Recreating the 18th Century Hunting Pouch by T.C. Albert

I have been a lover of nice flintlock guns since I was just a kid. However, a real appreciation of the same qualities in accouterments like pouches and horns followed later. At one time a nice gun and just any old bag and horn would do (not so, now). Be warned! Once you associate with folks who produce good stuff, your kit will look different to you and an upgrade will be in order!

Some of us figure out a way to buy quality items for our hobby and some actually make them. I fall into the first category. But I wanted to try to make a bag. And that is how this review of Tim Albert’s book, Recreating the 18th Century Hunting Pouch came about.

First of all the book is published by Track of the Wolf, Inc. The pictures and layout live up the quality one expects from them. Super pictures and patterns are found throughout. Tim’s writing is clear and concise. Nothing is left out. All you need is the book, supplies and a few hand tools.

The book is softbound with 123 (8.5 x 11 inch) pages. The paper has a quality shine to it. The color photos are by the same guys who photograph for the Track of the Wolf website, so you know what to expect!

I mentioned that the book leaves nothing out. I am not kidding. The content includes: tools, types of leather, setting up your workspace, cutting, constructing, attaching everything and dyeing the pouch and strap. As a bonus, Tim shows you how to make and attach a knife sheath and an optional gusset as part of the pouch body. Antiquing techniques are also shown.

The book features pictures and notes about many originals and variations for the novice builder. I took various elements from a few different pouches in the book to make mine. In retrospect, I should have followed Tim’s directions on North Hampton county pouch and built that bag precisely to the instructions. This would have made the process easier I am sure. And I probably would have wound up with a better looking bag!

If you want to try to make a pouch from scratch, this is the book for you. Even if you have made a few bags, I am sure you will pick up some useful tips.

The process of learning to make a pouch was enjoyable and I gained a new respect for the leather worker who does this for a living.

The book can be purchased from Scurlock Publishing using this link.

Thanks for reading this review,
Rick

Notes:
By the way, I used leather from www.leatherbythepiece.com to make my pouch. Their typical 5-6 ounce leather is a bit too heavy for most pouches, but often they will have some 3-4 ounce leather in stock even if it is not on their website. Email them through their site; they are nice people.

The buckles were obtained from http://www.buckleguy.com . They have a good selection and their website is easy to use.

C. Michael Briggs, North Carolina Longrifle Collector and Author

I caught up with Michael Briggs at the Greensboro Gun Show today at the Greensboro Coliseum. He had superlative examples from his collection of original North Carolina longrifles on display. The crowd was brisk at times, but Michael took his time to speak with people coming by his booth, which included me. Thanks Michael. 

 

I first met Michael when he and Bill Ivey spoke at the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA) in Old Salem, NC in April of 2008. They arranged for a massive display of North Carolina longrifles (and a few pistols) to supplement the extensive slide show and lecture on NC rifles, their makers and accouterments. I have read everything I can get my hands on about NC guns and gunsmiths and I can tell you Michael has raised the bar of serious scholarship in these firearms, pouches and horns. If I hear about another lecture I will post an announcement here on BlackPowder411. If you can’t see the guns in person, the next best thing to do is get his books. 

Michael is the author of three books. The Longrifle Makers of Guilford County, The Longrifle Makers of Forsyth County & Davidson County and Piedmont N.C. Banded Powder Horns and Hunting Bags. 

Michael has just produced a conventionally bound volume of his work The Longrifle Makers of Guilford County. The pictures are sharp and clear and it is a first class production; you will be pleased with this book. (He does have a few left of this book in the unbound format, which he is selling at a discount. You will need to call Michael if you are interested in the discounted books. See the link below.) 

If you are interested in contacting Michael to purchase his books or want to know a little bit more about him, click on this link to see Michael’s Mini-Site. 

Thanks for reading,
Rick Sheets 

Andrew Knez, Jr. A Fine Artist and Painter of Frontier Art.

Andrew Knez, Jr.is a painter of the 1750 to 1830 American Frontier. He uses period sources for historic accuracy in his work. (Mr. Knez’s last name is pronounced with a K sound followed by NEZ without an emphasis on either syllable.)

Mr. Knez has a love of art, history and muzzleloading arms.  He is a longtime black powder shooter and moves in the contemporary makers’ circle where he is surrounded by the best work being done today. All of these facts show in his work. You have seen Mr.Knez’s art on the covers of Muzzle Loader, Muzzle Blasts, On the Trail, Backwoodsman, Black Powder Cartridge News and Precision Shooting periodicals.

Mr. Knez received his initial training at the Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University) starting in the eighth grade in an intensive youth art project. The program was one where the students “had to earn their way through,” according to Mr. Knez. He was one of eight that remained after hundreds did not make it through the program.  When he graduated from the program, he decided  to attend the Pittsburgh Art Institute.  Mr. Knez has never known a time where he did not use his artistic talents to make a living.

Mr. Knez made his living as a commercial artist, an owner of a screen printing business and in 1999 went into his frontier painting full-time.

Mr. Knez will paint a piece of commissioned art as long as it does not depart from his frontier niche.  He also hints that looser requirements tend to make a better painting. Mr. Knez is self-published and uses his website as his sales outlet to the public.

Let’s look at the First Attack of Fort Boonesborough

I received the giclee canvas reproduction and was pleased with its quality. What I like about a good giclee canvas print is that looks virtually the same as the original painting in that it is on stretched canvas with the texture showing through. Plus the permanent dyes really look like oil paint. The giclee canvas reproduction  is definitely a step above a lithograph print. Check out Mr. Knez’s website to see the accompanying story for this piece of art. Mr. Knez goes to great lengths to research and document his paintings’ authenticity.

There is a lot of additional information on Mr. Knez’s website. When you go there, please use Internet Explorer as the browser. Here is his link: www.andrewknezjr.com

Thanks for reading,
Rick Sheets

This is what I see in the First Attack of Fort Boonesborough.
The video is only one minute long.

“Thoughts on Loading & Firing a Flintlock Rifle… in the traditional manner.” A DVD Review.

I have never met Don Bruton. But I have handled one of Don’s rifles that had been owned by my late friend Richard. When Richard had it made the criteria for its creation was simple; Richard wanted an early smooth rifle with English influence that could have been made by Squire Boone. Not only did he nail the request, but Don’s rendition was a flintlock smooth rifle that was trim, light and pointed like an upland shotgun. It was a gun that needed to be handled- a lot! But I am reviewing his DVD, Thoughts on Loading & Firing a Flintlock Rifle… in the traditional manner. I just had to brag on his gun building skills a little. (Don’s website shows his ‘smithing- samples of authentic leather goods, guns, hawks and knives are all there. A link to his website is provided below.)

Now here is my review. I got the DVD in the mail and was impressed with the cover art and the overall professional appearance of the packaging and the DVD itself. There was even an eight page leaflet of Don’s observations done in the style of an 18th Century broadside on parchment paper. Of course, the quality of packaging is not always a dependable predictor of the quality of content. But, I was not disappointed in any way.
First of all, Don is a veteran of portraying a longhunter for over forty years and he knows what works and lays it all out for the shooter. Don speaks with clear North Carolina accent as he demonstrates in his 18th Century skills. His kit is of his own making and his persona is believable in every way. Now that I think about it a little more, the DVD is not just for the shooter, but anyone who is interested in the history of the woodsman or longhunter. Even if you have been  portraying a longhunter yourself for a long time, you will enjoy Don’s impression and enthusiasm.

I just read a novel where the hero was using a longrifle. The author went into excruciating detail about loading and shooting and it was all wrong. He could have benefited from spending forty minutes with Don and getting it right!

I heartily recommend Thoughts on Loading & Firing a Flintlock Rifle… in the traditional manner.

The DVD is informative and fun to watch. The DVD covers loading and firing (including old time speed loading), cleaning in the traditional way (with worm and tow), the differences between the rifle and smooth bore and Don covers the longhunter‘s accouterments and how they were used. The outtakes at the end are good for a chuckle as well.

This DVD is ideal for giving as a gift as it looks nice on the outside too!

Thanks for reading this review,
Rick Sheets

Thoughts on Loading & Firing a Flintlock Rifle… in the traditional manner.
A 40 Minute DVD-Featuring Don Bruton
Price is $20.00 Includes shipping within the USA
Click Here to purchase the DVD from Don Bruton’s website.

Here is a one minute preview of Don’s DVD:

“The Gillespie Gun Makers of East Fork” is back in print. A Book Review.

I was so excited to see that T. Dennis Glazener’s book on the Gillespie gun makers was reprinted I asked Dennis permission to review the book on my black powder website.
My personal copy has been read and reread many times and I have given a couple as gifts. The reason for this is pretty simple; The Gillespie Gun Makers of East Fork is a well researched and photographed work by a shooter, builder and history buff. Plus Dennis is the great, great, grandson of John Gillespie; John was the guy who started it all.
If you enjoy southern mountain rifles and southern history or are a Gillespie descendant, you must have T. Dennis Glazener’s book on the Gillespie gun makers. The Gillespie Gun Makers of East Fork details the genealogical history of three generations of the gunsmithing family as well as many pictures of the guns themselves. The book is clearly a labor of love as Dennis made many field trips and used original sources as well as public documents to bring 150 years of his prolific gun making family to life.
Another great thing about this book is that it has inspired many contemporary builders of flintlock and percussion longrifles to try their hands at recreating the Gillespie rifle. I know I enjoy my modern-made Gillespie long gun. That is it pictured above in the header of this website.

Thanks for reading!,
Rick
The Gillespie Gun Makers of East Fork
84 Pages- 8.5″ X 11″ Color soft cover.
Numerous black and white photographs of the guns, the Gillespie clan and family documents are included.
$22.50 plus $3.00 s/h via first class mail, add $1.60 if insurance is desired.

To purchase the book, make payment to:
T. D. Glazener
917 Manakin Road
Midlothian, VA 23113

To order the book online from the publisher,
click here.