Gentlemen's Pocketbook

[Ky-Flinter]

And, no it's not some metro-sexual man-purse! 

I've been slowly trying to improve and add to the personal accoutrements I carry when attending reenactments and presentations.  I needed something suitable to replace my nylon and velcro wallet.

The pocketbook shown at top belonged to my g-g-g-grandfather.  I found a very similar one in the eMuseum hosted by Colonial Williamsburg, dated ca 1839.  I made the lower one.  I think this will do.



View unfolded.  The antique has 2 "flaps" that open in the middle.  They are sewn on top of the upper pocket. I'm not sure of their purpose.


Tooling on the original.  Look at the detail, isn't it wonderful?  I wish I had a plate with that design so I could make an exact copy.


-Ron

[Frank Barker]

Thanks KyFlinter for posting the pictures of your GGGGrandfather's wallet. Can you put an approximate date on it. Could you post some measurements on it, I would like to make a couple of them if you don't mind. Accouterments like this are just as important as hunting bags or powder horns....Thanks again Frank

[James Rogers]

Thanks for sharing!
I was just last night doing a layout pattern for making some of these.

James

[nthe10ring]

That pattern was quite popular as  a flint wallet . I have made several over the years, particularly for cased English Double guns. There would be individual pockets for each flint and an overleaf to protect the top section from the bottom.  Looks good , thanks for sharing.

Jerry Fisher

[Tim Crosby]

 Nice work Ron. The original is Great.

Tim C.

[G. Elsenbeck]

Very nice job on the wallet Ron and I love the antique one.  Do you have any idea how old it is?  The stamps used to decorate it are awesome. 

I made a wallet last fall from calfskin, hair on, but the wife absconded it to replace something that was falling apart in her purse. 

Gary

[Ky-Flinter]

There isn't anything in or on this pocketbook to indicate an exact date.  My ggg-grandfather was born 1829, died 1909.  As mentioned before, Colonial Williamsburg has a very similar one, also leather, in their eMuseum, dated ca 1839.  So, I think it's safe to say mid to early 19th c.  CW also has several others of similar design but of cloth and needlepoint dating to 1770's.

Dimensions: 
6-3/4" x 3-1/2" when folded closed
Opened flat 6-3/4" x 8-5/8", not including the closure strap which is 9" long.
Inside pockets are 6-3/4" x 2-3/4"

-Ron

[Artificer]

I've been informed that the solid pockets on the originals were for paper money and coins while the split leather divider was used to cover important papers.  I don't know if the latter is true, but I never found a better explanation. 

Before she passed away, my Mom saw one of these I had made and said she would like to have one in blue leather with a section for plastic picture holders and some other features.  Well, at least it looked 18th century from the outside.  She treasured that wallet the rest of her life.  Thanks for brniging back those memories.
Gus