doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com British Cartridge Bags - Canvas or Leather?

I echo JohnfromUK with regards to his leather bag with canvas strap. I too have had one for 40 odd years and it retains it's shape, is easy to look after and does not let me down. It looks good after it's annual polish too.

If you are going to use the bag to load from, ensure it has the lid hinged, otherwise it can be tricky to keep the flap back out of the way.

I have had a canvas and leather gun slip for 30 years, fleece lined and it has remained stiff and secure. It has the full length zip and leather action patches, ends, initial block and strap. It also comes up well after it's annual wash and scrub! I find it a good compromise between the additional weight of a full leather slip against the minimal protection of an unlined canvas cover.

Tim

I bought my speed bag from Lewis Drake years ago and use it for all my clay shooting. It has a leather strap as well. I'd highly recommend the leather bag but strap is just kinda preference.

I use the Boyt canvas gun slips with leather trim. They have two kinds as I remember. On the one I use the gun is inserted from the top and the strap is then buckled. The closure on mine has a plastic composite quick release but it's covered with leather for a more classic look. The other type has a full zipper. I also have a nice older Orvis full leather monogramed gun slip that was given to me as a gift. I think I like the Boyts better.

I think the Canvas strap lays better on my shoulder, less interference with gun mount.

But that's just opinion.

Boats

If it were my purchase I'd want something very rugged and durable. It doesn't make sense worrying about damaging something that you've purchased to protect something else.

I learned that lesson when I purchased a vintage leather leg of mutton case and then constantly worried about damaging it!

Steve

I bought a very slightly used J W Hulme shell bag last year, so I have just had the one season. Very well made, half leather (bottom half) and half canvas (top half) with an all leather strap. And it really is half and half, not just a leather bottom. I really like having the canvas as part of the bags construction. Maybe it will wear out after 25 instead of 50 years but in the meantime the fold of the flap is canvas so when you open it, it opens, with no tendency to want to close as leather might. Sling works very well and it has not bothered me in the slightest when walking or mounting the gun.

I just checked on the website and it seems Hulme now only makes an all leather shell bag. Even though I know the canvas/leather would have been cheaper, I believe I would prefer the one I have if they cost the same. I like both the look and the utility better.

Barbour makes a larger field bag. Waxed cotton with a leather flap. It has a couple of large snap pockets on the front and a canvas strap. I use it at carrying my sporting clays gear and will hold four boxes of shells pretty easily along with hearing defenders, shooting glasses and any other small items you may choose to carry. Throw it on the cart and have what I need. I suppose you could easily carry it around as it was designed as a field bag.
Once broken in it is very nice and it's a Barbour so the quality is there as well.

Now that you mention it, I have a canvas fishing bag made by House of Hardy that I bought many years ago at Fieldsport in Traverse City, MI. It has served very well and frankly still looks new.

House of Hardy stuff is usually excellent quality. I believe the bags may be made by Brady (of Halesowen) who make a similar range of bags, also in high quality.

Mention has been made above of Barbour. These used to be top quality items, but I believe the quality may not be what it used to be. A couple of items (one a bag) I have bought recently have been disappointing and I have read of similar disappointed in UK forums

There's an all leather one for sale on trap shooters dot com right now. $220. Not sure if that's a good deal or not?

Thanks for all of the great replies. I ended up ordering a canvas and leather bag from Oliver Brown in the U.K.

I thought that this was a good compromise between a "best" grade leather bag and the ones that I have found here with USA vendors.

I bought it mainly for duck hunting. All of the areas that I currently hunt entails a bit of a walk to get where I'm going. Hopefully the canvas bag will keep the weight down. Plus, I just liked the looks of it. I take pretty good care of my gear, so I'm sure it will outlast me.

Thanks again,