One of many projects happening around here this yule-tide season.  A new classic-style rucksack is being sewn, much leatherwork is occurring, and this pack frame is being finished.  The wood is shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) made from a bowstave section and some other scrap from the pile.  All was split before finishing so the grain is perfectly aligned with the lumber.  This made for easy steam bending.  As I was working from many examples but no actual plan, there was a lot of mock-up and tweaking of the design to fit my size and intended needs.  There’s no metal in the construction.  The freight bar and cross members are half-lapped and lashed with rawhide.  The bar is also pegged to prevent slipping under load.  More to come as it gets finished and field tested.

Here’s a few older frames I could find around the ‘net: