Cartridge Paniers

During my 30 odd years of service I have had a lot to do with French Shooting Parties and before the double gun era dawned every young french blood would come adorned with one or two belt paniers. Most guns dont wander far from their peg because they dont want to leave their cartridges behind but much to our annoyance these panier wearers, stocked up with 80 squibs ( two paniers ), were completely mobile and some made full use of this.By way of explanation - walking away from your peg is fine if you an end gun , but not if you are in the middle! In those days we often had walking guns and then they were excellent.

Paniers seem to be coming into fashion and it is easy to see why - they are simplicity itself, you have very easy access to cartridges and they hold plenty - ours hold 50 shells three quarters full and if you shake it before you start then the most will be the right way up when the fun starts. It is also very quick to take off and put on.

Opinion seems to be equally divided between the two types. We have designed the lidded one so that the lid folds out of the way into the body of the bag , but if the bag is full then it has to be pushed to the back, past the cartridges each time. Of course the advantage is when you close the lid with its solid brass toggle, then nothing can escape when it is taken off. The lidless version is simplicity itself and I think two of these is probably the answer to the mobile firepower question.

We currently make these paniers in dark havana pigskin and line them with a contrasting brushed pigskin. Together with a sustantial belt in Sedgewicks bridle hide I think it is a really smart product, whether you go for one or two paniers is up to you ( I can think of some ambitious young men who would probably go for three ! ) We do intend to make paniers in cowhide, please ask.