Middle Earth Ranger Forum

Hunh... this is a great idea! Have you had a chance to get out with it much? Would you change anything now were you to do it over?
The stability looks nice - less getting all lumpy and ribs-pokey and such.

I've probably used this portmanteau once every week since making it. I've taken lunch to work in it, I've carried my spare fly reel spools in it when fishing, and I've hiked in this forum's context. It's solid, and I wouldn't change a thing. When I use it for fishing, I actually strap it around my shoulders like a back quiver, over the right and under the left arms, and it fits rather well...the measurement of my waist and chest in this manner appear to be similar, and I'm sure that would cross over for most of us. It's a comfortable way to transport the same piece of gear, and if you're ranging without a cloak of quiver in the spring, near to a waystation not needing much, I'd encourage that as an alternate carry.

Very cool - the more I've looked at it, the more I think I'll be trying my hand at one this summer. Do you think it would work well with an oval cross section instead of circular? I realize it wouldn't hold a boiler that way - but otherwise?

excellent idea

Elleth wrote:Very cool - the more I've looked at it, the more I think I'll be trying my hand at one this summer. Do you think it would work well with an oval cross section instead of circular? I realize it wouldn't hold a boiler that way - but otherwise?

I doubt that'd be a problem...and it'd bring the weight in a little closer to your frame! Bonus points to you there!

All right Greg you inspired me to try my hand at this handy piece of kit: for your consideration, it is 9" long and 2 1/4 in diameter

Neat-o!

Have any plans for what it'll be carrying? At that size, I could see a sewing/repair kit, fishing kit, and arrow repair setup all fitting in there together nicely.

Greg wrote:Neat-o!

Have any plans for what it'll be carrying? At that size, I could see a sewing/repair kit, fishing kit, and arrow repair setup all fitting in there together nicely.

I was thinking along those lines, sowing, fishing and fire kits. My archery repair stuff I keep in a small pouch attached to my quiver. Glad you like it

Finally got most of the materials in that I need for mine... just in time for me to re-jigger my design somewhat.

In the meantime, I've been combing the net for things that might have been the inspiration for Prof. Tolkien's "armed with an Eket, and carrying a need-wallet" image. I'd started with Anglo Saxon relics... but as I thought about it, I thought that a young JRR might have been inspired by his own experiences in WWI. After combing British antique sites I wasn't seeing much, but then...



WWI German infantry bayonet and "bread bag."

Frankly, I like Odigan & Greg's portmanteau adaptation too much to change direction. But I can't help but wonder if that particular line was inspired by seeing some young German messenger with these things around his waist.

Elleth wrote:Finally got most of the materials in that I need for mine... just in time for me to re-jigger my design somewhat.

In the meantime, I've been combing the net for things that might have been the inspiration for Prof. Tolkien's "armed with an Eket, and carrying a need-wallet" image. I'd started with Anglo Saxon relics... but as I thought about it, I thought that a young JRR might have been inspired by his own experiences in WWI. After combing British antique sites I wasn't seeing much, but then...



WWI German infantry bayonet and "bread bag."

Frankly, I like Odigan & Greg's portmanteau adaptation too much to change direction. But I can't help but wonder if that particular line was inspired by seeing some young German messenger with these things around his waist.

That would be a WW2 German bread bag, as well as all the other gear. The British had their own bread bag in WW1, which attached to the P-14 web gear in a variety of ways. As a side note, the WW2 German bread bag positively sucks. You can only fit a very limited number of items in there and it's next to impossible to get anything out of it while wearing. The flap makes it appear much more roomy than it really is. It's narrow and sort of U shaped on the inside.

Been really wanting to make a portmanteau. Anybody have a suggestion on the ideal size?

Here's one I built several years ago, when I did the black powder thing. The sewn dimensions are 23" x 11" x 12". It holds quite a lot of stuff and with the long straps can be overstuffed as needed.

I like that Rysgil, well done. It does look like it would hold quite a bit of gear, reminds me alot of the dwarves gear in the Hobbit movies, and the stuff in the Weta books that didn't make it in. Back in 2010 I made a similar style pack, which I posted here, but thought to reshare. Included is the small sewing kit I made to fit snugly inside. I like stuff like that lol Also, I finally got a buckle for the straps as well. Here are the pics of my pack, which is similar, I suppose to the Portmanteau:


Ken

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Well done all Mirimaran! I remember liking that quite a while ago, I think it is a very good size for traveling as is yours Rysgil, In making a few over the years, I have always swung between being too small to really do much more than a belt pouch and being too large, (a real dwarf would not complain, but you see I can't be 4'10'' either) thinking I should be able to use it on the road.

Mine was made for camp use. I need to build a few leather articles already...may have to add pack to the list?