Nice work on the shooting pouch. They are a fun and usefull project.
I've made and used several for the past couple decades. A couple notes:
- The lower they hang at your side, the more they "flop" around - but the easier it is to get into them. Most people using them as shooting pouches for their black powder muzzle loading guns when out hunting prefer to have them ride up pretty high. High enough that their elbow holds them at their side when moving through the brush. That helps keep them from "flopping" around. And they get snagged and hang up less on the branches/brush you are moving through.
- Having your knife on the strap can be a little more "handy", if you use it a lot. But it does tend to snag and catch on more things. And it can be easier to lose it. I have one pouch with the knife sheath sewn onto the back. But it is a small/thin knife, so it doesn't push the pouch out much. But I prefer putting any knife inside my pouch - if I don't have it in my pocket or on/through my belt.
- An extra little pocket sewn inside really helps organize small items.
- A tie or button on the flap, or holding the top together cuts down on the time spent searching for stuff dumped out when you trip, or the pouch gets accidentally tipped upside down.
- The larger the pouch you make/carry, the more ... stuff ... you tend to always have in it. This all adds up to more weight and bulk. It's too easy to move stuff from your pack or ruck into your hunting pouch.
I currently run with a civilian modified Brow Bess military musket, a French Fusil de Chasse hunting fowler, and a Northwest Trade Gun. Different time periods, different historical focus. But I've been pondering a Matchlock fowler, lately. Some of the hunting pouches that go with these guns were military influenced, but most are pretty simple/plain/working hunting pouches.
Again, nice work. And it is far removed from any "hippy" influence.
Mikey - runnin' the woods out here in the Hinterlands