Kentucky Hunter’s Pouch –
Few words are needed to show this project. It is a Kentucky Hunter style pouch of a style popular throughout the 17th and 18th centuries in America. Its antecedents come from Britain and mainland Europe but changed with the times as North America was colonized.
Most of the components cut out and ready for sewing.
In the days before the common man had trouser pockets he still had a fair few things to carry, especially while out foraging in the forest. Men and women have carried some sort of bag to hold their essentials for as long as we have supplemented our inadequate selves with tools. Things such as food, fire making supplies, sewing kit, or ammunition.
After lining with a medium-weight cotton fabric, the interior pocket is sewn in.
The poor man’s hunting pouch is essentially a single pocket bag with one or more internal pockets to separate out the smaller items.
Closing a bullet hole in the hide.
I chose some bark tanned elk from Joe Brandl as it is sturdy but with a very soft feel.
When using real linen, I often soak it overnight in a hot cup of tea before drying and waxing. This gives a nice reddish-brown color.
Pocket complete.
The body is sewn with a welt to create a tight seam and edging is added to stiffen the pocket and flap.
Edge-binding and the reveal of the interior pocket.
The inside pocket makes small items accessible that might otherwise be lost in the bottom of the bag. When shooting black powder, this pocket is a must.
Hand-pinked and pierced binding at the top of the bag.
People have been adding fringe, ruffles, and other decorations to seams and edges for as long as there have been makers.
This type of bag is designed to stay closed without any fastener but it is good to have a way to really secure the flap when traveling. This simple closure is a type that I like for a rustic bag. The toggle is carved from antler and is secured by a simple loop.
Completed bag with strap and buckle.
Finally, a shoulder strap is added. This one is 7 oz. veg tanned cowhide and adjusts by more than 12 inches. This will accommodate most people but more importantly will adjust with the seasons as heavier or lighter clothes are worn. The buckle is solid brass and will never rust.
Typical attire of the early frontiersman. Nearly always armed for hunting and protection, our gentleman here sports three essential items; gun, powder horn, and hunter’s pouch. “Western Hunter.” Illustration credit: Lewis Collins, History of Kentucky, 1850.
This bag and others are available in my Etsy shop linked here:
