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Post by Sicilianhunter on Apr 6, 2020 7:10:44 GMT -7
Gentleman,
I believe that most of us here are on the path to being as authentic as we can.
We may have not all started out that way.
I started back into this Lifestyle after a very long hiatus and lept into it with both feet possibly with more naivete that I did originally.
I bought and made things that looked "cool" without having done any research and before I knew it, I had invested time, money and sweat equity into many items that did not fit what I was trying to portray.
Speaking to that portrayal, I had not done enough research their either, making the task even more difficult!!!
The things you learn along the Pilgrim's road road are Legion...
Personally, I chose a decade of 1765-75 to give me some latitude.
All of that aside, I now come to the topic of discussion : The Ubiquitous Flint Wallet.
How authentic is this item and if so, what time window is it actually from?
I thank you for you expert knowledge in advance!!
The Sicilian
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Post by spence on Apr 7, 2020 19:21:06 GMT -7
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Post by Sicilianhunter on Apr 8, 2020 5:58:49 GMT -7
Many thanks to you and Keith!! |
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Post by hawkeyes on Apr 8, 2020 8:07:02 GMT -7
I have one that is my everyday wallet. The flint slots hold coins instead of flint. Absolutely have to keep a few Aldi quarters available for use at all times.
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Post by Sicilianhunter on Apr 8, 2020 13:51:50 GMT -7
So in short, possibly late 18C, more likely 19C but early 18C, probably not... |
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Keith
City-dweller
Bushfire close but safe now. Getting some good rain.
Posts: 990 
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Post by Keith on Apr 8, 2020 16:51:33 GMT -7
I keep a supply of flints in a leather roll. I simply turn the edges inward & then roll it up & secure it with the tail. This is carried in the very bottom of my shot pouch. For faster access & carry a couple of spare flints in my small tool pouch in the shot pouch.   Keith. |
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Post by Black Hand on Apr 9, 2020 4:47:50 GMT -7
My flints go in a small automotive Chamois bag tied tightly. Lives in the bottom of my gun bag - haven't had any problems.
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Post by artificer on Apr 9, 2020 9:50:12 GMT -7
So in short, possibly late 18C, more likely 19C but early 18C, probably not... I'm not so sure that is true. When you look at sporting images prior to the middle of the 18th century, it is not uncommon for only the bare minimum shooting gear is shown in the portraits/paintings/engravings. That means they must have some things stuck in their pockets, which are not shown. I would suggest that they would need some kind of leather bag or flint wallet to hold the flints so as not to cut through the pockets of their clotheing. Perhaps flint wallets were more common with middle/upper class in the first half of the 18th century, but we don't see them illustrated simply because they are being carried in pockets? Gus |
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Post by Sicilianhunter on Apr 9, 2020 9:53:44 GMT -7
So in short, possibly late 18C, more likely 19C but early 18C, probably not... I'm not so sure that is true. When you look at sporting images prior to the middle of the 18th century, it is not uncommon for only the bare minimum shooting gear is shown in the portraits/paintings/engravings. That means they must have some things stuck in their pockets, which are not shown. I would suggest that they would need some kind of leather bag or flint wallet to hold the flints so as not to cut through the pockets of their clotheing. Perhaps flint wallets were more common with middle/upper class in the first half of the 18th century, but we don't see them illustrated simply because they are being carried in pockets? Gus Maybe for the common folk a simple drawstring bag with a handful of Flints in it is The most honest interpretation |
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Post by paranger on Apr 9, 2020 10:04:48 GMT -7
Am I the only one who finds this particular piece of kit superfluous? I have carried spare flints in my shooting bag for years(admittedly often in internal pockets or compartments, but often just loose in the bottom of the bag). Even in my linen shooting bag, I have never had an issue with a fling cutting the bag or me.
I even own an early 19th c. beaver skin bag that once belonged to Zeke Williams, which still has a loose flint and some balls in the side pocket.
In the spirit of frontier minimalism and weight savings, I have personally never felt the urge.
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Post by spence on Apr 9, 2020 10:09:20 GMT -7
I've never found any need for a container of any kind for my flints. I don't carry a big bunch, but they are just loose in the bottom of my shot pouch. I've never cut myself or anything else, never saw any damage to a flint even after long periods in the pouch. For me, a flint wallet is a solution without a problem. But they are cool.  Spence |
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Post by Sicilianhunter on Apr 9, 2020 12:48:38 GMT -7
Am I the only one who finds this particular piece of kit superfluous? I have carried spare flints in my shooting bag for years(admittedly often in internal pockets or compartments, but often just loose in the bottom of the bag). Even in my linen shooting bag, I have never had an issue with a fling cutting the bag or me. I even own an early 19th c. beaver skin bag that once belonged to Zeke Williams, which still has a loose flint and some balls in the side pocket. In the spirit of frontier minimalism and weight savings, I have personally never felt the urge. Paranger, I suppose this thread, in retrospect, should have been more accurately titled “...parts wallet” rather than flint as that was what I had in mind but I’ve become accustomed to the terms being used synonymously. As the thread has grown with input, I’ve come to the realization that neither a parts or flint wallet is really necessary and any of those items could either be mkept in a small drawstring pouch or ,as you do, loose in your shooting bag. Additionally, for the period I am trying to portray, it’s probably not very accurate. Thanks for your input. |
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Post by spence on Apr 9, 2020 14:06:55 GMT -7
This discussion brings to mind something which I think needs to be considered. The equipment the old boys carried is not uniformly the same across all situations, but it seems many of us assume it is. Using my own persona as an example, I'm an old man, a very early settler, hunting from his cabin for his family, many times on foot and on the hunt for no more than a day or two. If I have equipment failures I can simply abort the hunt and go home. The spare parts and tools I would decide to carry will definitely not be the same as a real longhunter who will be completely away from any assistance for at least months, maybe a year or two, and is totally dependent on his own resources.
So, I would say that unless the persona is that of a real longhunter headed out into the boondocks, there's no reason to carry a bunch of spare parts, tools or powder, flints, balls, etc. Doing so is not necessarily HC/PC
I've collected very few items related to this question.
From: Mary B. and F. B. Kegley, "Early Adventurers on the Western Waters,"
Vol. I, The New River of Virginia in Pioneer Days, Green Publishers, Inc., (c) 1980
Discussing longhunters"
Page 83
"Their equipment included two pack horses each, a large supply of powder and
lead for their rifles, a small vise and bellows, a screwplate and files for
repairing their rifles, traps, blankets, dogs, and supplies."
From Henry Timberlake's narrative of his travels in the Cherokee country in the late 1750's. Timberlake was an Officer in the Virginia Regiment and also accompanied the Cherokee delegation to England in 1762.
(Timberlake, p 16) "...our provisions falling short, I went on shore, with the interpreter’s gun, to shoot a turkey; singling one out, I pulled the trigger, which missing fire, broke off the upper chap and screw-pin; and, as I could find neither, after several hours search, rendered the gun unfit for service."
"We went ashore, as it was in vain to proceed, and, desponding, began to make a fire; while thus employed, several large bears came down a steep hill towards us. This, at another time, would have been a joyful sight; it now only increased our affliction. They came within reach of a tommahawk’ had we had one, and the skill to throw it, we could scarce have failed of killing. In short, they were as daring as if they had been acquainted with our misfortunes. Irritated by their boldness, I formed several schemes for killing, among which, as mending the broken gun seemed most probable, I instantly set about trying the experiment. Notching a flint on each side, I bound it to the lower chap with a leather thong. This succeeded so far, that in ten or twelve times snapping, it might probably fire, which was a matter of great joy to us. Before I had finished it, the bears were frightened away; but as we had now mended our gun, we conceived great hope."
Spence
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Post by brokennock on Apr 9, 2020 14:26:44 GMT -7
So, this "officer of the Virginia Regiment," is wandering around the Cherokee territory with a party of how many people? And, only one gun? Not even his own.
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Post by paranger on Apr 9, 2020 15:15:31 GMT -7
So, this "officer of the Virginia Regiment," is wandering around the Cherokee territory with a party of how many people? And, only one gun? Not even his own. If you aren't familiar with Timberlake's journal, I highly recommend it. To make a long story short, Timberlake's mission was a diplomatic one. He was on the way from VA to live in the Overhill Cherokee towns following the treaty concluding the Anglo-Cherokee War. Essentially, he was a hostage ensuring British compliance with the terms of the peace agreement: a fact that by his own admission only slowly dawned on Timberlake after he volunteered. Dispatched by Adam Stephen, he and his small coterie (Timberlake, Sgt Thomas Sumter - yes, THAT Thomas Sumter, an interpreter named John McCormack, and a servant) left for what is now Eastern TN. Timberlake, thinking he could gather intelligence, declined a Cherokee offer of escort on the overland route and instead proceeded by river because he "thought a thorough knowledge of the navigation would be of infinite service, should these people ever give us the trouble of making another campaign against them..." As the previous excerpt suggests, it was a rash decision which nearly cost him his life. |
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