Cas City Forum Hall & CAS-L
Special Interests - Groups & Societies => The American Plainsmen Society => Topic started by: Tsalagidave on March 01, 2013, 03:10:58 PM
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I know that I've gone over the contents of a knapsack and hunting bag but the one thing that has gotten so many people busted is when they pull something out of their pocket and it turns out to be a cellphone, a pack of gum or a bic lighter. Even as a kid, I remember watching a "gunfighter" at Knott's Berry Farm pull out a modern-wrapped product from his pocket and how it completely blew the illusion.
Now, do you need to carry modern items like a cell phone, ID, cash, Car keys on you at a public event? Of course there are times you have to. But I have always figured a good effort could be made to hide these things. A cell can be shut off and hidden in your kit; car keys too. Modern medicines can be re-packaged in period containers. Lastly modern ID's and cash can be hidden in period wallets.
When it comes to living-history, the fun starts when you really try to go all out. I attached a couple of images of stuff that I carry that would be typically found in a mid-nineteenth century man's pockets. If I am conducting business, I added a testament an journal/writing kit that I carry in my topcoat. I usually have a wallet, watch, matchsafe and maybe a flask or tobacco which would be pretty typical also.
If you had to turn out your pockets at an event, what kind of period stuff would materialize?
-Dave
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At an event, I have a fringed leather pouch into which I put the modern crap (inclduing cash and ID), tucked into my belt.
In my pockets, (pants, vest and coat) or "on and about me" I have
- mechanical pocket watch
- barlow folding pocketknife
- piece of Ree Twist tobacco
small "pocket pouch" holding
- piece of Osha Root
- hank of braided sweetgrass
- cedar
- prarie sage
- paper box of strike-anywhere matches masquerading as Lucifers
- period 4-5 inch boot knife & sheath
- spectacles
- leather folding notpad and wooden pencil (sanded to defarb)
- a small number of cheap original pre 1890 coins ( mostly foreign )
- medicine bag around my neck
- leather card case with "Professor Marvel's" calling cards, somewhat correct to at least 1870's
- hank of cotton cord
- "special" stones
- hideout turnbarrel percussion derringer
I may at any time have one or more pouches of special specific "stuff" depending upon the event: a strike-light; my beaded plains tobacco pouch; my pipe bag; my moosehide embroidered pouch; rocky mountain style possibles bag; or my bear-paw medicine shoulder bag.
belt knives, belt hawk, pistols, capbox, paper cartridges ( or brass cartridges) etc are on the seperate gunbelt or in a shoulder bag, along with other necessities such as my tin cup, spoon, housewife (sewing kit), medicinal kit (mostly herbs), hank of sisal rope, candles, sacred objects & other important stuff. Rifle and/or shotgun are carried in hand or in a guncase.
yhs
prof marvel
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Professor,
You never disappoint with your contribution. Do you have pictures of any of your stuff? The home remedies are a real nice touch.
-Dave
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My Good T-Dave
I have not forgotten, merely overcome by events.
when I get my camera to make "little" photos, I shall provide them :-)
yhs
prof marvel
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I'll be danged~ :)
(http://i1324.photobucket.com/albums/u606/rick_son1/DSC07143_zps5adc928c.jpg)
(http://i1324.photobucket.com/albums/u606/rick_son1/DSC07144_zps7adcbaf4.jpg)
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My leg heals up and i'll be able to carry my pipes and such.. :)
(http://i1324.photobucket.com/albums/u606/rick_son1/DSC07146_zps8c05b0a3.jpg)
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I had no idea Buck-a-Roo,them trojans right by the sh-t gave ya away :D :D :D :-* :-* ;) :D :D :D
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Billy, I don't think the packaging on your French Letters are period correct, LOL! A hairy reb with rubs in his shooting bag suddenly gave me a flashback to the movie deliverance.ROFL!
Here's a fun article on the topic: http://guardianoftheartifacts.blogspot.com/2012/06/civil-war-preventative-ive-posted.html
-Dave
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I got a question?
Why would any American Plainsman find a "French Envelop" (condom) of any type, from any period of History a needed 'Pocket' item?
Blair
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I doubt he would...and I just hadn't the sand to ask what it would be needed for. I haven't ever seen our hobby as place with an abundant number of single ladies to hit on.
-Dave
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Dave,
Exactly the reason for asking my question. And my point for asking.
My best,
Blair
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Billy, I don't think the packaging on your French Letters are period correct, LOL! A hairy reb with rubs in his shooting bag suddenly gave me a flashback to the movie deliverance.ROFL!
Here's a fun article on the topic: http://guardianoftheartifacts.blogspot.com/2012/06/civil-war-preventative-ive-posted.html
-Dave
lol. i can assure you there aint no deliverance activity going on in my camp. 'sides i use them to keep rain out of the barrel of my plains rifle. ;)
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Would you like for me to make you a tompion instead. :)
It's period correct and will spare you the hell you'll get for having a "protected" gun at a rendezvous. Honestly I thought there was something new on sutler row that I wasn't aware of.
-Dave
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Dave,
That is actually a great option!
Although it is not any more common in civilian arms than the use of a condom to protect the muzzle end of a shooting iron.
And these condoms will not be of the "French Envelope" type.
Just a word to the wise...
Blair
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A tompion normally isn't really typical unless you stack arms. (ie. Military arms) but it still beats making your gun look like a sex toy.
-Dave
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i removed the picture. i only ment it to be a joke. seems it wasn't taken that way and for that i'm sorry
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It's for the best pard. I was fixin to take it down after thinking it would eventually tick someone off.
-Dave
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A coin purse with silver coins of the era. Period correct pocket knife. Possibly a compas.
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Thought I'd do an exploded view of my pocket contents. My impression is as a boss of a transportation/Express firm with offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco. On the side, I am a volunteer in the Militia. Ephemera in the wallet includes a deed to property in Los Angeles Co., Militia papers, and other sources of identification in addition to some assay receipts, old banknotes from New Orleans (that can be converted through a lengthy transaction either through the Pacific Express Company or WF & Co.). I also have hard coinage, choice of optics, compass, key-wind pocket watch, and a testament.
The Bryant & Mays match box and Liberty Match Safe is more 1860s era. The more correct matchsafe I have is a "go-to-bed" canister safe that you can actually post a lit match in the top of to serve as a bedtime light. (seen low left of the binoculars).
-Dave
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Here is my 1850s writing kit. Pocket holds express company receipts, correspondence, ink powders, US postage (series of 1851; perforated stamps didn't start till 1857) and local express stamps, barrel inkwell and pen. Also included is a period package of paper with Almanac.
-Dave
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Here is my 1860s kit. The wallet is made of tarred cloth and is ideal for the wet months especially at the CW events in the deep south. I change the paperwork depending on whether my impression in California & SW or if it is further east. This one is late war with military documents from the 1st California Regiment, local currency with Federal script, express document, Hathaway patented desk and California Almanac. It packs up nicely too. All this easily packs away into my kit.
-Dave
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Great looking stuff David. I like the wooden matches. I will have to dig out my plunder and post a photo. I want to take a
batch of percussion caps and waterproof them with shellac as were the originals. i bought myself a pair of Congress boots last
month from River Junction Trade Co.
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I am told that there is a good article (and cover photo), on Pocket Paraphenalia in the Spring Shootist. However, I have not recieved my issue. (And I wrote the @^## article. >:( )
Books
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Thanks BP, I get those matches whenever I am visiting my colleague in Germany. The match books there use wooden strips that come close in appearance to the congreves in use during the mid-late 1800s. Prof. Marvel, I like the matchsafes. You have some great designs there.
Books, keep me posted on the article. I'd like to see it myself. I have always thought that the little details like personal ephemera, pocket and "haversack" stuffers are what really helped make the impression believable. It also opens new doors into the more academic pursuits of this hobby. I feel that the little details also state that this is not a costume contest but a valid attempt to make yourself into a walking museum of a fascinating chapter in history.
-Dave
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hey dave,
where did ya find those binoculars? i been looking for some
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Billy, those are original japanned sheet metal made ca. 1840-90s. I got them in a trade with a friend a while back. Ones like them come up on ebay from time to time.
-Dave
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Billy, I have been finding a lot of these on ebay for really good prices. Search antique binoculars or old binoculars.
-Dave
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thanks dave, i'll be on the look out
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Hi,
Speaking of period things in your pocket, how about a horsey jack-knife?
I would think that any horse-born person would have one of the jack-knives that were available to pick a pebble out from the horses' hooves (that is, between the hoof and the horseshoe).
Something like this ....
http://www.caseknifeoutlet.com/proddetail.cfm?ses=7F94EAB5DEA4B280
What do you think?
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That's a good item to bring up Wadd. Personally, I never carry any horse appendages on my person. They stay in the saddle bag in my case but I'm sure others carry them in a coat pocket where they'd be more readily available to them than my method is.
-Dave