Hunting pouch/ flat stitched

[wet willy]

Anyone have info on locale/era for flat-stitched hunting pouches? (Stitches on the outside, rather than the more typical sewn inside out, then turned, thus hiding the stitches.)

Seems like you could get more volume than by hiding the stitches, so more economical use of the hide. The sources I've seen, like Albert, Grant, et al, show pouches with hidden/turned stitches. The flat stitch maker would also avoid the wrinkles sometimes found when softening/turning the work inside out, and could use thicker leather.

[Mark Elliott]

My early VA pouches (http://www.markelliottva.com/wordpress/2011/07/early-va-shot-pouch-powder-horn-bag-10-horn-6/ are flat stitched and based on an original owned by Wallace Gusler and documented in the December 2009 Muzzle Blasts(pp. 4-8).   There is also an pouch authenticated to the French and Indian War and included in the Clash of Empires exhibition catalog(p. 30) that is flat stitched.   According to Wallace Gusler, this was a common pouch construction prior to the Revolution.  

I have also made a 18th century type pocket book based on my early VA pouch.   I see nothing wrong with a neat flat stitch close to the edge.  A nice tight stitching with a well burnished edge looks quite nice and as you said, uses less leather.  

You are not going to put a lot in a flat stitched pouch, but the fact that the originals where flat stitched and pretty small to boot should indicate to us that hunters of the period didn't carry much in their pouches.   What do you need; a strip of ticken, some tow, a couple of spare flints, a few balls, and maybe a wiper or mould?  That all fits quite nicely in my early VA pouch.

I am now using a welt on the flap like the originals.   I just turned the edge on my early pouches.   Why I did that,  I have no idea.   

[Oldbow]

Many bags were flat stitched in all of the so-called time periods.

I am currently working on " southern bag" page 140 of Grants book, 1pc body folded sideways flat stitched.

[nthe10ring]

You can also bind the edge ( as usually done on the flap ) and stitch them from the outside, it makes for a neater appearance. I have an original Southern Bag that is made that way and have seen others from various time periods. If you want you can still use a gusset for more capacity and sew it from the outside and burnish the edges or bind and sew. Either way I usually use a welt to stiffen the seam.

Regards
Jerry Fisher