The Longship pouch was inspired by the Gotland picture stones and the several ship pictures both simple and ellaborate that were shown on many of them.
In the same spirit I felt a Norse leatherworker might think of decorating a special pouch in the same manner so I made my own design using the same style of artwork and used the Elder Futhark to write on it the english translation of Frigg's Blessing of Travel given to Odin.
If I were to do this in a more period style I would use the original Old Norse Language and the younger Futhark as that is what most of the Norse of my time period were using. but the English is designed for contemporary recognition as is the more recognisied and utilized Elder futhark with it's nearly one to one representation of our alphabet.
The Blessing says: "Hale go forth, hale return, hale be on your way." the word "Unharmed" is sometimes substituted for the word "hale" which means healthy and fit, but hale is a bit shorter if more antiquated and fit on the pouch better.
The layers of leather are 5-6 oz and the mast is 10oz and attached by stiching on top and bottom so I can slip a paper or something flat behind it. The hull can be used as an outer pocket. the flap was laced on the Luff of the sail as it might have looked on the square sail itself and it is long enough to go down to loop around each sheild for a more dramatic look, but for ease of use I normally only loop it around the center shield like a normal pouch flap would. The yard at the top helps create the look of the sail being "hung" from it and it also lets me pull the straps in front of it so that it holds the pouch straiter when loaded
It is fun and colorful and great with my red court garb but I needed something more utilitarian and "rangery", so I made this larger Possibles pouch to match my hunting quiver.
I cast the wolf medalion from a necklace I have using the method I have devised for a faux ivory look (still cant find a cheap, reliable source for walrus tusk or mamoth ivory, mores the pity) so I figured I would go green which is befitting a ranger anyway!
The two small pockets on the front are of suede and are great for my bowstringer and some of my other archery tools and the frog on the back, as you can see, holds my right hand drawn axe neatly and securely. I have gone to the right hand draw for the axe as I then can decide to fight or throw it and the left hand back draw for the seax allows me to draw the seax in conjunction with the axe for two handed fighting or when not particularly hurried for utilty. This will leave a spot open on my left hip for a sword, if and when I can afford to make the one I want, for which I will devise a baldric that will go under my warbelt.
I liked that configuration when I saw it, as even though it made it harder to relieve myself of the baldric and scabbard, it helps me keep my belt up! (No mas pantalones) which is not a good look for me.
So there you have it and here are the pics, enjoy!
