Turtle carapace

[Tom A Hawk]

I have been saving a turtle carapace with the intention of making a powder flask. It should hold about a pound. However, to date I have not come up with a suitable method for closing the ends. Carving and fitting wooden plugs seems intimidating. I've also thought about pine pitch and charcoal as was done to seal the seams on bark canoes. I could carve some antler in the shape of the turtle's head and neck to form a pouring spout.

Any good suggestions would be welcomed.

 

[andy52]

I've seen belt pouches made with them but never a powder flask.

 

[chorizo]

Use leather and pine pitch. Those very same things are used to make a basque bota bag. You could even make a pour spout out of it and it would look turtleish.

You could buy a latex lined bota and then modify to fit inside the shell, use pitch to secure it on the inside of the shell(it wouldn't need to be waterproof) and it would look like the inside of a turtle! Modify the nozzle to fit a spout and there you have it.

https://lastreszzz.com/en/wine-skins-for-sale/

 

[user 48679]

If it were mine, I think that I would try to seal the opening(s) by applying some kitchen cling wrap tightly to the outside of the opening (double securing it with a layer of duct tape), then pouring some slow-setting epoxy inside (from the other end), sloshing it around on the inside of the wrap, to make an epoxy "wall" in the opening.

Once cured, the epoxy "wall" could then be drilled for a spout, then camo'd on the exterior with some snakeskin or other natural material.

IME, the best thing about trying something different is to find out if the idea actually works - if it does, it can be very satisfying.

If it doesn't work, the failure sometimes will open a different avenue to work with.

 

[appalichian hunter]

I would check with the local game warden and be sure its legal to have first. A lot of places turtle and there remains are a protected species. That being said I have a box turtle shell I found, and it is now used as a container for my fire-starting kit, But I am careful where I use it. And carry it in a waxed coated bag. Out of sight.

 

[user 48679]

I would check with the local game warden and be sure its legal to have first. A lot of places turtle and there remains are a protected species.

Yep the OP is in New York, which prohibits possessing all turtles except snaping turtles

https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/31339.html#:~:text=The only turtle species for,a firearm or a bow.
The only turtle species for which there is an open hunting season is the snapping turtle. You may not harvest, take, or possess any other turtle species at any time.

 

[necchi]

Any good suggestions would be welcomed.

Try searching for Native American rattle.
Some used clay, other methods use a full rawhide wrap.
Modern replica are using hot glue,,

 

[Robby]

New York, everything is a felony. Wake up in the morning, call the state police, tell them your itinerary, if they approve, go make coffee.
Robby

 

[TC]

here is a couple of photos i had on file. I had the same idea to make one for my matchlock musket.

 

[TC]

Just need to find myself a nice shell first.

 

[toot]

it is not a water turtle but an eastern woodland box turtle. protected in just about all states.

 

[TC]

At the Baltimore show i saw this turtle flask. It was sealed off with brass sheeting. Just another idea of how to do it.