Making leather stuff for muzzleloaders...

[Adam Helmer]

I bought a bushel basket of leather pieces at a yard sale for $2.00 last year. Since then, I have made knife sheaths, possibles bag shoulder straps, flint pockets and leather lacings.

I just looked in the Cabela's Shooting catalog and saw a possibles bag (on page 115) for $179.99, plus shipping. The pouch is 11" high and 10" wide. That is a bit small for all my possibles. We have a "Nitch" indoor perpetual yard sale building just over the hill. They have a huge table of leather purses for $1 or $2 each. I snagged 3 and came home and fitted them all with leather shoulder straps.

My next project is to make a belt holster for my "New Orleans" .45 caliber percussion pistol to go on the same belt with my 'hawk. Ah, thanks for these long Winters in northcentral Pennsylvania.

Adam

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Ah, thanks for these long Winters in northcentral Pennsylvania.

Whatsamatter? Did you run out of Brasso?

I've got some leather projects in the works as well......can't afford $179 for a shot snake, so I'm making my own shot bags out of plumbing supplies and scrap leather; I'm currently beading the bags to give it that 'native American' flavor, and that takes some time, but I'll post pics when I get them done.

I'm also working on a knife sheath (almost completed) and I have a gun case that I'm getting ready to start work on (beading). I also received a possibles bag 'kit' from Tandy leather a few Christmas' ago.....guess I should put that together as well!

The snow is falling pretty good today, so no trips to the woods......besides, I need to go out and buy some birthday presents & pick up some pigeons for dog training, so the projects will be put on hold......momentarily!

[Mr. 16 gauge]

They have a huge table of leather purses for $1 or $2 each.

Adam, your probably the only person I know who has a Coach possibles bag.......you fashion minded trend setter!

[Adam Helmer]

Mr. 16 gauge,

LOL! Actually, all three leather purses are really swell. They have leather closure gizmos that used a flap to secure the purse. No gaudy brass closures, etc., but neat leather that should be a model for regulation possibles bags. All would fit right in with Mountain Men of the 1820s.

Adam

[Talon]

This thread NEEDS PICTURES of your work please..

Tal~

[Mr. 16 gauge]

This thread NEEDS PICTURES of your work please..

O.K., here you go.....finally got one done and got some photos of it. Wish I could take credit for the idea/design, but I found it in an article in The Backwoodsman magazine a few years back. Been meaning to make one for a while, and have been working on it off and on.
This one will be for my lead shot; I'm making another one to carry nontoxic shot in for waterfowling/hunting lands requiring nontoxic shot.
I added the beadwork just to give it a more "personal" touch. The bag itself is made of scrap leather that I had from a pair of moccasins I made, and the spout is made from a 1"-3/4" copper reducer I got from Lowe's. It's attached to the bag with copper wire from a disposable medical device I scavaged from the garbage at work. I've made 3 'dippers' for it for various charges of shot: 1 oz, 1 1/8 oz, and 1 1/4 oz. Right now it's holding some #6 shot.

[Talon]

Very nice...You should do a tutorial that would be awesome..
Tal~

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Here is another:
I finished the knife some time ago; it's made from an old file and the handle is from and old mule deer antler.
I finally finished the sheath yesterday. It is made from one piece of scrap deer leather. For the beadwork, I imagined some squaw seeing the British flag flying above fort Michilimackinac at the straights and using that as her inspiration.
Happy Easter to all!

[Talon]

Very nice!