knapsack strap question

[Billy1977]

Hello everybody, I was wondering if someone here could tell me how the straps on the soft knapsack worked, because I've seen some pictures where the straps have a part that goes crossways across the chest and others where the straps have some part instead (probably the same part worn a different way) that goes on each side downward and appears to connect to the belt. Could it be worn either way or is this a different knapsack that I'm talking about? Many thanks in advance to whoever can help me with this.

 

[Si Klegg]

You are correct, they can be worn either way. On the double-bag knapsack, the brass strap hooks can either hook under the belt or hook across to the shoulder strap. Hooks on belt for Inspections and Guard Duties, hooks across when marching/campaigning because those hooks pull the front of your belt and buckle up into you like some form of medieval torture! If you wore your cartridge box on your belt rather than on a sling, you'd need to be a contortionist to get a round out in a firefight with those straps pulling on the belt.

Mind you, if a fellow's already lost himself a cartridge box sling, it's not much of a stretch to imagine he'd have bartered away the knapsack and switched to the all his earthly goods rolled up in a blanket roll rolled up in a gum blanket or oilcloth system

 

[1867crete]

On a long march in re enacting..... I prefer across my chest. But if in a parade or inspection etc..... I always drop the the straps down and hooked them to my waist belt. Personally I thought they looked more military and "dress" but not very cozy!!!!!

 

[Tailor Pete]

I'd have to concur with 1867crete and Si Klegg... wearing ANY knapsack with the hooked 'cross straps' in any other configuration than across the chest is torturous and bordering on the ludicrous!

Firstly, as stated above, hooking them to your waist belt creates all manner of misalignments. Secondly, it wasn't uncommon (especially early the conflict) for soldiers to be ordered to drop their knapsacks before going into battle. Try THAT feat if you're all bound up within interconnecting leather straps!

Nope, I too simply hook them across my chest.

 

[Package4]

There is also the Rifleman's Belt which purposely facilitated the hooking of the knapsack to the belt for support of each. The Rifleman's Belt usually had a saber bayonet, which invariably pulled the belt down on that side. Attaching the knapsack hooks through the designed brass loophole in the belt allowed for comfort of the knapsack riding high and kept the belt from slipping down.

I use a Rifleman's belt with a M1855 HF rifle and saber bayonet for various scenarios and it works quite well when hooked up properly.

below is a picture of an original rifleman's belt, though the cap box is not original to the belt. The Rifleman's cap box had a shield front and extra wide loops on the rear to accommodate the wider belt.

 

[Billy1977]

Thanks everyone! Not being a reenactor myself (can't afford it!) I've never actually worn a knapsack, just seen pictures of them. Thanks so much for the clarification. So if I was drawing a Civil War Union infantryman in full marching order I should probably draw him with the straps going across the chest?