Recreating Kephart's Outfit

J

JoshSkaarup

Joined
Nov 15, 2018
Messages
198
As alluded to in some other threads, and inspired by the Becker BK62, I'm beginning to put together a kit based on Horace Kephart's lists and recommendations in Camping and Woodcraft. While my BK62 has yet to arrive (although I just saw the tracking has updated, it's close!) I figured I would get started on some of the other items. This will be a running thread where I'll put up photos of the various pieces of kit being built, so check back now and again for progress updates.

The outfit will be based off of Kep's list, "Summer Equipment for Back-Packing" in Chapter VII, "Trips Afoot". I'm trying to be as close as possible, within my means and abilities.

The first project is a Duluth/Poirier Pack-Sack.

From Camping and Woodcraft:
For regular packing, when one sleeps out, the best pack sack at a moderate price that I know of is what is known as the Duluth, or, from its inventor, the Poirier pattern (Fig. 32). Originally made for trappers, timber cruisers, and other professional woodsmen, it is now used by many sportsmen as well. The Duluth sack has no boxed sides, but is sewed up in the form of a simple bag, and so is made wider and higher than boxed ones of equal capacity.

The advantage is that one's blanket, which goes in first, as a pad for the back, can be folded two feet square, or a little more, and consequently in fewer thicknesses; hence the bag packs flatter that a boxed one and does not bulge so far backward at the top. Poirier makes his pack sacks in three grades: (A) 12-oz duck, heavy grain leather shoulder straps and canvas head strap, all straps and buckles fastened with copper rivets and burrs; (...)
By all means get the A grade, as canvas slings will wrinkle when wet and cut the shoulders. The standard sizes and weights, in A grade are as follows:

No. 1. 24 x 26 inches. 2 1/4 lbs.
No. 2. 26 x 28 inches. 2 1/2 lbs.
No. 3. 28 x 30 inches. 2 3/4 lbs.

For a pedestrian the No. 1 or No. 2 is large enough. A canoeist will find one of the larger ones ample to hold all the duffel for a single-handed cruise, and a week's provisions; but if he chooses to carry more on the outside, then, when he comes to a portage, the surplus articles can be piled on top of the pack, the head strap will be put to use, and he can tote as much as with a tump line, or more, because the shoulders assist.
The shoulder straps of the Duluth sack start from a common center, where they are riveted to an inside piece of leather. They fork from between one's shoulder blades like a pair of suspenders. The flap is half as long as the sack, and it is fitted with three long straps whereby the sack may be adjusted snugly to a large or small load. As the sack has a wide mouth, it is easy to pack and to get into. The three straps hold down the flap closely a the corners as well as in the centre, and so keep out rain and snow and prevent things spilling out. There is no throat piece; but a wise woodsman stows his perishables in light waterproof bags, anyway.
Click to expand...

Anywho, on to the pack itself. I started with a 12 oz. brown canvas tarp from Princess Auto, and cut it to size. (Sorry in advance for the poor quality photos. I'll get proper ones once it's complete)

20181204-093946.jpg


All the edges were then folded and stitched, and the sides folded and stitched twice to prevent fraying.

20181204-123813.jpg


I made a map pocket about a foot square, and added it inside the front of the pack. This pocket isn't mentioned by Kep, but it is found on the modern day Duluth #2 pack, so I added it in.

20181204-123808.jpg


The sides were then double stitched, and the sack turned inside out. Foundation complete! Ignore the big ol' crease running up the front, I didn't iron the canvas yet.

20181204-133548.jpg

20181204-133557.jpg

20181204-133631.jpg


My calculations didn't factor in my poor tailoring skills (it was only my second time using a sewing machine, and an industrial one at that. All my sewing skills are of the hand variety) and so the sack ended up being only 22" wide, but still 26" tall. Shouldn't make a huge difference, just a loss of a few litres of capacity. It's pretty roomy!

Next up is to start cutting strap leather, hand-stitch in the reinforcing tabs, make the tump line, and assemble everything.

Here you can see the lovely copper hardware as well as my rough sketches and measurements

20181204-133957.jpg


Hoping I have the time to get it finished this week, but we'll see. Luckily the leather is the easy part, for me at least.

Stay tuned for more!
 
Thanks! Going to be making a couple of modifications to the pack, like adding 4 1" D rings, so that it can be lashed to a pack frame in the future.

Further down the line will be a tarp/George tent, a folding bucksaw (not listed in the book, but handy for Canada) and a small leather belt pouch. And also probably numerous small bags and sacks for compartmentalizing the contents of the pack.
 
JoshSkaarup said:
Thanks! Going to be making a couple of modifications to the pack, like adding 4 1" D rings, so that it can be lashed to a pack frame in the future.

Further down the line will be a tarp/George tent, a folding bucksaw (not listed in the book, but handy for Canada) and a small leather belt pouch. And also probably numerous small bags and sacks for compartmentalizing the contents of the pack.
Click to expand...
Sewing is a skill I never took the time to acquire. I always wanted to make my own backpack, pouches, etc. You can never have too many pouches. Can't go wrong with a saw in the woods, fo sho.
 
JoshSkaarup said:
As alluded to in some other threads, and inspired by the Becker BK62, I'm beginning to put together a kit based on Horace Kephart's lists and recommendations in Camping and Woodcraft. While my BK62 has yet to arrive (although I just saw the tracking has updated, it's close!) I figured I would get started on some of the other items. This will be a running thread where I'll put up photos of the various pieces of kit being built, so check back now and again for progress updates.

The outfit will be based off of Kep's list, "Summer Equipment for Back-Packing" in Chapter VII, "Trips Afoot". I'm trying to be as close as possible, within my means and abilities.

The first project is a Duluth/Poirier Pack-Sack.

From Camping and Woodcraft:


Anywho, on to the pack itself. I started with a 12 oz. brown canvas tarp from Princess Auto, and cut it to size. (Sorry in advance for the poor quality photos. I'll get proper ones once it's complete)

20181204-093946.jpg


All the edges were then folded and stitched, and the sides folded and stitched twice to prevent fraying.

20181204-123813.jpg


I made a map pocket about a foot square, and added it inside the front of the pack. This pocket isn't mentioned by Kep, but it is found on the modern day Duluth #2 pack, so I added it in.

20181204-123808.jpg


The sides were then double stitched, and the sack turned inside out. Foundation complete! Ignore the big ol' crease running up the front, I didn't iron the canvas yet.

20181204-133548.jpg

20181204-133557.jpg

20181204-133631.jpg


My calculations didn't factor in my poor tailoring skills (it was only my second time using a sewing machine, and an industrial one at that. All my sewing skills are of the hand variety) and so the sack ended up being only 22" wide, but still 26" tall. Shouldn't make a huge difference, just a loss of a few litres of capacity. It's pretty roomy!

Next up is to start cutting strap leather, hand-stitch in the reinforcing tabs, make the tump line, and assemble everything.

Here you can see the lovely copper hardware as well as my rough sketches and measurements

20181204-133957.jpg


Hoping I have the time to get it finished this week, but we'll see. Luckily the leather is the easy part, for me at least.

Stay tuned for more!
Click to expand...
Outstanding project! Keep going! :thumbsup:
 
Reminds me of some WWII haversacks I saw all lined up at my local surplus house the other day, expensive those were. They wanted seventy something bucks a piece. But, I get that they are a limited quantity item.
 
Nice work Josh :thumbsup: looking forward to seeing all of this ambitious project your taking on :)
 
Aikiguy said:
This is awesome. Looking forward to these updates. You’re a brave man, taking this project on...:thumbsup:

I made a couple of take down bucksaws a year or so ago:




That was a fun project. Looks like they’d fit in to the style you’re going for.
Click to expand...
Very Cool!
 
The 62 arrived today! Huzzah! So in adding to the camp equipment, here is my "Kephart Trio", as it were:

HATCHET.-A woodsman should carry a hatchet, and he should be as critical in selecting it as buying a gun. The notion that a heavy hunting knife can do the work of a hatchet is a delusion. When it comes to cleaving carcasses, chopping kindling, blazing thick-barked trees, driving tent pegs or trap stakes, and keeping up a bivouac fire, the knife never was made that will compare with a good tomahawk.
The common hatchets of the hardware stores are unfit for a woodsman's use. They have broad blades with beveled edge, and they are generally made of poor, brittle stuff. A camper's hatchet should have the edge and temper for a good axe. It must be light enough to carry in or on one's knapsack, yet it should bite deep in timber. The best hatchet I have used (and it has been with me in the mountains for seven or eight years) is one shown in Fig. 103, except that the handle is a straight one, 17 inch, that I made myself. It's weight, with leather sheath, is 1lbs. 10 oz. With this keen little tool I have cut many a cord of the hardest woods - hickory, oak, dogwood, beech, etc. - up to young trees eight or more inches thick, often laying in a winter night's wood with it.
Click to expand...

POCKET KNIFE. - The jackknife has one stout blade equal to whittling seasoned hickory, and two small blades, of which one is ground thin for such surgery as you may have to perform (keep it clean).
Click to expand...

For the hatchet of this kit, I'm using a Condor Greenland pattern. It has roughly the same dimensions (16" overall, weight at 1 lbs. 7 oz. without mask), but stock has a very bulky handle and the bit is quite thick. I've removed much of the bulk of the handle to improve grip and balance, and have reground the bit significantly, so that it chops well, but still splits.

The pocket knife is a Case Trapper with Amber Bone handles. In earlier editions of Camping and Woodcraft, Kep's pocketknife had two blades. My edition mentions three, so likely something along the lines of a Stockman. I prefer the trapper model, as the clip blade is a good whittler, and the spey makes for an excellent scalpel.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top