French WW2 Ammo Pouches Part Deux: Making Them

WARNING: This is NOT exciting and barely contains guns ;-)
Follow my fumbling steps into amateur leatherwork. I'm sure the leathersmiths amongst us with tut, roll eyes, scowl and gnash their teeth but then again, it worked!
The basic breakdown of construction of the pouches (in French) can be found at: enguerrandmodelisme.weebly.co...
As mentioned in the vid, I can provide the pattern on request.
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[@saoirse5308]

As a person who himself hand stitched an entire backpack out of heavy canvas I can say, yes your stitching has improved quite a bit, and you will never look at a fine saddle with it's near perfect hand stitching the same way again. 😏👍

[@thebotrchap]

Saoirse Indeed!

[@matthewn4896]

"It's never a good idea for things to snap when you're tugging" - The Chap, 2019 Delivered without even the hint of a smirk too. Bravo!"

[@briankerr4512]

I think you and your brother are some of the nicesest people on the internet, I really like you guys and you have a entertaining and informative channel.

[@thebotrchap]

Brian Kerr He ain’t my brother or any other relation 😉 Thanks though!

[@briankerr4512]

@@thebotrchap My mistake. You should adopt each other ;)

[@blueband8114]

You must have the patience of a saint. Finished item looks great.

[@pikeywyatt]

thanks now i have my winter nights sorted out.

[@Spitsz01]

Really enjoyed that. I have a ww2 Luftwaffe mapcase I which to restore and now I know how. That was some great work man, and not easy. Cheers! Ian.

[@KestrelOwens]

"I still got all twelve fingers"

[@Ben_not_10]

Kestrel Owens I rewound just to count his fingers. I feel vaguely cheated.

[@anthonyhayes1267]

I was wondering when you'd get back to this

[@ricasteli]

What's next from the chaps workshop? 37 pattern equipment in MTP (The confusion and twitch's that would cause some people)

[@FelixstoweFoamForge]

Were you singing "Marlborough's Gone to the Wars" there? Lovely work. Tempted to use this vid as a guide to making leather mag pouches for my Nerf magazines.

[@TiglathPileser3]

Ha Ha! All twelve fingers, you are The Chap in the Shop!

[@johnhans2929]

Nice to hear someone else who says "fiddly-bits". Seriously, great work.

[@wrxs1781]

I enjoyed this video, gave me some ideas for this winter.

[@australian3308]

You need to make some chaps Chap, though those aren't very blokey anymore. :) Now, go frolick, roll and tumble in the aplenfeld and get them looking antiqued.

[@srtgrayfrance]

You might want to take a hammer to the folding parts, in order to soften them up a little and avoid creases which become cracks.. My Grandfather, a Cordwainer (shoe maker, as opposed to Cobbler) would always hammer the back of new shoes for that reason.

[@thebotrchap]

srtgrayfrance Thanks for that, will do!

[@EldarKinSlayer]

155 thumbs up, 0 thumbs down! This may be a new KZbin record :)

[@Britiswitz]

EldarKinSlayer 250:0 now

[@wierdalien1]

Cool, cool, cool, cool, cool. I like your Mug btw

[@West_Coast_Gang]

This is real content

[@MrReded69]

Say Bloke, can you answer a question I've had in my head since I read Osprey Publishing's Men-at-Arms 312 The Algerian War 1954-62. On the color plate section C, it shows a typical Sector (Conscript) infantryman dressed in his US inspired uniform, wearing his French leather M1946 web harness (Y-straps, belt and 4 pocket ammo pouches) and armed with one of the 200, 000+ M1 Garand rifles that the US gave to the French when they realized the Cold War was going hot in 1950(when Truman and Marshall tamped down their objections to the Europeans' attempts to hold onto their Colonies). Basically, I wondered how many M1 Garand clips or 5-round chargers can fit into an M1946 ammo pouch? I'm guessing 4 clips and/or 6-7 chargers. My guess is based on the US Airborne's Rifle Clip Holder pouch AKA the Air Corps pouch, since it kinda resembles it in form and size. Do you know if I'm right?

[@TheCarbaxin]

Those tools are called "pricking irons"

[@TheWozWizard]

Picking Irons - this tool creates a guide that you later use when creating holes with an awl. The name is pretty appropriate. You’re not punching the iron through the leather, but only pricking the leather, leaving a mark on the surface of the leather. Chisel - this tool is meant to create holes for your stitching. When used, it needs to be punched all the way through the leather.

[@HypocriticYT]

Excellent work! I am surprised you are making copies when I thought originals would be in almost new condition as the rifles would be. (old joke). Actually those rifles are gaining in value quickly.

[@thebotrchap]

Will Mathieson If you knew how FR uniform in WW2 went on, you’d know you practically have to strip down to yer undies before you can remove the pouches 😅

[@HypocriticYT]

@@thebotrchap bad visual

[@kber6288]

may i recommend the books of Al Stohlman? they generally answer all questions regarding leather work and hand stiching. and no, i won't roll my eyes, we all started with something. my first ever holster was even the wrong leather but i didn't wanted to spend money just for trying

[@wierdalien1]

How can you have the wrong type of leather?

[@kber6288]

@@wierdalien1 simple, use an old boot, way too soft, won't hold the molding very well

[@wierdalien1]

@@kber6288 ahh

[@samuraibounds]

Now I want to get cracking at some thin leather Mosin Pouches with mostly riveted construction that are hard to find.

[@dazaspc]

From the peanut gallery a suggestion You may want to skive the ends of the straps that are under the flap? It will help with contents getting caught.

[@thebotrchap]

dazaspc Can you clarify? I don’t know what part you are referring to and what is skiving?

[@dazaspc]

@@thebotrchap I believe its called skiving. When the edges of the leather are just cut at a right angle it leaves an edge to catch, the process of shaving down the edge a bit so it's more like a lead in. Ramp etc. You will often see it in leather work to prevent a bulky seam. I just thought you may get things caught on the edge and it may cause you to drop the magazines or packs of ammo. Cheers

[@andrewwhite6201]

you need do do more french kit

[@blancsteve4819]

Recording yourself reading books one chapter at a time is a bit Jackanory mate. Try the baroque cycle next. Its longer.

[@DickHolman]

I can recommend Liquid Leather G13 for any leather used outdoors. I used it for years on bike-leathers, it's not greasy or sticky, doesn't go slippery when it's wet, & doesn't rot stitching. I still use it for walking-boots & leather gloves. I've brought back really dry, water-damaged straps on roller-skates with it. www.liquidleather.co.uk/leather-care-c57/conditioners-c85/gt13-conditioner-with-repellent-250ml-p162

[@99Racker]

You did note the floater in the cup?

[@quentintin1]

about the realisation nothing to say much here, the pouches canting seems to be present in the originals too, just less present as the bellows had 80 years to take shape. the only criticisim i would have would be that the strap connecting the two pouches is not sewn on the correct side, all originals i've seen had the strap sewn on the inside of the pouch, between the back and the bellow, the only ones differing from that are the Mle1935 that were converted to the M37 pattern

[@brianmoore7819]

Any possibility of sharing those dimension templates? I'm in a real need for them. please???

[@stokesjack]

What were all of the tools used in this video?

[@Sheridan2LT]

Oo kewl

[@deanlowther4020]

stitch groover to recess the thread and prevent rubbing and fraying an edge beveler to finish the edges edge coat and wax to seal up the edges and use 2 needles for stitching its easier and quick than an autoawl other than that youve done a canny job like

[@thebotrchap]

Hi, since making these I have indeed been doing all those things for making other pouches and holsters. Two needles is indeed the way to go!

[@slick_slicers]

Why not make the back and the flaps in one piece? It would save a hell of a lot of stitching.

[@thebotrchap]

Slick Slicers Because the whole point of making a reproduction is that it should be a faithful copy of the original 😉

[@wierdalien1]

@@thebotrchap so why didn't the french do it?

[@thebotrchap]

Alistair Shaw No idea. My guess is that since the flap will experience the most wear and cracks, making it a separate piece allows it to be replaced rather than having to replace the whole back or throw the pouch away.

[@wierdalien1]

@@thebotrchap As soon as I asked I realised it was likely to be for ease of maintenance.

[@slick_slicers]

I think I addressed my question to the wrong person and I’m a hundred ŷears late!

[@ismJoboi]

Does the French (small and large) pouches connected together or not?

[@thebotrchap]

There is a left and right unit, each made of a small and large pouch. The left and right units can be joined together using the tab and stud on the back of each respective pouch

[@ismJoboi]

@@thebotrchap so can they be separated or no?

[@thebotrchap]

Watch from 23:45, the configuration should be clear

[@Steff320i]

Looks more like WW1

[@thebotrchap]

Nope. WW1 is three big single pouches, one left, one right and one in the small of the back.

[@mrplague9881]

Ian is jealous. (Maybe)

[@Samuel070793]

Of what nationality are you?

[@thebotrchap]

Samuel Yahata Biologically or administratively?

[@Samuel070793]

@@thebotrchap Administratively.

[@thebotrchap]

Samuel Yahata Franco-British

[@MrSam1er]

@@thebotrchap Le traitor ! And of course this means you live in Switzerland :D

[@Samuel070793]

@@thebotrchap thanks.

[@johnqpublic2718]

So are you going to place "magazynes" in those pouches, or "magazeens?" Perhaps just stripper clips or m-blocks. Lol

[@thebotrchap]

Luke B Neither. It will contain “chargeurs en bloc” or “lames-chargeurs” 😉

[@johnqpublic2718]

@@thebotrchap fair enough. At least it definitely wont contain magazynes.

[@BlokeontheRange]

What's an "m" block? :p

[@nathandecrom2409]

French pouches easy to wear ! quick to drop ! Im sory but I had to.