Haversack Kit, American without buttons c. 1750-1780

This kit includes: Cut pieces for strap & bag Thread for sewing both bag & strap A small piece of bee’s wax for running your thread across Instructions how to sew the haversack Haversacks are very easy to sew even for beginners & the sewing is supposed to be coarse. This kit is copied from a British original formerly in the private collection of J. Craig Nannos & includes directions written by Roy Najecki. This includes oatmeal linen (WLG 102), with 35/2 unbleached linen thread for sewing the body, 16/2 unbleached linen thread for sewing buttonholes & 16 ¾” wide by 13 ½” tall sack body. The strap cut for this kit will be 34″ long when finished which fits the majority of people & is based on the original which corresponds to period British illustrations. Although the original haversack had only 2 buttons, illustrations of British soldiers show 3 buttons. There are no known illustrations of American soldiers with a clear haversack. Also, the original is sewn with the strap sewed through the bag’s flap which holds the flap down with no need for buttons. Furthermore, all the thread matches except the thread sewing the buttonholes & buttons which is heavier. Because of these reasons, it’s theorized the original haversack lacked any buttons & two buttons were added later. This haversack option is an acceptable interpretation & preferred by some recreated regiments. Please check with your regiment to see which option your regiment uses. There’s no evidence, during the American revolution, that American haversacks had buttons.   The shoulder strap on the original haversack, excluding the 3″ (7.6 cm.) sewn to the sack, is 34″ (86.4 cm) long which fits most people. When worn correctly the bottom of the haversack should be about level with your wrist. For a 1776 description “a Soldier cannot conveniently get through the Duties of a Campaign, without a Haversack of strong, coarse, grey linen (which is always issued as part of the Camp-equipage) to carry his bread and provisions on a March” Cuthbertson wrote on page 85 in item XLIV.