A simple need wallet
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2020 5:23 am
Here's a piece of essential kit I've had my eye on for quite some time--a need wallet. It's exactly what I had in mind when I requested small buckles for my Yule gift exchange, and with Odigan coming through so beautifully I figured I had run out of excuses to procrastinate. I took the advice of several people and picked up some leather punches, which worked great.
Apologies--I thought I took more pictures in the early parts of this build. Oh well. It's not particularly complex.
I went with the oval-cross section portmanteau design that seems to be nearly a uniform piece of kit for the forum at this point. It's 8¾" (22cm) long, 3" (7.5cm) high and 1.5" (4cm) deep.
Here it is stained. While the historical replica buckle Odigan sent me does seem a little more functional, these pointed, pentagonal ones are...just so unbelievably gorgeous. There's been a lot of talk about avoiding the glint and clink of metal buckles, which I understand to some extent, but it's my feeling that once the brass patinates it won't be all that glinty, and it doesn't clink as long as the buckles are fastened. Given that a need wallet is intended only to be opened in utmost extremity, I don't forsee operating those buckles too often to risk clinking.
I might cut the straps a little shorter later, but wanted to start long because...you know, you can't cut them longer.
I attached the straps to the body by slipping them through slits in the back. This makes them more adjustable and replaceable. The spacing of the slits lets this easily mount to the back of my belt or chest harness. Also note my expert application of distressing and aging techniques that make it look genuinely travel worn and aren't at all indicative of the fact that I couldn't apply dye evenly to save my life.
Now...I plan to assemble some hard-tack/cram/cordial to put in this for "costume" purposes, and expect to use waxed pigskin for a waterproof inner cover for those things. For the most part, though, this will not serve as a costume piece--it'll be a functional element of my kit, only to be opened in direst need, when historical authenticity takes a back seat to not dying. I therefore sized it to hold my flourescent orange palantÃr.
This was one of the last elements in my fully functional kit. I've got a big ol' survey job coming up for work, but I'm reasonably hopeful that I'll be able to get out and record a trek before then. Exciting!
Apologies--I thought I took more pictures in the early parts of this build. Oh well. It's not particularly complex.
I went with the oval-cross section portmanteau design that seems to be nearly a uniform piece of kit for the forum at this point. It's 8¾" (22cm) long, 3" (7.5cm) high and 1.5" (4cm) deep.
Here it is stained. While the historical replica buckle Odigan sent me does seem a little more functional, these pointed, pentagonal ones are...just so unbelievably gorgeous. There's been a lot of talk about avoiding the glint and clink of metal buckles, which I understand to some extent, but it's my feeling that once the brass patinates it won't be all that glinty, and it doesn't clink as long as the buckles are fastened. Given that a need wallet is intended only to be opened in utmost extremity, I don't forsee operating those buckles too often to risk clinking.
I might cut the straps a little shorter later, but wanted to start long because...you know, you can't cut them longer.
I attached the straps to the body by slipping them through slits in the back. This makes them more adjustable and replaceable. The spacing of the slits lets this easily mount to the back of my belt or chest harness. Also note my expert application of distressing and aging techniques that make it look genuinely travel worn and aren't at all indicative of the fact that I couldn't apply dye evenly to save my life.
Now...I plan to assemble some hard-tack/cram/cordial to put in this for "costume" purposes, and expect to use waxed pigskin for a waterproof inner cover for those things. For the most part, though, this will not serve as a costume piece--it'll be a functional element of my kit, only to be opened in direst need, when historical authenticity takes a back seat to not dying. I therefore sized it to hold my flourescent orange palantÃr.
This was one of the last elements in my fully functional kit. I've got a big ol' survey job coming up for work, but I'm reasonably hopeful that I'll be able to get out and record a trek before then. Exciting!
and I really like your idea of attaching the straps in slots and having then double as belt loops