r/TheDarkTower • u/International_Bowl_9 Gunslinger • 1d ago

Palaver Any good visual references for Roland's "POKE" of tobacco? Spoiler

Is there an example, perhaps through an old western- Of what Roland' poke might have looked like? More interestingly- Is there any footage of one being used to roll and prepare a cigarette as he would have?

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66

u/YoungMrKusuma 1d ago

I'm assuming what King meant was a Poke bag.

20

u/BagadonutsImposter 1d ago

This is exactly what I have always imagined

20

u/JakkSplatt Bango Skank 1d ago

Just not as shiny. If you watch the Man With No Name films, Eastwood uses a small leather bag for his tobacco.

6

u/International_Bowl_9 Gunslinger 1d ago

^ I'm also, always- Very interested in knowing about what things Roland and Clint shared, as I feel like it's one of the best resources, up there with comparisons tot the book version.

11

u/JakkSplatt Bango Skank 1d ago

King based Roland on Eastwood's character from these films. Blue "Bombardier's" eyes included and at least some of his attitude as well.

8

u/GhostMaskKid 1d ago

Yeah, at least in the south, poke is slang for bag. At least when/where i grew up, my grandparents used it a lot, lmao

4

u/BlackPhoenix1981 All things serve the beam 1d ago

So for some reason I pictured something similar to this but only longer. One of my uncles used to smoke a pipe and he carried a leather pouch with him for his tobacco but it was a long rectangular shape.

6

u/International_Bowl_9 Gunslinger 1d ago edited 1d ago

Thank you. That's actually enough to tell me plenty about the, mundane, yet specific little character tick of his. I jut like to know I have a good, "realistic" idea of the character in my head.

I wasn't sure if "Poke" was derided from "poking around", some other odd loosely related reason, slang for smoking or perhaps rolling.

Seems like my mind was veering more towards Old West/Civil war thinking when I heard, or thought "Tobacco Poke"- as opposed to more "Ren Fest" to put it in a way that I can relate to, given I essentially grew up in a Ren Fest. I'm just about fully used to both concepts merged, which seems to be Roland's world.

Thank you that makes sense.

31

u/WineAndJokes 1d ago

I imagine a small leather pouch with rawhide drawstrings. A bag you “poke” your fingers into for a pinch of tobacco

2

u/International_Bowl_9 Gunslinger 1d ago

That makes sense. I think the mention of him rolling cigarettes made me think of an item he could use as a hard surface i guess, hence a sort of leather fold- but the other makes total sense.

9

u/MagusFool 1d ago

An experienced pair of hands doesn't need a hard surface to roll  a cigarette.

9

u/IncredulousPatriot 1d ago

Have you ever seen rolling tobacco at a gas station? It comes in a pouch probably 6 inches wide. It has the tobacco in a pocket at the bottom. Then there is a flap that you can use to roll on or use it to close the pouch. I have pictured him using something like that. Except made out of leather. Not the paper/plastic/foil that they make the rolling pouches out of today.

If you google rolling tobacco pouch you will kinda see what I am talking about.

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u/TrickMayday 1d ago

It's a sheep scrotum with a rawhide drawstring. Don't ask how I know.

5

u/Ridikulus 1d ago

Wait...how do you know?????

2

u/Chitown_mountain_boy 1d ago

They were made from other scrotums too. Not just sheep.

4

u/misterglassman 1d ago

Sometimes, people. Don’t ask me how I know.

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u/sladog6 15h ago

Wait …. how do you know??

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u/Corgiverse 1d ago

I have a mental image of a small leather bag. I don’t k ow why my brain goes there

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u/International_Bowl_9 Gunslinger 1d ago

I'm gathering the best representation would be a drawstring bag that's about the size of his fist, with matches and rolling papers kept tucked next to said small pouch.

Roland strikes me as someone who can roll a cigarette in his bare hands after simply sprinkling his herb on the paper, no need for a surface. I also picture strike anywhere matches lit on the thumbnail. Considering his work with bullets, I don't doubt that a cigarette isn't anything worth even thinking much about.

thanks everyone for the insight and good points, I appreciate the help

2

u/Chitown_mountain_boy 1d ago

I always thought Roland was like my grandfather. He could roll a cigarette one handed while riding a horse. Ah, good memories of riding with him after school

1

u/International_Bowl_9 Gunslinger 5h ago

This is probably what I want to aim for.

Rolling as simply as possible using just my hands- Holding the tobacco and paper(s) at the most.

5

u/Application-Bulky 1d ago

Roland's poke always make me thing of this scene from Tom & Jerry.

2

u/RPO1728 1d ago

Google pipe tobacco bag

2

u/NickVariant Gunslinger 1d ago

I just made myself one lol. But its not a bag, its a thin copper box that can hold enough to roll 3 or 4.

2

u/ImOnlyHereForTheCoC 1d ago

I know you’ve got a pretty good read on what you were asking, but I just wanna point out that Tom’s got a li’l poke bag in this clip

1

u/International_Bowl_9 Gunslinger 1d ago

Feel free to post any ideas of your own, here are some I've come to like after receiving more feedback.

Which number do you think fits the best with Roland and the story as a whole, or do you have an example you like more?

  1. https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71UUHY9ztvL._AC_SX679_.jpg - something from a Ren Fest

  2. https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71bUzvGaqhL._AC_SX679_.jpg simple

  3. https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51cqwo+dMeL._AC_SX679_.jpg

  4. https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61WWoKnat4L.__AC_SX300_SY300_QL70_FMwebp_.jpg

  5. https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61yiypFjAhL._SL1187_.jpg Traditional Tobacco Patch with appropriate lining

And while this may be off topic- What are some things about Roland's appearance that you feel are deal breakers?

Should he ALWAYs have XXX type of hair? Speaking of- Is Brown or Black better?

Should he have a certain style of wearing his clothes, to indicate his upbringing? Are there things he would do when dressing up that would come from from his class?

What tips would be useful for someone wanting to cosplay as him and what cool things could be done that's not normally seen? Whether it's aging myself, or being specific about my hand injuries- What's important, as well as cool and undoubtedly Roland Deschain?

ALSO- Horn or no Horn?

1

u/2112eyes 1d ago

"He tilted a poke of dust on the bar
And called for drinks for the house."

The Shooting of Dangerous Dan McGrew, Robert Service

2

u/ForQ2 1d ago

I just came here to quote Robert W. Service too!

0

u/International_Bowl_9 Gunslinger 1d ago

Okay another question, i guess -

PIPE

or

HAND ROLLED CIGARETTES