Post by Sicilianhunter on Aug 10, 2020 11:41:29 GMT -7
Recently, I followed Chuck Cassada’s directions from an article he wrote for On the Trail magazine which unfortunately is no longer produced but can be had by purchasing back issues from Muzzleloader.
I started with 17oz hemp fabric (38”x36”) and after hemming the length of what would be the opening of the bag, folded in it half and stitched the 38” width and up the open side and turned right side out..
ibb.co/JcfKCxf
I wanted to waterproof it with beeswax so I melted some in a sauce can and used a cheap paint brush to apply it.
I used plain brown paper above and below the item and ironed over it until the wax soaked into the fabric.
The coat of wax was thick enough so that with some flipping over and patience I was able to coax it into penetrating both sides.
If need be you can paint on more wax and spot iron where needed.
BTW, the paper (now waxed) can also be used for wrapping up other goods.
The leather straps are 1 1/2” wide and 24” long with 1/2” holes to accommodate a 3/8” dowel that secures the strap and also provides adjustment.
About an inch or so from the top of each strap you will make a 1/2” hole and secure 2 thongs or whangs.
Secure the thongs at the top of the strap using a larks head knot.
These whangs will secure the straps to the top of the bag.
The 2 dowels should be a hard wood, 1 1/2” long, break the end edges with sand paper and drill a 3/16” through the center.
You use 4 - 24” thongs or whangs to connect the top of the 2 straps to the gathered top of the bag with the other 2 having enough thong pulled through the hole in the toggle and knotted to secure that end and opposite end tied around the bottom corners of the bag which you put musket ball inside the bag at each corner to tie around from the outside.
The shoulder straps should have 1/2” holes set at equal intervals on each to make proper adjustments.
You do so by slipping the toggle into the holes to set the length of the straps.
Since a bedroll is best secured to the rucksack in a horseshoe fashion,
A pair of 1 1/2”x2” patches of leather sewn at top and bottom, inside and outside of the bag provided an attachment point to tie down either end of your bedroll.
I apologize in advance for anything I left out and can certainly answer any questions about such, just ask.
Unfortunately, the pics uploaded as links and I couldn’t see them as I wrote the text which may have contributed to leaving out some details.
I hand stitched my rucksack although it could all have done by machine.
One mistake I made was that I just folded over the hem at the opening of the bag where the directions called for a rolled seam.
I had fun with this project and it was a lot easier to make than it looked!!
ibb.co/B4C1MDZ
ibb.co/p2hdwDy
ibb.co/kXY0ryY
ibb.co/qJC5M6h
ibb.co/FDwFMq6
ibb.co/qxGq0Jn
ibb.co/Dw8D8My
ibb.co/kX22d0R
ibb.co/8MpC2BW
ibb.co/54CtwZK
ibb.co/Z6Px9b5
I started with 17oz hemp fabric (38”x36”) and after hemming the length of what would be the opening of the bag, folded in it half and stitched the 38” width and up the open side and turned right side out..
ibb.co/JcfKCxf
I wanted to waterproof it with beeswax so I melted some in a sauce can and used a cheap paint brush to apply it.
I used plain brown paper above and below the item and ironed over it until the wax soaked into the fabric.
The coat of wax was thick enough so that with some flipping over and patience I was able to coax it into penetrating both sides.
If need be you can paint on more wax and spot iron where needed.
BTW, the paper (now waxed) can also be used for wrapping up other goods.
The leather straps are 1 1/2” wide and 24” long with 1/2” holes to accommodate a 3/8” dowel that secures the strap and also provides adjustment.
About an inch or so from the top of each strap you will make a 1/2” hole and secure 2 thongs or whangs.
Secure the thongs at the top of the strap using a larks head knot.
These whangs will secure the straps to the top of the bag.
The 2 dowels should be a hard wood, 1 1/2” long, break the end edges with sand paper and drill a 3/16” through the center.
You use 4 - 24” thongs or whangs to connect the top of the 2 straps to the gathered top of the bag with the other 2 having enough thong pulled through the hole in the toggle and knotted to secure that end and opposite end tied around the bottom corners of the bag which you put musket ball inside the bag at each corner to tie around from the outside.
The shoulder straps should have 1/2” holes set at equal intervals on each to make proper adjustments.
You do so by slipping the toggle into the holes to set the length of the straps.
Since a bedroll is best secured to the rucksack in a horseshoe fashion,
A pair of 1 1/2”x2” patches of leather sewn at top and bottom, inside and outside of the bag provided an attachment point to tie down either end of your bedroll.
I apologize in advance for anything I left out and can certainly answer any questions about such, just ask.
Unfortunately, the pics uploaded as links and I couldn’t see them as I wrote the text which may have contributed to leaving out some details.
I hand stitched my rucksack although it could all have done by machine.
One mistake I made was that I just folded over the hem at the opening of the bag where the directions called for a rolled seam.
I had fun with this project and it was a lot easier to make than it looked!!
ibb.co/B4C1MDZ
ibb.co/p2hdwDy
ibb.co/kXY0ryY
ibb.co/qJC5M6h
ibb.co/FDwFMq6
ibb.co/qxGq0Jn
ibb.co/Dw8D8My
ibb.co/kX22d0R
ibb.co/8MpC2BW
ibb.co/54CtwZK
ibb.co/Z6Px9b5
