Shooting bag making advice wanted

[kansas_volunteer]

I've only ever tried to make one shooting bag, and it didn't turn out well. It was too fancy for a first timer, and like the man said, when you get fancy you get beat. That was years ago.

I'm going to try making another, but this time approach it as a beginner and keep it simple, just a rectangle with a flap. I will be made of a single piece of leather folded into an envelope, with a leather shoulder strap with a two tongued brass roller buckle.

What I'd like to know is should I try to stitch it with the stitches showing, or work it inside out and conceal the stiching when done. The leather I have to work with is about 4-5 oz. -- half a hide. I have artificial sinew and linen thread I can use. What sort of stiching would work best? I have a wheel-type leather punch, diamond shaped sharp awl to poke holes with and a stitch spacing wheel and leather working needles.

Would it be better to first make a shooting bag of canvas, to test the pattern, then try leather? I can get very heavy canvas.

A thurough schooling would be appreciated.

 

[rabjr]

You have to ask yourself how you want it, only need to please yourself. I prefer to work them inside out and hide the stitching on the basic construction of the bag. Prefer using the saddle stitch too.

Sure go ahead and make a bag out of another material and get it the way you want it before cutting your leather. :thumbsup:

 

[yeoldcraftsman]

I'd go ahead and use the linen thread with the saddle stitch and use a welt. While alot of original bags didn't always use one, the good harness makers in their time did. It adds more strength and looks nice. I'd also stay away from the artificial sinew if you're going for a period correct method. You might consider investing another 20 bucks and get TC Alberts book, Recreating the 18th century hunting pouch. You can get it at TOTW. Great instruction and patterns for some actual pouches. Beyond that, take your time and enjoy the process.
Gary :thumbsup:

 

[jethro224]

Nothing but good advice above. :thumbsup:

I would add;
Use that rotary leather punch for the buckle holes only. Too loose for stitches.

You'll want blunt needles for stitching. Not the sharp glovers needles. They work fine for thin stuff, but are a real pain for thicker leather.

A welt makes stitching a bit trickier, but it's worth the extra effort. With the design you mention, there won't be much stitching anyway...

Once you figger it out, you'll be hooked. You'll end up with too many bags and have to give some away. :haha:

Have fun. :hatsoff:

 

[Curmudgeon74]

Hey guys iam new to this and also want to make a shooting bag. I made one out of a kit from tandy its ok but want to make my own. With that ive been tinkering with leather sheaths etc.. and have previously pre-drilled my holes dont always work great though. Do you all pre punch or what??? Thanks for the help

 

[LaBonte]

Here's a tutorial I wrote some time back - it's a slight variation on the time honored harness stitch.........
Harness Stitching Tutorial

Any other help I can offer ask away.....follow the tutorial and practice a bit on scrap and soon you'll be stitching like this....

IMO practicing stitching on canvas won't help a lot - leather's a different animal so to speak....

 

[ghostdncr]

Here's a tutorial I wrote some time back - it's a slight variation on the time honored harness stitch.........
Harness Stitching Tutorial

Thanks for the link! I especially like the illustration showing the advantage of the hand stitch over the lock stitch.

 

[omarick1948]

Now I don't want him to get a big head, but Swampy makes the best pouches and bags on this forum. He is always willing to help people with their leather working. Plain talking and no ego problems on his end!

 

[shooyer_250]

now i ain't trying to start trouble, but what is the problem with artificial sinew?...Lee

 

[yeoldcraftsman]

now i ain't trying to start trouble, but what is the problem with artificial sinew?...Lee

Hmmm, well if you're trying to make a pouch that would have been made by professionals(read harness makers) in the 18/19th centuries a good linen thread would be the choice to emulate. Other than that, it's artifical? Certainly, native americans would have used the real stuff in their day to day weapon making and probably repairs of whatever. Normally what bags or other parcels they made I would have thought they would create their own thread from leather lacing or what they would have got via trade or other rascally methods. Now, if you're emulating a moutain man who is alone in the Rockies and happened to have some real sinew and something needed a repair I'm sure it was used. Maybe the question to ask the experts in the forum would be if any surviving pouches used sinew in their construction. Any thoughts anyone?
Gary :thumbsup:

 

[omarick1948]

Seems to be alot of Native American leather work using sinew for about everything in many museums. I think the Mountainmen just followed methods, like their red brothers. No, they didn't use artificial sinew back in 1825, but they didn't have the quality of todays linen threads either. Are we really using an artificial linen thread?

We try to be the famous "PC", but in reality. We can only get fairly close. Example: How do we get to a PC event?....Not by canoe, horse or mule in most cases! Personally, I use other ARTIFICIAL modes of transportation!

JMHO

 

[shooyer_250]

aha there is the diff, i didn't even think of it, i make native american styled things, with a little mountain man thrown in, i reckon what a halfbreed trekker might have seen and utilized or upgraded to,,,as far as currently using artificial sinew...i know of quite a few Indian Stores who will quotes you 2 prices for thier work, art sinew is one price, real sinew will be the other much higher price...so it would, i think, be PC for me to use the artifial stuff, whew...makes me happy, just bought a new roll...LOL...thanks for the help...Lee

 

[LaBonte]

NDN'z used real sinew all throught the 18th and 19th centuries even though thread was available - here's how to use it - you sew in short lengths when using it and NDN clothing and accoutrements all show fine good quality stitches. Native made shooting bags are seen in many of Alfred J Miller's sketches of 1837 and existing bags from the time and place are frequently sewn with real sinew....
Using real sinew as thread
leather lacing was seldom used except as a decorative motif

....but they didn't have the quality of todays linen threads either. Are we really using an artificial linen thread?

With respect excellent quality linen, hemp, and silk thread was used "in period" and were available early on even along the frontier and thread was a major NDN trade commodity.
Most "period" crafters using linen thread today are using the real thing not an artificial version - real linen, hemp, and silk thread is still available today from several vendors including:
1) Campbell-Bosworth: http://campbell-bosworth.com/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=linen - I have not used the less expensive Hungarian thread myself, but reports that I have received from other crafters who have, state that it works just fine and costs half as much as the Barbour's. 5 cords is good for heavier sewing such as bags and three cord is good for clothing, etc. Right or left hand twist doesn't matter for handsewing.
2) Wilde Weavery - just found this source for linen thread so I'm not sure what the size/weight is http://www.wildeweavery.com/other.htm
3) Aurora Silk has silk and hemp thread http://aurorasilk.com/yarns_and_threads/naturally_dyed/index.html
4) Susan Wallace - sells handspun linen thread and I believe also hemp thread - no website but send her $2.00 for a sample card....
The Silver Shuttle
2547 Madison
Memphis, TN 38112

again hope this helps.......