Recycled shooting bag project

[Brasilikilt]

Hello!

I recently found a lost project which I am attempting to finish.
What makes it a bit different from others, is that I am recycling an old leather shooting bag, and "possibles" pouch of nearly identical pattern, made when I was around 19 or 20.
I used them both quite a bit when teaching myself to shoot my first flintlock rifle, so there's a bit of sentimentality attached to them....

I used leather from discarded garments. Split suede cowhide, and bomber jacket leather is pretty thin, and made bags which didn't hold their shape well. They were pretty awkward to use, especially when trying to load a flintlock!

After pulling both bags apart and gluing some of the pieces together, I ended up with thicker material that seems like it will work much better.

Here's what I have so far.




As you can see, I have lots of little pieces of leather to work with!
The possibles bag was pretty large, and had a gusset over 4" wide. I cut a strip off the edge figuring that it could be used for part the shoulder strap, or to hang the powder horn.

Luckily I found a remaining scrap of the bomber jacket leather, along with a couple other pieces that are kinda-sorta the same color.



I'll post more later.....I gotta run!
Take care and thanks for looking!

 

[Brasilikilt]

Okay! I'm back with more pictures and time to write, so hopefully this post will make a bit more sense.

After messing around a bit, I managed to come up with a pattern that I'm content with. I'm hoping that this will work for a regionally non-specific late 18th/early 19th century shooting bag which will work for a variety of personas.



These 3 seem like they would do well as patch knives. The middle knife is a thrift store find and the other 2 I forged and fit handles myself. I'm having trouble deciding on which one....Any suggestions?



I forged and filed these awls out pieces of small coil spring, and will use them here for the first time. The roll of string at the top is polished hemp from Walmart.
It looks to be about the right thickness, and strong enough to use for sewing leather...Has anyone used this stuff before?
The buckle is annoyingly only brass plated. I will either remove the plating, or make my own out of the 1/8" brass scrap I have.



The button is old, handmade and probably silver. I'm guessing that it came out of the Southwest *maybe* in the late 19th/early 20th century???
Either way, it needs a new home.



Here is the horn I made to use on this project. It's nothing terribly fancy, but has a nice twist and is a good size to use with a .45. Yes, it is practically *begging* to be scrimshawed!



Here are a few other odds and ends which will go with this kit. I'm not even pretending that the turnscrew and mold are even remotely appropriate for the late 18th/early 19th century, but it's what I have to work with for now...



All in all, I am simply trying to put more thought and planning into this kit in hopes of making it better than the rig it's replacing.

I am open for any comments, suggestions and constructive criticisms from those of you willing to provide them.

Thanks for looking!

 

[Brokennock]

Just one guy's opinion and undoubtedly not worth much, but, I'm assuming the shortest piece of pattern paper is your flap. Maybe make it longer or don't cut the flap to length and shape until you have it all together and put some stuff in the bag. I have two bags that I really liked the look of until I put stuff in them, once filled the flap doesn't hang as far as I'd like. Just a thought.

I like the middle and top knives best, and love the understated simplicity of your powder measure. It has just the right taper.

 

[MSW]

I think there's good potential there... for what it's worth, I would go with the top knife, but then again, my opinion (and a boarding pass) will get you on the plane.

good luck with your project ... let us know ho wit turns out :v

 

[BrownBear]

Atsa way!

Those folks back in the day were little different than my grandparents surviving the Depression. You didn't spend money if you didn't have to, and you didn't throw anything away. No matter how small the leftover scrap, you might be able to use if for something else.

"Waste not, want not" was just plain common sense.

I look forward to your finished bag! :thumbsup:

 

[Brasilikilt]

Hey all

I'm thinking that this project has been assembled to a point where I can show it off. Only after using it in the field or range a fair amount,(and tweaking things a bit) do I think I will say enough is enough and finally consider it finished.


It has been *ages* since I have done any leather work to this extent, and it became very obvious that I sorely needed to knock the rust off so that I might at least maintain any modest skills I might have.

 

[BrownBear]

That turned out well! Guy can wear and use that with pride, especially when he's the one who built it! Well done.