Bag #10, Horn #6 - Full Front
Shown here is my personal rig consisting of an early Virginia shot pouch and a Virginia banded, screw-tip powder horn. Most of the shot pouches made these days are relatively complicated affairs using designs from the early to middle 19th century. If you want a shot pouch that is proper for the 18th century, take a close look at this shot pouch and powder horn. I put together an outfit that I felt would be proper for 1775 on the Virginia frontier.
There are very few examples of shot pouches from the 18th century. So, I was fortunate to be able to study an original early Virginia shot pouch that matches the size and construction of another published (Clash of Empires exhibition catalog, p. 30) pouch known to date to the period of the French and Indian War. This original Virginia shot pouch was documented by Wallace Gusler in the December 2009 Muzzle Blasts(pp. 4-8).
The original one piece pouch is square at the bottom (although the corners look rounded due to use) and stitched up the sides with a very fine stitch very close to the edge. A divider that is open at the bottom serves as a welt between the front and the back of the bag. A pewter flap button is anchored to a stag horn button on the inside of the pouch. The stag horn button was covered by a round piece of leather that served to prevent the user’s hand from catching on the button. The flap extends approximately halfway down the front of the bag and has a slight beaver tail shape with a welted edge.
Bag #10, Horn #6 - Front
The original bag did not have a strap attached and was missing part of the leather at one attachment point. However, there was evidence of a strap stitched to one side and a button hole on the other side. Wallace Gusler indicated in his article that he believed two linked buttons (as in a cufflink) connected the strap to the bag using the button hole.
I have made a number of hunting pouches based on this original. I have generally maintained the size and shape but varied the construction (i.e. external vs. internal stitching), the type of strap (i.e. leather vs. woven) and the type of attachment (i.e. location and number of buttons) for the strap. The original pouch actually appears to have rounded corners due to wear, and I made several copies that way before I realized that it was an optical illusion. Even in this very close copy, I still rounded the corners slightly in order to give the bag a finished look.
Not having Russia leather which was most likely used to create the original, I created my copy of the original using 3-4oz vegetable tanned cowhide which I stained using vinegar and iron. This particular bag is approximately the same size as the original at 7.5″ wide X 6.5″ high. Just like the original, this pouch has a center divider as the welt and is stitched up the sides. I rolled and hemmed the edge of the flap instead of using a welted edge because of the thicker leather that I use. I maintained the same flap button attachment as the original with an internal stag horn button used as an anchor for the external pewter flap button. A leather is cover sewn over the internal stag horn button to prevent the hand from catching on it.
Bag #10 - Back
As for the strap, I attached it in a manner as close to the original as I could ascertain. One end of the strap is stitched to the right side (as worn on the right side), and the other end is attached to
the bag using a single small pewter button anchored to another small pewter button on the inside of the pouch. The strap may then be seasonally adjusted using buttonholes in the end of the strap. I have punched four buttonholes for about 4″ of adjustment.
Bag #10 - Front Decoration
The original pouch was decorated with stamped stars, some forming the initials of the owner. Consequently, I made a matching stamp to decorated my pouch. However, I decided to get a little fancier with a more refined design. I added diagonal lines reminiscent of English checkering patterns. On the bags shown below, I used the same stamp to create the owners initials and to do a Sun, Moon, and stars motif. In fact, I liked the Sun, Moon, and stars design so much, I used it on two bags, both shown below.
Horn #6 - Side
I attached to the bag a Virginia single banded screw-tip horn that is similar to an original dated 1774. The horn is approximately 15″ around the outside curve with a 2 3/4″ base plug. The base plug and stopper are turned walnut with the base plug attached with wooden pegs. The screw-tip and band are horn. The screw-tip is dyed to match the walnut. Hand forged staples are installed in the the base plug and throat for the attachment of the hangers. The hangers are attached to the bag strap with buttons just as the strap is attached to the bag. This attachment method is purely conjecture on my part, but I think it makes sense to be able to adjust the hanger attachment location as the strap length is adjusted. The horn is dyed yellow with aqua fortis and appropriately aged.
As with all my recreated pouches and horns, I try to made them look used. That means adding wrinkles, puckers, a few cracks, some stains and blemishes, and a bit of dirt and oil. I try not to overdue it so that the function of the bag is not compromised.
You might think that this bag is too small at about 7″ square. I can assure you that it is not. Period documentation indicates that most longhunters carried hunting pouches of this size. They would just carry what they needed to shoot the gun. This generally meant a bullet mold, some bullets, patches, tow, and a wiper. A powder horn and powder measure with a vent pick and brush were generally hung from the strap.
In my bag, I keep some tow, a strip of pre-lubricated pillow ticking, five balls, two flints wrapped in leather, and a turn screw of some sort. This bag is plenty big for that. I hang a pan brush, vent pick, and powder measure from the pouch strap. I hang a small knife around my neck in a neck sheath. This is certainly all you need for a day of hunting and more than you need to carry to the line when shooting at the range.
Shown below are three more pouches and one horn very similar to my personal bag shown above. They are of the same design with different tooling and buttons.
Bag #12 - Full Front
Bag #15 - Full Front
Bag #12 - Front
Bag #15 - Front
Bag #12 - Back
Bag #15 - Back
If you are interested in obtaining a pouch or horn like the ones shown above, use the Contact form to send me an e-mail. I have listed the prices for these items below.
- Plain Early Virginia Shot Pouch (as shown above but without tooling) – $205 plus shipping
- Powder Horn Hangers for Early Virginia Shot Pouch – $30
- Decorative Tooling on Early Virginia Shot Pouch – $25
- Large Virginia Banded Screw-tip Powder Horn – $290 plus shipping
- Tin Powder Measure, Brush and Pick set – $75
Shipping on a single item is $10. Shipping on an outfit is $15.
