Traditional Hunting Backpack

[Problem Child]

I take a lot of stuff with me when I hunt.Some things are modern like GPS,1st aid kit,Binoculars, etc.Some stuff not so modern.

I hunt 28,000 acres of Public land and I love to wander so that's why I take along all the stuff.

My shooting bag won't hold everything so I've been thinking about a backpack.

Any ideas on a Traditional style backpack??

 

[rabjr]

I would talk to Greenmtnboy if I were you, he showed pics of one he made and uses all the time. If anyone knows about trekin over the mountains with one, he does.

 

[Problem Child]

Thanks Swampy.

 

[gmarc]

Try "Wildeweavery" They offer a way cool "Haversack converted to a knapsack"

I have one, and It is VERY well made

Grant

 

[necchi]

Do a search for "Duluth Pack". The company is still in business with many variations but the original designs spun off the Voyaguer during the fur trade era.
The simple pattern in canvas is near timeless.

I made my own with a 9x9 bottom and 15" tall with 2"wide shoulder staps. It's a nice handi size for easy carry of stuff and gathering mushroom, fruit an game for a day in the field. I've used it on woods walks an such too.

 

[BrownBear]

I'm "part way" down the path you're studying. We just have to carry extra stuff in this terrain and climate, and it's more than will fit in a shooting bag, even if you were willing to have it all tangled up in the same place as essential shooting gear. For years I've carried a modern camo day pack, but it just started feeling foolish for a guy who makes his own bags.

I'm currently using a haversack made of elk leather for quiet, but lined with with canvas to keep it from sagging under the weight. It's 12" x 15" with a flap and button closure, and will hold everything you list plus a lunch and a little more. It has an internal pocket and 2" strap. Pretty handy, and I wear it over the opposite shoulder as my shooting bag. At a glance it looks like I'm wearing two shooting bags.

I don't have a full year carrying it yet because I made it half way through deer season, but it sure seems like I'm closer to where I need to be than I was with a daypack.

 

[RJL]

i just finished converting a haversack, that i didnt really use anymore to a knapsack. havent had a chance to op's check it yet but, it should prove its worth soon enough. it measures 15"x15" with ties on the bottom for a blanket or extra shirt/coat. look up www.colonialmarket.com he has some converted knapsacks and backpacks there. prices were real reasonable. good luck

 

[Birdman]

Ther are several PC type packs ya can use, snap sacks come to mind, sort of tubular in shape n ya tie one end closed, use a tump line or straps to carry it, also what they call a wallet may be handy, looks sort of like a pillow case but sewn closed on both ends, then there is a slit on one length wise side to get yer gear in n out of it. Ya pack yer gear into both ends, give it a twist n toss it over yer sholder. The haversack like has been already mentioned. Also ya can just wrap up yer extras in a blanket, tie the ends n put a carrying strap on it, toss over yer sholder or if long enough across yer chest n off ya go. Lots of different ways to carry stuff, keep up yer reasearch n hope ya find just what ya need.Any n all of them can be made from material, Which personally I like better the leather, it much lighter weight wise n every ounce becomes a pound after a couple miles in the hills LOL hope this helps some YMHS Birdman

 

[kansas_volunteer]

Whatever you do, don't get a pack basket, unless you want to be PC/HC for the extreme northeastern US, post Civil War.

 

[jbtusa]

Panther Primitives sells one; decent price.

 

[BillinOregon]

RJ: Looks like Mr. Casada has done his homework. Thanks for that link.

 

[CrackStock]

This is a fold over pack that we made by studying original drawings. If you can't fit your gear in here, then you need a weapons bearer. :haha:

 

[CrackStock]

Or you could look at cartridge boxes.

 

[brubincam]

-----where would I put my peanut butter crackers ?----- :idunno:

 

[dnaw_4304]

Who, When, Where are the original drawings representing? I'm very interested in this pack, but would like to know the details to see if it fits my persona. Thanks, Dustin

 

[CrackStock]

Welcome Dustin!

What is your time period? All things flow from time place and person.

What I posted was 18th Century British just prior to and during the American Revolution, although variations continued long after. I have heard it called the British Double by some. There is also the New Invented backpack - I just like the idea of the double. We had a couple of drawings and recreated that, but my harddrive crashed and I do not have my old pictures.

I looked up the one vendor that I know sells these and found other versions and options:

I have seen this one and it was nice

Still other options

Civil War variation

another source

Snapsack

Other Back Packs

Actually, the simplest, cheapest and quite efficient is the one tied at the top. A Snapsack can be made with 2 straps. Been thinking of doing this one myself.

CS

 

[tg]

I like the single strap bags like the snapsack and a shoulder bag along the lines of the military haversack you can carry a lot of gear in the two of these and the shoulder bag offers pretty quick access to the gear and the straps offer a place to tie blankets/tarpage/small tents an outer garment in hot weather, wallets work well but I have found them not to be as handy as the others, same for tumplines and double strap knapsacks, all are 18th century preference is much a matter of choice and type/amount of gear to be carried.Here is my linen snapsack and canvas shoulder bag before it was painted bar red for water proofing, the snapsack will probably get the same treatment, I can stay out for a week with these loaded with the proper food/gear. They carry quite well when loaded from my experience, how they are packed makes a big difference so some thought need go into the process.

 

[CrackStock]

I did find one of the photos of French equipment from the early 18th century.

I particularly like the axe carriage and 2 strap snapsack.

Hopefully, with these options, you will find something that serves.

CS

 

[tg]

Nice drawing is it representitive of the Military , New France, Militia, civilian, from Diderots Encyclopedia? I like tha axe carrying details.It looks like all of the bags have a word similar to Haversack in the decription might this be a part the term for "bag" of many sorts in French

 

[CrackStock]

TG,

Yes, that sounds very familiar. I think that discussions when I previously posted that image gave the proper source and that the time period was pre-revolution colonial. A lot about that time blended military and semicivillian equipment.

I used the term photo only because I stored the drawn image in my photo file. It is obviously a line drawing.

I made a tomahawk carriage along the pattern of the axe and it worked very well. I do not like belt carry for tomahawks and was doing french colonial in Louisiana, so this fit the time, place and person.

I was planning to make the double strap snapsack, but was away for a time and have just not done it since I got back. I think that some canvas, paint, rope and leather are calling out to me.

CS