Should I turn leather handbag into possibles bag?

[RonRC]

I originally bought this woman's bag while working in South Africa for my wife to carry all her daily accouterments. Needless to say, it was too small by far the accommodate the vast quantity of materials she carried. So, I took possession of it.

There are obvious modern touches on this bag, like a zipper. Do you think that I could modify the bag and turn it into a possibles bag or small haversack that would somewhat look fur trader period correct?



Ron

[beowulf]

where that zipper is on the back , put a flap over it and stitch a pocket on the inside ! can see several possibilities , it`ll never really be pc , but it should make a great bag to carry in the woods hunting ! 

[Patocazador]

I think zippers are historically correct. Didn't Dan'l Boone use a zippered compartment for his flashlight? 

[hotfxr]

I think zippers are historically correct. Didn't Dan'l Boone use a zippered compartment for his flashlight? 

I thought he kept it in a Ziploc baggie to keep it dry.   


I (and similarly mentally challenged friends) have converted several thrift store leather purses and handbags into possibles bags that look (from a distance) fairly realistic. Usually as beowulf said, with cutting out zippers & snaps and sewing on a flap here and there. Costing just a few dollars and taking very little time to modify, it's a lot of bang for the buck.

[ErikPrice1@msn.com]

 Heck yah, I buy them all the time for that, all they need is a little changing and tweeking. I also pickem up because some of them have that nice thick leather that I like to use for knife sheaths. 

[RonRC]

I think zippers are historically correct. Didn't Dan'l Boone use a zippered compartment for his flashlight? 

Dan'l Boone was being chased by unfriendlies. He scooted and dodged through the woods, stepped into the creek to hide his tracks, and left his chasers far behind. Then, as all humans, he had to answer the call of nature. He pulled the zipper on his Wranglers and it jammed. He twisted and yanked, all to no avail. Finally, he just dropped his pants and all was fine. But, that allowed his adversaries to get close and almost cost him his life.
It's all true. It was reported in the press of his day. So, it must have been true.
Ron

[markinmi]

one of the guys we see at our shoots has an old hippy purse circa 1970s with a big daisy painted on it 😊 noone gives him a bad time about itthough,hes a good shot

[old salt]

Unless you are going to be attending juried events, I personally wouldn't change a thing. I have seen guys carry tooled hand bags and no one cared or at least did not say any thing about them.
If you ad another flap it will be one more thing to catch on  some thing, and if you pull the sipper it will be so you can carry more stuff you don't need.
Just an old mans way of thinking.

[RonRC]

At this point, I have several possibles bags and don't need another. However, I would like to play around with the handbag as a challenge and see what I can do to turn it into something useful for longrifle shooting. If I mess up, it is no big deal and will serve as a platform to play around with leather working.
Ron

[Watauga]

RonRC I had an old friend that made Shooting Bags, leather goods, Horns etc and other Items for sale and had for years, I was chatting with him once in his Sutlers Tent,.. And some Young lady's came in and were looking around and one of them said "Look at these Beautiful Purses"!!  All three of them bought a new "Purse" and were thrilled with them!  After they left,... I said, So you did not tell them they are Shooting Bags??? He said it happens all the time, and If they hand him Money and Call it a Purse ,..Then its a Purse !    So if you handed money,...   Then you can call That Purse a Shooting Bag!!

[RonRC]

I could cover the bag in sequins and rhinestones and sell it as a purse (or even carry it myself).
Ron

[Watauga]

I could cover the bag in sequins and rhinestones and sell it as a purse (or even carry it myself).
Ron

  RonRC     Just make sure to use "Period Correct" sequins and rhinestones and you will be Good to Go!!! 

[Hanshi]

Ron, seriously, or maybe not, At the very least you have a bag that is perfect for the woods hunts, squirrel, deer, elves, etc.  It works fine as is.  If you want to shed some of the modern and add some of the old time, only a few minor modifications are even needed.  Much too nice a bag to NOT use it. 

[RonRC]

The leather is very nice, thick and well finished.
I could remove the zipper by cutting the stitching. Perhaps I can add a flap with a button closure in its place.
Ron

[hotfxr]

I had two that were nice leather purses at one time that I got for $2 each at a local thrift store. One I put a new flap on, the other was fringed and I left it alone. I wound up giving them away to friends who had no idea where they came from.