Horn and bag carry position question

[far55]

I was reading an article in the May-June issue of Muzzleloader magazine the other night by T.C. Albert on an original pouch. I got to thinking about the location of the horn against the flap of the pouch when he showed a photo of a hole worn into the leather by the spout. The horn would be in the way every time you tried to lift the flap on the pouch. I then checked out Madison Grants book on bags and his explanation was that it helped hold the flap shut if there was no button or other closure method and many of the bags shared a strap with the horn. The reason I bring this up is because I am making up a couple of horns to go with my bags, and was just trying to decide how to set them up. I started out back in the mid 70s with a WW1 gas mask bag containing a tin soup can with some round balls in it , a copper flask and some patches,(had to make do then) so this is my first time with a more historically correct setup. I am right handed and have been carrying on the left. Do any of you find the horn over the flap a nuisance ?  Thanks, Roland

[John SMOthermon]

I do, I only have one set up that way and it’s for a .36 Squirrel gun.

I prefer my horn strapped separately and on a longer strap than most.

[smylee grouch]

I have a couple of bags set up with the horn on the flap and they do get in the way a little but I,m never in a hurry to load any way so just put up with it.

[Bob McBride]

I used to have one rig set up that way. Wasn’t my favorite. I wear my bag high and horn higher. If they are on separate straps it’s easy to throw the horn more behind you and access your bag but attached it’s always in the way IME.

[Mike from OK]

I also wear my bag fairly high and carried a tad forward from directly on my side. My horn is on its own strap and above the bag.

I would think if the horn was attached to the bag strap it would be just a matter of raising the horn up and clamping it in your armpit while you rummage in your bag... Then just letting it drop when you're done. Don't know though... I've never had that setup.

Mike

[okieboy]

 For squirrel hunting and such, the easy set-up is to put a small flat horn or a small bag flask in the pouch. It is more efficient than it might sound if you are frugal about what you carry in your bag and tie your measure to the horn.

[Brokennock]

My bag and horn are on separate straps. I wear both pretty high, and usually slightly to the rear. The horn does rest slightly on the bag. But, being on separate straps, I can slide the bag forward on it's own if I need something in it. Or, when loading, slide both forward, use the horn, then slide the horn further to the rear and access the bag then slide it back.

[thecapgunkid]

Bang around the woods in 90 degree heat, throw in the effort of going up a mountain, add some mosquitoes that can take out a small dog, and I've never had a truly comfortable horn and bag combo. 

So I am going to try a belt bag and small horn that'll carry about twenty rounds on the next trail wallk once our house arrest period is lifted

[Greg Pennell]

I’ve made ‘em both ways, and still use both, but prefer bag and horn on separate straps. Mainly because I prefer the bag on the left, horn on the right...just seems to work better for me, both hunting and trail shooting.

Greg

[James Rogers]

I detest the horn on the bag. I like the bottom of the horn to ride just above the top line of the bag. I also do not like the horn attached to the bag straps. It's all in what you begin with . Kind of like which side you get used to operating the bag or horn from.

[thecapgunkid]

On or off the bag, I am gonna carry that small horn I posted on a button on my weskit.

As a matter of fact, the more I think about it, when I was doing a lot of trekking I didn't want anything hanging off me.  I took to cartridges in a bag and everything else in a second, non shooting bag.  Doesn't look as good when posing at a re-enactment or rendezvous, but a lot more comfortable and convenient in the woods..

[MuskratMike]

I have both set ups on my bag & horn sets (yes I have a separate bag & horn for each rifle). If shooting squirrel from trees there is historical correctness in having the bag & horn on your "off side". I tend to always carry mine on my strong side and carry mine a little higher than most. It makes it much easier to keep it all tight against my body when going through the woods.

[Cory Joe Stewart]

The horn that I have carried for years sits at the top of the bag giving some room for the flap.  That is what I normally try and do.   But like a lot of this it can come down to personal preference.  One of my friends that got me into this and was involved very early on in the 60s wore his horn and pouch on different sides which I thought was an interesting choice as well. 

Cory Joe

[far55]

Thanks for your replies on this, I think I will go with a separate strap and keep it just above the bag to see how I like it. After mentioning my old gas mask bag, I got to wondering what happened to it, and found I still have it. I was the terror of the squirrel woods with it until I would get a ball stuck at a particularly rough spot in the barrel in my brothers original .31 cal. West Va. gun. Then it was back home to remove the breechplug and drive it out. Thanks again, Roland

[thecapgunkid]

far55...I was the terror of the squirrel woods with it

Don't underestimate the power of a canvas bag.  TOW has a couple of them that smack of one's ability to cobble them for an outing, trek or just plain range storage.  They beg to be re-worked and maybe decorated a little.

Our problem is we look so much at the splendid workmanship of the members of this forum that we sometimes overlook the fact that not everybody back in the day had such great looking leather.

Maybe I put too much conjecture in my Wheaties but I always found that emulating past gear kept me warm in the woods and ( if you believe some sources)  the Worshipful Cordwainers Guild made it clear that  I am supposed to make one small mistake in every one of my works to prove my humility before God.

Don't get me wrong... I should be messaging good craftsmen like Mike from OK, James Rogers, Smylee, Greg Pennel , Marcruger, TC Albert  and the like a lot more than I do and wheedling them to come up to Dixons so I can meet them.   I will make a point of stopping by SligoBill at the Faire just to watch his  stuff, but once I wander off shoes I don't even strive to emulate their quality.  I look for a context rather than perfection.

If I ever find an old surplus gas mask bag Anne'll have to hold me back.

[Mike from OK]

far55...I was the terror of the squirrel woods with it

Don't underestimate the power of a canvas bag.  TOW has a couple of them that smack of one's ability to cobble them for an outing, trek or just plain range storage.  They beg to be re-worked and maybe decorated a little.

Our problem is we look so much at the splendid workmanship of the members of this forum that we sometimes overlook the fact that not everybody back in the day had such great looking leather.

Maybe I put too much conjecture in my Wheaties but I always found that emulating past gear kept me warm in the woods and ( if you believe some sources)  the Worshipful Cordwainers Guild made it clear that  I am supposed to make one small mistake in every one of my works to prove my humility before God.

Don't get me wrong... I should be messaging good craftsmen like Mike from OK, James Rogers, Smylee, Greg Pennel , Marcruger, TC Albert  and the like a lot more than I do and wheedling them to come up to Dixons so I can meet them.   I will make a point of stopping by SligoBill at the Faire just to watch his  stuff, but once I wander off shoes I don't even strive to emulate their quality.  I look for a context rather than perfection.

If I ever find an old surplus gas mask bag Anne'll have to hold me back.

Don't include me in that group! What I know about leather work could be written on the head of a pin with enough room left over for the Lord's Prayer. Lol

James, Marc, TC, You and several others on here are the folks I look to for knowledge!

Mike

[hanshi]

I've carried them on separate sides, same sides and both on the same strap.  Currently I have three bags with day horns attached and one bag & separate horn.  I find them easier to keep hold of and less prone to snagging in the thick woods.  I wear them fairly high so my arm keeps them in contact.  Here's the way the three horns are attached.

[Bob McBride]

Every single bag horn set I have is set up exactly the same way with the exception of the slightly wider bags that go with my Fowling Pieces (left one). The horn on those ride a tiny bit higher because I need a little more clearance with those (OCD I picked up in the Corps) I wear my bags high and to the front with the top of the bag just under my bottom rib. Works best for me.

[Jerry]

I've carried them on separate sides, same sides and both on the same strap.  Currently I have three bags with day horns attached and one bag & separate horn.  I find them easier to keep hold of and less prone to snagging in the thick woods.  I wear them fairly high so my arm keeps them in contact.  Here's the way the three horns are attached.

hanshi, I like the leather formed inside the bag shot and/or ball bags with stopper. Jerry

[Joe S.]

My Rig ]