Where do you hang your Powder Horn?

[Jennison]

Hi, I see some folks carry their powder horns below their belts and others carry them almost under their armpits.   I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who wishes to provide how high ( or low) they carry their horn, and the benefit of carrying that way.  Is there a historically correct way say, for the 18th century?

Thanks, Jennison

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I wear my bag on the right hand side of my body, about belt height.  The horn is on a separate strap hanging ABOVE the bag.  This way, it is not in the way when I open the flap on the bag to extract whatever.  And my right arm pins the horn and bag to my body by the weight of the rifle when I"m walking in the bush.I have a left hand carry horn as well and it rests at about the same place against my left side, while the bag is always on the right.

[MuskratMike]

Here are some old photos, (well one is of an old time guy). You can work from there. Most bags today unless made by some of our ALR creators are too big and hang too low. Same goes for the horns.

[Jeff Murray]

I also hang my bag and horn much like Taylor, except maybe a little higher.  The design of the bag cover may affect where you hang it for easy entry.  I like to be able to pin both to my side when hunting, particularly when trying to approach game.  Don't want anything clacking when I imagine I am being sneaky.

[MuskratMike]

I also noted in these "vintage" photos how far forward the bag and horn are carried. Not saying it's good or bad just interesting.

[Seth Isaacson]

One my left side so that it lays across the flap of my bag. Usually resting right about my lower ribs similar to many of the old timers in those photographs. I have found its actually easier to use my kit if the stuff hangs lower, but then it bounces around and moves a lot more when you are moving about. In cooler months, a lot of my kit ends up in my jacket pockets and my pouch mostly just still keeps the extras.

[Jerry]

I carry my bag at elbow height on my right side. When hunting, I carry my horn on the right side above  my bag. When shooting off the bench I carry my horn high on the left side. In examining old horns, I have found that a lot of horns were carried tip up or just opposite of how we carry today. I have always carried my horn with the tip pointing down.

[bigsmoke]

Muskrat Mike, those are some priceless photos.  Thanks for posting them.

Personally, I carry my bag on my left side, along with my horn on a separate strap, although I am right handed.  The horn hangs above the bag.  I have tried to use a smaller bag several times, but always found it frustrating trying to sort through things with my big hands.  The smallest bag I would be comfortable with is a medium sized bag, but by far I prefer a larger one.

John (Bigsmoke)

[Jennison]

I agree, those are some really super photos; I wonder if the horns and bags are worn out to the front for the photographer.   

[smylee grouch]

On one of the bags I use there is a knife in a sheath mounted to the back of the bag and the handle sticks up above the top of the bag and will knock against the horn when moving. On this bag my horn will ride a little higher to clear the knife.

[MeliusCreekTrapper]

I agree, those are some really super photos; I wonder if the horns and bags are worn out to the front for the photographer.

I often swing my bag to the front while loading my rifle, then push it back past my side when walking, moving, shooting. I like my bag to be centered up and down at my belt line when wearing a jacket, this allows some room to get another jacket or coat on without having to adjust the strap. I wear my horn on a separate strap, with the horn over the flap of the bag. That's how I've seen it in many original paintings. Wearing the pouch lower also allows one to put their belt/sash over the strap, which is often seen in paintings of metis and natives in the Red River area.

[Daryl]

Both my bag and horn are strapped over my left shoulder, sitting on my right side. The horn is above the bag so opening the bag is not interfered with.
For hunting big game, I carry 4 or 5 paper ctgs. in my right parka pocket & my capper in the breast pocket of the coat. No need for a bag when I'm hunting.
No bag or horn to catch on anything, Just me with my rifle already loaded, capped and hammer at 1/2 bent.
For small game or trail walks, bag and horn as noted above.
Paper ctgs. seem to work well from .54 cal. up.

[hawkeye]

I carry my bag belt hight on the right and my horn on the opposite side just under my ribs. Fits and serve for me the best
Hawkeye

[mgbruch]

I hang mine where it feels and works best to me.  It's a good rule of thumb.  The straps on my bag and my horn are adjustable, which is pretty handy, because sometimes I'm just wearing a shirt, and other times I'm wearing several layers.

[Bob McBride]

I think they were worn every whicha way by greenhorns all through time but if youve ever worn them thile wading through briars and brambles, continually dipping under low hanging limbs or on and off a horse or the ground youll find yourself cinching them up under your arm and pulling them a bit forward so they dont behave themselves like a manbag. So, it seems to me, Spongy Yanks in fancy hats likely wore em loose and stylish and old Southern Pine Knots with belly’s full of the Squirrel ribs prolly worm em high and tight.

[Daryl]

Guess I'm much like the bloke in the middle. Ctg. in pocket and capper in upper pocket - when big game hunting.

[Bob McBride]

Guess I'm much like the bloke in the middle. Ctg. in pocket and capper in upper pocket - when big game hunting.

Me too when deer hunting. Less is more.

[rat44]

That pic of the three men was on the cover of the Feb. 1933 American Rifleman, taken by Walter M. Cline.

[smylee grouch]

That picture is on a tin sign hanging on a wall in my cabin.  I think I got it at Hobby Lobby. 

[Darkhorse]

Loading your rifle is easier if it's hanging lower. However for hunting, crossing downed logs, bending under brush, and such will cause the bag to swing and become aggravating.
I am lefthanded, shoot a lefthanded flintlock and wear my bag on my left side just about elbow height. The horn is just above the bag and can be switched from left side to right when needed. It works best for me wore on the right side.

[Nazgul]

I am right handed so bag on the right just low enough to let my freakishly large hand get into it. Horn on the left, just low enough to pull around front and pour the powder. Horn is pushed back and out of the way when done. To me it keeps the access to the bag unhindered.

My way and I am sticking to it.

Don

[Pukka Bundook]

With a  a loading block, I don't need to be into the pouch for normal loading, and horn hangs a bit high over the top of the pouch anyway.
Keep horn up under my arm so I could run and not have stuff bouncing about,. When I Could run!

I hang my pouch on a nail otherwise.
Richard.




measure sits  snug. No rattle and will fit in muzzle.




Guns all homemade except the lock.  (Chambers)

[Mike from OK]

Right hand carry for both bag and horn. Bag hits about midway and just forward of my "love handle." Horn rides fairly high. The curvature of the horn closely matches the curvature of my ribcage and the spout comes out just below the line of my pectoral muscle.

It sounds more confining than it is in practice... And it keeps everything from swinging/banging around yet allows easy access to the bag and pouring powder into a measure.

Mike

[smylee grouch]

With a  a loading block, I don't need to be into the pouch for normal loading, and horn hangs a bit high over the top of the pouch anyway.
Keep horn up under my arm so I could run and not have stuff bouncing about,. When I Could run!

I hang my pouch on a nail otherwise.
Richard.
I didn't have a nail to hang mine on so I hung it on a tree. 



measure sits  snug. No rattle and will fit in muzzle.




Guns all homemade except the lock.  (Chambers)

[Dphariss]

If shooting in matches I  where them low. But for most its higher. Horse back highest of all.
Thats why I have buckle type straps so I can adjust them. And I don’t remember ever having a horn not attached to the pouch strap. And I have a pouch from the late 60s. Someplace in the basement.
There are a lot of things that you see people wearing at Rendezvous that don’t work well horseback. But few spend much time on a horse. But I have not been on one for some years and could be my later pouches would beed more buckle holes if I did that again.