Shot Bag #5

Frontiersmen of the 18th-century lived and died by their ability to reload their weapons. Whether it served to take life or provide for it, the shot pouch played a critical role in every round fired throughout the period. No frontiersman would willingly be found without one.

This bag is made from vegetable-tanned cowhide leather. The pattern is inspired by confirmed originals. This particular bag is shaped after the user’s hand; the user can touch all the contents as soon as they stick their hand in the bag. I hand sew using beeswaxed linen thread as is found in surviving original bags. Stitch counts were a mark of quality during the period. Tight, clean, straight stitching represents a serious investment of time in each piece, but one must be careful not to perforate the leather so much as to lessen its integrity. I walk that line at a consistent 8-9 stitches per inch. A welt throughout the central seam ensures that any sharp contents of the bag will not degrade the stitching.

My bags are dyed with an alcohol-based dye and finished using (1) a liquid that permeates deeply into the leather to keep it supple, and (2) a paste that brings a low shine and water resistance to the outer layer. This combination keeps the leather from drying out too much over time and extreme use. The inside of this bag and the backside of the strap are not dyed. This was sometimes found in the period to conserve dye. I have found that exposed leather will age naturally and reflect the use habits of the owner. The strap features a forged buckle and several holes for adjustment. It fits me (5’10, 160lb male) in its middle position.

This bag has been seen in my fall camp and winter moccasins video. It will soon reappear in a winter camp video filmed in early 2024. It has functioned perfectly. Unfortunately, the straps are nearly parallel where they are fixed to the bag. This makes the strap twist slightly near the waist once it comes off the body. This imperfection is hardly noticeable while using the bag but the bag is discounted nonetheless.

POWDER MEASURE AND BRUSH/PICK SET NOT INCLUDED.

Please contact emailfrontiertradingco@gmail.com with any comments or questions.