I would like to wish everyone a "Merry Christmas & Happy New Year"
                                                 Be safe while you enjoy this holiday season.

Interview With A Longhunter - Dennis Neely

Double Shot Bag, #49

Just completed this double shot bag for a customer. It had been awhile since I have made one. This is also the first shot bag that I used copperas as a dye. The bag was 8" x 8" the back of the bag has a 1 1/4" gusset added and there were no inside pocket add.

Getting Started In Living History Case Study

Fall 2017

The fall of 2017for some has been a great one as far as the weather goes. Summer like temps lots of sunshine very little rain and warm nights. Great right!
 Well for those of us who look forward to the fall hunting season not so good. The warm weather, the tree's holding there foliage and the lack of frost to kill off the ground cover make for poor conditions for the fall hunter.
September and October are gone now and I have yet to go to the woods. Today is the first day of November and we have had only one frost so far and the tree's are now starting to show some color and dropping there leaves. We have fifteen  days until our opening of the gun deer season. Only fourteen days left of our fall turkey season and finely the temps are dropping below the sixty mark during the day, it's time to take to the woods.
Time to do some scouting for the up coming deer season, or to be lucky enough to get a fall turkey for the Thanksgiving day table.
Time to just sit back and have a little something to eat and and enjoy the woods.

   

Shot Bag #48

Finished bag for a customer.
The bag is made from 2/3oz. veg. tanned leather, hand stitched & dyed then treated with Neats foot oil and bee's wax.
Bag size is 6" wide by 7" deep with welted seams. There is an outside pocket stitched on the front of the bag. (4"w x 3 1/2"d )
The flap is held closed with a button.
The bag is made more on the size of the bags carried in the early 18th century.

Shot Bag #47

The bag is made from 3/4oz. veg. tanned leather, hand stitched with waxed linen thread, dyed brown and treated with Neats foot oil & bee's wax. The bag size is 8"W x 9"D with a 1 1/2" gusset, and inside pocket 5 1/2"W x 4"D The strap is 1" wide fitted with a iron buckle. The flap is trimmed and fitted with a button closer. This bag is a great size for someone who like to do a lot of shooting.

The Little Things

 Working and making shot bags and other projects I end up with small odd and end pieces of leather. So not to let them go to waste, I make up little cases to fit some of my accouterments. Mostly they are made to protect me from getting poked.

Beaded Leg Ties

I made these leg ties up a few years back for myself. Nothing fancy. I have always wanted to try and add some bead work to them, so here they are. I have never done bead work before and who knows they may fall off the first time in the woods. Time will tell.

Small Belt Bag

Small belt bag with a large front pocket, great to keep your flint & steel in and the rest of the bag to hold your fire starting kit in. Bag size is 4 1/2" deep and 5" wide at the opening and 6 1/2" at it's widest point.

Woods & Water Weekend

I spent three days with my friend and outdoor writer Dennis Neely helping him promote "Traditional Black Powder Hunting & Shooting".
It was a good weekend. We had good weather with a lot of people stopping by and asking a lot of great question.

I had my display set to show what I would use for a day in the woods hunting. I also talked a little about the history of Fort Detroit in the 1760 and being a member of Hopkins Rangers with a display of my kit.

Nap Time!

Belt Bag

I just finished up this belt bag for a friend. It's a small size bag measuring 5" at the opening and almost 7" at it's widest point and 4 1/2" deep with a 1" gusset add.
 There is a small pocket sewn on the front of the bag. This is the second bag that I have used vinegaroon to dye the leather. This is a great size for a fire starting kit. The bag is the same size as the one I made for myself. I carry lose ball and tow for shooting or cartridges in mine along with a couple of extra flints and a small turn screw in the front pocket. I can do all of my loading from this bag.

Leather Tumplines

Small Leather Covered Bottle

The wife has covered another glass bottle. The bottle is to small to be a canteen and to large for a pocket flask holding about 9oz. and stands 5" tall and 4 1/2" at its widest point. Its covered in 2/3oz. veg tan leather, hand stitched, dyed and sealed with bee's wax.

Charity Auction

Here are some photos of a belt bag that I made copying the lines of the Lyman's bag. I donated the bag to the "School of the Ranger" to be use for there charity auction for the "Friends of Fort Frederick". If you are interested in attending or would like more information on the event you can go to, http://www.schooloftheranger.com/

Fort Meigs Axe & Leather Carriage

A young lady requested a Fort Meigs axe along with a leather carriage to be made up for her first trek.
I purchased the axe from R.E. Davis Co. The axe came complete, I only need to sand and apply the finish to the handle.

 

Small Water Bottle Canteen

This is a small leather covered glass bottle. It's covered in 2/3oz. veg tanned leather, hand stitched with waxed  linen thread, dyed a dark brown and sealed with bee's wax. The strap is 3/4" wide, three adjustment with a button the longest at 50" The bottle holds 12oz.
This was a team effort between me and my wife. Gail doing most of the hard work.