Shot bag on belt

[Stophel]

Here's a shot bag I made to go on my belt. It is very similar to an "old" one I have a photo of(I have no idea of the actual date of it). It's also in line with 18th century images of belt shot bags. Even Doddridge mentions that sometimes folks carried their shot bags on their belt rather than a shoulder bag. I HATE shoulder bags... swinging around, in the way, don't stay put...

It's big enough to hold a ball bag and a little bag of flints or something and that's about it, which is all it is supposed to hold anyway. The problem I see with this type of bag (stitched on the outside, rather than a turned seam) is that you have to wet mould it and stretch it out to get any usable space at all. Otherwise, it is a flat envelope that I can't even get my fingers in. (The original bag is obviously moulded out and stretched even more than mine.) I'm amazed anyone could ever do anything with the Lemuel Lyman bag. :idunno:

I'm about to stitch up another one that is slightly larger, with a normal turned seam, fancier shape, etc. that still shouldn't be too bulky on my belt, and I may be able to squeeze in a screwdriver and a little tin of patch lube... :wink:

 

[Elnathan]

Very nice. I have been thinking about making one like that just to see how it works. Does it have an internal divider? What are the dimensions?

 

[Stophel]

There is no divider. There isn't room for one!!! (another way in which I just don't get the Lyman pouch...) The bag is about 7" wide and 5" high.

As far as the design, what you see is what you get. It's two pieces of leather with two belt loops sewn on the back. After stitching it together, I wet it, and crammed a bunch of rags and stuff into it to stretch the front panel out. A more professional outfit would, of course, come up with a wood mould or a jig to hold it while moulding it around sand or something, but that was more than I wanted to do! :haha:

I had to do some fiddlin' with the button arrangement to get it where I could actually open the thing and close it. I now have a leather button on it and the button hole is rather larger than one might at first think necessary, but I finally got it where I can open and more or less close it with one hand!

 

[lonehunter]

Nice looking pouch! :thumbsup:

 

[Elnathan]

I wonder if the Lyman pouch was made of very thin and/or very soft leather. On the other hand, there are other things about that pouch that don't really make sense, like the fact that the divider doesn't go all the way to the bottom. I wonder if it was made very quickly right before Lyman left home and simply wasn't well thought out.

 

[Stophel]

If I were to guess, I would say the Lyman pouch is probably calfskin, which would be like 2-3 oz. I guess. Pretty thin. The divider is just freaky to me. WHY put in a divider (supposedly to separate balls and shot?) and then have it open at the bottom???

 

[FishDFly]

"I HATE shoulder bags... swinging around, in the way, don't stay put..."

Three (3) years ago I was putting things into my truck when a neighbor came by with his grand sons. I had my shoulder bag hung on the outside mirror while putting my rifle into the truck.

One of the youngsters walked over and looked at the bag and said, " Nice purse mister".

Everything fits in to a belt bag very nicely and I prefer a belt bag for the reason you stated.

You do nice work and I like the color.

 

[Stophel]

People may make fun of my "bat belt".... but at least it's not a purse! :haha:

The leather is dyed in walnut hulls, which makes a nice brown. Then neatsfoot oil and that's it.

I've recently seen a couple of mid-18th century English images of belt bags where the bag is hanging below the belt on longer belt loops. One, if I recall correctly, I'll have to look, is on a fishmonger (also carrying a knife and steel, apparently hung on strings, but the picture isn't clear) the other is on a Scotsman, who is wearing the bag in lieu of the more familiar type of sporran.

 

[BrownBear]

...I can't even get my fingers in. (The original bag is obviously moulded out and stretched even more than mine.) I'm amazed anyone could ever do anything with the Lemuel Lyman bag.

Really nice craftsmanship! :hatsoff: I really like that leather button! Gotta try that myself.

I have a rule of thumb for making small bags, whether over my shoulder or on my belt. Maybe I ought to call it "rule of fist." I want them at least big enough to get my closed fist into, whether outer seam and molded, end panel design, or reversed. Just seems to work better.

Though most guys work with 4-5 oz leather, I'm much happier on small bags with 2-3 oz. It's softer, molds easier, and generally doesn't fight back when you're trying to get something out of it.

 

[Stophel]

This is 4-5 oz. leather. It's what I had. I once had some 3oz, which would be good for smaller bags like this, but I'm out, and leather ain't cheap anymore!

The old bag that this one is similar to has a leather button on it, so I thought, why not.

 

[BrownBear]

I'm with you on the cost of leather. For the last 3 or 4 years I've been using these sides. Sometimes they go on sale for even less.

They talk about insect bites, brands and scars. I really like to paw through their piles any time I get near a store, just so I can hand pick the ones I want. The more of those "flaws" on the side, the better they suit my needs and tastes. A few good warts just look good to me on leather goods.

Don't know where you are in relation to Louisville, but they have a store there. Might be one in another state closer at hand. But it's always worth stopping by for a paw through the piles.

 

[FishDFly]

I had to go back to the original post and look at the bag again, I do like the button, that is nice touch. I really do like your workmanship, it's clean and new.

I am not a fan of the stressed or dis-stressed look to make things look old, but then again that is my choice.

Leather, what do saddle shops and western boot makers do with scraps and left overs. What about Goodwill and left over purses and leather clothes?

 

[BrownBear]

What about Goodwill and left over purses and leather clothes?

Time was, that was one of my favorite sources, especially for lightweight "garment" leather. In the last couple of years there must be some kind of revival in leather clothes though. There's not much showing up in the shops I've checked, and they're nuts on prices. Best I've found lately are individual yard/garage sales and neighborhood versions.

Most of the garment leather I've seen is way too light and highly finished for muzzleloading gear, but I also make a lot of stuff that never gets to sniff the sweet smoke.

 

[jbwilliams3]

Nice! I really like the design from an aesthetics standpoint and have always liked the Lyman bag. My highest quality shot bag is of this style but with the internal divider and shoulder carry. It’s my favorite bag although from a functional standpoint, it’s not one I use for lots of shooting because it’s harder to stick my hand in there. I made one for my son (future use, as he’s only two) with 3oz. leather with no divider and it’s much easier to use. I also used a leather button but then switched to a horn button- not sure which I like better, but I like yours a lot.
Did you make the scalper?

 

[Stophel]

Thanks everyone. I "made" everything in the picture... In a manner of speaking. The knife is made from an Ontario "hop knife". $16. Reshaped as necessary to make a fairly reasonable facsimile of a common English butcher/scalper knife. The "red handle" is a piece of what appears to me to be mahogany. It is HARD wood, very dense, coarse grained and heavy. I believe it came from a pallet of Indonesian luan, I forget. The sheath is my second center seam sheath. Boiled very stiff and hard. It's a little lumpy, but it's ok!

 

[Capt. Jas.]

Chris,

Nice work.
I believe the divider in the Lyman pouch is to separate shot from ball as can be recorded in period documentation. I really think these small bags were used to only hold just those items and maybe a turnscrew, worm,extra flint and possibly some wadding on top. These latter items could also have been in a pocket. No priming horns, loading blocks, oil bottles, compass, jags, kitchen sink, etc.

 

[MSW]

i like it!

 

[S.Kenton]

do you make those to sell? I really like it!

 

[mikemeteor]

I HATE shoulder bags... swinging around, in the way, don't stay put...

Amen.
Count me in that congregation too.
/m

and very nice work, Stophel.

 

[ZUG]

Here's a shot bag I made to go on my belt. It is very similar to an "old" one I have a photo of(I have no idea of the actual date of it). It's also in line with 18th century images of belt shot bags. Even Doddridge mentions that sometimes folks carried their shot bags on their belt rather than a shoulder bag. I HATE shoulder bags... swinging around, in the way, don't stay put...

It's big enough to hold a ball bag and a little bag of flints or something and that's about it, which is all it is supposed to hold anyway. The problem I see with this type of bag (stitched on the outside, rather than a turned seam) is that you have to wet mould it and stretch it out to get any usable space at all. Otherwise, it is a flat envelope that I can't even get my fingers in. (The original bag is obviously moulded out and stretched even more than mine.) I'm amazed anyone could ever do anything with the Lemuel Lyman bag. :idunno:

I'm about to stitch up another one that is slightly larger, with a normal turned seam, fancier shape, etc. that still shouldn't be too bulky on my belt, and I may be able to squeeze in a screwdriver and a little tin of patch lube... :wink:

I really like it a lot - neat, compact, pleasing to the eye - and not a purse! Thinking "outside-of-the-box" how about a 2.0"-2.5" gusset sewn in around the outside to give it some width inside?