One of the aspects I enjoy most about muzzleloading as a hobby—apart from the guns and the shooting, naturally—are the accoutrements, which are as distinctive as the individuals who wear them. I find great enjoyment in observing people at various rendezvous, marveling at the uniqueness of their powder horns, shot bags, and other pieces of gear. This particular creation is my effort to replicate my friend Stan’s turtle shell ball bag, a unique item that captured my interest from the moment I first saw it during my initial club trail walk.
While I’m not aware of any evidence these were used by mountain men, similar bags
were used by Native Americans as medicine bags. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that they could have been purchased or traded for and used in this fashion.
