Greatcoat Sling

I've been reading about these for sometime, it's simple construction made me think why didn't I make one sooner... I ordered two 60" lengths of leather online, used three buckles and set to work. I used the Bristol Volunteers pattern that is on the 2/95th forum. 

Napoleonic Suspenders (braces)

These were made from some webbing found in the local material shop, I paid £3 for two meters, I got some leather from Mr Jones, for the adjusters, and used some leather scraps for the tabs

A pretty simple construction with handsewn tabs. All in all it took an hour and twenty minutes and cost around £4.

Gun License Pouch

I finished this today, it is inspired by the recent construction of an 1815 Napoleonic knapsack. I used a double thickness of calico and machine stitched it together pretty quickly. It was waterproofed by being painted with s Matt paint in the usually manner. I've only placed it under a running tap so far, so I don't know how it would fare in a downpour!

It's a simple construction which serves as an alternative to modern one.

I finished it off with a reversed wooden button , with a handstiched button hole.

There's are available to order.

I'm really pleased how it's turned out and it's my original idea.... 

Copyright Huw Davies 2015 

Pre Waterloo Reenactment at Woolaton Hall

1815 Knapsack project

I used the Pierre Turner drawing from his book but only had a small JPEG to work from. I got the pack dimensions from a friend and went from there....

The project took around five months, mainly due time and not having the right materials. I used waterproof canvas for the outer, a heavy calico for the liner. The outer was painted with a gloss originally, but then repainted with a matt. 

I used some leather sofa samples for the top keepers and a charity shop belt for the strap keepers. The straps were made at a local saddlers, T. Jones and Son. They are black with no side stripes, but I had to use brass roller buckles as that's all he had. Fair play to him, it took him s whole to get his head around the construction, but he's done a bombproof job.

I did used a sewing machine for speed

And decided to go for fabric straps rather than leather mainly due to having no wrought iron buckles and I just wanted it finished!

Fabric (inner and outer) £10, paint £10, straps £50, thread £1.50, belt £1, scrap leather £0.

I also managed to have enough fabric to make a two mess covers a shako cover (unfinished).

 

1812 Mess Tin cover mk3

Whittington Castle skirmish weekend March 2015

Napoleonic weekend at Fort Amherst filming with Sean Bean

The 5th/60th Royal American Rifles were asked to participate in the filming of a documentary for the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo for the History Channel. The filming took place at Fort Amherst in Chatham. Day one included drill then filming in the afternoon. Sean Bean, alias Mr Richard Sharpe, was in attendance on the Sunday. We met him briefly and got a photo, he was very friendly and was also impressed with the reenactors attention to detail and knowledge.

There was a great night in the guard house on the Saturday with drink, food and song. 

A great weekend.