I was looking for information on South Carolina longrifles, and happened upon the website for the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, or MESDA. If your interest is mainly in shooting, that title might not get your attention, but I found they have a very extensive collection of longrifles and powderhorns with southern provenance. They also have a searchable online collections database. Well, that got my attention.
Apart from the horns, I didn't see a lot in the way of accoutrements, but they did have this wonderful set from North Carolina:
There is a lot to like here, and a lot to ponder. They give the dimensions as 6-1/2" by 7", which is a pretty small pouch by today's standards, and the strap may not really be as wide as it looks. I thought it was clever, the way the pouch and horn are attached to the wide strap with narrow billets that are buckled on. This leaves the main strap in one piece, but the height of the pouch or horn can be individually adjusted or they can be removed altogether as needed. The powder charger appears to have a staple for attachment to its strap. You see lots of powder horns with staples (including this one), but I don't think I've seen a charger suspended this way before.
The horn has some nice carving in the butt, and the neck or spout carving is simple but both practical and attractive. I'm betting any one of us would like to have a horn like that!
This set of accoutrements accompanied a very nice rifle:
I was also interested in the fact that this set includes two bullet moulds. Assuming they were both for the same rifle, I'm wondering if they might throw different sizes of balls. Captain Dillin mentioned in The Kentucky Rifle that many of the old-timers carried two sizes of balls, one tight-fitting ball to be loaded with a patch for accuracy, and the other sized for quick and easy reloading.
Here are some links for more information on this rifle and the kit that accompanies it:
George Foltz Pouch and Accoutrements
George Foltz Powder Horn
George Foltz Long Rifle
Best regards,
Notchy Bob
Apart from the horns, I didn't see a lot in the way of accoutrements, but they did have this wonderful set from North Carolina:
There is a lot to like here, and a lot to ponder. They give the dimensions as 6-1/2" by 7", which is a pretty small pouch by today's standards, and the strap may not really be as wide as it looks. I thought it was clever, the way the pouch and horn are attached to the wide strap with narrow billets that are buckled on. This leaves the main strap in one piece, but the height of the pouch or horn can be individually adjusted or they can be removed altogether as needed. The powder charger appears to have a staple for attachment to its strap. You see lots of powder horns with staples (including this one), but I don't think I've seen a charger suspended this way before.
The horn has some nice carving in the butt, and the neck or spout carving is simple but both practical and attractive. I'm betting any one of us would like to have a horn like that!
This set of accoutrements accompanied a very nice rifle:
I was also interested in the fact that this set includes two bullet moulds. Assuming they were both for the same rifle, I'm wondering if they might throw different sizes of balls. Captain Dillin mentioned in The Kentucky Rifle that many of the old-timers carried two sizes of balls, one tight-fitting ball to be loaded with a patch for accuracy, and the other sized for quick and easy reloading.
Here are some links for more information on this rifle and the kit that accompanies it:
George Foltz Pouch and Accoutrements
George Foltz Powder Horn
George Foltz Long Rifle
Best regards,
Notchy Bob