1760's 42nd kit

[longhuntr74]

Sir William/Woodsheal,
Thanks for the great info!

I think I'm following everything now...and I think I found the source of my confusion. I guess I was equating the "new invented knapsack" to the envelope style knapsack.

Am I correct in my understanding that the "new invented knapsack" is the type that has one large pocket that loads from the top and then on the flap side, the pocket is a closed pocket with a vertical center slit which ties closed?

How was the envelope style knapsack that was in use during the F&I period constructed? I'm assuming that the appropriate materials would by any type of heavy linen or hemp canvas...or were the military issued ones made of leather or "hair-on" cowhide? If linen/canvas, were the flaps painted as was done in the American Revolution by the continental troops or not?

I don't think I've threadjacked here, but I apologize to the OP if I have. I think my questions and the answers given will help the OP answer his questions too.

[Sir William]

Sir William/Woodsheal,
Thanks for the great info!

I think I'm following everything now...and I think I found the source of my confusion. I guess I was equating the "new invented knapsack" to the envelope style knapsack.

Am I correct in my understanding that the "new invented knapsack" is the type that has one large pocket that loads from the top and then on the flap side, the pocket is a closed pocket with a vertical center slit which ties closed?

How was the envelope style knapsack that was in use during the F&I period constructed? I'm assuming that the appropriate materials would by any type of heavy linen or hemp canvas...or were the military issued ones made of leather or "hair-on" cowhide? If linen/canvas, were the flaps painted as was done in the American Revolution by the continental troops or not?

I don't think I've threadjacked here, but I apologize to the OP if I have. I think my questions and the answers given will help the OP answer his questions too.

Your understanding of the "new invented knapsack" is correct.

For the envelope style, they appear to be of two basic patterns: With just one pocket and a flap (ie, an envelope) and the second with two pockets (the flap also being a pocket) so that when folded in half, both pockets were on the inside.

Materials could be of heavy linen, hemp canvas, or leather (with or without the fur). It appears most British military units used leather (as they did for the snapsacks) and there are quite a few illustrations that suggest they were made of hair-on cowhide. Unsheared goat fur, which was very evident during the Revolution, appears to have been used as well.

I'm still trying to determine if the British military treated the linen or hemp bags with anything to make them more water repellent but so far haven't found enough information to be confident in my assessment. Reason suggests they did treat them, probably with an oil based paint or possibly linseed oil, but since tents weren't treated, perhaps applying our 21st century sensitivities is incorrect.

I say this because I also discovered that most soldiers carried only the basic necessities, for their weapons and themselves. Most inventories suggest they carried little more than a set of smallclothes, a shirt or two (typically one dress and one fatigue), a spare set of hose, spare shoes, cleaning tools (including a bottle of oil and a rag) for their firelock, a comb for their hair, perhaps a brush for their coat, a blacking ball for their shoes, and their share of the mess equipment. Personal items, such as a "housewife" (sewing kit), were minimal. I suspect many carried a firestarting kit and probably a small knife as these were common to almost everyone back in the 18th century.

[longhuntr74]

Thanks Sir William.

Here is a link to a French and Indian period group (with a great website I'd like to add) that shows a hair-on example of a knapsack that they consider appropriate to the period.

1st Royal Regiment of Foote

[Sir William]

Thanks Sir William.

Here is a link to a French and Indian period group (with a great website I'd like to add) that shows a hair-on example of a knapsack that they consider appropriate to the period.

1st Royal Regiment of Foote

A very good example of a period knapsack.

I don't know what the 42nd (or for that matter the 77th and 78th) carried in the colonies during the F&I War, but this type of pack would be a safe bet.