A couple of shot pouches and a powder horn...

[ChuckBurrows]

While it's true that by the end of the 1800's cartridge arms had ebcome very popular there was still a place for the muzzleloader - Henry Leman continued to make them into the late 1880's and the Hudson Bay Co. continued to sell flintlock trade levels up until the 1920's.
Anyway while these could be used in a much earlier protrayal, they could just as easily fit into the post 1865 era as well.
The first mountain men came from the east and this set was inspired by those early trappers such as Forest Hancock and Joseph Dickson who went up the Missouri River in 1807 with John Colter, Thomas James who went west with the Lisa expedition, last but far from least Hoback, Reznor, and Edward Robinson who guided the Wilson Price Hunt Expedition of 1811 (Robinson is my kind of frontiersman - he was born in 1745, lost his hair in Kentucky, and his life in Rocky Mountains at age 66). The pouch is based on a pic of an original I found on line, but did not note where I got it – Oh Well! The whole set is intended to be my idea of what one of these earliest of mountaineers might have carried during those early years. My version is patterned after that original. It is made from alum tawed sheepskin (I love this stuff!) rather than cowhide like the original, but does have a dark blue plaid wool liner similar to the original. Size is 8.5" wide by 7.5" tall. It has a small exterior pocket for storing greased patches, and a short fringed welt. It has a brain tan buckskin repair along one edge seam, both inside and outside, an inner pocket of brain tan as a later addition, and the strap of bark tan cowhide harness leather is also intended to represent a later replacement - the adjustment buckle is a saddle buckle of the era. On the back is a strap with a bone button that can be tucked under the waist belt or sash to keep the bag from swinging away from one's body. The flap is closed with a hand made domed brass button. The bit of beadwork is done with blue pound beads similar in color to many originals of the era and is intended to represent what one of the early mountaineers paramours may have added to "fancy" things up a bit – east meets west.... The horn is an original SW Virginia horn (circa 1850's?) that I got in a trade. I repaired the small cracks along the butt with a bit of pitch and then covered it over with deer rawhide. I then added an iron ring for the bark tan cowhide harness strap at both ends and can be used alone or attached to the patch strap via a couple of small braintan thongs. The horn can be used alone or attached to the patch strap via a couple of small braintan thongs. The strap is adjustable via the two braintan buckskin thongs on each end. Mated up to the horn are a 70gr antler powder measure and a simple iron touchhole pick attached to the horn via a fine link iron chain, which came off some old (circa 1880's) harness - the pick and measuer fit into a small pocket on the back of the bag's strap. The whole set was given a patina of age – used but not abused.............

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[ChuckBurrows]

This is the pouch I mentioned in my earlier post on the Ciboleros set. A more rustic style of shot pouch made of alum tawed sheepskin and lined with linen. The flap of the pouch is made from the leg section of the hide and the edge was left as skinned. The linen lining adds a bit of fringe to the outer edge while a single row of white and blue beads decorates the edge seam. In the center is an embroidered hunter's star aka compass rose. At the top edge of the flap a bit of deer hair trim adds a bit of color.
The pouch body is double welted and that has been fringed. There are two real repairs on the body – one slip of the knife has been sewn together on the front and a braintan buckskin patch covers a small weak spot on the back. There's a leather divider inside making this essentially a two section pouch.
The pouch strap is made of bark tan calf skin and includes a 1" antique roller buckle for making adjustments. Attached to the front of the strap is an 80 grn powder measure made from a deer leg bone section and partially covered with deer rawhide and linen thread wraps.
On the back of the pouch is a strap with a bone toggle button that can be tucked under the waist belt or sash to keep the bag from swinging away from one's body. The front flap is closed with a hand made antler slab button.
The horn is an original SW Virginia horn (circa 1850's?). I repaired the small cracks along the butt with a bit of pitch and then covered it over with deer rawhide. I then added an iron ring for the bark tan cowhide harness strap at both ends and can be used alone or attached to the patch strap via a couple of small braintan thongs. The horn can be used alone or attached to the patch strap via a couple of small braintan thongs. The horn strap is adjustable via the two braintan buckskin thongs on each end. The whole set was given a patina of age – used but not abused.............

All comments are welcome.....

[Major 2]

wondrous simply WOW !

You are the master

[Skeeter Lewis]

+1

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

  Beautiful work Chuck 

[amin ledbetter]

Jaw Dropping Chuck! It is no coincidence that so many of us new folk study your work! You are truly the Master! Awesome, and inspiring! 

[Marshal Will Wingam]

That's some more good-looking leather work. Nicely done, Chuck.

[Chuck 100 yd]

WOW !! Just WOW!! 

[GunClick Rick]

Gosh -O-Mighty!!! i AM WATCHING THAT AUCTION SHOW ON TV RIGHT NOW AND HE JUST HAD A BEAR JAW TRADE KNIFE COME IN STAMPED WITH HB,might be Hudson Bay,but i have an old silver and turquoise watch band with that same initials....I think they started signing pieces in the 1970s???

[bedbugbilly]

Those are beautiful pouches and horns!  Makes me want to set the holsters on the back of the bench and go back to making a few!  I can just imagine how comfortable they are a slidin' your hand into 'em!  I've used a variety of linings over the years - fustian, ticking, wool, etc. and have never really decided which ones I like the best.  Your pouches look wonderful and look like the necessities would be easy to locat in 'em.  I'd love to see a couple of photos of your NW gun full length.  I've got a Fusil de Chasse - I picked up an unfinished attempt that somebody was making on a NW trade gun minus the lock - Track of the Wolf can supply that and I hope to finish it up next winter.  Whoever was working on it actually was doing a pretty good job on it - they just didn't get it done.  I'm still scratchin' my head on whether I want to shorten it up some.  The stock is maple and has a pretty decent curl to it so Aquas Forte should bring that out.  Thanks for inspirin' us all and for sharing the great photos!   

[GunClick Rick]

Speaking of horns,where's ole Gunbutcher been?

[Wolf Tracker]

Chuck  Beautiful work.

[Wiley Desperado]

Mighty fine! Chuck.

[will ghormley]

Nice!

Will