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Wter bottels, Leather canteens

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firefoot

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Hello
Does anyone know of a source for leather water bottles? Not the ones with a glass bottle inside, but just leather, with a beeswax linings.

Thanks jim
 
They are pretty much a hand made item. Try these. I made one a few years back, and carry it on occasion. They went out of style in the late 17th c. and are not really correct for the 18th c., but they are kewl looking, and work very well. Mine was sealed with brewers pitch. http://longhunterleather.tripod.com/catalog-01-11/canteens.html http://clang.adkinssoftware.com/canteen pics/canteen 01.html http://www.armlann.com/bottles.htm http://www.outfit4events.com/leather-products-leather-bottles-c-45_49.html http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=3084
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Jim,
I don't want to break forum rules so I won't post any direct links but you can find these on evilBay all the time. There are some talented makers out there. Brewers pitch or bees wax are the best sealers. If a maker sealed them with something else, be cautious.
 
Muskeg Stomper said:
Jim,
I don't want to break forum rules so I won't post any direct links but you can find these on evilBay all the time. There are some talented makers out there. Brewers pitch or bees wax are the best sealers. If a maker sealed them with something else, be cautious.

I also saw a few on the bay. Some looked really good at very reasonable prices. Thought about buying one myself.
 
Jim, Beaverman on this forum make a great leather canteen. I would talk with him about a canteen.
 
A friend gave me a nice leather canteen a few years back. It was sealed with brewers pitch. Problem was, after a while the pitch became brittle and started breaking up and falling out. I need to get it fixed because I really liked it and was greatful to my friend for the gift.
 
If you warm the canteen up slowly, the pitch should soften again, and reform as a seal. Its the leather that gives you the problems over the years, as it can lose the oils in it from drying factors. Treat the leather with Neetsfoot oil( available at most any shoe repair store, and in some sporting goods stores)FIRST, before heating the canteen up to soften the brewer's pitch.
 
Jim,
I believe that a NH leather crafter specializing in minute-man articles is making these.Try jackwear for a category.
However,they are a tad early for the 1775 era.I doubt that these would actually be in use by many folks at that time.The wooden canteens are far more typical,or a sheet iron tinned one.
W. :wink:
 
Trucker, if you have one of my canteens and it leaked, why didn't you contact me about it, I stand by my work if you have a problem with it, please send me a pm and I can tell you how to fix it easily or send it back to me and I will fix along with paying for the freight! Yours will be the first out of 50+ that I have heard of a leak!
 
okie dokie!, I don't test EVERY canteen when there made, usually with a double lining as I do there's NO problems, sorry for the inconvenience!
 
I am making these right now with the Boy Scouts, and have about 20 finished. If any one would like detailed instructions, I would be happy to share them..
 
yes I would like to see instructions on making a leather canteen or at least ask some questions do you stitch one seam around the edge or two, do you add a gusset between the two halves, what weight of leather do you use and do you shape it over a form or fill it with somthing to form it. Thanks Duane
 
I use 2 staggered seams with no welt in 5-6oz leather. I sew the halves together, wet the leather and stuff it with rice (using a plastic bag to keep the rice somewhat dry) to form. The bottom is then sewn in as a separate piece after forming.
 
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