How hard would it be... leather portmanteau

[Dakota Widowmaker]

I have often thought this would be a fun project and could be done for less than 1/2 what Cabelas wants.

24" long and 8" in diameter...

What type of skin would you recommend?

I think I would reinforce the ends with round wooden "plates" or at least reinforce it with some thick hide inside.

comments? Suggestions?

[St. George]

Over the years - I've owned several of these things.

All featured thick, multi-piece sewn leather end caps with japanned iron roller buckles for the straps,  and were made of saddle skirting leather.
(Japanned Iron is essentially 'painted' metal - for looks and corrosion resistance.)

If you decide to do one (or more) don't use modern 'Tandy' rivets or 'Chicago Screw' fasteners.
It makes the work look cheap and 'modern-made'.

A good leather supplier also can get original-type rivets and such - and it's worth it to do it right.

Good Luck.

Scouts Out!

[Dakota Widowmaker]

What type of leath hide would I want ot use? Suggestions are welcome...

[Marshal Will Wingam]

I've never seen one of these things, but maybe latigo would be a good leather for it. Bridle leather might tend to be too stiff for the purpose.

[jiminy criquet]

Home Depot sells the big old-fashioned copper rivets.  The ones you drive down with a hollow tube and then peen the cutoff end.

[Dakota Widowmaker]

I noticed Triple-K makes most of their stuff from 7 or 8 oz stock.

(1/8" thick from how I measured)

I might bring in a holster I have to Tandy and see if their experts have any advice.

[Tommy tornado]

I would say probably the same leather used for saddle bags or motorcycle saddlebags would work.

[Oregon Bill]

i swear I have seen an article on this very subject in one of the Books of Buckskinning -- maybe Volume II, which I loaned to a friend a year ago ...

[Major 2]

I've made a few

mostly I use 8oz Chrome Tan for my Valises ( portmanteau),  but I made one of garment leather for a Blanket roll I used over the pommal of my saddles.

For the artillery Valises ( for Grimsley saddles Sets) I used 12oz Harness.

I could walk you throught it .... You plan to hand sew ?

[Dr. Wright Gooder]

Anyone got a pattern for this?  I've been wanting to make something like this since I saw the case in the Mummy movie.

[Reverend Bob]

I would be interested in a pattern to.

Reverend Bob

[Tommy tornado]

I will have to watch the Mummy again but I thought that the bag in that movie was lined with Canvas as well.  Looks like it, a total guess, about 48 inches in length.  Don't know if that would be too small or not.  Having all those compartments would be cool at a shoot but I suppose that is why we have gun carts.

[Major 2]

Here is my valise/portmanteau tutorial...

Materials 8 -10oz. Chrome tan Leather side
14"X 14" 10- 12oz or better Harness or split
Barge Cement
Copper Rivets & burrs (6)
3/4 " Brass roller buckles  (3) I use three straps Triple K uses 2 ...... 5/8" will do.

First I determine the finish diameter ( usually 7" )
I also make my seam inside unlike the Photo of the Triple KKK

Layout and cut two disks from the Chrome tan 1 1/2" larger than your finished dia. ( 8 1/2" for a 7" valise )( 9 1/2" for 8" etc )
also cut you harness leather disks to about 1/4 in under you finished diameter.
Center and glue the Chrome tan and harness together, stitch around the edge 1/4" .

By now you have determined, your overall length. with this measurement & your Finished diameter X 3.1416 (pi) you have the size for the
Body

example"  A finished 7" X 24" valise  requires a rectangle of  (21.9912") or 22" X 24 " you will also need to cut a strip 4" X 24".
adjust for you own sizes.

I use a groove tool and chase around the inner heaver Disk ( aids in the fold ) but it is not absolutely necessary.
Dampen the edge and fold 90 degrees to the disk.

take the 4"X24"  strip and I like to scallop the leading edge ( over lap and stitch to the body ) this is your weather flap

Line up your 22"X 24" body and glue to the shaped end disks... stitch around the edge joining ends to body.
Use 4 rivets at each end of the finished stitching ...two per side.

Now you can copy the Triple KKK and add slots for your straps and use the remaining  rivets to secure the straps x 2 or 3

or as I do add looped keepers.

I also tend to add stitched crescent or stars as decoration on the end disks.


I have not made one in several years but I have one for a Photo I'll add later.

Hope this helped 

[Major 2]

Ok

I thought I had a newer one somewhere ... this old boy has seen 20 some years of Horse back use.



used to be BLACK and round , now browning and looks a bit for wear but still pliable and in use.
I like it though !


End stitching



it also had a removable Pillow ticking lining

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Great portmanteau, Major. I love the look of old leather. Nothing has as much character. 

[Doc Neeley]

I would use TR4 skirting. I bought some recently, 12-14 oz and it has some flex, but it's stronger than dirt. Siegels has skirting on sale.