Knapsack

[Mule Gil]

I am looking to buy a Federal knapsack and was wondering which one of the different types available is the most comfortable to carry?

[GrumpyDave]

The answer is D. "none of the above." Each in it's own way can be made bor comfortable to carry but none are comfortable. At the time they were made, I don't think weight distribution was a main concern.


"Sagging Shoulders Mess"

[Picket Post]

with all do respect, if we judged everything on comfort, we wouldnt be using too many Civil War items at all!

The best way to go about selecting a piece of equipment is to ask "which style was the most common." For Federal, your choices are very limited anyway. With the exception of early war, your choices are Federal issue double bag or a Shorts Pat. knapsack. A few states purchased the Short's sack for issue, so you may want to do some research on your unit/state before getting one of these.

I find Federal knapsacks very comfortable compared to most CS knapsacks. My favorite Civil War knapsack is the Issac and Campbell, but this wont work for your Federal impression.

Regards,

Mike

[TimKindred]

Comrade,

When purchasing a federal Knapsack, you'll often hear talk of early war or late war models. These are artificial terms used to describe subtle differences between the two bags. However, both are correct for any period in the war, as the differences noted are the results of various contractor's interpretations of what the federal specifications meant.

Your most important obligation to yourself is in the choice of maker. You need to educate yourself about what an original knapsack looked like, how it was constructed, and then compare the offerings of current makers of these items to your research. FWIW, at this time, the only commercial manufacturer of these knapsacks who makes a completely accurate copy is Nick Sekela. Missouri Boot & Shoe also makes an excellent copy. The difference beyween the two is that Nick uses period paint recipes for the cloth on his knapsack, whereas MB&S uses a latex-based coating. Other than that, the workmanship and attention to detail on both is very very good.

This is an area where price should NOT be a consideration. If it is, then wait until you can afford it. A well-made, accurate copy of this knapsack will last you for many many years, whereas a less-expensive and cheaply made one will eventually let you down, at probably the worst possible time.

Respects,

[7thNJcoA]

I have a Sekela CS Storms double bag knapsack and I think it is very comforable. If you pack it PEC and wear it high on the back like it was meant to be worn it is not bad at all. If you are not planning on marching 15 miles then you wont even notice it. I have done some long marches with mine and it starts to feel awkward after awile, but when I was in the Marines every pack I wore got awkward afer awile; so, I think its just the way it is to the person. I say watch the forum here and AC for a used Sekela pack they last a long time if you take care of it. I bought mine on here and it was old but well taken care of and it still is perfect! (if you are a campaigner a used pack in good shape looks very good thats why I got a used one.)

[Picket Post]

Comrade,

When purchasing a federal Knapsack, you'll often hear talk of early war or late war models. These are artificial terms used to describe subtle differences between the two bags.

Absolutely. For clarification, my reference to early war was aimed at dismissing the choice of box frame types, etc

[TimKindred]

Comrade,

Ahh... gotcha. Sorry 'bout that. :)

However, this is also one of those "yeah... but" moments. For SOME units, in CERTAIN scenarios, the hardpack is still appropriate . It is very much a unit/time.place type of thing.

For example, many, if not all, of the 128 independant companies of Infatry raised in Maine for coast guard, manning forts, etc, were issued with hardpacks. This was all the way to the end of the war. Numerous examples exist with company numbers and designations that support their continued issue through the war.

However, for most everything we do, the US issue knapsack is good from beginning to end of the war, and for many years afterward, as well.

Respects,

[3rd Alabama]

Tim Welch of www.ldhaning.com also makes a top shelf federal double bag. Correct paint recipe and spot on to the original he copied

[VaTrooper]

spot on to the original he copied

Are you sure? There are a couple noticeable differences.

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

Foghorn Leghorn: ""I say there. Can we disambiguate the term 'spot on'?"

When it comes to the Triad of Authenticity, IF it is held as:

1. Period raw materials
2. Period forms, models, or patterns
3. Period methods of construction or manufacture

What absence or presence of 100% of the three, do we, should we, value as the authentic/correct/superior/etc. copy or reproduction?
(Or how far do look-alikes, substitutes for things no longer made or not considered safe to use, or affordable cost-control (time and labor intensive) go before the item or article falls below our acceptable level of What's Right and Why?

IMHO, across the so-called F/M/P/C/H/A Paradigm the answers shift, on a Sliding Scale according to one's chosen Mental Picture...
But (without stepping on ANY vendor here), what does "spot on" mean to me, to you, the potential Informed Consumer and Educated Customer?

Cuidado. Piso Mojado.
Continue this discussion at your peril.
Or not.

Curt-Heinrich Schmidt
Beauty Is In the Eye of the Beholder? Mess
Proud Member of the Wheels On the Bus Go Round Round Round and I Just Threw Myself Under the Bus Rifles

[bob 125th nysvi]

starts to make fools of themselves I'd like to point out that in John Tobey's Article on knapsacks in CRRC2 that while their were "official" specifications that none of the original knapsacks examined for the article were identical in their characteristics or construction methods nor exactly met the specifications.

So before we claim that someones kanpsack is or is not a "spot on" copy of the original MAKE SURE you've seen the original in question.

Not the one you own or the one your favorite knapsack maker uses as a model but the one the manufacturer YOU are talking about is using as a model.

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

I am already under the wheels of the bus, so here goes..

Joe Vendor has pictures of the original Widget, and pictures of the reproduction Widget he made from it on his web site for the benefit of the customer.

The question still stands... what is the denotation and connotion of the expression "spot on?" Or to get Foghorn Leghorn back, what is disambiguous about "spot on?"

I will embarrass myself and ask how many angels can dance on the point of a pin. :-)
Or is the discussion not worth having?
Meaning Joe Vendor is said to make "the best" Widgets," and that is good enough for me.
Or Tom Vendor has a website that shows original Widgets and his repro Widgets and to my eye and level of experience, needs in the Hobby, and Mental Picture his Widget looks great to me.
Or my unit captain said we need to get Bill Vendor's Widgets and that is good for me.
Or I had $50 to spend on a Widget, and George Vendor's Widgets with postage are $50.00.
Or who cares about Widgets. Wear one and shut up.

Thump, thump. There went the rear wheels. ;-) :-)

Curt-Heinrich Schmidt
Say Goodnight Now Gracie Mess

[tompritchett]

So before we claim that someones kanpsack is or is not a "spot on" copy of the original MAKE SURE you've seen the original in question.

Thank you for making that point. When I first read the comment you are responding to, I had the exact same thought. This same point was recently raised about the accouterments produced by another vendor, particularly in how the apparent level of authenticity of a particular item had changed with the years between two versions of the same item. The vendor's response was that it was not the level of authenticity that had changed but rather the vendor, in order to avoid continuing to produce the exact same item year after year, had decided to use a different original of the item as the model for newer version of his wares. Both versions were as exact copies of originals as could be, it was just the original used to make those copies had changed.

[7thNJcoA]

wow that pack is nothing like Nicks!

[vicka]

When Gil gets back to Virginia he will have waiting for him my old Rademacher made double bag Federal knapsack. A name from the past indeed.
Only spots on that one were from persperation!
Steve Sullivan

[3rd Alabama]

Are you sure? There are a couple noticeable differences.


Spot on might have been a bad choice of words, I saw the original and the repop. It is an acurate reproduction. William there are noticable differences of what you sell to originals also, many. Maybe you should stay out of vendor discussion since you have an business selling wares now.

[VaTrooper]

Maybe you should stay out of vendor discussion since you have an business selling wares now.

I do mostly.

[Mule Gil]

"When Gil gets back to Virginia he will have waiting for him my old Rademacher made double bag Federal knapsack. A name from the past indeed.
Only spots on that one were from persperation!
Steve Sullivan"

Many thanks to Steve for his knapsack.

I leave the sandbox in 13 days!

[flattop32355]

I leave the sandbox in 13 days!

Stay safe, come home in one piece, enjoy it for a while, then see you in the field.

[Mule Gil]

Oh, I plan on going to the N-SSA Fall national and then drive down to Stuart VA for a living history at JEB Stuart's home. I'll be doing US Marine for that one.

[7thNJcoA]

are you doing a US marine detachment impression? I do a ships company impression with a Marine pull over fatigue coat and also have a very nice sekela full dress frock and dirty billy shako for my full dress Marine barracks 8th and I impression

[Mule Gil]

Drew,

Send me an e-mail at: ass0mine1@yahoo.com (that's a zero in my address).