Individual parts for bag construction
If you want to make your own medieval bag or Viking pouch, you’ll need the right components – from oak bag frames and brass sheet metal to historically authentic fastenings. Here you’ll find the components for your bag-making project, carefully selected based on historical examples from sites such as Haithabu and Birka. Whether it’s your first DIY project or a precise recreation of an early medieval leather bag – with the right components, you can succeed even without formal training as a saddler.
What are bag frames – and why do I need them?
The bag frame is the main structural element of any pouch-style bag: it gives the bag its shape and allows it to be opened and closed by hand. Without a frame, a classic Viking bag would be nothing more than a leather sack – it is the frame that gives it its characteristic silhouette and function. The leather or fabric is wrapped around the frame, sewn or braided, and then hung from a belt or shoulder strap.
Historical examples of this design can be found in Viking graves and in the archaeological layers of important trading towns such as Haithabu on the Schlei and Birka in Sweden. There, leather bags with wooden handles were found as everyday items – carried by traders, warriors and travellers alike. The materials used in these originals were wood (preferably oak) and brass, both of which are historically documented to this day and featured in our range. The Viking pouch therefore has its roots not in the imagination of modern costume designers, but in archaeologically verified finds.
Brass sheet as a blank: make your own fittings, sheaths and more
In addition to bag clasps, we offer brass sheet in various thicknesses – a material with a long tradition of craftsmanship in the High and Late Middle Ages. The sheet can be cut to size, filed and polished using simple tools, without the need for a blacksmithing course. Choose the appropriate thickness depending on your project’s requirements:
| Thickness | Suitability | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 mm | Flexible | Flexible fittings, decorative trim, punching |
| 0.8 mm | Versatile | Belt fittings, bag fittings, medium-weight applications |
| 1.0 mm | Dimensionally stable | Knife sheaths, frames, load-bearing fittings |
Thinner sheet metal at 0.5 mm is easy to bend and punch into shape – ideal for flat decorative fittings on bag and belt fittings. Thicker sheet metal from 1.0 mm is suitable for dimensionally stable elements such as knife sheaths or frame constructions. Historical examples of brass fittings are found primarily in the High and Late Middle Ages, when metal applications were used not only for functional purposes but also for decorative effect.
Viking bag clasps in detail: Haithabu, Birka and wood treatment
Haithabu was one of the most important trading centres of the early Middle Ages, situated on the Schlei in what is now Schleswig-Holstein. Finds from this site attest to the everyday use of leather bags with wooden handles – not as luxury items, but as practical tools. Birka, the Swedish trading centre on an island in Lake Mälaren, has yielded similar handle finds, some with leather inserts for a better grip.
Our Viking bag handles, made from oak, are based on this archaeological evidence and are manufactured in Germany. The treatment varies depending on the desired finish: oiled handles have a light, natural-looking surface and are protected from moisture by the oil – important for outdoor use at markets and in re-enactment camps. Dark-treated handles are aged using a sal ammoniac treatment: smoking with ammonia darkens the oak authentically, without the use of stains or synthetic dyes. The result is a deep, warm tone that corresponds to the natural ageing process of wood.
Wood or brass – which bag bracket suits which era?
- Based on finds from Haithabu and Birka
- Available in light oiled or dark salmiac finish
- Sizes: 20 cm, 22 cm, 27 cm, 30 cm
- Supplied in pairs for a symmetrical arrangement
- Suitable for early medieval and Viking re-enactments
- No synthetics, no stains – purely natural treatment
- Suitable for the High and Late Middle Ages
- Available with and without eyelets
- Variants available silver-plated or with engraved decoration
- Widths: 13.5 cm and 17.5 cm
- Eyelets allow for the attachment of pendants and straps
- Polished or oxidised for different looks
The size of the frame largely determines the bag’s capacity: a 20 cm frame makes for a compact belt pouch for coins and small items, whilst a 30 cm frame allows for a spacious shoulder bag. Eyelets on brass frames provide additional attachment points for leather straps, pendants or decorative elements and are particularly suitable for more elaborate late medieval bags.
Terms relating to bag-making – briefly explained
The bag frame is the structural framework of a pouch bag, usually made of wood or metal. It determines the width of the bag’s opening and gives it its characteristic shape. The leather is attached around the frame – sewn, riveted or braided. Without a frame, the classic Viking bag would not have a stable opening.
The bag flap is the fold-over that covers the bag opening and protects against accidental opening. In the Middle Ages, it was often secured with a buckle, a strap or a simple toggle fastening. The flap can be plain or decorated – brass fittings were a common design feature.
The carrying strap (also known as a shoulder strap or webbing) is the strap that holds the bag against the body. In the Middle Ages, it was made of leather or woven fabric and attached to the bag’s handle or to eyelets. The length determines whether the bag is worn as a belt bag, hip bag or shoulder bag. Leather straps made from cowhide are particularly suitable for this purpose.
Eyelets are small metal rings or recesses in the handle used to attach straps, buckles or decorative elements. On brass handles, they allow for a particularly flexible design: the shoulder strap can be hooked in directly or threaded through the eyelet. Historically, eyelets are found primarily on more elaborate bags from the High and Late Middle Ages.
Metal rivets and fittings reinforce the corners and seams of the bag, prevent tearing and serve as decoration at the same time. Brass rivets or small decorative plates are frequently used in medieval bag-making. If you wish to cut your own fittings from brass sheet, you can create individual shapes using simple tools.
Step by step: How to make your own medieval bag
The basic principle of a medieval pouch is simpler than it seems: a cut-to-size piece of leather is wrapped around the bag’s frame or folded, and then sewn or riveted. The simplest version requires just a single seam – the leather is folded in the middle, the sides are sewn together, and the handle shapes the opening. For a more elaborate flap bag with a fastening, additional parts are needed: a separate flap, a belt buckle for fastening, and brass fittings for reinforcement.
You’ll need these individual parts to get started:
- Bag frame (wood or brass, appropriate to the period)
- Leather or sturdy fabric for the body of the bag
- Leather strap for a belt loop or shoulder strap
- Brass fittings or rivets for reinforcement and decoration (optional)
- Tools: awl or hole punch, needle, linen thread, hammer
The level of difficulty is manageable even for beginners with no prior craft experience, provided all parts are coordinated from the outset. A simple pouch shape without a flap can be completed in one to two hours. More complex flap pouches with a historically accurate cut require a little more planning, but are well worth the effort in the finished result. If you’d like to get an initial overview of the right needles and thread, you’ll find these in our range too.
Whether it’s a Viking pouch based on the Haithabu model or a late medieval belt pouch with a brass clasp – with the right components, you can make your own pouch even without formal training as a saddler. Browse our range and find the combination of clasp, sheet metal and fittings that suits your project.
Frequently asked questions
Medieval bags were mostly simple pouches made of leather or fabric, worn on a belt. A characteristic feature is the construction with a wooden or metal frame, which gives the bag its shape and a sturdy opening. Finds from Haithabu and Birka show leather bags with oak frames as everyday items from the 9th to 11th centuries.
Most medieval bags were made of leather – preferably cowhide or goatskin. Oak or brass bag hoops were used to provide structure. Fittings, rivets and buckles were made of brass or iron. Textile pouches made of linen or wool were also common, though less dimensionally stable.
For a simple Viking bag, all you need is a piece of leather cut to size, which is wrapped around a bag frame and sewn at the sides. You will need a bag frame (wood or brass), leather, linen thread, an awl and a needle, and optionally a leather strap to serve as a belt loop. The simplest design, with a single side seam, can be completed in a few hours even without any prior craft experience.
The flap of a bag is referred to as a bag flap or cover. In the Middle Ages, it covered the bag opening and was secured with a buckle, a strap or a toggle fastening. The flap was often made from the same leather as the body of the bag and decorated with brass fittings.
For a historically accurate Viking bag based on the Haithabu or Birka models, we recommend oak bag handles, available in sizes from 20 to 30 cm. Lightly oiled handles are suitable for a natural look, whilst handles darkened by sal ammoniac treatment appear authentically aged. Both variants are supplied in pairs and are made in Germany.