Impressions 'Haversack Knot'

[oliver49th]

Hello all!
I'm excited the debut my first Thread post on this really helpful sight with a question, but first...

I should start out by saying I am one of the younger redactors in this profession. Getting gear my size has always been kind of an adventure. So, when I am gifted an old box full of an old redactors past gear I am excited to find a nice tarred haversack for my impression. Only... It's around three sizes bigger than a normal haversack and can fit a plate bigger than my face in it. This is good in all but the change in size also seems to affect the length of the 'sling'.

Now, I have used this haversack for a number of events and it's worked wonderfully except for the constant 're-knotting' of the strap so that it can ride a JUST a little higher than my shins. I've used a knot most of the time but it has become somewhat of an annoyance. I've tried sewing it up to my size but this doesn't seem as a viable option for long term use as it likes to break the thread.

So my question (Finally)...

What do you suggest for adjusting the size of a tarred haversack?

Thank you in advance,
Oliver

 

[grace]

Welcome from another younger reenactor in Indiana! I assume you are with the 49th...I'm with the 6th/11th. Glad to have you join us here and I'm sure someone will be along with an answer!

BTW, I'm small and I was also gifted many things...*sigh. It can be a struggle to make things work!

 

[JOHN42768]

Just a suggestion. Fold the strap in an accordion fashion and instead of sewing use some tywraps (plastic ties) as they won't break like the thread, but can be cut off if you need to adjust to your needs. The black ones won't get brittle from sunlight. You can find at a electric supply or Home Depot

 

[JOHN42768]

Forgot, Welcome. enjoy

 

[James N.]

I'd look for the assistance of a reliable seamstress who could cut it down to the desired size and sew it permanently. (My mother made my very first cotton Confederate haversack over forty years ago, and it served me for a number of years.) Welcome to the forums!

 

[oliver49th]

Welcome from another younger reenactor in Indiana! I assume you are with the 49th...I'm with the 6th/11th. Glad to have you join us here and I'm sure someone will be along with an answer!

BTW, I'm small and I was also gifted many things...*sigh. It can be a struggle to make things work!

I can see you are probably a friend of Mongos!

 

[grace]

*laughter. It's a bit of a long story, but yes, we know each other.

Hope to see you around some time!

 

[Seduzal]

Welcome to CWT from the Smoky Mountain side of North Carolina.

 

[captaindrew]

Welcome young reenactor, always great to see a young man in the ranks. I would fold the strap over and sew it good and it should hold. Then you can undo it as you grow. I did this with a haversack when I was young and still have it. Great to have you with us and enjoy the hobby hopefully for many years to come.

 

[JOHN42768]

I used the tywrap method on my dogs collar (over 100 pounds) and he did not separate it.

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

Howdy and Welcome!

 

[captaindrew]

They did not have to wraps in the Civil War, let's not farb the kid out

 

[captaindrew]

Tywraps I ment to say, dang spell correct

 

[Old Breck]

I can't believe someone is suggesting to use cable ties.

Fold the strap over to the desired length, and use a lock-stich to secure it in place. Using a stitching awl will make this a lot easier.

 

[JOHN42768]

I'm sorry, but To all the Purist out there, we are talking about a young lad who will be changing height quite rapidly for the next few years. This will require many adjustments to his gear. God forbid that he uses something plastic in reenacting. I'm guessing you all roll your own cigarettes, use only wood matches, no nylon thread in your cotton clothes, shoelaces (yikes), no candy bars, cough drops, no modern prescription medications, only cobbler made shoes, no reproduction firearms, no recycled lead for ammo, all food foraged and prepared authentically, no toilet paper on rolls and you surely carry a bar of lye soap just to name a few. I'm guessing if you look closely enough at your gear, you will find something from the 20th century. Get over it. Thank you for your attention.

 

[captaindrew]

I'm sorry, but To all the Purist out there, we are talking about a young lad who will be changing height quite rapidly for the next few years. This will require many adjustments to his gear. God forbid that he uses something plastic in reenacting. I'm guessing you all roll your own cigarettes, use only wood matches, no nylon thread in your cotton clothes, shoelaces (yikes), no candy bars, cough drops, no modern prescription medications, only cobbler made shoes, no reproduction firearms, no recycled lead for ammo, all food foraged and prepared authentically, no toilet paper on rolls and you surely carry a bar of lye soap just to name a few. I'm guessing if you look closely enough at your gear, you will find something from the 20th century. Get over it. Thank you for your attention.

Don't take offense John but there's a right way to do it. Experienced reenactors like myself, James N. and @Old Breck have all dealt with the same issue. We've all had to make repairs or adjustments to gear and uniforms. If the young man doesn't already have some basic sewing skills maybe this would be a great time to learn and takle this problem himself. Some basic sewing skills will serve him well in the hobby and/or life in general. We made some simple suggestions to fix this in a period correct manner that could be let back out down the road if needed. Whenever something can be done right fairly easily why not strive to do so? I had the exact same issue with a haversack when I was a young man and fixed it myself in the manner I suggested and held up just fine. Please don't jump on us for trying to point him in the right direction.

 

[mofederal]

Hello and welcome to the talk forum from Southeast Missouri located on the banks of the muddy Mississippi River. I used a knot in my strap until I retired or quit or got too old. I should have cut and resewn it. I just didn't.

 

[James N.]

At some point, my old favorite I'd gotten from sutler John Zaharias back in the 1970's gave out and I acquired a new one with a too-long strap. I'm not sure I particularly liked the adjustment I made to it, but from somewhere I got a shiny new roller buckle the right size, cut the strap to the desired length, and attached the buckle to the strap. (I can't now remember if I did this myself, or more likely got a friend to do it for me.)

 

[Old Breck]

I'm sorry, but To all the Purist out there, we are talking about a young lad who will be changing height quite rapidly for the next few years. This will require many adjustments to his gear. God forbid that he uses something plastic in reenacting. I'm guessing you all roll your own cigarettes, use only wood matches, no nylon thread in your cotton clothes, shoelaces (yikes), no candy bars, cough drops, no modern prescription medications, only cobbler made shoes, no reproduction firearms, no recycled lead for ammo, all food foraged and prepared authentically, no toilet paper on rolls and you surely carry a bar of lye soap just to name a few. I'm guessing if you look closely enough at your gear, you will find something from the 20th century. Get over it. Thank you for your attention.

you all roll your own cigarettes- I usually smoke a pipe at events, but I have rolled some using cartridge paper a la the zouave on the ZigZag packets
use only wood matches- Yes
no nylon thread in your cotton clothes- Yes, but it's wool, mostly
shoelaces (yikes)- Don't understand what your saying. Shoes had laces.
no candy bars, cough drops, no modern prescription medications- Correct
only cobbler made shoes - Yes
no reproduction firearms - Mine are reproductions, but modern markings removed
no recycled lead for ammo - Again, not understanding
all food foraged and prepared authentically - Correct
no toilet paper on rolls and you surely carry a bar of lye soap just to name a few - Correct

God forbid that he uses something plastic in reenacting - I think he would.

I mean, that is basic reenacting bud. Ignorance is one thing, but doing something you know isn't correct historically is something I don't understand at all.

 

[JOHN42768]

Don't take offense John but there's a right way to do it. Experienced reenactors like myself, James N. and @Old Breck have all dealt with the same issue. We've all had to make repairs or adjustments to gear and uniforms. If the young man doesn't already have some basic sewing skills maybe this would be a great time to learn and takle this problem himself. Some basic sewing skills will serve him well in the hobby and/or life in general. We made some simple suggestions to fix this in a period correct manner that could be let back out down the road if needed. Whenever something can be done right fairly easily why not strive to do so? I had the exact same issue with a haversack when I was a young man and fixed it myself in the manner I suggested and held up just fine. Please don't jump on us for trying to point him in the right direction.

No offense taken. My point was not to jump on anyone trying to steer the youth in being correct. The lad stated he had already tried sewing, but it would not hold properly. Advice is free, to be taken or not and judged by the asking person not others. Last time I checked there is no 11th commandment that applies to reenacting. When one needs to improvise, one does. Also I didn't appreciate being made out to be a uncouth person by offering heartfelt advice to a young person starting out. In using a black tie on a tarred strap that once a little dirt hits won't show anyway. No one is putting down a experienced reenactor, but we all know every little detail is never going to be exactly the same as it was in 1861-1865. Maybe there are some people who abide by every item, but they just have not searched hard enough. I wasn't around since the Civil War, but was here for WW2. More then enough said on the subject. Best of luck to the lad.