Ready Sacks

[East Scout]

Im looking to find out the proper name for the shoulder bags that Soldiers used from the time Muskets were used until Armies went "modern" and someone introduced webbing....Like the big ones youd see hanging from any soldier in the Napolionic Wars, French and Indian war or the Revolutionaty war that a soldier would keep all his basic kit in...

I hope that makse sense.....

ES

[rangerone]

Are you talking about a haversack? The large most often square looking pouch with a single shoulder strap worn at the side of the soldier that he kept his personal items in?

[ZaakM433]

My sack is ALWAYS ready for the ladies ;)

[Howitz]

Haversack, breadbag, possibles bag.

Anyone of those would probably work. Haversack being the most likely.

[East Scout]

Are you talking about a haversack? The large most often square looking pouch with a single shoulder strap worn at the side of the soldier that he kept his personal items in?

Yeah guys, you got it..someone told me a while back it had a particular name besides the ones you've offered and I for the life of me cant remeber what they told me..It sounded like ready bag but that sounds gay.......

R1 your dead on as to what Im talking about. Maybe some re-enacters in here will know if it has a specific name..Haversack sounds correct by modern standards but wasnt what he told me........

ES

[English_Voodoo]

Just a guess, but going by the description a.. musette bag?
A guy I know does a ww2 us ranger impression and thats what he call's it...
my first post on here too! :)

[James]

I've heard "Possibles Bag" before. Powder horn, extra balls, accessories for your rifle.

[TacoDelRio]

Ditto, possibles bag, bg o' tricks, or bag of pain.

Or BOB = Bug Out Bag.

[Buckeye67]

I'm a Rev War/Longhunter reenactor.

There are a number of types of haversacks and knapsacks that may be what you're looking for. They come in single strap carry (haversack) and two strap carry (knapsack) versions. There are also haversack-like items like snapsacks and market wallets. (Haversack and knapsack are period correct terms, btw)

Here's a link to the 18th Century New England Life site's page on Knapsacks, Haversacks and the like: http://www.18cnewenglandlife.org/18cnel/wallets.htm

They're most often made of coarse linen, sometimes of leather or cotton canvas and waterproofed with paint or boiled linseed oil (I've seen guys melt beeswax into them with a hot iron as well). British army knapsacks of the period were often made of goatskin with the hair left on to make them more waterproof.

Here's a link to C&D Jarnagin's page with knapsacks and haversacks. They're very good folks:

http://www.jarnaginco.com/F&I%20haversack.htm

Here's a couple of photos of my "New Invented Knapsack and Haversack 1776 Pattern". It's linen waterproofed (and I use that term euphamistically ;) ) with boiled linseed oil. Edit: Mine was made by Ed Wilde of Wilde Weavery. Here's a link to their page on packs:

http://www.wildeweavery.com/knapsack.htm

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/3571/20050619177600019ki.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/9219/20050619177600020qo.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

There's two halves of the pack that you can put stuff in, then you can put your bedroll between them:

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/2708/20050619177600042db.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

It's a pretty efficient method of carrying stuff. It's pretty much the equivalent of a modern day ruck, in that that's where I carry food, cooking gear (tin pot, small skillet) and other "support" gear.

The shooting bag (or "possibles bag" which is a later term) is basically your fighting gear (in conjunction with your powder horn) - I carry everything I need to keep my weapon going in it as well as my firestarting kit and a period compass.

[East Scout]

Buckeye....Thanks A LOT for that post. Very imformative and the pictures kick ass.........And thanks for the links as well.....

ES