AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Contemporary Accoutrements => Topic started by: New Fowler on December 18, 2025, 10:33:08 PM

Title: English Shotgun Bag
Post by: New Fowler on December 18, 2025, 10:33:08 PM
Does anyone have any pictures or drawings of period shotgun bags? I recently acquired an Ifield & Richardson double 12, and would like a bag to hold my powder flask, wads, and other equipment. Or alternatively, show me what you're using as a shotgun bag.
Title: Re: English Shotgun Bag
Post by: BoomStick on December 19, 2025, 03:02:11 AM
I won't say it's exactly period correct, but here's the bag I use to carry all the stuff for a fowler.  Bag made by Cory Joe Stewart:

(https://i.ibb.co/jPyJRrpJ/PXL-20251109-165644926.jpg) (https://ibb.co/MxcB6CXB)

(https://i.ibb.co/gM7bcDgF/PXL-20251109-155308569.jpg) (https://ibb.co/d0csHQKJ)
Title: Re: English Shotgun Bag
Post by: EricEwing on December 19, 2025, 07:31:53 PM
Does anyone have any pictures or drawings of period shotgun bags? I recently acquired an Ifield & Richardson double 12, and would like a bag to hold my powder flask, wads, and other equipment. Or alternatively, show me what you're using as a shotgun bag.

Do you mean Fifield & Richardson?  I don't know much about that company but an internet search indicates they were active in the 1850's making guns for the American market.  I will look through my files for an image of an English hunt scene from that time but mostly what I've seen from that period is a lack of hunting bags and a prevalence of flasks and shot snakes instead.  Usually the only bags seen in those images are game sacks worn by the attendants and game keepers.
Title: Re: English Shotgun Bag
Post by: New Fowler on December 19, 2025, 07:36:08 PM
Yes sorry, Fifield and Richardson. I was reading Hanger's book on shotgunning as well as Hawkers book, both advocate for flasks and "shot belts" which I believe refers to shot snakes. I was just curious how they carried all their cards, wads, flasks, and tool's, as neither make reference to how these items were carried.
Gun in question
(https://i.ibb.co/PvQgmNSB/PXL-20251217-024033423.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dwgDWrhn)

(https://i.ibb.co/SwzBBWDk/PXL-20251217-024038029.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Mkm77Wyz)

(https://i.ibb.co/dJ1ZCyyt/PXL-20251217-024042756.jpg) (https://ibb.co/DgsdcnnY)
It's been refinished, but whoever did it did a good job. The nipples have been replaced and the barrels are in great shape. The locks are strong and hold well at half and full cock.
Title: Re: English Shotgun Bag
Post by: EricEwing on December 19, 2025, 09:08:36 PM
Things like that, if they used them, were probably carried by attendants, or in their own pockets of dedicated hunting clothing. Tools would probably be in a case on a table somewhere outside in a staging area.

Nice gun!
Title: Re: English Shotgun Bag
Post by: EricEwing on December 20, 2025, 07:08:24 PM
Here’s a couple excerpts from a book called “The Modern Shooter” 1842 by Capt. Richard Lacey:


(https://i.ibb.co/mrwqGhTq/IMG-8910.jpg) (https://ibb.co/p68zx4wz)



(https://i.ibb.co/jv6wwrfw/IMG-8908.jpg) (https://ibb.co/8DKxx7sx)
Title: Re: English Shotgun Bag
Post by: EricEwing on December 21, 2025, 12:42:01 AM
Here’s some from Hawker’s book:


(https://i.ibb.co/N6y8HqGv/IMG-8912.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Z6Mnkrbj)

(https://i.ibb.co/hF0S7QyN/IMG-8913.jpg) (https://ibb.co/XxHq20bP)
Title: Re: English Shotgun Bag
Post by: mesabi on December 21, 2025, 01:02:36 AM
Great, an attendant.  One more thing to buy.
Title: Re: English Shotgun Bag
Post by: New Fowler on December 21, 2025, 01:04:13 AM
That one guy in the tall hats forbode buying attendants a few years back I believe. Gonna have to rent I'm afraid.
Title: Re: English Shotgun Bag
Post by: EricEwing on December 21, 2025, 02:27:18 AM
Meh it’s not so hard just be born into a life of wealth, privilege and land ownership in a time when the average unskilled English laborer earned Ł20/year.