Ranger bag-it was about time

 Yap, it really was. Indeed. It was about time that I completed a project so long overdue that none but my longest - time readers might remember me having the plan. I had always been a bit timid to make a real bag. I am - out of reasons even I cannot tell - always a bit reluctant to measure and meter and draw schemes, and for a simple leather sheath that is fine. But a bag, even a simple one, is a whole different matter, due to the complexity. But, keeping in mind the craftsmen in the Viking age also did not measure and meter and scheme in the way we do, and concerning the immense quality of their products, I figured that there had to be a way. I had read an article about ethnomathematics in the knotwork panels of the Celtic peoples and am slowly becoming aware of the fact that the way things were measured in the Viking age and earlier might have been altogether different than nowadays. Many things were made by manual geometrics using compass and lines or estimation. So, less talk, more action, I simply cut the pieces, punched them and stitched them together. Above´s a typical content as it will be used. Gladhustrók is lying there , because I made an EDC sheath for it. There´s also my striker, an ear spoon toiletry device, the shot spoon and two silver mugs. I guess I am still about what items to fit in, and I will quite certainly make another bag, because it was fun. 

Of course, the magic troll made fun of me because the bag´s a bit overbuilt, so to say ahem;-). The back is made from 6 mm leather, the sides are 3 mm and the front still some 2,5 mm leather, all put together with tough and sturdy 2mm pitched twine. But I had suffered enough bags coming apart in the middle of nowhere and thought I´d rather carry a bit extra weight instead of having to walk 20 km with a lot of stuff in my arms again.:-)

I think the bag´s not quite eloquent, of course, and my decorating it will not help that;-), but it´s well sturdy, and I like it. Now it´ll be some carving the flap, adding a bit of brass or copper for reinforcing the strap and strap hole, and it´s in for waxing and oiling and off to the trails!;-)

Progress on my crane bag

It´s been a while coming, but now I have my resolve on how to do it. I already stitched the backside of the bag.The rings are from the mentioned bull rig. The loops are double- stitched 4mm-leather, the backside itself is 4mm leather also. There are several "Molle" compatible loops and strap tunnels and a loop for an axe. Below the front ring is a loop for a substitute chain link.

The frontside will see Molle strap tunnels also, plus sheaths for my tools and pouches for utilities as tinder and flint / steel / striker / flashlight / orgonite orgone device / vacuum flask / kuksa / tools and the like...

Shelf find- a multitool courtesy of my laid father

 I rummaged through the shelves at my mother´s home recently and found this multitool that sat in the pocket of my laid father wherever he went. Philips head and flat head screwdrivers, awl, rasp, file, and I remember a saw and knifeblade also, but those are lost.

 Stored in the hollow handle... the handle is made from translucent yellow plastic, which is ugly, but that was the style in those days...

This is how the tools are being mounted. A bronze holder with two kinds of slots for different tools. The tools have notches that fit in the slots. Simple as that. I dream of making something like that that is more pleasing to the eye and hand, but as is, this tool will find a place on my crane bag.

Strop / Diamond sharpener for my crane bag project

 Had some diamond sharpener lying around and figured I´d give it a new appearance. You can turn it over and have a strop also that can be fixed with the screw-on ferrule. The strop I roughened up a bit.

Handle is vine - infested birchwood. I like the rustic appearance and I think I will make a knife handle in that style also... it´s just a bit difficult to find a suitable piece for the hand, but this one came along quite nicely...

Coming up with a tool carrying system / a versatile dangler system;-)

 My ditty / crane bag project really has my mind racing, and so I am currently thinking in many different directions. This is one of them. I want to fit knives and tools inside the bag and outside and on a belt. One solution I came by is this repair chain link. It has a thread and a nut, and two sheaths or pouches can ride comfortably on it. So I will stitch some loops inside the bag to thread that link through. Also I will make a belt loop and ground plate with a loop for two sheaths / pouches for the link to transfer it into a dangler system. That way you can carry anything you like either inside, outside or on your belt. Have to think of a slightly lighter solution, though, it´s heavy duty. But then it can double as a rope link in an

emergency (it is certified  to carry up to 150 kg).

Also, I have to test if it throws any sparks, that would be a real clincher...

I am planning on;-)...

First steps towards a crane / ditty bag

I am working on a new ditty or crane bag (corr bolg), which will contain a set of knives, lashes for a flashlight, some utilities and miscellaneous "on-body-gear". I am currently doing some concept work, for I have to decide which knives / utility gear I want to fit in. The knives will get a proper sheath inside the bag, with the flap going over them. Big and small Nessies will go inside,




...and the would-be big utility, too... The leather is untanned cowhide, 6 mm, and it will make the backside of the ditty. Maybe I will make a sheath or lash  for  a small hatchet at the backside to go outside. The rings are tempered steel from a bull rig. You can see what material I will make the shoulder strap from lying at the bottom of the pic.

Will take some time, and I will keep you informed. First, the big utility will be completed, in a similar way to the Nessie. Then it will be a whittler, maybe big and small, all antlered, a spooncarver, a poker, a firesteel, a tin can opener and bottleopener / screwdriver, maybe a drill and a multitool (drill incorporated in the multitool?). Then a Orgonite Orgon palm stick which can also serve as a pocket / hand warmer, for meditational purposes and the like;-). On the latter (and an Orgonite Orgon staff) a feature will come soon, for I have made some pretty strange experiences with that, and apart from all the nonsense you can find on the web, I figured out there is a grain of truth in all that hype... and hey, it´s also a corrbolg after all, so I can stick as many esoteric rubbish into it as much as I like*ggg*. Just kidding, as usual.

So the bag might take some time to be ready, but I really look forward to this project.