What Period Items Are In Your Pocket?

[Tsalagidave]

I know that I've gone over the contents of  a knapsack and hunting bag but the one thing that has gotten so many people busted is when they pull something out of their pocket and it turns out to be a cellphone, a pack of gum or a bic lighter.  Even as a kid, I remember watching a "gunfighter" at Knott's Berry Farm pull out a modern-wrapped product from his pocket and how it completely blew the illusion.

Now, do you need to carry modern items like a cell phone, ID, cash, Car keys on you at a public event? Of course there are times you have to. But I have always figured a good effort could be made to hide these things. A cell can be shut off and hidden in your kit; car keys too. Modern medicines can be re-packaged in period containers. Lastly modern ID's and cash can be hidden in period wallets.

When it comes to living-history, the fun starts when you really try to go all out. I attached a couple of images of stuff that I carry that would be typically found in a mid-nineteenth century man's pockets. If I am conducting business, I added a testament an journal/writing kit that I carry in my topcoat. I usually have a wallet, watch, matchsafe and maybe a flask or tobacco which would be pretty typical also.

If you had to turn out your pockets at an event, what kind of period stuff would materialize?


-Dave

[Professor Marvel]

At an event, I have a fringed leather  pouch into which I put the modern crap (inclduing cash and ID), tucked into my belt.

In my pockets, (pants, vest and coat) or "on and about me" I have
- mechanical pocket watch
- barlow folding pocketknife
- piece of Ree Twist tobacco
small "pocket pouch" holding
- piece of Osha Root
- hank of braided sweetgrass
- cedar
- prarie sage

- paper box of strike-anywhere matches masquerading as Lucifers
- period 4-5 inch boot knife & sheath
- spectacles
- leather folding notpad and wooden pencil (sanded to defarb)
- a small number of cheap original pre 1890 coins ( mostly foreign )
- medicine bag around my neck
- leather card case with "Professor Marvel's"  calling cards, somewhat correct to at least 1870's
- hank of cotton cord
- "special" stones
- hideout turnbarrel percussion derringer

I may at any time have one or more pouches of special specific "stuff" depending upon the event: a strike-light; my beaded plains tobacco pouch; my pipe bag; my moosehide embroidered pouch; rocky mountain style possibles bag; or my bear-paw medicine shoulder bag.

belt knives, belt hawk,  pistols, capbox, paper cartridges ( or brass cartridges) etc are on the seperate gunbelt or in a shoulder bag, along with other necessities such as my tin cup, spoon, housewife (sewing kit), medicinal kit (mostly herbs), hank of sisal rope, candles, sacred objects & other important stuff. Rifle and/or shotgun are carried in hand or in a guncase.

yhs
prof marvel

[Tsalagidave]

Professor,

You never disappoint with your contribution. Do you have pictures of any of your stuff? The home remedies are a real nice touch.

-Dave

[Professor Marvel]

My Good T-Dave
I have not forgotten, merely overcome by events.
when I get my camera to make "little" photos, I shall provide them :-)

yhs
prof marvel

[GunClick Rick]

I'll be danged~

[GunClick Rick]

My leg heals up and i'll be able to carry my pipes and such..

[GunClick Rick]

I had no idea Buck-a-Roo,them trojans right by the sh-t gave ya away

[Tsalagidave]

Billy, I don't think the packaging on your French Letters are period correct, LOL!  A hairy reb with rubs in his shooting bag suddenly gave me a flashback to the movie deliverance.ROFL!

Here's a fun article on the topic: http://guardianoftheartifacts.blogspot.com/2012/06/civil-war-preventative-ive-posted.html

-Dave

[Blair]

I got a question?

Why would any American Plainsman find a "French Envelop" (condom) of any type, from any period of History a needed 'Pocket' item?
  Blair

[Tsalagidave]

I doubt he would...and I just hadn't the sand to ask what it would be needed for. I haven't ever seen our hobby as place with an abundant number of single ladies to hit on.

-Dave

[Blair]

Dave,

Exactly the reason for asking my question. And my point for asking.
My best,
  Blair

[buckskin billy]

Billy, I don't think the packaging on your French Letters are period correct, LOL!  A hairy reb with rubs in his shooting bag suddenly gave me a flashback to the movie deliverance.ROFL!

Here's a fun article on the topic: http://guardianoftheartifacts.blogspot.com/2012/06/civil-war-preventative-ive-posted.html

-Dave

lol. i can assure you there aint no deliverance activity going on in my camp. 'sides i use them to keep rain out of the barrel of my plains rifle.

[Tsalagidave]

Would you like for me to make you a tompion instead.
It's period correct and will spare you the hell you'll get for having a "protected" gun at a rendezvous. Honestly I thought there was something new on sutler row that I wasn't aware of.

-Dave

[Blair]

Dave,

That is actually a great option!

Although it is not any more common in civilian arms than the use of a condom to protect the muzzle end of a shooting iron.
And these condoms will not be of the "French Envelope" type.
Just a word to the wise...
  Blair

[Tsalagidave]

A tompion normally isn't really typical unless you stack arms. (ie. Military arms) but it still beats making your gun look like a sex toy.

-Dave

[buckskin billy]

i removed the picture. i only ment it to be a joke. seems it wasn't taken that way and for that i'm sorry

[Tsalagidave]

It's for the best pard. I was fixin to take it down after thinking it would eventually tick someone off.

-Dave

[boilerplatejackson]

A coin purse with silver coins of the era. Period correct pocket knife. Possibly a compas.

[Tsalagidave]

Thought I'd do an exploded view of my pocket contents. My impression is as a boss of a transportation/Express firm with offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco. On the side, I am a volunteer in the Militia. Ephemera in the wallet includes a deed to property in Los Angeles Co., Militia papers, and other sources of identification in addition to some assay receipts, old banknotes from New Orleans (that can be converted through a lengthy transaction either through the Pacific Express Company or WF & Co.). I also have hard coinage, choice of optics, compass, key-wind pocket watch, and a testament.

The Bryant & Mays match box and Liberty Match Safe is more 1860s era. The more correct matchsafe I have is a "go-to-bed" canister safe that you can actually post a lit match in the top of  to serve as a bedtime light. (seen low left of the binoculars).

-Dave

[Tsalagidave]

Here is my 1850s writing kit. Pocket holds express company receipts, correspondence, ink powders, US postage (series of 1851; perforated stamps didn't start till 1857) and local express stamps, barrel inkwell and pen. Also included is a period package of paper with Almanac.

-Dave