Shooting bag design

[Yeoman]

Sorry to be constantly asking for help with things but I have me an idea and 2 questions for you.

The idea is for the design of a shooting bag. I'm intending the bag to be square with a beaver tail flap and a single pocket. I'm considering have an external seam (rather than turning it out) and lining it in some nice grey striped linen fabric I have lieing around. It is going to be about 7 x 9 inches with a 'beaver tail' shaped flap. The strap will be on the back and probably mainly a tough canvas strap I have with leather ends depending on whether I have enough leather. My first question is does any of that sound inaccurate for the French and Indian war period?

My second question (and thinly veiled request) is how do people line their bags? I was going to simply make pieces that matched the panels of the bag and then stitch them into the seams so that ultimately it follows the shape of the seams of the bag. The alternative is to basically make a second bag from the linen and use it to line the leather one.

So, what do you folks think? Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[BrownBear]

My second question (and thinly veiled request) is how do people line their bags? I was going to simply make pieces that matched the panels of the bag and then stitch them into the seams so that ultimately it follows the shape of the seams of the bag. The alternative is to basically make a second bag from the linen and use it to line the leather one.

No clue on the historic details, but I've done bags both ways you describe, as well as by gluing the lining to the leather. All work with pluses and minuses, so choose yer poison.

 

[Capt. Jas.]

I would eliminate the lining. I would also eliminate the pocket and use a full size divider between the front and rear pieces. This gives you two inside sections and a wept as well.

 

[Yeoman]

Thanks for the suggestion Captain, mind if I ask why? For reasons of historical accuracy or based on practical experience? I was going to make it in three main pieces (front, back with flap and side) and a single pocket because I thought multiple pockets was incorrect for the period.

 

[rabjr]

If the goal is a HC bag for the French and Indian war period I would heed what Capt has to say. Think you'll find lined bags just weren't made and used at that time.

 

[Capt. Jas.]

The design style am talking about can be taken back to your period. I know of no American bags with a lining in your period. I have seen a bag for English royalty that dates to about 1720 that was lined but it was also not a bag as we know it. I have seen some mighty fine Euro bags that were unlined as well.
There may have been some lined bags in America in the period but there are none existing to our knowledge. To be correct to your period I would not use it.
I would use three pieces....1. Back/flap 2. Front 3. Divider/welt.
If I were making a bag to represent an affair not made by a sadder or harness pro, the above would be the higher end of the scale.
There is a possibility an exception to this can be added but it will still remain an exception IMHO.
Hope this helps

 

[rabjr]

He should be aware of your work too so he knows you do know a little bit about this. :wink: :thumbsup:
http://fowlingpiece.blogspot.com/

 

[Yeoman]

Thanks for the advice, that sounds much simpler as well as more accurate for the period I'm looking at. I assume that will need to be 'turned out' so that it forms a more spacious pocket than 3 layers. Interesting to hear about the lining, I'll have to save that for another project.

Thanks for the advice though, I'll definitely be taking it on board and will be sure to show you the completed pouch. Is there any problem with 'bever tail' shaped flaps?

 

[Capt. Jas.]

No, I am talking about a flat sewn pouch as you originally intended to make.

 

[Yeoman]

That's brilliant captain, again, much simpler. I'll be using some fairly soft leather so it should expand enough to take shooting kit. I'll keep you posted on how it goes, I might make a practice one from some scraps I have around. Whilst I'm at it, are there any books you recommend on civilian accoutrements etc of this period?

Love that pouch btw, quite jealous of some of the items on your blog too, thanks for flagging that up swampy.

 

[Yeoman]

Forgot to say, that pouch you picture (similar to th 'square Virginian pouch' on your blog right?) looks like it is made from a single piece, front and back, which is then folded over, I imagine with a divider inside. Is that right?

 

[tg]

I am not Capt' and cannot speak of that bag but many bags were made with only one compartment not the two we see as being common today from what I have gathered, I do not know how common a bag with two sections was in the past it migt well be a where/when thing which is tough to ferret out on bags at times, I have found them easier to make with a single piece for the back and flap

 

[Capt. Jas.]

Yes, it is a two piece bag. The back, front and flap are one piece and the divider/welt is the second piece. This is the way to do it and I was in error on my other post about three piece construction. It was in my mind since you mentioned an initial three piece plan. It can be made that way as well.

The two compartment pouch can be found in a couple of the few surviving pouches of the mid eighteenth century and it can be found in written documentation for the period as well. It is common on some surviving Euro pouches also.

As far as books, I know of no single type sources to point you to. It is a treasure hunt thru all kinds of original documents such as newspapers, militia records, private collections with provenence, etc.

 

[Capt. Jas.]

Try this link to my buddy Jim Mullin's blog.
He gives instruction and history on a good basic pouch. His is a turned pouch bi it has great information. http://ofsortsforprovincials.blogspot.com/2011/03/making-shot-bag-or-pouch-part-1-of-2.html

 

[Yeoman]

Thanks again Captain, great stuff, tg too, will keep it in mind. Final question for now, I'm looking to use up a couple of rather ugly leather off cuts I have and they would look better rough side out, would there be any problem with this from an accuracy point of view? I appreciate that it may mean problems from a waterproofing point of view.

Cheers guys!

 

[Yeoman]

I've made a bit of a mock up of my final design using some scraps, though to be honest it'll do for a spare bag I think. The leather isn't great and I didn't have enough to put a divider in but otherwise I think it at least looks the part. I bound the edge to reinforce it and also because I think it looks better. Apologies for the poor quality picture,I'll try to get some better ones in the new year.

Thanks for the help guys, advice or criticism more than welcome and I'll see how I can improve my design.

 

[Macon Due]

Yeoman
I think it looks pretty good. I would cut the front of the bag down about a half inch or so.I mean start just in from the corners and draw a line from corner to corner but 'dipped' down in the middle, make it more easy to get your hand in to get stuff.
Macon

 

[Yeoman]

Cheers Macon, I'll have a think about it. The reason I wanted a fairly large flap is that the leather is quite light and I wanted it to stay down without a button but the shape makes it fairly easy to get ones hand in. I'll see how it works once I get my musket and chop it down as needed.

 

[Capt. Jas.]

Looking good Yeoman!

 

[rabjr]

That'll work. :thumbsup: