Haversacks were used by soldiers in Civil War times for carrying
their daily supplies. They acted as messkits and also as large "purses"
for the soldier. A haversack was usually worn over the shoulder
by a long strap and had a large flap over the top with a buckle
to keep it fastened. Usually it had been waterproofed in some fashion.
A soldier could carry about three days worth of rations in one.
The original haversacks from Civil War times are now collectable
items and can be quite valuable. You
can make your own haversack easily and cheaply for use on hiking,
hunting, or camping trips. The simplest way is to get a pair of
extra-large men's pants from a used clothing store - the really
baggy kind so much in style today would be perfect. Make sure the
pants are made of denim or some other type of heavy material. To
gauge just how large your haversack should be, the original ones
were typically about 13 inches wide and 11 inches deep. Because
we are going to need a flap for the top, we will cut ours a little
longer.
First,
cut one of the pant legs off about 20 inches from the bottom. Then
turn it inside out and sew across the unhemmed end so that it is
securely closed. Now cut strips for a strap from the other leftover
pant leg. Make sure the strips are long enough so they will stretch
from your hip to your opposite shoulder (the strap can be anywhere
from 40 to 48 inches long, whatever is most comfortable for you).
Sew the strips together and hem them. Then turn the pant leg right-side
out. Attach the strap to the haversack by sewing each end about
eight or nine inches from the top near the seams on each side. The
extra pant leg length on top of the haversack will make it naturally
hang closed as a flap when it is worn, so you really don't need
any buttons or buckles as fasteners, but of course you can attach
them if you wish.
You
can now decorate your haversack by adding beads, painting designs
on the sides, adding a few pockets (maybe include a secret inside
pocket), or even sew loops on one side for carrying shotgun shells.
A haversack
is handy to take on all sorts of outdoor trips. But before embarking
on any major journeys, you may want to pack it with a few useful
supplies, such as a compass, a butane lighter, matches kept inside
a waterproof container, paper in a waterproof plastic bag, an aluminum
cup, a flask of water, a small frying pan, a small sewing kit, silverware,
packets of instant cocoa or soup, some napkins, small candles, a
pocket knife, a small survival book, etc.
Carry
the haversack over your shoulder at all times while you are hiking
or hunting so if you ever get lost you can use the things inside
to start a signal fire. You can also boil water in the aluminum
cup and enjoy some hot soup or cocoa while you are waiting to be
rescued. - By Jason Earls
