Ranger Stuff

So, the first portion of hunting season is always archery. For me, this means medieval/Tolkien Ranger kit. There is little real difference between them and I always ensure that when I go, anything not specifically medieval is well hidden or removable; if I take game then I have to get a photo of it for the Rangers of St. Hubert and that cannot show non-medieval gear or clothing. The camera needs hiding too of course, along with its tripod.

As a result of this, the current gear projects revolve around my medieval Ranger kit. Non-Colonial.

New arrows to be cut, painted, crested, fletched, and pointed. Bowstrings to be made. Bows to inspect and examine, practice to be increased. Additionally, there is the scouting of the various hunting areas that is an absolute must for hunting. There's also clothing to be mended and made.

There will be pics, at some point. ;)

In one area I can actually camp over to hunt so there may be some 'in camp' pics too. They would be the first from me. Rhovannion takes a lot of patrolling ya know. ;)

I am adding a heel cup and toe cover to my soft high moccasin boots. I am also adding leather to close off the pierced lacing holes. They'll be replaced with leather lacing 'eyelets' (leather covered lengths of brass tube) and as part of the general reinforcement a leather 'flap' will be added that will cover the calf portion of the lacing and buckle to the outside of the leg. Too, a 'cuff' will be added to the top of the boot, split and set so as to buckle on the outside too. The laces will get a fair bit of protection, the shin too, and that's a good thing. I am debating adding to the soles. These are the famous (or infamous) Minnetonka specials with the fringe cut off. They have sponge type soles. Taking them off is a royal bitch, as I have cause to know, so what I may do is use Barge cement to loosen them, or to simply glue layers of leather over them, anchoring with tunnel stitching. If I did this, I'd probably 'cap' it all with a buckskin piece that stitched to the upper. Hard to visualize I know, but I will get pics of this so fear not. All of this should lengthen the useful life of these boots...and the older pair has already been dismantled for pattern making. I like the way these wear, obviously.

I also need to rework one of my pouches and this requires drilling out some rivets. I used to use rivets a lot but now I sew most things since that makes it easier to field repair or to modify things later.

I think a new hood and mantle is in order and I may well make a new cloak for use with it. Perhaps fastened on the left breast with a certain six pointed star. ;)

New gloves are in order too; fingerless, with 'cuffs' that extend past the elbow and made of quilted leather and linen. The right side will have a shooting glove of reinforced kidskin as part of the piece. Both arms will have vambraces, appropriately tooled, but the left one will have an additional flap to cover the fastenings so that if I shoot wrong the bowstring won't be damaged by them.

From a fantasy perspective, I may well make a quilted skirt of leather and linen. Not really armor, it would be warm to ramble in during the Winter when worn over leggings. It could also serve as a base for a subarmalis and corselet of armor at need.

Lots of stuff to work on.

Eledhwen

Clothing

The colors I use as a Ranger, regardless of period, consist mainly of greens, browns, and greys, with the odd 'natural' or 'cream' color and black tossed in. In the case of my Colonial kit, this tends to come out like so;

Brown Stockings (Cotton)
Dark Green French-fly Knee Breeches (Cotton Canvas)
'Natural' Osnaburg Shirt
Grey 1770s style Waistcoat (Linen)
Dove Grey Tricorn (Wool)

Brown Hunting Shirt (Linen)
Dark Green Hunting Frock (Cotton Canvas)

Dark Green Breechclout (Wool)
Dark Green Leggings (Wool)
Woodland Moccasins (Natural Buckskin)
Black Concord style Shoes (Leather, obviously)

Hunter Green Petticoat (Linen)
Natural Chemise (Cotton)
Black and Red Striped Stockings (Wool)
Natural Cap (Cotton)
White Pinner Apron (Linen)
Boneless Reversible Bodice Red/Dark Green (Cotton)

Even in my more ladylike guise, I have the predominant Ranger colors, the exception being the red in the stockings.

Of course, the Haversack will have somewhat colorful embroidery and the beaded garters will be different from the main coloration, but generally speaking my Ranger colors consist of the three previously mentioned.

As I make more items I will probably lean more heavily into the Greys over the Browns since the Grey is a more neutral tone and blends into the forests a bit better over a larger portion of the year. I am thinking of a Dark Heather Grey set of woolen leggings, for instance. Along with the wool sock for the musket.

To these could be added a Justacorps, or Weskit, Grey or Green in the former case, Blaze Orange for hunting in the latter. Too, there are the jackets for my ladykit which will likely be Grey or Brown.

Now the Ladykit is more because I like to be feminine at times, as is proper, and I enjoy period garb.

The core of things however is my wildside. Wild Woman indeed. And for that I use masculine clothing, as did the ladies from history I use as inspiration. Too, the forests I like to roam in are no good place for petticoats, and hunting in anything other than a well manicured park isn't wisely done in proper womans' garb either.

So yes, I use masculine clothing for Rangering...and take no shame in so doing. Since I will be attempting the AT in this kit down the line, it is wise for me to ensure I know the limits, am comfortable with it, and understand how best to utilize it.

I may at some point experiment with Woodland style womens' clothing, but we shall see.

Eledhwen

Busy

Working on a shooting bag specifically for the Bess. This one is based off of a Native American design but I am personalizing it and the bead decoration will be entirely my own design. I am not going to copy the work of a given Tribe or Nation as I have no idea what the bead designs might mean, or might have meant. So inspired by but not a copy of.

It is made of German tanned buckskin, a very good method of tanning. It will have red wool tradecloth trim, a little fringing here and there, and of course, the beading. An interior strip with various pockets and holders for tools is included. I have chosen to make the flap 'rough'; that is, the part that stitches to the bag and one other side are nice and straight, but the other two sided come from the natural edges of the leather hide I have, making them irregular. I think it looks very nice. :)

There is also a gun sock up for the bess. This one is wool, but a leather exterior one will also be made. Beading will happen with these too.

Then there are the inner pouches for miscellaneous stuff; each pouch will have a unique beaded design that I can easily feel such that I can determine which pouch I am grabbing in the dark without looking.

I receive a piece of deer and elk antler, one each. One is to be used as a flaker for my knapping work. The other is to be drilled out to make a powder measure for the Bess.

Looking to pick up some moosehide...brain or German tanned...for the making of several pairs of moccasins. I already have and can easily make more wool 'liners'. The flaps of the Summer sort can and will be beaded in some cases.

The wool leggings may also see some beading. I haven't decided yet. Certainly the garters will; for which purpose a beading loom is soon to be acquired.

The haversack and Ranger knapsack will get some embroidery, maybe some beading. Certainly the strike a light bag will get beading.

One might picture a seriously gaudy appearance but such won't be the case. Little things in the larger pouches may be brightly decorated, but most everything on the outside will be subdued; greens, greys, browns, black, white or cream here and there. One design will feature a white six pointed star in a black band; an homage of sorts to my Tolkien Ranger self...and of course that bag will be used in that context too. This design is likely to be the one for my garters too.

So a lot of stuff to work up. During archery season I will be medieval/Tolkien ranger. During gun season the Colonial Ranger. A better life than this modern crap.

Eledhwen