Shooting bags and ball bags?

[bowjock]

I want to make a couple of possible bags and ball bags for each of my BP guns. Would anyone have a pattern that they have found or made and willing to share? Or maybe some know where you can go find some of the patters and download them?

It looks like I am going to need 3 ball bags and 5 possible bags...one for each of my rifles. ::

 

Are you looking for PC items or just anything that will hold your gear? (no approval or disapproval either way, just wondering)

For PC examples the Book of Buckskinning VI has a complete section on styles and construction. Details! Everything you need to know!

If you have access to proper hides for your prefered project, (I like thinner leather in my shooting bags than most people) this book will be all you need.

If you have no leather scource, go to the Salvation Army or Good Will store and shop through their leather jackets. You can usually find one that will give you enough leather for a shooting beg. You can often find one that is in bad shape and selling cheap, you're going to cut it up anyway!

While you are there you can shop through their old purses. Often you will find a handbag that is an exact reproduction of some ancient design, just with zippers and snaps! If you are not worried about PC they will usually work fine. Put a strap made from an old belt and rivet your patch knife on there and you're done.

Some of the old shooting bags were really crude. Often converted from worn out saddle bags etc. There's several guys that specialize in making shooting bags that look like they are on their last leg when they are brand new! The solidly built but well worn look is "in". Got a guy down here that makes what he calls "Early Uglies". Nice bags, really ungly!

So, as long as your stitches are not visible when you turn the bag right side out, and it is a solid build, don't worry too much about how "good" it looks. It's like the kids and their "distressed jeans".

It is still acceptble if ragged looking and slightly lop sided. Nice thing about being in the east, our stuff dosen't have to shine or have frills! It just has to be solid and fit the purpose.

:thumbsup:

 

[Stumpkiller]

As noted above, the Book of Buckskinning issue that has a fellow sewing up a bag on the cover is a good start.

I don't know of any downloadable patterns on the Internet. I usually make a cardboard or manila folder pattern by adding 3/16" on every seam for stitching and the seam-loss for turning it inside out (If you are going with the internal "hidden" seaming). Make a practice bag out of cloth so you get a feel for thinking "inside out" when cutting and attaching the leather and what will be involved in turning it rightside out after sewing up the seams.

One of the neatest original bags I have seen (I think it was at Ft. Ticonderoga, but I'm not positive) was made from the upper leather of an old, tall boot.

My favorite ball bag pattern is just to make a pouch out of buckskin about 2.5" wide and 3.5" deep, and cut an even-number of 1/4" slits near the top for a 7" X 3/8" buckskin draw-strap. That size will hold 35+/- .54 cal balls.

A variation is to eliminate the draw string and sew a neck in the bag so that only one ball at a time slips out.

I made a "self-standing" one based on a Tandy pattern, but it holds 200+ .54 cal balls and keeps breaking the leather pull-thong. :haha:

 

[2172]

Ghost, my first pouch, and still in use for percussion, was my daughter's 1975 leather shoulder purse...she was throwing it out, I rescued it and took it apart...reversed it so the rough leather inside was outside, and sewed it back up...I'd get rid of it now, and do a better job, but it has a history with me, and is suitably worn looking. My flint bag is more authentic looking and gets more use these days...as I make bags for friends these days, I'm making them a whole lot smaller, as I realize there is a difference between ball bags and possible bags...your advice on this topic is good. Hank

 

[jim gray]

I have a home made ball bag which is pretty crudely made. It was my first attempt, but it is functional. I cut a circular piece of chrome tanned leather for the base and cut a strip of chamois about six inches wide and long enough to encircle the base. After I sewed this together, I had a bag about the size of a soup can. I folded about 3/4 inch of the top over and used a leather punch to make the wholes for the drawstring through the doubled chamois.

I know it's not perfect, but it holds a lot of lead. I have it about a third of the way full with 100 .36 cal. round balls inside.

 

[doverdog]

I found myself in need of a couple of new bags after acquiring some new guns. I had a very nice bag on hand, made by The Leatherman, but I didn't want to spend the $155 each to get more. I used a piece of thin poster board and made a pattern off the Leatherman bag and made my own. They turned out pretty well for the first attempt at leather work. Even still, they cost about $45 each by the time I had purchased the leather, straps, buckles, rings, dye, etc. I did the sewing with a Meyers Stitch Awl, the gizmo with the spool of thread in the handle. I pre-drilled most of the holes with a 1/16" bit before sewing. You will have some time invested in all the stitching but you can get a nice bag as a result. Just find a bag you like, make a pattern, and have at it. The professional bag is, obviously, on the left and one of my homemade bags is on the right.

 

[cptleo1]

Well I am going to have to fess up.

I have used ladies purses for a long time ---just feels a little strange admitting it in public.

Got the first one at a Goodwill store 3 years ago.

Looks a whole lot like a PC beaver tail bag.

Italian leather 4 pockets with brass zippers.

$4.00 plus tax.

Couldn't pass it up.

I have wanted to pass this TIP on for a long time, just didn't want to get laughed at.

But, now I see I am not alone.

LOL

 

[Jack Walker]

I would recommend doing a little reading on bags from the era you potray. The style change. I do F&I War, alot of the shooting bags were only 5-6" wide X 9-10" deep with a simple flap. bags got a bit larger in size by the time of the Rev War and this goes on. :thumbsup:

 

[Stumpkiller]

Jebediah Gucci, fashionable man of the mountains. ::

I've seen some handmade versions at fairs that are pretty credible. The brass zippers kind of go over the top, though.

The price sure is right for the used ones. :thumbsup: