I went to a Amish harness and saddle maker , purchased leather to make bag, he sold the lacing, buckles and shoulder straps . Tandy leather also has kits to make bags, the same felow sent me to a Amish butcher I got horns there ! Made everything for my outfit !
Don't take the chip !
Posts: 578 | Location: PA | Registered: 21 March 2007
Track of the Wolf or Dixie Gun Works for decent quality mass produced items. The Honorable Company of Horners for links to custom makers of powder horns. Google custom possibles bags for custom bag makers.
One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got into my pajamas I'll never know. - Groucho Marx
Posts: 3858 | Location: Eastern Slope, Colorado, USA | Registered: 01 March 2001
Made yourself will be the one you are most proud of. There is a book that tells you how, both horns and bags. Yours might not end up being the best but it will be fun to do, and will work fine, and will be cheaper.
Posts: 17386 | Location: USA | Registered: 02 August 2009
Gary Mercado made, and scrimshawed a horn for me two years ago.
It was a true copy of the Rebben Smith horn, based on pictures of the original in the book "The hartley Horn Drawings" published by the Honorable Company of Horners (www.hornguild.org). I pack it with my TVM Early Lancaster .40 flinter.
There are two other good books, if you are a French&Indian or Revolutionary War fan.
Tom Grinsdale, "Powder Horns, Documents of History"
and Jim Dresslar's excellent book, "The Engraved Powder Horn, Folk Art of Early America".
Gary takes about three months on a horn with provenance to an original. He also makes some very nice knives, including damascus.
Sometimes the smaller black powder re-enactor's shops have good products or deals or have taken things in on trade. A few years ago here in Las Vegas at a place called Ray's Beaver Bag, I purchased a beautiful, detailed powder horn scrimshawed will all of the western rendezvous sites on it, along with a really nice possibles bag made out of actual beaver with the beaver tail attached. Very cool to wear and use when attending rendezous or black powder outings with friends. I also was able to purchase some very nice bags that were brain tanned with quill work,among other things. I made it a point to visit the store every week to see what was new or had been traded. Unfortunately the store has now closed, but check with places like that if you can.
