Why does it have to be aged?

[squib load]

HI.I make hunting bags sometimes.Can someone tell me why black powder shooters want their bags to look old and beatup?My bags are new looking.Is aging a whole new way of doing things?Where can I find out how to do it?Thanks,squib

 

[rabjr]

It's just most people want their gear to look as if it's been well used and that they have had it a while instead of the just now store bought look. I'm sure you've seen members posting pic's of their persona's here before with most looking like they have been in the wood for a while. On the other hand some do prefer the newer look. We are all different in our ideas of what we want.

There are probably as many ageing recipes as there are anything else but you can do a lot with just using the right dyes.

 

[LRB]

"Recreating The 18th c. Hunting pouch" by T. C. Albert. I guess the ageing is kinda like Levi's jeans way back. Nobody wanted to wear new looking jeans. Except girls, and some of them did not like the new look. Later on, you could buy new worn looking jeans, and they sold like nickel hotcakes.

 

[LaBonte]

Some tips on aging by one of the best: http://www.wrtcleather.com/1-ckd/tutorials/aging-leather-zurl.jpg

Tim Albert's book "Recreating the 18th Century Hunting Pouch " also has tips on aging.

Then take a look at the work by such makers as Ron Scott, Jack Hubbard, Gary Birch, and others.
Their work can often be seen on the Contemporary Maker's Blogspot (be sure and look at the past months) and The Contemporary Long Rifle site in the sales section

As to why - several reasons, but for many it is an art form and the buyers want it - and many if not most of the buyers are not re-enactors but collectors an entirely market..

 

[necchi]

I like mine looking new, when a man outfitted himself, if he could it was new stuff,,
I pick up plenty of "patina" just using the stuff,,
But others like olde lookin wore out stuff,,

 

[Claude Mathis]

Although it's true that everything was new at one time, when recreating a persona, I like to offer an image of someone who has been around for a while. Nobody had all new gear at once, except in the movies.

I prefer my stuff to look like it's "been used before today". Otherwise, if all my clothing and gear were new looking, it might appear that I just dressed up for the photo, rather then someone who actually participates.

Remember all the TV westerns in the 50's where everyone had on brand new clothes from the costume department? :wink:

 

[RickD]

Good point Claude

 

[squib load]

You are right about the cowboys,about the only one Ive noticed not wearing new clothes was John Wayne.Some of his early movies he wore new ones.squib Thanks Labonte,I will look at that distressing site.

 

[vern faulkner]

As a youngster growing up there wasn't much money in our household. Most all of the clothes that I got were hand-me-downs from my older (bigger) cousin. When we did get something brand new "store bought", we tried to keep it looking that way as long as we could. I guess that habit has stayed with me still. My buckskins, hunting bag, horn, rifles, and all the rest of my stuff are not new anymore and like me, are showing their age. When I first bought them I was very proud because they were new and looked that way. Now I'm proud of them because of the age that we have put on together. I didn't pay someone to add a lot of artificial years to them. I added that myself over the years and miles.

If this sounds like some sentimental old fart just rambling on, well maybe it is. I know that there is a whole lot of you fella's more knowledgeable about such stuff than I am, and I'm not meaning to step on any ones toes here and I apologize if I did. Just my way of seeing things.

Vern

 

[gus13]

Well as some have stated before me, the "aged" look is mostly because re-enactors and yes even collectors want it to look like its been around awhile, the thought probably being its from an "old time" it has to look "old timey". I personally prefer to age "age" my gear personally through actual use. every ding and dent has a story! so if it looks new it probably is and if it looks worn it has been!

 

[J.D.]

I'm with Gus on this one.

IMHO, the pioneers of old did buy new items, and often bought a whole new outfit when they returned from their long hunts or campaign season, so having most of one's gear, or all of it new, is historically correct.

Personally, a vast majority of the aging that is done looks like artificial aging and some of it looks down right hokey.

It's usually pretty easy to spot someone uses their gear on a regular basis, compared to someone who seldom uses artificially aged gear, so it's often easy to tell who is posing and who is as real as one can get, in this hobby.

Like everything else, in this hobby, it's a personal choice and everyone has the right to express their own opinion. :wink:

God bless

 

[Claude Mathis]

My buckskins, hunting bag, horn, rifles, and all the rest of my stuff are not new anymore and like me, are showing their age. When I first bought them I was very proud because they were new and looked that way. Now I'm proud of them because of the age that we have put on together. I didn't pay someone to add a lot of artificial years to them. I added that myself over the years and miles.

First, let me say that there's room for all opinions (styles?) here and there's no rule as to what any of us "should" be doing.

When I talk about wanting my stuff to look used, I'm talking about subtle degrees. I do age knife blades slightly, so they aren't shiny, but I would never artificially age my leggings or moccasins, etc., as they get pretty used looking on their own in a very short time. I also don't want my gear to look two hundred years old, as that would be implausible. My stuff should look like it is being used "at the time" by my persona, not like a 200 year-old piece that a collector would have in their collection today.

I tend to use the term, "broken in", rather than aged.

 

[BrownBear]

I tend to use the term, "broken in", rather than aged.

I'm going to quote you next time my wife calls me aged. :rotf:

 

[Claude Mathis]

I tend to use the term, "broken in", rather than aged.

I'm going to quote you next time my wife calls me aged. :rotf:

I'm way broken in. :thumbsup:

 

[rabjr]

I tend to use the term, "broken in", rather than aged.

I think that best describes the look I try for. :thumbsup:

 

[ohio ramrod]

Many of us like their equipment to show its use. Also "new" looking black powder accesoraries soon develope stains. So many try to get an even appearance rather than a stain on a new looking item. Have you ever noticed the reactions to a man who comes into a rendezvous with all "new" buckskins and accesories? I myself wear my stained skins with pride, every stain has a story behind it. Some how, " I put it in the bucket" just doesn't sound interesting! :hmm: :hmm:

 

[gizamo]

I'm also one that wants a broken in look...not aged. It amazes me to see guns that are artificially "Aged" that look to be in much poorer repair than my originals. Especially when they sport a stainless liner......:wink:

Why some builders go through that process, completely baffles me..but then ~ I'm easily confused.... :grin:

 

[LaBonte]

Why some builders go through that process, completely baffles me..

It's simple - there is a market for aged goods, whether it be guns, leather goods, knives, etc. - a VERY lucrative market for those that do it well and are in demand............

 

[aloyalistdawg]

Great point
I do American civil war , 1776 lol any ways what most people forget is that our equipment would be "new" or even slightly used, yes stuff looks nice aged but realistically "nope it would have been new look'en... cheers good point
a loyalist Dawg :hatsoff:

 

[LaBonte]

Great point
I do American civil war , 1776 lol any ways what most people forget is that our equipment would be "new" or even slightly used, yes stuff looks nice aged but realistically "nope it would have been new look'en... cheers good point
a loyalist Dawg :hatsoff:

Why would it necessarily be new - according to that logic there was no second hand gear being used? I've got gear I still use today that is over 40 years old - one gun I still use was made in 1820 - and I carry my G-g-g-g-grandfather's watch which was made in 1872.
IMO it's strange that somehow folks think that everybody wore only new or slightly used when the documentation often states otherwise - as always there are no absolutes (or few anyway) when it comes to history, it all depends on who, when, what, and where......