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Okay, (sigh), “whistle pig”?
I just know i’m gonna have to write a book report on all this....
I just know i’m gonna have to write a book report on all this....
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Possible bags
- Thread starter Scott
- Start date
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All of the gear previously mentioned, plus a small tin box that contains needles stuck into a cork, sinew, waxed linen thread, a small ball of leather whangs and a small chunk of beeswax. There's a bone-handled awl in it's own small pouch attached to my bag strap along with a tin cup, my short starter, a patch knife and (often) a small bullet mold, and of course my main powder horn. There's an L-shaped iron turnscrew. a small metal file, and a small pair of iron pliers. A second tin box has cleaning jags, patch worm, ball screw, bronze bore brush, and - depending on the long gun - either spare flints and flint pads or spare nipples and a nipple wrench. In the main pouch there are a couple rolls of spare patch material, cleaning patches, a bullet bag, cans of caps (if shooting a percussion), a capper, a small cleaning brush, a small priming horn, a small salt horn, two spoons, my tinder box with flint `n steel outfit and a small amount of dry tinder, a soft buckskin pouch with a sharpening stone and another with a burning glass. Non-traditional items: A spare pair of reading glasses and a little bottle of aspirin. I have a folding lead ladle in my possibles along with a couple of 1-pound bars of pure lead but I quit carrying them in my hunting pouch. If I were heading into the mountains for the winter all this would be duplicated in saddle panniers on a pack pony "just in case" along with extra tins of caps, extra powder and lead, spare knives and hatchets, files and sharpening stones, oil, plus some cards of needles and other needfuls.
A whistle pig is a groundhog ....
Because sometimes I go a trekking, and the point is to try to experience what it would be like if you weren't going to return to the 21st century by way of your car after only a few nights.
Besides, I also do living history demonstrations and it's a lot easier to find what I need for the .54 rifle if it's in the one bag.
So If overnighting and I had a shot and got some game, I can clean the rifle. I have the skinning knife to clean the game. (OH I forgot I keep my flint and steel in there too.)
If at an event and I'm shooting targets, I have the bullets and tools, and the funnel to refill the horn when I'm done. If it rains I have the cow's knee.
If I have the time and the lead, at an event I can cast a few round ball...,
LD
Bob, speaking of, do you remember where you got the turnscrew(s) seen in your videos?
Bob McBride
54 Cal.
Yes sir. A gent from WV, a blacksmith, made them for me. He’s on ALR, ‘Dave R’ is his handle I believe. I’ll have to get to the shop to double check. I’ll pm you.
Bob McBride
54 Cal.
Some of you definitely need to use the Google Tennessee Mountain Boy translator...
Bob McBride
54 Cal.
You forgot the Venison jerky....I think.
I'm pretty sure the OP was referring to the pouch or bag hanging off his shoulder which holds his shooting supplies. For a thorough, if not exhaustive, review of the names for this item, you'll want to check here: What is the proper name for a possibles bag?
However, this thread has moved on to a discussion what might be included with one's "possibles." John Palliser (1807-1887) traveled the northern plains of North America in 1847 -1848, mainly for sport. He was a very keen hunter. He wrote his memoirs of this trip in Solitary Rambles and Adventures of a Hunter in the Prairies. The dedication in that book included his recommendations to other travelers for guns, knives, horse, and saddle, but he also listed a complete inventory of everything the hunter and traveler might need to "...pass from Independence to the Pacific Ocean."
I've read over that list many times. How many of us could plunge into the wilderness and survive, with kit like that? Palliser did visit a good many of the trading posts in his travels and re-supply when needed, but he must have traveled light, and judging from his book, he enjoyed every minute of it.
The entire text of Palliser's book is available to read online, courtesy of of HathiTrust: Solitary Rambles It's a great read, if you're interested in that place and time.
Notchy Bob
However, this thread has moved on to a discussion what might be included with one's "possibles." John Palliser (1807-1887) traveled the northern plains of North America in 1847 -1848, mainly for sport. He was a very keen hunter. He wrote his memoirs of this trip in Solitary Rambles and Adventures of a Hunter in the Prairies. The dedication in that book included his recommendations to other travelers for guns, knives, horse, and saddle, but he also listed a complete inventory of everything the hunter and traveler might need to "...pass from Independence to the Pacific Ocean."
I've read over that list many times. How many of us could plunge into the wilderness and survive, with kit like that? Palliser did visit a good many of the trading posts in his travels and re-supply when needed, but he must have traveled light, and judging from his book, he enjoyed every minute of it.
The entire text of Palliser's book is available to read online, courtesy of of HathiTrust: Solitary Rambles It's a great read, if you're interested in that place and time.
Notchy Bob
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Brokennock
Cannon
I think some people are using a sea bag for their "possibles" bag.
megasupermagnum
45 Cal.
Last year I had an extra nipple, a ball puller, a T handle that threads into my ramrod, nipple wrench, capper full of caps, Four color coded vials of powder (two for the rifle, two for the pistol), 4 balls, 4 "pre-cut" patches (cut at muzzle, picked up at the range), some beef jerky, and a sandwich. I also have a short starter in a loop on the side, and in this case I carried my pistol ramrod as my short starter.
All of us . Or at least many of us. Most of us have learned woodsman skills and life in the eastern forest is different then the high plains or the Rockies and the Great Basin- plateau region is different still. So the skills we practice in one area might not easily carry over to another.
However:
I think many of us have the skills needed, fat bellies, arthritis, bad knees not withstanding.
The thing is we’re spoiled.
We can make a shelter, at least we know how but it’s a lot easier to carry a canvas. We can make a game soup and even gather some wild plans for flavor, but it’s nicer to have some spices, a bit of Tabasco and a chocolate bar is tasty.
We like our toys, and we like our creature comforts, even when we’re being ByGodMountianMen, tough as raw hide.
Sometimes I’m put in mind of Allen Quartermain and twenty native barriers.
Brokennock
Cannon
I hadn't taken any pics of my latest "possibles bag," or bag for generalized stuff. So I just took a few,
The bag I've been using for years has been that oil/waxed cotton "haversack" commercially made. Can't remember who I purchased it from, some bushcraft website.
As for shot pouches, I've posted these before, I'll just see what is quickly available on my phone,
This is my primary hunting shot pouch. It is small and tight. Not everything shown in the last pic is always in the bag, some of it is not used at all anymore as it is an old photo. I have since trimmed the flap and added a decorative bound edge. It is a little tight for doing a lot of shooting on the range.
I made this bag, and posted about its construction elsewhere, as an excersize in what is possible just from craft store stuff and what is on hand. It has actually worked out really well for range use, I will probably make a copy of it with better materials for a second bag for hunting to go with my other smooth bore,
Okay those have to go in another reply,
Brokennock
Cannon
So I can only attach 10 pictures per reply, here are the other shot pouch pics,
The little inside pocket hangs freely from buttons as I intended to make another longer divided one that will hold slate turkey call strikers and interchange them, using this bag for calls in the spring and the other shot pouch as it was intended. The little pouch holds a few wads, or paper cartridges, or some patch material quite nicely.
As for the newest "possibles bag" or bag for general stuff. It is made of split bison hide and some stuff I found at a craft or fabric store for the strap. The button hole in the false flap holds my pipe nicely. I intend to add more decoration to that flap at some point.
Another variation of Whistle Pig shot bag. So far my first and only one I have made. Two large inside pockets with one small for my primer; keeps things separated so I dont have to scrounge.
They told me the smoked German tanned buckskin from Crazy Crow would not work do to stretching, but it's going on two years now and holding up grate. The back panel was near rawhide so that helped along with the ticking liner. The strap is also buckskin, with hemp canvas sewed inside (all hand done)
They told me the smoked German tanned buckskin from Crazy Crow would not work do to stretching, but it's going on two years now and holding up grate. The back panel was near rawhide so that helped along with the ticking liner. The strap is also buckskin, with hemp canvas sewed inside (all hand done)
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Hey Tenngun: D'ye by any chance mean "native bearers?"
I don't have a ny "possible" bags. I carry "just what is necessary to fire and clean the firearm" bags. Only shooting and cleaning gear.
I made up a little tool roll for the rifle. The smoothbore is even more spartan. I have since dropped the ball block for a half dozen paper ball cartridges.
I made up a little tool roll for the rifle. The smoothbore is even more spartan. I have since dropped the ball block for a half dozen paper ball cartridges.
Attachments
Cruzatte
50 Cal.
For a day out at the range, I carry my lunch, a pipe and some tobacco, my fire starting kit with a burning lens for lighting my pipe, a folding knife and sharpening stone, and my tin cup.
Shooting supplies go in the shot pouch; powder/shot measure, ball, wads, a small priming horn, an extra flint, turn screw, gun worm, a brass wire mounted on a small antler handle I call my priming wire. some cleaning patches. If they're shooting clay pigeons, I may decide to join in the fun and will bring along the necessary bird shot.
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I do.... thank you spell check
I typed it like three times, my spelling sucks and I kept getting ‘no word found’
I guess it’s a barrier to my post.
