An Original 1772 Hunting Pouch w/Rifle.

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There's nothing better for information (historically correct) than having an example to review and study. Here's one of those items I have used since reading this article in the American Rifleman in 1995.

Over a 60–65-year period I personally have packed around more period equipage than anyone with good sense would consider. It’s not hard to get into this mind-set, everything you see you can justify in your “kit”, weight doesn’t seem to matter on somethings (it really does but we seem to be able to justify that problem). I had this mind-set when first getting started, it took several outings to start rethinking what I was doing.

Finally, after a few trips I carried a list of what I had with me and would check-off every time each item was used. A few trips showed just what was really needed and what was carried for no good reason. That list got small real fast once I started keeping track of what was dead weight and what was needed.

You laugh but take a look at just one item you carry and but this theory to the test. A good example is your hunting/shooting pouch, just what do you really need. A good way is look at what our forefather’s carried in their pouches.

Look at and read about an original -
David Cooke's 1772 Rifle and Hunting Pouch.

Shown below is a good example of what a local hunter carried and lived with week after week in supplying meat to the settlements in his area. This hunting/shooting pouch has an interesting story, the original owner David Cooke’s gun was sold (an 1772 rifle) by his family to a collector in Norristown Pennsylvania in 1995. The gun was purchased and then the former owner asked if the new owner would be interested in the purse that belonged with the firearm. When the deal was completed the “purse” brought as much as the rifle (wait until you see the picture of David Cooke’s hunting pouch with accessories). An excellent example of what a woodsman would use daily in his business and also his way of living.

We have listed his wares as shown in the picture of this amazing find …


What is printed (shown) is what the small labels say in the larger picture. Better look at your equipage guys ...



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Here's an example of how pricey these hunting bags are (empty bag) with a powder horn & maybe a measure.

Now you see why the David Cooke bag and rifle is over 12,000.00 today's value. WOW ...


My family has dealt in this type of goods for over 150 years, we have been lucky enough to have had some of these bags but never one as complete as the Cooke hunting pouch, that would have been a keeper.


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Do I see a ball board in the middle, hanging from the strap? If that is original, it answers the question of whether those are a modern invention or if they were used w-a-y back then!

Yes, that is an original bullet board.  Some of these folks just repeat wrong information and if repeated enough - it becomes true, whether it's correct or not. This is a good example of what some say never existed ... they need to do some research or what wrong information is being referred to ....




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