A Couple of Shot pouches & a powderhorn...

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Aug 23, 2002
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A more rustic style of shot pouch made of alum tawed sheepskin and lined with linen. The flap of the pouch is made from the leg section and the edge was left as skinned. The linen lining adds a bit of fringe to the outer edge while a single row of white and blue beads decorates the edge seam. In the center is an embroidered hunter’s star aka compass rose. At the top edge of the flap a bit of deer hair trim adds a bit of color.
The pouch body is double welted and that has been fringed. There are two real repairs on the body – one slip of the knife has been sewn together on the front and a braintan buckskin patch covers a small weak spot on the back. There's a leather divider inside making this essentially a two section pouch.
The pouch strap is made of bark tan calf skin and includes a 1” antique roller buckle for making adjustments. Attached to the front of the strap is an 80 grn powder measure made from a deer leg bone section and partially covered with deer rawhide and linen thread wraps.
On the back of the pouch is a strap with a bone toggle button that can be tucked under the waist belt or sash to keep the bag from swinging away from one’s body. The front flap is closed with a hand made antler slab button.
The horn is an original SW Virginia horn (circa 1850’s?). I repaired the small cracks along the butt with a bit of pitch and then covered it over with deer rawhide. I then added an iron ring for the bark tan cowhide harness strap at both ends and can be used alone or attached to the patch strap via a couple of small braintan thongs. The horn can be used alone or attached to the patch strap via a couple of small braintan thongs. The horn strap is adjustable via the two braintan buckskin thongs on each end. The whole set was given a patina of age – used but not abused………….

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The first mountain men came from the east and this set was inspired by those early trappers such as Forest Hancock and Joseph Dickson who went up the Missouri River in 1807 with John Colter, Thomas James who went west with the Lisa expedition, last but far from least Hoback, Reznor, and Edward Robinson who guided the Wilson Price Hunt Expedition of 1811 (Robinson is my kind of frontiersman - he was born in 1745, lost his hair in Kentucky, and his life in Rocky Mountains at age 66). The pouch is based on a pic of an original I found on line, but did not note where I got it – Oh Well! The whole set is intended to be my idea of what one of these earliest of mountaineers might have carried during those early years. My version is patterned after that original. It is made from alum tawed sheepskin (I love this stuff!) rather than cowhide like the original, but does have a dark blue plaid wool liner similar to the original. Size is 8.5" wide by 7.5" tall. It has a small exterior pocket for storing greased patches, and a short fringed welt. It has a brain tan buckskin repair along one edge seam, both inside and outside, an inner pocket of brain tan as a later addition, and the strap of bark tan cowhide harness leather is also intended to represent a later replacement - the adjustment buckle is a saddle buckle of the era. On the back is a strap with a bone button that can be tucked under the waist belt or sash to keep the bag from swinging away from one’s body. The flap is closed with a hand made domed brass button. The bit of beadwork is done with blue pound beads similar in color to many originals of the era and is intended to represent what one of the early mountaineers paramours may have added to “fancy” things up a bit – east meets west…. The horn is an original SW Virginia horn (circa 1850’s?) that I got in a trade. I repaired the small cracks along the butt with a bit of pitch and then covered it over with deer rawhide. I then added an iron ring for the bark tan cowhide harness strap at both ends and can be used alone or attached to the patch strap via a couple of small braintan thongs. The horn can be used alone or attached to the patch strap via a couple of small braintan thongs. The strap is adjustable via the two braintan buckskin thongs on each end. Mated up to the horn are a 70gr antler powder measure and a simple iron touchhole pick attached to the horn via a fine link iron chain, which came off some old (circa 1880’s) harness - the pick and measuer fit into a small pocket on the back of the bag's strap. The whole set was given a patina of age – used but not abused………….

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Excellent work and photography. Certainly looks like it is original to the period. Has to be the most authentic I have seen. I own several horns and bags that are custom but do not hold a candle to these.
 
Both are amazing. Just noticed that I spend as much time admiring the accoutrements as the bags and also the details in your pictures, such as the friction folder in both shots. A question if I may, the roller buckle, was that introduced in horse tack? Very nice Sir..........Randy
 
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Thank you all and glad you enjoyed the view.

Randy I've found roller buckles dating back to the Romans - probably first used on tack or harness, but who knows for sure at this point. In later years ie.e 17-1800's they were mostly used on tack and harness, but buckles alone show up in the trade lists as well.
 
It is crazy to see these. They look like multiple generation heirlooms that have been used. Your aging is perfection.

Now - if only YOU aged so well. ;)

Great work!

TF
 
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