Old hunting/shooting bags & accoutrements

[rollingb]

By clicking on the below links, we get to see original bags along with their accoutrements.
These pictures give us a look into the past, and answer a lot of questions (that have been asked many times), regarding the "designs" of original bags, were powder horns ever attached to the bag straps, what materials were used, and etc.

I hope you find these pdf's as interesting as I do. 

http://ehcnc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Hunting-Bags-1.pdf

http://ehcnc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Hunting-Bags-2.pdf

http://ehcnc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Hunting-Bags-3.pdf

[Ohio Joe]

Thanks Rondo, that is some great info to have on hand for some good winter reading.  The bullet block and leather cap holder really caught my eye... Also (without knowing of course) those powder measures hanging down from their shooting bag's - to my eye seem small, but I'm a guessing (and I think I've read it somewhere's before) the common practice (or at least one practice) was that many ol' timers of the past used a "half measure" for their small game, and for their large game they loaded two measures of powder - which makes sense to me as I'm sure powder was always in short supply... I saved those links and plan on giving them a good read.   

[rollingb]

Joe,.... I dunno about the "half measure" theory (which could very well be true), but since these bags (along with their accompanying powder measures) are from Virginia and North Carolina, I'd bet the rifles they were paired with were of fairly small calibers. 

I find old original bags and their accouterments (such as these) very interesting, and how they can be useful as "historically correct" pictorial guides for anyone interested in making their own shooting/hunting bags and accouterments today.   

[Ohio Joe]

I to thought about these measures and that they may be feeding a small-bore squirrel rifle.

Also, if you look at that first picture of the bag with the powder horn on it - take note how it's attached to the bag's shoulder strap... In fact, in most the pictures with bag and horn, the horn is attached to the bag's shoulder strap in this manner.  I usually do not attach my powder horn to my bag's shoulder strap.

[Winter Hawk]

Well, there go a couple of things near and dear to my heart!   1) that there was no provenance that loading blocks were used before about 1930, and 2) ditto for ball starters.  Unless the ball starters and loading block were added to original shooting bags which were still in use around that time frame but I have my doubts about that.

Very interesting read, thank you for posting it!

~Kees~

[rollingb]

Kees,.... since these bags are but a very small representative of all the various hunting/shooting bags used over a period of centuries, the jury is still out (and will possibly remain so for a long time) regarding the use/non-use of ball-blocks, and ball starters.   

So,.... continue to enjoy your's. 



 

[Winter Hawk]

So,.... continue to enjoy yours. 

That's just it, I thought that I really shouldn't have a short starter and start the ball with the pommel of my knife (like RobD).  Now I see that at least one bag had one, even if it looks different from what we see these days.  Same with the bullet block.  So now I guess I need to go make or purchase some of those since they were undoubtedly used back when muzzle loading was all that was available...


~Kees~

[Uncle Russ]

Personally, I can't recall last reading anything as interesting as the links provided by Rondo.
IMHO, it has dispelled several old wives tales that, at times, plague this sport / hobby of ours.

I loved the seldom mentioned "Turkey Spur" used as a powder measure. And, like others, I immediately thought of the very popular .32 caliber and other dedicated Squirrel guns.

Did anyone catch the couple of references to "Virginia Valley"?
Personally I think that reference is to "Powell Valley" in the Southern Appalachian Region, home of the original Longhunter, and NOT the much better known Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

This made for a great read, gotta go back and read it all again!

Russ...



 

[WonkoTheSane]

 

Great read.  Thanks for posting.  Gives me a couple of ideas for the pouch I'm going to use with my Brown Bess.  I was happy to see that one of the pouches had a woven shoulder strap.  I am planning on making a strap on my inkle loom for the pouch.

[Uncle Russ]

I thought maybe we should bring this back, mainly for the links provided by Rondo.

That thing about short starters and ball boards has been a subject of discussion since I first "really" got into this hobby, sometime in the late 1960's, early 1970's, after returning from a trip overseas.
However, as many of you well know, there were no good references readily available like there is today.....a lot of 'old wives tales" changed hands as absolute truths back in those days.

I seriously doubt any two items have been discussed and cussed, any more than the short starter and the ball board.

[rollingb]

I thought maybe we should bring this back, mainly for the links provided by Rondo.

That thing about short starters and ball boards has been a subject of discussion since I first "really" got into this hobby, sometime in the late 1960's, early 1970's, after returning from a trip overseas.
However, as many of you well know, there were no good references readily available like there is today.....a lot of 'old wives tales" changed hands as absolute truths back in those days.

I seriously doubt any two items have been discussed and cussed, any more than the short starter and the ball board.

Russ,.... Due to the interest shown in those 3 links I posted,.... I went ahead and "stickied" them in the "Trekking Life and Accoutrements" forum, which should make them a bit easier for everyone to find. 

[Uncle Russ]

 

Good deal....I've looked through all of these before, but I can't help but keep going back.
Having them handy is a great idea.