Chris Barker of Dallas, Texas has been making hunting pouches for thirty seven years. He has been involved in the longrifle culture since he was eleven years old in 1953. A move to Illinois for graduate studies in 1977 led to his falling in with horner Barry Anderson, riflesmith George Potter, and longrifle author and collector Jerry Noble. On Chris's first trip to Friendship he was razzed and called "pilgrim" by the late Elmer Foster and notable others because he was carrying a store bought shot pouch. Chris sought out Madison Grant who instructed him in how to make a bag more in keeping with tradition. The Western Illinois University leather shop gave him the tools to work with and he began making and selling shot pouches locally. An article on his leatherwork in the May 1978 BUCKSKIN REPORT gave him the opportunity to fill orders throughout the country. After completion of graduate studies Chris taught Industrial Arts full-time for 25 years. He continued leather working during the summers. Chris is retired and enjoys making shot pouches and accouterments more than ever

He won the Judges Choice Purple Ribbon at Dixon's Gun Makers Fair in 1992. Articles have been published about his work in the May 1978 BUCKSKIN REPORT, the July 2006 MUZZLE BLASTS and the September 2006 MUZZLELOADER. Chris's article about the Prairie State Longrifle show was published in the February 2009 MUZZLE BLASTS. His photography was featured in the CLA's Winter 2009 BROADSIDE. One of Chris's shot pouches was sold at the 2012 CLF Live Auction in Lexington. Another was auctioned at the 2014 Live Auction in Lexington. Chris makes each bag different from the previous one and strives to produce work of an heirloom quality.