (like a harvested squirrel) things seem to be held back a little more. By not putting the back strap under the belt, it lets things shift for the bending of the body. If not secured under the belt and having a horn, bag , and bullet block dangling on separate straps things all swing down in front of you and you have to kind of reposition again when you straighten up. I tried securing the back strap under the belt and leave the front out. Things seem not to shift as much as the previous method but when bucking brush things seem to work more against you. I notice ~When wearing a powder horn and hunting pouch with separate straps I tend to bend down different. Instead of leaning over I tend to have my upper-body more erect and bend my knees more. Thus action hopefully doesn’t result in the parade of dangling/hanging
stuff shifting in front of you.

 

[PaulN/KS]

This is a helpful thread since I'm considering combining a pouch and small horn for a hunting rig. My usual horn and bag rig that I us for woods walk shoots is a bit more than I need for hunting. Plus the summer length strap and the winter layers was a tad binding...

 

[Stumpkiller]

I prefer seperate but that's just me. One reason perhaps is that I need to be able to tuck everything in with my elbow when ducking through blowdowns & brush, and when I had them on a single strap I never got the geometry right so I still had enough "play" to use the horn and still get it out of the way for bag access.

 

[alrany187]

How many of you use such a set-up? Do you find it advantageous?

I believe the horn being seperate and then attached was a period thing. During the F&I period, it was common to wear them seperate. During the Revolution, it was common to have them together.

Personally, I like mine seperate. I have a bag for my smoothbore and a bag for my rifle. I have but one horn and it is much easier just grabbing the horn and the appropriate bag. At least for me it is.

 

[crockett]

I'll add a few thoughts. Those who like to reload on the run want a horn up high under the arm where it isn't swinging around. A horn that is so low as to rest over the flap will swing around if on its own strap.
Some folks say a horn over the flap is in the way when rummaging through the bag, I've never had that problem.
If your bag is made of "hard" leather and the horn is swinging around you will hear the horn tapping against the bag. On the other hand if your bag is soft leather or canvas the horn over the flap conforms to the bag, doesn't swing around, and keeps the flap shut-which eliminates the need of a button on the flap; and, offers quick access to the bag.
So...if you walk and don't reload on the run, and have a soft bag, a horn hung on the bag's straps and positioned over the flap is great. If you reload on the run or have a separate strap on the horn, a higher position keeps the horn from swinging around and tapping on a hard leather bag.

 

[BrownBear]

I'll add a few thoughts. Those who like to reload on the run want a horn up high under the arm where it isn't swinging around. A horn that is so low as to rest over the flap will swing around if on its own strap.
Some folks say a horn over the flap is in the way when rummaging through the bag, I've never had that problem.
If your bag is made of "hard" leather and the horn is swinging around you will hear the horn tapping against the bag. On the other hand if your bag is soft leather or canvas the horn over the flap conforms to the bag, doesn't swing around, and keeps the flap shut-which eliminates the need of a button on the flap; and, offers quick access to the bag.
So...if you walk and don't reload on the run, and have a soft bag, a horn hung on the bag's straps and positioned over the flap is great. If you reload on the run or have a separate strap on the horn, a higher position keeps the horn from swinging around and tapping on a hard leather bag.

I've had similar experiences. A hard leather bag is NOISY in the woods scraping through the brush, and a horn slapping against it is worse. I'm switching to soft bags for all my hunting.

I really don't like the horn on a separate strap for my brand of hunting. Just one more thing to get tangled.

It's most convenient for me to attach it to the straps so it hangs just barely above the bag. Attachment point is high enough to allow comfortably raising the horn for measuring, but still as low as possible to control swing.

One advantage of the horn in this position: It's sure nice to push the bag flap up behind the horn so it's held in place while you're rummaging around in the bag one-handed. The bag stays open and the contents visible until you're ready to close it again. All one-handed and convenient as can be when the rifle is in your other hand.

 

[Bob J]

My wife ordered me a bag for for Christmas with the straps for a horn. Don't really know how to attach the horn, or how to detach the horn onceit is attached I might just stay with separate horn :hmm: