Comacchio Leather Bag HowTo

[Martin Moser]

Thanks for the inspiration Martin!
We've started making some as well.

You're welcome - looking forward to see the results!

[Flavius Promotus]

Is dyeing black with iron salts chemical dyeing?

It definitely is, since a chemical reaction takes place

If they wanted to colour leather they would use alumn tanned leather as vegetal dyestuffs work very well on this kind of leather.

Maybe they could still resort to stitching a coloured layer of thin alumn tanned leather onto a more stable layer of tanned leather. This way you get a stable AND flashy belt/baldric/lace/bag/fakenose/whatever...

[Martin Moser]

Maybe they could still resort to stitching a coloured layer of thin alumn tanned leather onto a more stable layer of tanned leather. This way you get a stable AND flashy belt/baldric/lace/bag/fakenose/whatever...

Interesting idea, Florian. Does anybody know whether there are any restrictions to alumn-tanning in terms of sort and/or thickness of the leather?

[Flavius Promotus]

Interesting idea, Florian. Does anybody know whether there are any restrictions to alumn-tanning in terms of sort and/or thickness of the leather?

Sorry, no
I have only heard that alumn tanned leather is much more susceptible to humidity than 'ordinary' leather = it decomposes even under wet conditions.
On the other hand leather in use is regularly greased and not kept in a wet bog :lol:

Just a secondary information, I read today by chance that a late Roman group of ambassadors (including Mr. Priskos who luckily noted down a lot of details) presented Bleda's wife with a number of gifts, including red dyed leather! Obviously it was something rare and the Huns were not able to produce it themselves. (or it was an especially bright colour, or leather of superior quality...).

[Primvs Pavlvs]

I have had success in using very thin milk paint to "dye" vegtan leather.

[Martin Moser]

I have had success in using very thin milk paint to "dye" vegtan leather.

Thanks for the info, Paul. I take it that milk paint = casein paint?

[Martin Moser]

So would a legionary be ok carrying one of these bags instead of the "loculus" that everyone seems to make? Would a mix in a group of soldiers be reasonable to expect?

Problem is we don't know too much about these things, but I'd say that as with any army over time lots of exceptions, variations and adaptions appear beisdes and over what is considered standard, so that a few other bags than the-one-everyone-has certainly won't be wrong. All the more so if you use it along with an off-duty soldier impression.

[Primvs Pavlvs]

I have had success in using very thin milk paint to "dye" vegtan leather.

Thanks for the info, Paul. I take it that milk paint = casein paint?

Yes Martin I am sure its the same. I just mix it really thin and paint it on. The paint will act like a dye and soak in giving the leather a tint.

[Mithras]

Thanks for the info Martin, I've been after a bag this size and shape for a long time. Incredibly useful at Roman re-enactment events, and now I've got an authentic one of my own!

[Chuck Russell]

http://www.airsoftwv.com/RomanHike_Jan0 ... 6-Bag.html this is paul's

[Martin Moser]

Hi Paul & Paul ;-) ) - nice work both and thanks for showing!

[Titvs Statilivs Castvs]

Hi all (and hi Martin, if you read this),

I'm making the Comacchio bag and I was wondering, are the folds of the side panels also stitched on the original? I don't think it's necessary but if the original has stitch marks then I'll do it as well..

Thanks in advance.

[Martin Moser]

Hi Titus,

yes, there are stitch marks there, too.

[Titvs Statilivs Castvs]

Hi Martin,
Glad you read this. Thank you! mile:

Another question, is there edging on the end of the front panel (which is hidden beneath the flap)?

[Crispvs]

Yes there was. The picture I have of the original shows a clear line of stitch holes along the top edge of the front panel of the bag.

Crispvs