The Gunpowder Wallet. A Short Video.

Fleshing A Scrotum For Use as a Ball Bag! A LINK.

http://thesharpenedaxe.blogspot.com/2011/04/blog-re-run-fleshing-scrotum.html

The Sharpened Axe.

Image of ball bag from: http://www.huntingpa.info/tag/muzzleloading-accessories/

Leather Pouches or Bags.

I have several leather pouches made to contain different materials. Drawstring pouches are good for any items that do not have to be kept dry. The closure on a drawstring pouch will not keep water out.
The easiest way to make a waterproof leather bag is to gather, fold and tie the top of the bag, or roll the top of the bag and of course grease it.

This drawstring fire-bag will work fine, so long as water can not get into the top. If submerged in water by a fall in the creek or the boat gets swamped, then the contents will get wet.

This fire-bag when the top is rolled down becomes half the size, and it will keep water out.

This gunpowder bag top has been gathered, folded over and then tied. Whether it contains gunpowder or spare tinder, it is important that no water gets inside. Food bags can be made and secured in the same fashion.

More Bags & Pouches.

The belt bag or belt pouch went out of fashion in the 17th century, but it was retained as a utility bag by tradesmen, women and hunters into the 18th century. I use mine to carry my flint & steel and my fishing tackle because I always have this pouch with me at all times.

The powder wallet or powder bag was used to carry extra gunpowder. When it was no longer in use for containing gunpowder some people would use it for storing extra tinder for fire lighting.

"...........takes fire readily from the spark of a steel: but it is much improved by being kept dry in a bag that has contained gunpowder."

Samuel Hearne, Northern Canada 1772.

My fire bag is made of leather and made water resistant by rubbing in a mixture of tallow and beeswax. This contains my tinderbox and some small pieces of kindling plus a small candle used for drying out wet kindling if I have to. This with my steel is carried in my belt pouch. The steel is tied off to the bag buckle so it cannot be lost.

This is another knapsack that I made out of a second hand Chinese all cotton school bag. I attached leather shoulder straps made from second hand waistbelts & I removed the friction buckles and staps from the flap closure and added three bone buttons. The bag cost me $2.00 at an op-shop.

Beaded bag & question on belt pouches

My wife and I work together on some projects. In this case she did the sewing and wove the strap and I did the beading and finishing. She provided the hair for the "scalp locks" and I did the cone work. The result of this team effort is a very neat smallish bag in the Indian style . The fabric is dark green pure wool and the beads are number 7 white French glass beads.

One thing I have been trying to find out for some time is about the use of belt pouches in the 1680 to 1750 period. I have documented accounts of the use of cartridge cases but not of any other type of belt pouches. I have seen photographs of reenactors wearing them but have never seem any primary source material that supprts this practice. If anyone has any information on the use and type of belt pouches I would love to hear from you.