Back from the 18th Century

[hushnel]

We spent 10 days at the Alafia River Rendezvous near Bartow Florida. We had high winds and wet weather. The wall tent came down and the new ridge pole ripped the roof. My wife and I sacrificed my new flour bag and had the rip patched up quickly.

Fresh strawberries are in season and tasted real fine on breakfast pancakes and frenchtoast.

I meet a guy I had seen at the rendezvous for years named Russell Cuts, he wrote a book named Wildfire; Fire Making Arts. He's a good guy and has an interesting way of thinking about this stuff. His book is a good read.

Here Russell is demonstrating the fire bow,

I've been meaning to build a new flinter for years now, I went down to
Tip Curtis' Frontier Shop and hand picked all the parts to make an Isaac Haines Lancaster County flintlock. Left handed 38" .50 cal Colerain swamped barrel with a nice curly maple stock, all iron hardware, Siler lock.

I found a few knives that I had to have, ain't that a surprize

This one was made by my buddy Steven Knight, forged from a leaf spring out of either a Saab or Volvo.

This was made by a guy named Bradley, I can't remember what the steel is but is surely a user, one of the 1000 series I belive.

This one is by Mike Wise, forged from an old file,

We are still putting stuff away, I pickied up some leather supplies and a beautifully tanned chocolate gator hide from Creative Aztec.

 

[savagesicslayer]

I wish we had those kind of things around here.I'd love to shop the old-timey wares.
Admittedly,that's the first left handed flintlock I've ever seen.

I also shoot BP.Here's a shot of my baby.She's a big baby too.

and the lock detail

She's .50 cal too.It's a Kentucky long rifle.1:66 twist.I want to see that flintlock when you get her finished.She looks like she'll be a beauty.

P.S. Were there and Hawks for sale there?Those knives are really cool.I really like the little wrapped one.Looks like it's make a great patch knife.

 

[hushnel]

Lots of stuff being sold, hawks a plenty, I picked up a medium size tomahawk from H&B Forge last year, they where set up this year.

Nice flinter, that lock is slick looking. I have to take the lock apart to drill for the side plate, I should have it case hardened, that looks sharp. You don't have rendezvous up there, there should be I've seen fur trade era canoes up on the Great Lakes.

I also bought another Steven Knight throwing knife for my wife this year. It is the same model as this one I've had for 10 years or so.

My hawk was made by Edgar Chattin.

 

[brians]

Great pics guys. That looks like great fun and an interesting learning experience.

 

[Dannyboy Leather]

Post expired.

 

[cssims]

Russell was at the Falling Leaves Rendevous in October. Nice guy and he knows his stuff. Now I'm waiting for Joezilla to jump in here with his opinion. (I know he agrees.)

 

[hushnel]

Nice, that's a rifled .75, wow. Most of the critters you can hunt with that have been extinct for near 65 million years

Most of the rendezvousers do have amazing skills, it's a real make do kind of crowd. Primitive skills are both practiced and revered. It ain't high tech stuff like PJ&C or ferro rods, flashlights and stainless steel but we are aware that in the past, just a few generations ago, it was hardly note worthy when long hunters and trappers took off for a year or two with what they could carry or pack and who's major concern focused on how much coffee, tobacco and beans they could pack.

If you look at the slide show you will notice that not all the participants are grizzled codgers like me.


Slide show of last week.

 

[mtnfolk mike]

great stuff Hushnel...:thumbup: i love rendezvous...

nice looking kit selection too... i like the looks of that Bradley knife...

 

[sadiejane]

thanks for this post!
rendezvous are amazing
and fun

one of my favorites things
is to watch some 6 yr old girl
who can start a fire in a flash
with flint n steel
then her little sister comes up
and has to show you she can do it too!
im sure theres not a kid over 4 that cant start a fire right now
with steel n flint
at most of those events
nice knives n guns can be found too
along with blacksmiths n flintknappers
even a bowyer now n then
thanks again!

 

[koyote]

Excellent, hushnell!


Man, I want so badly to build up a percussion .50 and a percussion 24-28ga double. Or hell, a single. So expensive these days, I haven't found much in the way of parts

 

[hushnel]

I've done a few percussion locks. Even though the percussion cap was available before the end of the fur trade the mountain men preferred the flint, they reasoned that they could always find flint.

Besides Russell a few other primitive survival skills instructors were there. I have a few hours of sound files too, the music was fantastic. I had three ukes and the Martin with me.

 

[Dannyboy Leather]

Post expired.

 

[koyote]

I'm casual enough I just like percussion for ease. I haven't had a smokepole in a few years and have been itching to get some hands on work. but the kits I've found have skyrocketed in price.

 

[hushnel]

I think you could pick up a very nice traditional percussion for a good price. My T/C Renegade isn't worth very much in the climate of hunting in-lines. They go for around $200.00. The kits are much more expensive.

 

[crossada]

This was made by a guy named Bradley, I can't remember what the steel is but is surely a user, one of the 1000 series I belive.

I have one of those in african blackwood. one of the best knives i have in my arsenal. designed by Cliff Jacobson.
http://www.boundarywaterscatalog.com/browse.cfm/4,6558.html

 

[August West]

My T/C Renegade isn't worth very much in the climate of hunting in-lines.

As far as price goes, it is a damn fine hunting rifle for any price. I have a Pennsylvania hunter in 50 with a 32" slow twist, cut rifled barrel for round balls that might be the most accurate ML I have ever picked up. I have killed several deer and hogs with it, it may need to be knicknamed ole reliable, it seems to think those balls where they need to go.

I have pretty much sworn off modern guns for hunting, 99% of the time if I hit the woods it is with one of my black powder guns. Kinda like flyfishing, it is just more relaxing and enjoyable, especially when you do bring meat to the table.

Right now there seems to be 2 competely seperate paths in the BP comunity, one group that wants to be as period correct as is possible, the historical trekker types. The other group tends to want as modern a muzzle loader as can be had. But, as you said, the in between guns, percussion guns made before the inline rush, can be had for very good prices.

Looks like the rondy was loads of fun I have got to make it a point to make it to one. I have never been, and it just looks like too much fun to pass up. Chris

 

[hushnel]

I have one of those in african blackwood. one of the best knives i have in my arsenal.

Thanks for that link, John was attending the rendezvous and selling knives out of Poppin's tent.

As far as price goes, it is a damn fine hunting rifle for any price.

Yeah, I wouldn't sell it for twice what I paid for it back in the early 80s it was as good as they get, the old .54 does it's job. It was a kit and I did my best putting it together.

 

[CSG]

I shoulda never told you about this place, hush!

 

[hushnel]

I shoulda never told you about this place, hush!

I Know, I would have a lot fewer knives and maybe a few MORE guns I'm pretty much just in W&SS anymore, primitive skills rather Ancestral skills have always been my way.

 

[Coldwood]

Hushnel, this is a great thread :thumbup:

I commend you on your decision to build an Isaac Haines rifle with a swamped barrel. That is a great piece of curly maple stock, it will be beautiful.

I've been in living history and re-enacting for over 25 years. Camped in one week for a rendezvous in Schroon Lake. What a great experience.

I have an early CVA caplock with a Green Mountain barrel; a Pedersoli Brown Bess flintlock; and a .62 smoothbore French fusil de chasse flintlock that I scratch built from parts from Track of the Wolf. I love my caplock, but if I had to pick one for general hunting/survival, it would be the French flintlock.

There were good reasons, having to do with supply, why mountain men stuck to their flintlocks.