quickie cheap bag I made.

[alaskasmoker]

Okay, so I really wanted a leather shooting bag. Ive been using this fanny pack thing, but its small and hard to organize, rummage around in. So looking around I dont see anything in town that I like. Actually the only thing in town was a fleece type bag made by traditions.

Well I'll just make one I says. Go down to the Black elk store, and fool around. First thing I realize is leather is ripping expensive. The lady there tells me to practice on cardboard first instead of buying the leather.

Well I still need a shooting bag for tommorow I think. I know, Salvation army out to have some leather in the form of *gag* purses but I ought to be able to get it cheap.

SO I picked out two purses that looked roughed up and about the right color I wanted.

I sewed the two straps together to make one wider strap. Made one purse the main bag. Then took the other purse apart, used one of its pockets and a couple of pieces of its leather to make one more pocket on my bag (for the powder flask) and extensions for the strap. Sewed it together with horse saddle thread. Then I added a piece of thin leather for a lanyard wich has my capper, nipple pick and patch sicors attached to it. That attaches to a brass ring on the bag.

And walla here is what I got

I test drove the bag on Sunday. It was infinatley better than the fanny pack. It carreid nicer and reloads were a breeze.

I fully intend on tanning up a bear hide I got and making a real nice shooting bag, but this one will do for now.

And yes it looks really rough but I did that on purpose so it didnt look too much like two purses sewn together.

Total cost was 10.00, 7 for the purses, 2.50 for the thread, and 50 cents for two needles. And as you can guess not much time to make. But after drilling and sewing I bet it still took me an hour or so.

The leather out of the scrap bin at black elk probably would have cost around 50-70 bucks to do this bag by the way and thats not counting the strap.

 

[davy]

Looks good to me brother ... :hatsoff:

Davy

 

[ladysmithtrading]

Ya gotta do what ya gotts to do!,looks workable to me! I tell most new BP shooters who talk to me about pouches to start of with a modified purse, go to some shoots and rondys and look and talk to folks about their pouches, what they like, what they'd change etc. take awhile and decide what YOU want on YOUR pouch, then go for it, or have one made if your so inclined. good luck in your pursuit!

 

[Bountyhunter]

I started off with an old hippie purse, then I made one. :rotf:

Somewhere out there exists a nice book on hunting bags. Lots and lots of pictures. I found it in the library of a little town I used to live in, they got it in off the bookmobile. We are talking about 1983. I used the info and historical patterns in it to make my bag.

I have not been able to find it since then.

 

[TANSTAAFL]

Looks great, you did good. :hatsoff:

 

[Soinkuhndog]

As my father taught me (U.S. Army?): Maximum utilization of available resources.

Excellent example.

So. IN. Kuhndog

 

[RickD]

I give you an A+ for effort..Good idea

 

[Blizzard of '93]

that'll work!

 

[RICKYD]

i bet a deep shade of red lipstick goes good with
shooting bag :rotf: :blah:

 

[alaskasmoker]

Thanks for the compliments guys! Ive been using the bag and its great. I was wearing at the rifle range, and was getting alot of shooting in.

I might actually clean this one up a bit this week. Looking at other bags I dont think mine looks much different. The main part of the bag anyway.

Maybe Ill take that flap off and sew my grizzly paw on it for the front flap.

 

[Dutchman58]

Good use of what you have at hand and your own common sense to produce a good product.

Good job!