"a very nice Indian shot pouch with him . . . . don't know where he got it."

 Shot pouches are one of the most basic items for anybodies gear, and yet done so wrong so often.  There are very few surviving examples to base one on is a big part of the problem, and lots of misdated ones to go wrong on.  My hope with this write up is, by showing the two bags I use, along with a smattering of period images and a few period accounts, help dispel some shot pouch myths.

"My powder horn and ball pouch always contained more or less ammunition, I found them empty.  My knife also, which I commonly carried appended to the strap of my shot pouch, was gone."  

- A Narrative of the Captivity and Adventures of John Tanner

"We sold the Indean plunder in the fort on Monday at Vandue and it fetched fifty shillings for each man. . . . . . . I bought some of this plunder, some nise wamp um and a shot bag and powder horn ect."

-Daniel Trabue interview in the Draper manuscripts

The first bag i use is one that I've shown before and is just a simple brain tan pouch with knife attached.  It is my take on a plain jane simple Indian made shot pouch.  Not really a lot to say about it other than it works.  And I've taken a few spills, but have yet to have the bag spill anything even with out a button.

"He went up that time, clear up as far as the mouth of the Kanawha. . . . . . Brought back a very nice Indian shot pouch with him, all beaded off; don't know where he got it."

-William Clinkenbeard interview in the Shane portion of the Draper manuscripts

The second pouch I use is one inspired by an original finger woven bag and was made by Alec Fourman.  No inside pockets on this one either, but still an excellent working pouch.  A few thoughts here on finger woven bags - there is a lot of bad out there as far as attempts at repro's go.  Think small yarn, oblique woven, with the beads woven in also - sometimes on a carrier strand of linen thread.  Most originals are lined.  They are constructed in one of two ways, either woven in the round or woven as a panel and then folded and sewn up the sides.  Some originals have quill work on the bags, straps, and/ or fringe and many have tin cones with deer hair.  (thanks Fourman for stopping hay work for a minute to get your brain picked!)  DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT use a piece of wool fabric with beads sewn on and think it in any way resembles a finger woven bag.

Other thoughts on what to avoid when it comes to common shooting pouches on the 1770's frontier - Incorrect leather, i.e. chrome tan.  Rings on the strap.  Modern buckles.  Giant yarn straps.  Inkle loom straps.  Complex construction technique.  Asymmetrical flaps.  There's a few original leather ones from the period and a couple cloth ones.  This is a whole other subject than the purpose of this blog post, but there are certainly other options, and some probably better for wide spread representation than the two I use.  At the end of the day, if using the pouch for living history, base it off an original.

And last but not least, a shot pouch is not a carry all purse.  It's sole purpose is to carry stuff to make the gun go boom.  Bullets, flints, turnscrew and vent pick.  But there's always a guy who just have to have something odd in his bag, so here's a few quotes to help that guy out . . . .

"Wymore had a pocket compass in his shot bag."  

"My father bought the first pig to Lexington, gave $5 for it and a a chew of tobacco.  He put it in his shot bag and brought it home."

- Wymore interview in the Shane portion of the Draper manuscripts

"At the time he had an Indian scalp in his shot pouch."

- Peter Cutright interview in the Shane portion of the Draper manuscripts