What's in your Knapsack

[tsalagidave]

I've shown this on other sites but am uncertain that I've done it here.
I decided to repack mys kit for the next outing and experiment with a heavy load of stuff that would be typical of someone traveling a great distance for months at a time. After carefully researching that which was typically carried, I came up with a load which is child's-play compared to a modern rucksack but a difficult load in an unsupported painted cloth knapsack with leather straps.
In my pack, I keep the following:
• Spare trousers and drawers/Blue flannel Shirt/Undershirt
• Cravat and suspenders (galluses)
• Socks & Mittens
• Moccasins
• Rope
• Full Medicine Kit & Toiletries kit
• Huswife (Sewing Kit) with Spare material and buckskin
• Tobacco & Matches
• Full Writing kit with travelling inkwell
• 2lbs of rifle shot & ½ lbs of pistol shot
• Gun tool kit/moulds and ladle & cleaning cloth
• 1 lb can of powder & tin of caps
• Hatchet
• Blanket
• Bottle (booze or water)
• Gun oil/grease
• Extra tinder box
The entire load comes to about 25 lbs but couple that with a pistol, knife, plains rifle hunting bag and rations and it really adds up. Definitely a character-building experience though.


Lets see some other kits out there.

-Dave

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[tsalagidave]

Here are some common medicines, Unicorn Drops (throat), Vermifuge, Petrolatum, soap, matches

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[tsalagidave]

Other picture is of my medicine kit that contains period bandages, antiseptics, fever & ache, stomach and neuralgia medicines. It even has 1850s era shears and tweezers.

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[brass]

Dave – Wow, that’s an excellent kit. Just the right items and about as compact as one can make it. Good show to you! I would share here my portable kit for old west except that I don’t have one intended to be carried. I fear that my impression is tied to ‘the wagon’ in the case of buffalo hunter camp, and perhaps event to ‘the train’ for my itinerate wetplate photographer’s camp.

So, though I don’t have such a nice set up as yours to detail, here are a couple pictures of my camping situation so I can contribute something to this post at least. Is a bit off-topic but is the best I can do toward your intent.

(Sorry for not posting earlier, I just now saw your post this morning!)




The good Mr Hunt in our buffalo hunter camp during a photo shoot we had at his place a couple years ago.





Maria and my itinerate photographer’s camp, period correct heavy camping at it’s finest and provides an excellent and practical environment for my wetplate photography efforts in the field.



Brass

[tsalagidave]

Fantastic camp Brass. Your use of the period photography is excellent too. I really want to schedule a time to come out and camp/shoot with you and James. I understand we are all busy now, but it is really something we could look forward to maybe in mid-late summer.

-Dave