AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Contemporary Accoutrements => Topic started by: Greg Pennell on December 08, 2019, 04:15:00 AM
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I wanted a game bag to go with my fowling piece project, but for my first attempt I wanted something a little simpler than the classic dew claw bags. So, after reading an article by Eric Ewing on the Contemporary Makers Blog, and looking at a lot of internet pictures, this is what I came up with. It’s about 9”x9”, with a 2” gusset (before stitching), of 3-4 oz. veg tan cowhide. The bindings and game hangers are 2-3 oz. calfskin, and the strap is 5-6 oz. bridle leather 1 1/4 “ wide. I used dark brown Fiebings Pro Oil dye, and hit it with black antiquing, and finished with a coat of liquid mink oil, and a coat of Aussie Leather Conditioner. All hardware is solid brass. I’ll probably add a couple brass buttons to attach horn straps, but it’s pretty much finished. The jury is still out on adding a mesh bag...I’m thinking it would be too small to be of much practical use?
(https://i.ibb.co/nPH51Pr/C94-D636-D-0-C52-427-E-A093-0-CE143-FEC122.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Z2nkg2d)
(https://i.ibb.co/pjDTqwc/E26-E894-B-AB1-B-4702-83-DA-ED3155-C4-E9-FB.jpg) (https://ibb.co/whHqtgV)
(https://i.ibb.co/820vFn2/B2-BEB23-B-2-C69-49-D5-8634-2420-D41-B5-C82.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ct1fzKt)
(https://i.ibb.co/0nsyC4T/E0-EE5461-C1-BB-4-E36-A6-B3-1-C4-AFD762-F09.jpg) (https://ibb.co/rQd2x8Y)
(https://i.ibb.co/MVm1KTd/5-A16-D6-F5-BE82-4-CB7-9579-47-CE9-EAB6-C5-F.jpg) (https://ibb.co/T8s0JXy)
(https://i.ibb.co/qn2yyGK/8-F100016-5-DE4-441-F-8079-29608-C9-BDA6-A.jpg) (https://ibb.co/xsrCCvW)
This is bag number 4, and I certainly learned a lot on this one, including several things I’ll do differently on the next one.
Greg
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That’s a nice bag Greg. You nailed the dye and stitching. I like the construction. Are you bringing it to Boonesborough?
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This is a very inspirational bag, thank you very much for sharing.
Mike
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Nice looking bag Greg. I like the buckle and tooling on the flap a lot.
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Great bag Greg. It will go well with your fowler when it is finished. Bob
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Very nice work!
Mike
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Beautiful work!
Thank you for sharing.
Regards,
Doug
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Really nice bag. You are not much of an optimist though. Only 4 game hangers.
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Nice work Greg. I personally like my game bag separate or removable from the leather bag so this one is right up my line of country.
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Alacran,
Three to each 'noose'.. :-)
Nice clean bag, Greg.
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Thanks for the comments guys! This was an enjoyable project, and I might do another, larger one at some point. I think I know where I want to make some adjustments to the pattern, and now I have a pretty good idea of how they go together.
Mike, I’ll be sure to bring it to Boonesborough, along with the fowling piece.
Alacran, I’m actually more of a realist...that’s a limit of grouse right there. I started to make 8 hangers, but it is a rather small bag.
James, I was initially planning on a removable net bag, but really didn’t think it through well enough, and kinda “painted myself into a corner “ during construction. It would have been too small to be very useful, except for holding a ham sandwich for lunch!
Greg
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Good deal Greg. I tanned the dew claws of the deer I shot this year. We will have to throw around some ideas.
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Man oh man Greg. Look how far you have come in a short time. That is quite the complex project and you did a great job on it. Your stitching and finishing look super. Mighty fine work sir. The standards you set for all of your work is very high, so I am not surprised. God Bless, Marc
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Alacran,
Three to each 'noose'.. :-)
Nice clean bag, Greg.
I have a game strap with 8 loops. 4 on each side, perfect for ducks since the limit seems to always hover around seven. Have a cloth bag for quail. Have had quail fall out of loops when I put more than one on them.
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This is what I call a well made bag, like the design
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Beautiful work Greg!
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Thank you, you do some very nice work yourself! Welcome to the site, now post up some of those great bags you make!
Greg
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Very nice craftsmanship on a somewhat complex construction where patience is one of the best attribute to have. Sore fingers?
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Nice work Greg. Great color tones with the dye. And professional looking stitching and stamping.
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very appealing bag. Good luck with it
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Thanks again for all the nice words...most of what little I know about leatherwork was gleaned from you guys here on the board, and T.C.’s book. And yes, my fingers and hands are still recovering from this, and making three calfskin ladies wallets for Christmas presents in the past few days.
I’ve also picked up some good techniques from good ol’ YouTube...in particular a channel by a British chap, Nigel Armitage (just search Armitage Leather). I find his videos clear, well photographed, and easy to follow...and he doesn’t go on and on blathering to the camera...just short, clear, to the point instruction.
Greg
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Greg, I don't know how I missed this one. You have done a great job on this bag. I like everything about it.
Bob
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That is some very fine work.
TC
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Super attractive bag. You should be real proud.
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Beautiful bag, top quality.
Thanks for sharing Greg
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Now go out and fill those nice hanging straps with some fine squirrel. who wouldn't be proud to walk into the woods rifle or smooth bore in hand with that bag.
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I agree; clean lines and stitching with spot on the color. My question is, how are the brass rings used? Do you back a hind leg/ foot through on or how does that work?I'm too used to having technology give me a cooler, nylon game bag and a two shot plug for shooting and carrying.
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Thanks guys, for all the interest and encouragement...makes me want to keep going!
Bull, you just feed the strap back through the ring and make a little noose, and slip the critters head, or hind feet through. Or, put them in the bag...
I couldn’t stand it, so I spent a couple days tying knots...
(https://i.ibb.co/0nmJ9D4/AE034859-EB9-E-48-C6-9-CD8-082-AC2-C65-AA4.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Fhm7YxZ)
(https://i.ibb.co/Jkzpd94/27-FDD715-4-FCC-43-E9-99-B0-32991-C20-EA71.jpg) (https://ibb.co/x5MgsN0)
(https://i.ibb.co/wL27SgW/051055-B6-DE27-4-EEC-A7-D2-8-BBB497-A0226.jpg) (https://ibb.co/kyPJ4B8)
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That turned out awesome. One of my favorite bags for sure.
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Congrats on a fine looking bag!
Well done
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Hello Greg,
What sort of cord you use to make the net bag
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Hawkeye, it’s hemp cord from Hobby Lobby, I found it in their jewelry making section. The label says it is #20 cord...it’s pretty small, I’d guess 1-2 mm.
(https://i.ibb.co/hFm4dBf/image.jpg) (https://ibb.co/qYrcgN5)
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Greg,
That is incredibly skilled work. I want to make a net bag, just haven't gotten up the gumption for it.
Mike
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Good googly gracious. That is some fancy work Greg. Well done. God Bless, Marc
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I'm a little late, but I don't check out the accoutrements section all that often. Anyway nice work Greg. That's a good looking bag.
Jeff
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Howdy Greg,
Is it a family secret🤫 or is it to explain? The technic to follow for that pattern on the net knotting?
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Awesome job on the net Greg. You have now crossed over into epic territory....
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That's an incredible bag! First rate craftsmanship.
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Great looking bag! Very well done.
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Guys, thanks for all the compliments, but if you don’t stop I’m gonna have to get a bigger hat.
Hawkeye, the whole bag is made up of three basic macrame knots. There are lots of ways to make the net as fancy as you want, but I just wanted something simple. The cords attach to the rim with larks head knots, all the knots in the body of the bag are square knots, and the bottom row are overhand knots. It’s a bit time consuming for me, I have nerve damage in both hands from carpal tunnel syndrome, and have lost some dexterity in my fingers. But it’s not hard to do. There are literally thousands of macrame videos on YouTube, just pick a couple that don’t put you to sleep...
I’m going to try and make a net foraging bag sometime this winter, and I’ll try and take better pictures and post them as a “how to”. It’ll be mushroom season before ya know it...
Greg
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Jez Greg! I do not know how I missed this, Great bag. I used to use hangers like those Squirrel hunting, double ended, took one out of the bag, looped one end around the bag strap and the other on the head or hind end, made a mess of my shirt or coat but worked well. Got so many one day that I just stuffed them in my coat pocket.
Tim