Wilderness Bag

[SpottedBull]

In the ministry that I am involved in there are three different levels, the top-most of which is called Wilderness. To get there you have to go through testing and an all-night prayer vigil. One of the requirements is to make a trade item and donate it to a missions auction.

Naturally, my trade is leather working. :shock:

So here is the bag that I made.

3 oz veg tan leather bag hand sewn with waxed linen thread. Front pocket has little pocket in the top of it. Its a piece of leather sewn inside the front of the bag, with a piece cut out to access it from the front pocket. Plus, that same piece is open in the bottom of the inside of the front section...anyway, its a double bag with the back section having a tapered gusset and both have a rolled welt. Dark red 100% wool cross insert on the font of the flap. Strap is adjustable with a forged iron buckle courtesy of Guarding Wolf forge! Dyed black with vinegaroon dye and oiled up with bear grease! ALL comments and critiques welcomed.

 

[hawkthrower]

I really like the full flap and the fact that its a double bag. Nice Job

 

[Moose Guide]

Well done and God bless!

 

[onepaw]

very nice!
would like to know more about this ministry group ty

 

[SpottedBull]

Here is a nice little video that tells some about it.
http://vimeo.com/39376485

Royal Rangers is the boys ministry for the Assemblies of God. A few years after its inception, they wanted a group that was set apart from the Royal Rangers that was dedicated to camping and woodsmanship.

The Frontiersman Camping Fraternity was born. Eventually it became Frontiersman Camping Fellowship. There are 3 levels of advancement. First is Frontiersman. You have to be sponsored by a member, and take part in the FCF Adventure. You are tested over a weekend on traps, knife, hawk, flint and steel and cooking. The Adventure has changed in the last year in that they removed the black powder and archery shooting tests.
Next is the Buckskin level. This level you are tested on the above mentioned, but also graded on your outfit, your craft/trade and your ID staff. The most important part of Buckskin is that God gives you an FCF name and a Bible verse that goes along with it to use as a witnessing tool. My name, for example, is Spotted Bull.
The highest level is Wilderness. This time the grading is very steep. You get points for your outfit, if its hand made by yourself, traded for etc. This includes all accouterments as well. Your persona has to be nailed down really well and you have to be able to explain it and how it ties in with all of your gear. You are tested on your primitive skills...knife throw is to a small block probably half hidden or way up in a tree. Hawk throw is the same way. You get one shot with a bp rifle at a target, or one shot with a bow. You have to set three primitive snares and demonstrate how they work, and build a primitive brush shelter. Then you build a fire and cook a meal, all with primitive gear. This gear has to be hauled in on your person, in a knapsack or some such carrying device. Then you are given a time that you are required to blow your hunter's horn at hourly. So you spend the rest of the night tending your fire, blowing your horn and praying. If you make it through all of the skill testing, and you miss a horn blow, or your fire goes out, or you go to sleep...well you get to do it all again later.

More information can be found here... http://www.nationalfcf.com/Default.aspx

and here... http://royalrangers.com/programs/special/

This is the website for our FCF chapter, the Shawnee Trail Chapter. I am the Buckskin Rep for our chapter. I get to help guys get ready for Buckskin testing, and then get to test them for it! http://fcf.ntxrr.org/

Also, there are certain merits and achievements that both boys and leaders have to accomplish in Royal Rangers in order to move up these levels.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Nice job.
Ministry sounds interesting.

 

[Rifleman1776]

That is a pretty tough test that, I believe, many experienced buckskinners would not pass.
Any youngster that accomplishes all that would, in all probability, turn out to be a fine adult.
The country is turning way too wussy lately. Glad to hear self-sufficiency is still being instilled in, at least, a few youth. :thumbsup:

 

[Billnpatti]

My hat is off to you, David. :hatsoff: You have a wonderful ministry and you have done a fine job on that bag. My son used to be in the Royal Rangers and both he and I had great times together on the father/son outings. He is now 41 years old and a really fine son, father, husband and man. I believe that both his mother and I and Royal Rangers had a lot to do with that.

 

[onepaw]

thanks for the info

 

[MSW]

great looking bag! :hatsoff:

 

[Flint311]

:hatsoff: :thumbsup:

 

[TinStar]

Great to hear things like this Spotted Bull! PTL!!!!!
May He bless your endeavors. Great looking bag too!

TinStar
Soli Deo Gloria!

 

[Lonegun1894]

Sounds like a great organization and a great bag too.

 

[SpottedBull]

Here are a couple of Youtube videos that will explain FCF a little better than I can...

http://youtu.be/eP-CJ4DRmXY

http://youtu.be/68AkYZKt588

 

[Old Creek]

nothin about that bag to critisize Spotted Bull :thumbsup:
being my grandsons adult partner in his first year of scouting i can appreciate what you do for your Rangers and much admire you for it. fact is a weekend camp with my grandson at a local scout reservation helped lead me into BP. the older scouts were having there vous and we got to tour their camp and observe some of their competions and i got a blast out of their traditional dress. they also had stations where they helped the younger scouts with shooting bows, slingshots and bb guns. they even had a smitty there and are planning on having black smithing classes begining in march, surprisingly to me my wife wants to go to them. she want even consider letting me teach her a little about welding or torch work and i always thought i was the old fashioned one in the family. go figure.

good work all the way round SB.

creek.