Leather weight for hunting pouches

[Stillwater Dan]

Just getting ready to start a new hunting pouch and am new to leather work and just wanted some opinions on leather weight's . Is a 3/4 oz veg tan going to be ok or is it to light ? If ok will it also be ok for the straps ? I made a bag a while ago with some leather i got at the local bootery , the owner told me he thought it was 4/5 oz and it was very hard to turn the bag right side out after I stitched it up . Just seemed to be to thick for what I was doing. Like I said I'm new ta all this and am going at it kinda blind , one seems on the thick side and the other on the thing . Hoping some of you experienced guy's maybe could spare some advice . Thanks in advance .

[Frank Barker]

Yes Dan the 3/4 oz is OK for hunting pouches. If you want you could use a little heaver for the flap. Also you can glue in a liner say of a linen material. I have some old linen dish towels that I picked up at a yard sale. I just cut out my pattern and glue the linen material on to the flesh side, that gives you more strength with the thinner leather.  I like a little heaver for the strap. The 4/5 oz would be OK for the strap. The pouch you had trouble turning did you soak it in water first ? It is much easier to turn when they are wet. Hope this helps and good luck.
Kind Regards
Frank Barker

[Stillwater Dan]

Yes , after the first attempt in turning the bag I did soak it in water . I measured the leather with a set of caliper's and it looks like the leather I got was more like a 6/7 oz . On top of  that with a welt sewn in it made for a tough job getting it turned and I realized it was overkill , but it turned out nice and looks good just  a little stiffer than I wanted . I was hoping I could use one weight of leather to simplify things and for cost . I did order a double shoulder of 3/4 oz and when it arrived I realized it seemed like it was going to be to thin for the straps . Would I be better off getting the 4/5 oz for the entire build ? I am trying to keep the cost down as I'm just trying to make myself a few thing's and the wife's already saying at this rate ya should have just bought a nice bag, LOL . Well that's just not me I guess , wanted to do it myself . Thank you for the help Frank, I appreciate it .

[thecapgunkid]

The three rules of making a hunting pouch

Rule One...Throw it at God's Feet
Rule two...trust your judgement and learn from mistakes
Rule Three...There aren't any rules.

[Frank Barker]

Dan, I usually buy sides and before I do anything else I cut several strips from along the top straight edge for straps. I cut 1", 1 1/4" and maybe 1 1/2".  Shoulders are OK but it is hard to get the straps out of it. I buy my sides from Tandy Leather and quite often during the year they have sales on sides that they call seconds. They might have a brand or some other kind of blemish but you can work around them and sometimes work say a brand into a flap. I have bought them for $50 - $60. You can get lots of bags out of a side. You can use 4/5 oz for pouches, it's just a matter of preference. You can also piece a strap made out of several short pieces of leather.
Kind Regards
Frank Barker

[Tim Crosby]

 When I first saw this I thought it said "Leather Weights For Hunting Pouches". The reason: on some bags I have made to make the flap sit/lay better I would flatten two or three large cal. balls out and sew them into the flap liner so it would stay down better.

  Tim C. 

[Stillwater Dan]

Well i'm gonna take your advice Frank. I went ahead and ordered a side of 4/5 oz from Tandy , I can see your point on cutting straps so we'll see how that goes . I also looked up their store locator and they have a location a little over an hour away so I think I may make a saturday trip out of it . It would be good to see and handle the leather for a better idea of what's what . Plus I'm sure I can find some other useful thing's . Thank you and to the others for the advice . I'll try to post some picture's when I complete it . Also Tim C. I'm going to be making a strap for that sweet Southern banded screw tip horn I got from you , I love it .

[JimmieD]

Hey Dan, like Frank says, 4/5 can be used for pouches, just depends on preferences and what you will be doing and type of bag your making and from what period in history you are trying to replicate....or just a cool looking bag!  I've used 2/3 oz goat, pig, calf, 3/4 oz bark tanned deer, 4/5 oz veg tan have some 2 oz lining leather for flap inlays, fringe, etc, and my first bag was a kit that was oil tanned leather and some leather from a scrap bag from Hobby Lobby  , just be sure if you do have a 6/7 oz for your first bag, condition it, work it like a new ball mitt and in time it'll be fine and dandy! 

[Stillwater Dan]

JimmieD, your right about it being like a new ball glove for sure . I do plan on conditioning it well as soon as I can get my hands on some mink oil. Must be a mink oil shortage going on along with a lot of other things right now . Every local retailer in my area have been out for quite awhile now and the online suppliers have been too, at least the ones I've seen . I do plan on getting T.C Alberts book as I don't have any knowledge on PC/HC of hunting pouches,just kinda getting ideas from bags I see posted here and trying to recreate them in my own vision and having a little fun with it. I don't know if it really matters a lot but one thing i've been thinking about is on the strap buckle would the buckle have been placed on the front strap or the back strap of the bag? Just wondered if there was a traditional placement or a personal preference thing.

[Greg Pennell]

Dan, I get all my leathercrafty supplies and tools from online suppliers, the closest Tandy store is 3 hours away (yeah, I live out in the sticks...).  If Tandy doesn’t have what I’m looking for, Weaver Leathercraft usually does...but they are not the only places.  It pays to shop around, as everyone has sales going on all the time.

As far as buckle placement goes, I usually set mine up so the buckle is on the front.  I have heard of folks who prefer it in the back, to keep it from chafing on their rifle or other gear...just a matter of preference, I guess.

Another great source for inspiration is Pinterest...just search for shooting bags, muzzleloading accoutrements, etc. 

Enjoy!

Greg

[Marcruger]

My advice would be to buy American tanned hides. I believe Tandy is all imported now.  Just like trying to make a nice rifle stock out of bass wood, you cannot make a good bag out of bad leather.  Wickett & Craig is only American tanned, and in PA.  Zack White is a good vendor too, as long as you insist on American hides.  God Bless, Marc

[B.Barker]

Greg, I went to Pinterest once and typed in flintlocks. Bunch of necked ladies popped up, thought I went to a porn site. Don't know how flintlocks sounds like necked ladies. 

[Jerry]

Dan, The only advice I could offer is to use varying thicknesses of leather for different parts of your
bags. By doing so it adds softness and texture to the look of your bags. I often use good quality shoulder leather (that makes the body of the bag look distressed) with goat or pig skin which is tough. Many good suggestions from many experienced makers on the site. Good luck! Jerry Rice

[Stillwater Dan]

Thanks Jerry, that's exactly what I'm going to do on the bag I'm starting now. I'm going with 3/4oz for the bags body lined with stained pillow ticking and 4/5 oz for the flap. Yes, I do appreciate all the good advice and knowledge from all of you. Sure helps on the learning curve.

[Jerry]

Dan, Pics when your finished. Thanks. Jerry

[Tim Crosby]

Dan, Pics when your finished. Thanks. Jerry

  Not sure but this may be it:

   https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=65951.msg662616#msg662616

[Stillwater Dan]

That's the one. Got a new bag started right now, I'll post some pics when i'm finished.