Civilian Knapsack/Wallet

[BrettKIllinois]

Does anyone have directions on how to make a period civilian knapsack or a "wallet" (I'm not talking about billfolds) something other than a carpet bag good for carrying things long distance, especially something a traveling laborer or a farmer might have access to.

[Spinster]

Re: Civilian Knapsack/Wallet

http://www.18cnewenglandlife.org/18cnel/wallets.htm

For best results, look to a heavy coarse linen or hemp fabric that is tightly woven.

[Andrew Kasmar]

Re: Civilian Knapsack/Wallet

Hi,

Does anyone know if the knapsacks were always painted? I have only seen one of the knapsacks reproduced, and it was not painted. Thanks

Andrew

[Gerkin]

Re: Civilian Knapsack/Wallet

Does anybody know of any specific instances of people using these in the years leading up to the war? I ask because as outlined in the link above these are based on what the Mass. militiamen had in 1775, and am wondering how much time changed these things as well as what sorts seem to be more common than another.

[Charles Heath]

Re: Civilian Knapsack/Wallet

"Does anyone have directions on how to make a period civilian knapsack or a "wallet"...."

Brett,

You might want to contact Hank Trent. His wallet has held up well at several extended play events including the "1857 Camping Trip," "The Long Walk," and more recently "Out of Old Capitol Prison." With heavy loads, the only drawback, and a very minor one at that, is having to shift it from shoulder to shoulder.

Like you, I'm considering one for myself, especially for these short walks.... ;)

[AZReenactor]

Re: Civilian Knapsack/Wallet

I've got a reference somewhere in my notes to members of the 8th Texas Cavalry (Western Confederate under Forest, Wharton, & Wheeler) making wallets in preparation for an extended campaign. I've used wallets on the march and in the saddle and found it a very handy way of carrying goods. I also have a larger wallet I use to carry my uniform and gear to and from events and find it works quiet well.

It is an old, easily made design design that works quite efficiently.

[BrettKIllinois]

Re: Civilian Knapsack/Wallet

Thank you for the inputs. This was exactly what I was looking for.

[lojafan]

Re: Civilian Knapsack/Wallet

Andrew,

According to "Uniforms of the Civil War" by Ron Fields, for the Union Army is says "Infantry knapsacks were to carry the owner's regimental number in the center and offically this number was to be 1 1/2 inches in length and painted in white paint. Knapsacks were to be also marked on the inside with the letter of the company the soldier belonged to." P. 36

Now in "Regulations for the Army of the Confederate States" By Confederate States of America War Dept, S.P. Moore, Ira M. Rutkow"Regulations for the Army of the Confederate States, 1864" By Confederate States of America War Dept, James Alexander Seddon, it states in both:
"Those for the artillery will be marked in the center of the cover with the number of the regiment only, in figures of 1 1/2 inches in length, of the character called full face, with yellow paint. Those for the infanty will be marked in the same way, in white paint." p. 11 in both versions.

Now if your talking about the knapsack actually being painted and not the regiment and company letters, according to both Confederate regulation manuals, "Knapsacks are to be painted black... Knapsack straps will be black." And according to "Uniforms of the Civil War" that "In 1857 army regulations ordered all knapsacks be painted black

Since your Missouri State Guard, I'm not sure if this would apply to you, since the MSG were not Confederate soldiers in the first years of the war.

Here are the sources I found:
p. 35-36 http://books.google.com/books?id=bGA...tions#PPA34,M1

p. 11 http://books.google.com/books?id=t3B...tions#PPA11,M1

p. 11 http://books.google.com/books?id=cXo...tions#PPA11,M1

Hope this helps!

Andrew Gale
N.W. 15th Arkansas

[Andrew Kasmar]

Re: Civilian Knapsack/Wallet

Hi,

Thanks

Andrew

[lukegilly13]

Re: Civilian Knapsack/Wallet

I've never purchased anything from these vendors...however, I spoke with a Rev. War guy last weekend who said that they have the research to back their items and he spoke very highly of them calling them "makers for historians not reenactors". Here is their website...might be worth giving them a call and see if they would draft you a pattern.

http://www.smilingfoxforgellc.com/haversacks.asp

Anyone had any luck from them?
...Keep in mind...I would not recommend buying anything from them unless they can cite an original they copied from and you can varify the quality...i merely wished to relay a recommendation and suggest you check them out.

[Elaine Kessinger]

Re: Civilian Knapsack/Wallet

Here would be some information on the "market wallet" use for 18th cent. but I've not done research carrying it into the 19th cent.

http://www.18cnewenglandlife.org/18cnel/wallets.htm

[Hank Trent]

Re: Civilian Knapsack/Wallet

Blackwater Chronicle, 1853, about a fishing expedition in [West] Virginia a couple years previously, has an illustration of one of the guides who appears to be carrying a wallet.

Ironically, the author uses the term "wallet" to describe what sounds like a knapsack, that straps on and needs unrolled, carried by the upper-class members of the party. The lower-class guides are described on page 100, and one is described as carrying his things in a pillow-case. The other's baggage isn't named, and I'm thinking the illustration may be of the other, since he's the one who is mentioned elsewhere as having the frying pan. So the author unfortunately never gives a name for the double-bag over-the-shoulder sack that's shown in the drawing.

As Charles mentioned, I've carried my food and miscellaneous items weighing 6 to 8 pounds in a wallet for two events totalling nearly 200 miles, and love it. I use it in combination with a short bedroll slung on a leather strap, so the wallet is on one shoulder and the bedroll strap is over the other. Or both can be on the same shoulder. Add a canteen, and there's a large variation in what can go on which side, which means the load can be shifted around to rest different muscles, but it all rides quite well.

Linda carried the same wallet on the '57 camping trip, and she said it had a tendency to slip off her shoulder. I haven't noticed that, but it may be a difference in slicker or coarser cloth worn under it or just a different anatomy or way of walking.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[BrettKIllinois]

Re: Civilian Knapsack/Wallet

The "knapsack" is similar to my laptop bag.... weird...

Thanks for the link, I'm going to try my hand at sewing some stuff this winter from the site with patterns.

-Brett

I've never purchased anything from these vendors...however, I spoke with a Rev. War guy last weekend who said that they have the research to back their items and he spoke very highly of them calling them "makers for historians not reenactors". Here is their website...might be worth giving them a call and see if they would draft you a pattern.

http://www.smilingfoxforgellc.com/haversacks.asp

Anyone had any luck from them?
...Keep in mind...I would not recommend buying anything from them unless they can cite an original they copied from and you can varify the quality...i merely wished to relay a recommendation and suggest you check them out.

[tater_cuffie]

Civilian Knapsack

Hey pards,

I'm in search of a pattern, or original civilian knapsack to make a reproduction of. Please let me know if you have any pics, measurements, documentation or anything like that.

Thanks,

[Brian Baird]

Re: Civilian Knapsack

Kyle,
Try searching this folder:

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20104

Brian Baird