Belt Bags

How period correct are these and to what period, that is, if at all?

Folks here are very knowledgeable about such things...... But
Help us out a bit, how about a picture or two???

This is kind of difficult to answer.

A kilted Scotsman would wear a sporran on his belt, but wearing of kilts by non military Scots meant that the sporran was superseded by pockets in his breeches and weskit.

A regular soldier of the F&I or AWI would carry paper cartridges in a belly box.

A native American might carry long small bags gags that could be looped over a belt. A small wallet, a long bag with the opening in the middle could be tucked under a belt.

I do use an October Country Belt bag at Rendezvous and find it quite handy for spare flints, turn screws and my fire starting kit. I can't find a lot of documentation on their use in the period. I don't wear the belly bag at the Fort de Chartres Trade Faire in April and I don't see belly bags on the other participants. Pockets in the coats and weskits are the means to carry small items.

I was going to add the use of a split pouch if one is doing a French Canadian impression, or certain Eastern NA. but I see it has already been mentioned.

Bullet bags were common for rangers and provincials .
From Knox's journal. "A leathern, or seal's skin bag, buckled round their waist, which hangs down before, contains bullets, and a smaller shot, of the size of full-grown peas : six or seven of which, with a ball, they generally load"
Here is a image:
Bill

Looking at any period paintings small bags are almost compleatly absent except military cartridge boxes ect. Remember combing over miller for belt bags.
However at the risk of being boiled in my own pudding bag, it looks like pockets were seen in a rifelmans shirt or two.

Throughout the history of mankind, all sorts of things have been hung from whatever was handy on the body. You like the idea? Go fer it. Personally, I have tried belt bags and don't like. Prefer the 'standard' shooting bag.

Bill,
Thanks for posting that image of the small shot pouch to be worn on a belt.
Mike

Here’s one I made , kinda’ a loose copy of a sporran type belt bag.

HC/PC .... doesn’t matter too me.
It’s real handy for a small tin or pre lubed patches and 25 or so round ball’s.

I made it big enough too get a good sized paw in and out easily.


Sorry , the bottom pic is upside down ....

Belt bags go way back. They can be seen in use from images of the medieval period and are well represented in the 18th century.

I was going to ask in a new post but this looks like a good place to jump in.
At a rendezvous shoot were I go to they have a walk with about 25+ shots. Lots of lead. I use a ball bag on belt. I have horn. I have strip of cloth for cutting patches.
I have a 7x8 shooting bag with a stap over my shoulder that I only go into for turn screw or knapper.
I’ve done it this way for a long long time.. WHY? Because that’s what my fellow shooters do.
I am wanting to eliminate the so called “possibles bag” thing and use a belt pouch.
I’ve been searching the forum and inet for images.
Any more pics or thoughts on correct pouches? Sizes and how they attach.
late 1700s, Anglo on the plains not native Americans
Ou
Tom

18th-century belt bags:





Spence

Super
The fellow in the 2nd print even has the same as mine ball bag.
Thanks
Ou

I'm going to inch out on my favorite branch and guess that pouches were invented before pockets, and never went away.

Looking at those paintings I’m forced to ask here. Are we talking about a bag for your shooting gear, or an extra small bag that you stuff your possibles in. Fire kit, smoke, spoon, tin of travelers spices, compass, whetstone, bag of jerky or parched corn,ect.
I used to carry a bag on a belt that I stuffed ‘possibles’ in. But I don’t see them in painting.
I’ve often been bothered by a place to stuff my little kit. I just made a 1760s weskit that has nice pockets. A later weskit has pretty small pockets, nineteenth center even smaller.
I read a sea adventure novel that had the ships siling master who wore a ‘old grograin coat’ all the time with deep pockets that had a wizzerds supply of any thing he needed when on deck. From compass to smoke and even room for a sextant.

Just shooting gear. If I’m going shooting all I need is a couple flints, turn screw, small sharpening stone, knapper, jag , worm, ball screw, ear plugs. I only need stuff to make the gun function and do minor repairs. That stuff can easily fit in a belt bag.
If I trek out I would carry more in a bigger over shoulder pouch.
Ou
Tom

"Looking at those paintings I’m forced to ask here. Are we talking about a bag for your shooting gear, or an extra small bag that you stuff your possibles in. Fire kit, smoke, spoon, tin of travelers spices, compass, whetstone, bag of jerky or parched corn,ect."

That is like asking a woman what she carries in that thing hanging from her shoulder. Many varied answers.

old ugly said:

Just shooting gear. If I’m going shooting all I need is a couple flints, turn screw, small sharpening stone, knapper, jag , worm, ball screw, ear plugs. I only need stuff to make the gun function and do minor repairs. That stuff can easily fit in a belt bag.
If I trek out I would carry more in a bigger over shoulder pouch.
Ou
Tom

Click to expand...

Well my remark about them not being seen in the paintings is a non sequtar, as I was thinking about belt bags for non shooting gear. All your little stuff.

Not exactly all that practical, but it did hold a few balls and patches. Gave it away, though.

zps4b4982ac.jpg [/img]

That’s a gooder.

Here is my first attempt yesterday.
I’m gonna go 1” bigger with a small gusset on the next one.

I’m looking forward to not packing the shoulder pouch when I’m just shooting.
Ou
Tom