Cordage for Accesories?

What cordage are you all using to attach things like powder measures etc. to your shooting pouches etc.?

I bought some hemp cord of Amazon and it’s trash, super easy to break.

Looking for something durable and traditional looking. Thanks!

The hemp cord sold at Michael's craft store is durable.

It's currently being used to secure a toilet handle to the flushing valve. Been on there a few months. It definitely stands up to water and tension.

It's the thicker cordage. 5/32" or so.

I use a braided sinew.

I use deer lace. It is strong and durable. I buy mine on a spool and cut it to length.

Latigo strips, hemp, jute, sinew, whatever looks good and works.

Depends on what I'm going for.
How thick is the cordage you got? Can you reverse twist a few pieces together for a stronger and more useful cord? This would also allow you to add a flemish twist loop to an end.
I mostly use a leather thong/wang but sometimes will use that round leather "cord" some vendors sell. This varies greatly in quality, I've had some that lasts for years and some that won't last for one knot.
I've also used thinner hemp or linen thread/cord reverse twisted and mentioned above.

Buckskin cut to length and width considering intended use. I have some thongs that are over 40 years old. A little cracked in some places but still in serviceable condition. It helps if you oil the leather periodically, particularly if you hunt/shoot in foul weather.

Braided sinew, braided artificial sinew or braided waxed thread used for leather work

Absoroka said:

Buckskin cut to length and width considering intended use. I have some thongs that are over 40 years old. A little cracked in some places but still in serviceable condition. It helps if you oil the leather periodically, particularly if you hunt/shoot in foul weather.

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I bought a bag of assorted leather thongs from Tractor Supply years ago. Some black,some tan, some too long, some too short. But one by one they are getting used up. Even with some years on them they seem hold up well.

Since Tractor Supply crawling in bed with tranny's, I'd be quite leery about buying leather thongs from them.

Absoroka said:

It helps if you oil the leather periodically, particularly if you hunt/shoot in foul weather.

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What oil do you recommend?

Smokey Plainsman said:

What cordage are you all using to attach things like powder measures etc. to your shooting pouches etc.?

I bought some hemp cord of Amazon and it’s trash, super easy to break.

Looking for something durable and traditional looking. Thanks!

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Your hemp cord COULD work fine...

pwbsmokey said:

Braided sinew, braided artificial sinew or braided waxed thread used for leather work

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And this is the key. Though instead of braiding I'd suggest something a tad cooler and craftier like a solomon bar knot etc. Check out the youtube channel TIAT (tying it all together)

Perhaps the long hunters from long ago did not use "cordage" on their hunting gear at all but rather leather thongs which are easier to make. If I really needed cordage I might use dogbane, milkweed or basswood bark.

This is a three ply dogbane cord I used to make bowdrill fire.

various types of leather cut thin, handmade chain, or for a bit of color go to jo-anns fabrics or a place like that, get some heavy linen crochet thread in two different colors I like red and white use bees wax on the strands and do a tight braid once the braid is done bees wax the completed braid good. If a heavier cord is needed make three individual braids, then braid those together, these work well for attaching powder horn plugs fast to the horn also, been using these for years and never had a problem. If you know someone who does macrame they can do some fancy braids with this. The only limitation is your imagination.

I use leather boot laces. Sometimes i go to the craft stores and buy a bundle of leather lacing, depending on what it looks like. Probably not super HC but looks good holding all the gadgets on my bag and connecting my frizzen cover to the rifle. And super durable.

Most of the items I saw still attached to original bags back when I was surveying museums west of the Mississippi were attached with "codline" or "marline" , i.e., tarred linen or hemp line.
What wasn't clear to me was if this was an "artifact of preservation": was the frequency I saw marline surviving due to everyone using it, or was it due to the cordage just surviving better than some other more-common material?

American Rope and Tar carries some 4mm stuff that is about like what I saw. You can also tar your own line. If you record the process, you could become "youtube famous"! It is one of the messiest processes I've ever done, and it is almost impossible to clean up ALL the mess. (Shave your head first, if the tar gets in your hair it is there for the duration. . . . .)

Tom A Hawk said:

Perhaps the long hunters from long ago did not use "cordage" on their hunting gear at all but rather leather thongs which are easier to make. If I really needed cordage I might use dogbane, milkweed or basswood bark.

This is a three ply dogbane cord I used to make bowdrill fire.

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I really like natural cordage, I would go with willow bark. Wish I could find some dogbane in my area it makes a very nice cordage. It’s here I just haven’t found any in a while.

I generally use leather and rarely anything else.