Bayonets: Bayonets were not widely owned by the majority of colonists prior to the Revolution. Swords and hatchets seem to be more prevalent. Therefore it is appropriate to not carry a bayonet so long as an edged weapon of some kind is present. British, Dutch, older French, and American (produced in the colonies) style bayonets are acceptable. They may be socket style only and scabbards must be constructed of leather and follow extant period examples. 14

Bayonet Carriages: May be over the shoulder or waist belt style. They should be constructed of leather or linen/hemp webbing and leather and must conform to period examples.15   Modern rope shall not be used for slings or belting.  Round forged belt buckles are BANNED.

Cartridge Pouch: Extant 1770s militia pouches tend to follow similar design and construction techniques. Reproduction pouches should be constructed of leather and carry a block drilled for

19-21 holes. They should be suspended by a leather or linen strap with or without buckles. The straps must be stitched or nailed to the pouch. Civilian waist boxes, government issued belly

boxes and French & Indian War pouches are also acceptable. Designs on pouches are permitted, but should be confined to geometric shapes or hearts.16

Shot Bags: Shot bags may be used as a substitute for a cartridge pouch. They must be made of leather and conform to period examples.17 In addition, they must be able to accept a wooden cartridge block.

Powder Horns: A powder horn should be carried if the member is using a shot pouch. They should be constructed of cow horn with wooden plugs on both ends and a leather, hemp or linen sling. Engravings of maps, names, dates or period slogans are permitted.18

Belt Axes/Hatchets: Belt axes and hatchets should be forged and conform to extant period examples. If the axe/hatchet is carried on a belt it must have a correctly made leather cover.19

French throwing axes, “peace pipe” axes or any other type of axe with a long thin blade are inappropriate.

Sword/Cutlass: Appropriate sword styles include colonial hangers, hunting swords, and cutlasses. British army hangers should be avoided.20

Sword Carriages: May be either over the shoulder or waist belt style. They should be made of leather and must be consistent with period examples.21

Canteens: Many types of canteens were available to civilians. Acceptable styles include cheese box, single band, double band, or tin (crescent or kidney shaped). They should be suspended with hemp cord, a hemp or woven strap, or leather sling. Wooden canteens may be painted with period-correct colors.22

Knapsacks: Should be constructed using hemp canvas or heavy weight linen. They should be single bag with a flap closure and two shoulder straps made of hemp webbing or of the same material as used for the bag. The flap may cover a third or the whole of the bag and should be closed with three buttons and buttonholes. The pack may either be painted red ochre or left unpainted.23

Snapsacks: May be constructed using hemp canvas, linen, wool, or leather. Hide-on snapsacks are permitted.24

Market Wallet: Should be made of linen and may be carried inside of the tumpline or over the shoulder.25

Blanket Rolls: May be either tumpline or “horseshoe pack” style. Tumpline strap should be made out of hemp webbing or leather. A market wallet should be rolled inside the tumpline to hold personal items.26

Blankets: Should be wool, linen, or linsey-woolsey. Blankets may be either “imported” (a solid piece of material) or “colonial” (a seam down the middle where the two halves were joined). Appropriate blanket patterns include striped, checked, plaid, rose, Dutch, and solid. 27

Mess Kit: Mess kits carried by 18th century soldiers appear to have been quite simple. At the most basic it should consist of a tin cup, wood, horn, or pewter spoon, and folding knife. A wooden bowel is also appropriate. Forks were far less common and rarely appear in excavations of 18th century military camps. It is conceivable that a militiaman may have had one. If a fork is included it should be of the two tined varieties.28

Glasses: While glasses certainly existed in the period, they were uncommon among the lower classes of society due to their value. It is preferred that no one wear glasses, but if you must, invest in period appropriate frames.

Tent:  If you purchase a tent, you should acquire a 1751 French Bell Back Tent.

Camp Furniture:   Should NOT be acquired without consulting an officer or NCO of the LTB.

13 Erik Goldstein and Stuart Mowbray, The Brown Bess: An Identification Guide and Illustrated Study of Britain‟s Most Famous Musket, (Woonsocket: Mowbray Publishing, 2010): 18-91. Also see Ryan R. Gale, “A Soldier-Like Way:” The Material Culture of the British Infantry, 1751 – 1768, (Elk River: Track of the Wolf Inc., 2007): 5-20; Steve Delisle, The Equipment of New France Militia 1740-1760, (Maryland: Kebeca Liber Ata Co., 1998): 32-35; and Jim Mullins, Of Sorts for Provincials, American Weapons of the French & Indian War, (Elk River: Track of the Wolf Inc., 2008): 11-16.

14 George C. Neumann, Swords & Blades of the American Revolution, (Harrisburg: Stackpole Books, 1973), 22-31,

36-50. Also see Cain, “Warm Steel: The Lack of Bayonets within Massachusetts Militia Companies,” New England

Rev War Campaigners, 2008 and Goldstein and Mowbray, 16.

15 Neumann, 30. See also Don Troiani and James L. Kochan, Don Troiani’s Soldiers of the American Revolution, (Mechanicsburg: Stackpole Books, 2007): 111, 132.

16 George C. Neumann and Frank J. Kravic, Collector’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Revolution, (Texarkana: Rebel Publishing Co., Inc., 1989), 66-80. Also see Troiani and Kochan, 102, 132.

17 Mullins, 43-44

18 Neumann and Kravic, 149-155 and Mullins, 45-47.

19 Ibid., 24-26.

20 Neumann, Swords & Blades of the American Revolution, 84-89, 94, 99-103, 182-186.

21 Neumann and Kravic, 38-39. See also Troiani and Kochan, 142.

22 Neumann and Kravic, 59-64.

23 Cooke, “Knapsacks, Snapsacks, Tumplines: Systems for Carrying Food and Clothing Used by Citizens and

Soldiers in 1775,” Historical Costume Services, 1998.

24 Ibid.

25 Cooke, “Knapsacks, Snapsacks, Tumplines: Systems for Carrying Food and Clothing Used by Citizens and

Soldiers in 1775.”

26 Ibid. See also John U. Rees, “The Use of Tumplines or Blanket Slings by Light Troops,” The Continental Soldier

8, No. 2 (Summer 1995): 27-29.

27 Rees, “„White Wollen,‟ „Striped Indian Blankets,‟ „Rugs and Coverlids:‟ The Variety of Continental Army

Blankets,” The Brigade Dispatch: The Journal of the Brigade Of The American Revolution 30, No. 2 (Summer

2000): 11-14.

28 Neumann and Kravic, 108-109, 173-175.