My Wilderness Outfit

[KirkD]

Just got my Mernickle cross draw holster recently ( http://www.mernickleholsters.com/ca/ca12.html ), to complete my rig for our family canoe trips into the remote wilderness. Shown in the photo is my belt made by a fellow in Cody. I had the belt custom made with extended stays in the wilderness in mind (i.e., a year or two) where all the cartridges I owned would be on the belt. It holds 20 rounds of 30-30 and 10 rounds of 45 Schofield cartridges. That would be enough to keep me in venison for several years, with plenty of rounds left over. I had it originally made for a strong side draw, but I like the cross draw position so much better in the bush, that I've flipped the belt around and use it like that. I know the style is to have the buckle on the other side, but I'm a bit thrifty and I really like the belt. The Mernickle ca12 holster holds an original first generation Colt SAA dating to 1882. This old Colt is a genuine 5 & 1/2" artillery that has been completely restored and is chambered for the 45 Schofield, which makes the old sixgun a legal antique here in Canada. I load the rounds to fire a 250 grain bullet out the barrel at 850 fps. Lastly, you can see Old Savage, my 30-30 carbine made in 1954. It is my general purpose, trunk and wilderness gun, equipped with a Lyman receiver sight that is so good, I feel like I'm cheating when I shoot with it. It has already put two 8-point bucks in the freezer. The knife and sheath were made by Chisholm's Trail http://www.westernleatherholster.com/co ... ie-knives/ and the knife has a Sambar Stag set of grips. That knife has cleaned and skinned three deer since I got it.



When I came in from taking the photo, I threw the belt across my old saddle from when I was growing up some 40 years ago. I thought, 'By gum, that looks nice! I'll just snap a photo of that", so here it is, like it or not ....

[destroyer4570]

Wow! That is a nice set up. Thanks for sharing, I enjoyed seeing. Your right that picture of the belt and holster drapped over your saddle does look nice, it looks like that photo would make a nice wallpaper...One more thing. I just checked the website where you bought the knife, They have some beautiful knives and I would like to know, did you get both the knife and sheath from them as a set? I only ask because I wasn't sure if the price for just for the knife or if it was the price for the knife and sheath. Sorry for my questions it's just that your picture has inspired me to get something like that for myself. Again thanks for posting.

[JerryB]

Kirk that is a fine looking rig, I'll bet it wears well sitting in a canoe or driving.I remember the belt when you got it and the holster matches just fine. That old Colt looks right at home with the 30wcf, they should take care of anything the north woods put on you.

[madman4570]

Very sharp outfit Kirk!

[Mich Hunter]

Where could one find a belt like that?

[KirkD]

Where could one find a belt like that?

I imagine that there are various places that would make up a custom belt. I could be wrong, but if I recall correctly, and maybe Malamute can correct me here, the fellow that made my belt only does it for a bit of a hobby, so I don't feel I have permission to mention his name. I do know another fellow in Canada who makes up custom belts however you like them, but I've not seen his belts, so I'd hesitate to recommend him. If Malamute gives me the go-ahead, I could pm you with the fellow in Cody.

[RIHMFIRE]

nice rig all the way around...

[Old Savage]

Perfect!

[KirkD]

...One more thing. I just checked the website where you bought the knife, They have some beautiful knives and I would like to know, did you get both the knife and sheath from them as a set?

Both the knife and the sheath were made by Chisholm's Trail. I think the ones that are priced close to $200 and up include both the knife and the sheath, but there is some contact info at the bottom of the page and it would probably be best to talk to him directly. He is a friendly fellow and was a pleasure to deal with.

[firefuzz]

Very nice rig Kirk. I want one with the dual cartidge feature myself, just can't decide between the .45-70 and the '06.

Rob

[KirkD]

Very nice rig Kirk. I want one with the dual cartidge feature myself, just can't decide between the .45-70 and the '06.

Rob, I had my loops made for the 45-70 cartridge, but they are tight enough to hold my 30-30 cartridges. The 30-06 is even thicker than the 30-30 so I would imagine that if you had it made for the 30-06, it would do fine with the 45-70 as well.

[firefuzz]

Very nice rig Kirk. I want one with the dual cartidge feature myself, just can't decide between the .45-70 and the '06.

Rob, I had my loops made for the 45-70 cartridge, but they are tight enough to hold my 30-30 cartridges. The 30-06 is even thicker than the 30-30 so I would imagine that if you had it made for the 30-06, it would do fine with the 45-70 as well.

I think you're right, but don't tease...I'm out of fun money this month. I love my '86...but the '95 carbine project is really shaping up nice.

Rob

[2X22]

That is a GOOD LOOKIN' outfit, Kirk! Is that a 2 1/2" belt or 3"? I know that outfit will handle most everything you can throw at it or wish from it.

The reason I'm so confident is that you have put togather pretty near exactly the same outfit as I've packed for 30+ years. The only difference is that I use 15 forty four loops for the mag or special and 9 loops for the 45-70 which will also hold my 348's and 45-90's if I wish. I just figured if my '86 is loaded up with 9 rounds and I have 9 more on my belt, along with 20 or 21 rounds of 44's, I'm pretty well set for pretty near anything

My own belt (El Paso Saddlery) is a 3" which rides nicely on the hips and like you found that when in the woods I prefer a crossdraw, in my own case an El Paso 1880 which being fairly wide also rides again the thigh very well.

2x22

[KirkD]

That is a GOOD LOOKIN' outfit, Kirk! Is that a 2 1/2" belt or 3"?

The belt is a 2 & 1/2" one. Just in case anyone was wanting a better look at the Colt, here it is .....



For those not familiar with the 45 Schofield cartridge, originally invented for the US Calvary back in the mid-1870's, here it is compared with the 45 Colt and the 45 ACP. The 45 Colt is on the left, the 45 Schofield in the middle, and the 45 ACP on the right. I load my 45 Schofield to match the original 45 Colt BP ballistics. The original cylinder is archived for safe keeping, and the cylinder I use is a modern steel replacement chambered for the 45 Schofield.



For a quick break from work, I like to step out into my backyard to practice drawing and firing into a target I've pinned to a stump. Just five rounds a day.

[pokey]

Where could one find a belt like that?

how about one like this?

http://www.epsaddlery.com/pc-54-31-4-border-belt.aspx

[J Miller]

Kirk,

I like everything about your rig. Looks like it will serve your needs well. My only thing is I'd need more ammo available. Not necessarily on my person, but at camp or in my pack or at least handy. What you have there really wouldn't last long. At least not for me anyway.

Joe

[C. Cash]

Love the look of those Kirk. Thanks for sharing!

[Rustolium]

I like your rig too! I do something similar by just putting .30WCF rounds in my .44 loops. Works for me!

[Ysabel Kid]

Stunning - simply stunning!!!

[BenT]

Nice leather rig ! I have a very similar set up . It has 45 loops that hold most rifle cartridges with a rim, 30-30 ,356,444. Cross draw is the way to go when hunting. It puts more weight up front , less pull on the back. I have my belt plenty big so I can put it on the outside of a winter jacket. I carry a Ruger Bisley 45 colt and a marbles knife .

[KirkD]

... My only thing is I'd need more ammo available. Not necessarily on my person, but at camp or in my pack or at least handy. What you have there really wouldn't last long. At least not for me anyway.

Joe, 30 rounds of ammo (plus 5 in the sixgun) is pretty spartan for two years in the bush, although most of us typically use only one or two cartridges per year to get a deer, or 4-6 cartridges for 4 deer. This would be the lightest scenario.

What I would like to get is a small leather possibles/ammo pouch that would fit on my belt in that space behind the holster. It would be useful for a lot of things.

[Old Savage]

Kirk, what is interesting from your old pics that many might not have seen is you have actually done these wilderness canoe trips and with the family for weeks at a time and the deer hunts in these areas.

[rangerider7]

Looking good! I don't get to far into wilderness areas these days. My niece's 3000 acre ranch on the Brazos is about it.

[Old Savage]

That would be wilderness from my condo.

[Blaine]

That's wonderful.

[Malamute]

PM sent to Mich Hunter regarding the maker of Kirk's cartridge belt. I'll post it publicly if the maker has no objections, tho I know he's quite busy.

[Markbo]

I can't imagine how I would begin to plan for a year long stay in the bush. I know I can't imagine only shooting 3 or 4 rounds a year either. At some point, I would just about HAVE to shoot just for recreation. And without a small game getter... a .22 probably... how could you survive?


Again... you have thought and planned... this is way outside my realm of thinking. I'm afraid I still have to work for a living.

[BigSky56]

Kirk, the only thing your missing in them pics is a can of copenhagen that saddle looks comfy, nice 94 you cant beat a 94 30-30 for the woods. My outfit is a 30-30 in a scabbard and a ruger 22 mag on my hip when I packing and camping. I have even gone back to using a 30-30 for all my hunting in the timber its fast and handy for quick shots and it will drop anything that walks on the NA continent. I will carry a larger caliber pistol when hunting a 357 or 45 colt incase I have a close shot from the saddle or when dealing with and packing meat. danny

[Malamute]

Where could one find a belt like that?

I imagine that there are various places that would make up a custom belt. I could be wrong, but if I recall correctly, and maybe Malamute can correct me here, the fellow that made my belt only does it for a bit of a hobby, so I don't feel I have permission to mention his name. I do know another fellow in Canada who makes up custom belts however you like them, but I've not seen his belts, so I'd hesitate to recommend him. If Malamute gives me the go-ahead, I could pm you with the fellow in Cody.

Kirk, I ran into Ron, he said it was OK to put his name out. He does leather work full time. So, for anyone wondering or interested, Kirks belt was made by Ron Reed. His company is called Blue Mountain Saddlery, and his phone number is 307-645-3220. Ron also makes some very fine 1880's-1890's period holsters, money belt type cartridge belts, and other cowboy type gear. If you like period correct gear, his styles and border stamping is right out of the "Packing Iron" book. I have a couple of his holsters, and am quite happy with them.

[KirkD]

Excellent! I really like the belt he made for me. The leather that he used for it is excellent .... supple and heavy duty. I also like the way he stitched the cartridge loops.