Short's knapsack...

[WoodenNutmeg]

Does anyone have any period descriptions and/or images/diagrams of how the Short's knapsack was intended to be packed?

[RN_PAC]

Admittedly, I do not, and I have superficially sought the same information on patent records, &cet without success. However, I own a N*** S**** ("the un-named one") Shorts pack, which is a repro of Short's later products (the earliers I believe were made of blue-line duck), and through "experimental archeology" I find the best way is to put clothing into the bag against the back, personals/hygene items in the very small pocket, easily-folded-flat items in the very thin envelope on the outer flap (i.e., shelter half), folded blanket or greatcoat between the halves (specifically, in the potential space that exists between the closure straps and the outer flap itself; not necessarily between the same closure straps - with them running tight against the inside of the outer flap - and the main bag), and a rolled greatcoat or blanket on the shoulder straps, to which said straps are perminantly affixed.

Here is the info on the 11/12/1861 patent:
http://patimg1.uspto.gov/.piw?Docid=00033726&homeurl=http%3A%2F%2Fpatft.uspto.gov%2Fnetacgi%2Fn ph-Parser%3FSect1%3DPTO2%2526Sect2%3DHITOFF%2526p%3D1 %2526u%3D%25252Fnetahtml%25252FPTO%25252Fsearch-bool.html%2526r%3D6%2526f%3DG%2526l%3D50%2526co1%3 DAND%2526d%3DPALL%2526s1%3D18611112.PD.%2526OS%3DI SD%2F11%2F12%2F1861%2526RS%3DISD%2F11%2F12%2F1861&PageNum=&Rtype=&SectionNum=&idkey=NONE&Input=View+first+page

Here is the info on the 1/28/1862 patent:
http://patimg2.uspto.gov/.piw?Docid=00034272&homeurl=http%3A%2F%2Fpatft.uspto.gov%2Fnetacgi%2Fn ph-Parser%3FSect1%3DPTO2%2526Sect2%3DHITOFF%2526p%3D1 %2526u%3D%25252Fnetahtml%25252FPTO%25252Fsearch-adv.htm%2526r%3D21%2526f%3DG%2526l%3D50%2526d%3DPA LL%2526S1%3D18620128.PD.%2526OS%3DISD%2F1%2F28%2F1 862%2526RS%3DISD%2F18620128&PageNum=&Rtype=&SectionNum=&idkey=NONE&Input=View+first+page

-Tom Scoufalos

[WoodenNutmeg]

Re: Short's knapsack...

Thanks for the info, Tom.

I greatly appreciate the patent links as well.

I know Nick has a link about the knapsack on his site, but I can't access it (it might be down).

None-the-less, if I get more information time specific to the period, I'll be sure to contact you and fill you in on it right away.

Until then, we'll be packing in a similar manner.

[RN_PAC]

Re: Short's knapsack...

My pleasure. Maybe later I'll post some pics to clarify what I'm straining to get across in that verbose description, for those that aren't familiar with the knapsack.

-Tom Scoufalos

[1stMaine]

Re: Short's knapsack...

Tom,

I also own one of these, and pack it in a similar fashion. I have to admit that I am quite fond of it, and find it to be a very comfortable knapsack to wear, insofar as period knapsacks go, that is :)

[Charles Heath]

Re: Short's knapsack...

Ditto to what Tim and Tom said.

It's a comfortable knapsack, and mine has held up well for approximately ten years of reasonable use. IIRC, Chris Kibbler made a bulk buy batch of these bags for the RPs around the same time as he was transferred by Uncle Sam from Alaska to Georgia.

[WoodenNutmeg]

Re: Short's knapsack...

Well, I have a ************ make and it is certainly top-notch.

I am actually lucky enough to live in Salem, MA (where the bag originated) where I have seen two in private collection; if only they could speak.

[RN_PAC]

Re: Short's knapsack...

Tom,

I am quite fond of it, and find it to be a very comfortable knapsack to wear:)

Yep, me too. He was on to something with that shoulder-strap system. The blanket/greatcoat straps being located on the shoulder straps, and not the top of the pack, IMHO makes a big difference in comfort too. I can appreciate Bryan's bewilderment a little, though; you ought to have seen me trying to figure the thing out when I first took it out of the package! Looked like some kind of painted-cloth-and-leather-squid...

[mtvernon]

Re: Short's knapsack...

I find the best way is to put clothing into the bag against the back, personals/hygene items in the very small pocket, easily-folded-flat items in the very thin envelope on the outer flap (i.e., shelter half), folded blanket or greatcoat between the halves (specifically, in the potential space that exists between the closure straps and the outer flap itself; not necessarily between the same closure straps - with them running tight against the inside of the outer flap - and the main bag), and a rolled greatcoat or blanket on the shoulder straps, to which said straps are perminantly affixed.-Tom Scoufalos

I own and enthusiastically use a Shorts, and just last weekend at our first event I marveled at how I barely felt it after a pretty vigorous battle, even though it was fairly packed to the gills, including overcoat. As far as packing, I do a variation of the above method. Actually, I pack it more or less according to the guidelines from...I thought it was in the CRRC II, but now I can't find it. Shoot. (Anyone know what I'm talking about? I searched here and Sykes site as well-no luck) Soft items near my back, pretty much everything else in the outer pouch. I use my overcoat straps for my...overcoat (believe me, this was a real revelation), and put my gum blanket, folded, between the pouches for easy access.

Sometimes I start going a little numb in my right arm and begin frothing at the mouth for a few minutes, but this usually goes away. :p Seriously, my arm can go numb initially (probably too many layers in addition to the straps), but I just readjust a bit and I'm good to go.

Overall, packing a Shorts doesn't seem to be radically different from packing the ol' double bag.

[JerseySkilletLicker]

Re: Short's knapsack...

I loathe and detest knapsacks, but this is one item that I actually kept at the end of my tenure with the nameless one.

[Gallo de Cielo]

Re: Short's knapsack...

Might someone post an image of them toting this storied device? I'd like to see how it wears.

Kind regards,

[Charles Heath]

I take chisel and hammer in hand to....

Actually, I pack it more or less according to the guidelines from...I thought it was in the CRRC II, but now I can't find it. Shoot. (Anyone know what I'm talking about? I searched here and Sykes site as well-no luck)

Joe,

You may be thinking about this oft linked article from Kevin:


Knapsack 101

IIRC, this is also one of the many fine articles here in the AC Website articles collection ( a greatly underutilized resource) , but for those who want a copy of that article would be wise to save it now, as the venerable CR website is finally going through some belated revisions thanks to the work of Billy The Dog Eared Boy and Lanky Pete.

[pgoudeau]

Re: Short's knapsack...

Found some links on Google patents about the Shorts Knapsack. Looks to be patents applied for in revision to the original patent. Still interesting.

http://www.google.com/patents?id=dgM...&zoom=4&pg=PP2

http://www.google.com/patents?id=0o9...&zoom=4&pg=PP1

[Michael Comer]

Re: Short's knapsack...

The problem I have is that I can't get the thing on and off by myself. Always have to have someone help me.

[51stNCVCo.K]

Re: Short's knapsack...

my Shorts knapsack rides real comfy. They are a pain in the @$$ to make though.