Gourd canteen

[87thLady]

I found someone who could possibly make me a gourd canteen. Can anyone give me any information on which gourd was used mostly for canteens?? Any information would be greatly appreciated!! :D

Lorraine Updegraff
87th PVI

[tmdreb]

Re: Gourd canteen

Probably the simplest kind to use, and the one I've seen in most images of gourd canteens is the bottle gourd or birdhouse gourd. Everyone seems to have their own name for the different shapes, but I am referring to the variety that looks something like an hourglass.

I use one that I made from one of these gourds and am very pleased with it.

[MrsArmstrong]

Re: Gourd canteen

If you do a search for "gourd" you will find a lot of information about shape and cleaning them out and how to coat the insides. :wink_smil
Susan Armstrong

[Citizen_Soldier]

Re: Gourd canteen

Lorraine,

This isn't meant to be a flame, but what kind of research supports the use of gourd canteens in the area you'll be doing historic interpretation in?

Darrek Orwig

[87thLady]

Re: Gourd canteen

Darrek,

That was probably one of my questions cause I was under the impression that gourd canteens were mainly used down south. But I had thought since so many reenactors were using them, I would get more information from the forums. When I have more time, I will try to do alittle research on the subject. I have gotten alittle bit of information from others and I greatly appreciate that.

Ms Lorraine

[yeoman]

Re: Gourd canteen

Ma,am, I used the search function for the forum and came up with a nice discussion, "gourds as canteens" here.http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/...=1#goto_thread
The post of the way a gourd could be grown between boards and grow with flat sides is interesting.
Hope it helps.