From: owner-hist_text-digest@lists.xmission.com (hist_text-digest) To: hist_text-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: hist_text-digest V1 #353 Reply-To: hist_text Sender: owner-hist_text-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-hist_text-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk hist_text-digest Wednesday, August 18 1999 Volume 01 : Number 353 In this issue: -       Re: MtMan-List: Jim Baker -       MtMan-List: Black reenactor needed -       Re: MtMan-List: Jim Baker -       MtMan-List: Chief Factor William Sinclair -       MtMan-List: Catherine Sinclair/ Francis Ermatinger -       MtMan-List: slightly off topic...print wanted -       MtMan-List: FWD: [Fwd: Fwd: Fw: Self Administered CPR If you are home alone -       Re: MtMan-List: slightly off topic...print wanted -       MtMan-List: Flint Edge -       Re: MtMan-List: Flint Edge -       Re: MtMan-List: Flint Edge -       Re: MtMan-List: Flint Edge -       MtMan-List: Snake stick game -       Re: MtMan-List: Snake stick game -       Re: MtMan-List: Snake stick game -       Re: MtMan-List: OT Self Administered CPR If you are home alone -       Re: MtMan-List: on the road again -       Re: MtMan-List: Flint Edge -       Re: MtMan-List: Snake stick game -       Re: MtMan-List: Snake stick game -       Re: MtMan-List: Flint Edge -       Re: MtMan-List: Flint Edge ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 10:20:30 -0600 From: Bill Klesinger Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Jim Baker I have been adding new pages all morning, more of a shell of what is to come thanks bill concho@uswestmail.net wrote: > > > On Fri, 13 August 1999, Bill Klesinger wrote: > > > > The Jim Baker Party web site is now open,,, check it out please reply to mailto: bill@klesinger.com > > > > > > > > http://klesinger.com/jbp/jbp.html > > > > > > > _____________________________________ > Wild Bill, > > What you have up so far really "shines", and what your members are capable of will just add to your site. > > Haven't seen many of the older ones for a period of time, Blanket Ass, The Capt., Pat or Buck. But know with the younger members and what I've been told by Buck, you got a good group. > > With writers like Pat, Mike, Stan and Buck - you'll have lots to share with everyone, good luck in a new venture for the Jim Baker Party. > > Oh, tell Buck to drag out some of the canoe trip pictures and Jim to get some of the horse pictures out - that would be interseting to just look and wish we had shared some of those trips. > > ___________________________________ > Take care, folks > > D.L."Concho"Smith + Washington, MO. + > "One who favors the finer things in life" > ___________________________________ > Signup for your free USWEST.mail Email account http://www.uswestmail.net ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 13:17:58 EDT From: ThisOldFox@aol.com Subject: MtMan-List: Black reenactor needed We have a special need for a black reenactor who can portray Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable at our Illinois and Michigan Canal Rendezvous this year. The dates are the weekend of Sept 11 and 12. A stipend is available. Please have this individual contact me directly at: imcanal@aol.com Thanks, Dave Kanger ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 14:35:43 EDT From: Mtnman1449@aol.com Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Jim Baker Concho-- Thanks for the kind words on the web site, but it's only just taking shape. At the rocky mtn college rondy this past weekend, we had a Jim Baker Party meeting about the web site. A number of articles and info specific to the "Colorado territory" fur trade will begin appearing. We're not at all competing with Dean's site but being more specific to our geography. Some of the information will show up soon, while others will take awhile to get written, but we're excited about it. Thanks again. Patrick Surrena #1449 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 12:45:30 -0600 From: agottfre@telusplanet.net (Angela Gottfred) Subject: MtMan-List: Chief Factor William Sinclair I'm doing some research into the family tree of NWC wintering partner Jean-Etienne Waden, and have run into a dead end. (Waden's not related, but looking into his descendants has turned up some neat stuff.) I'm looking for information on Chief Factor William Sinclair. He married Mary McKay, the step-daughter of Dr. John McLoughlin, but aside from that I know very little. Since it was quite possibly in Oregon during the Mountain Man era, I though somebody on this list might be able to help. I'd especially like to know when he married Mary, and anything about their children (especially Catharine), but background about his career would also be helpful. I'm also curious about his mother, and where he was born. Your humble & obedient servant, Angela Gottfred agottfre@telusplanet.net ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 13:23:47 -0600 From: David Mullen Subject: MtMan-List: Catherine Sinclair/ Francis Ermatinger Mrs. Gottfred, It appears that Catherine Sinclair (apparently always called Kate) married Francis Ermatinger. She was 26 years younger than Ermatinger and had been educated at Fort Gary (Winnepeg). They met while Kate was visiting her grandmother in Vancouver. The marriage was a private event and was conducted on 10 August 1841 at the house of James Birnie by a Protestant minister by the name of Frost. "1841 August 12. On the 9th I was very unexpectedly called upon to go to Fort George (Astoria) in order to administer the ordinance of Matrimony. On the 10th Mr. Francis Ermatinger and Miss Catherine Sinclair were married and after dinner of the same day they came down with us and continued here (mission of the Clatsops, near Warrenton) until this morning. Mr. Ermantinger is one of the Chief Traders of the Hudson's Bay Company, and Miss Sinclair is a daughter of a gentleman of the same service and a grand-daughter of John McLoughlin, Esqire. We had a very nice visit with them and hope their union may prove a blessing to them through life." (Oregon Historical Quaterly, XXXVI (1935), 338.) The following June at Fort Vancouver a daughter by the name of Francis Marie Ermatinger was born. She was an only child. "B. 94 Francis Marie Ermatinger, June 18, 1843 Francis Marie Ermatinger, born the 3rd of the present month. Legitimate daughter of Francis Ermatinger, Esq., Chief Trader of the Hon. H.B.Co., and Dame Catherine Sinclair, residents of Vancouver. Godfather, John McLoughlin, Esq., Chief Factor Hon. H.B.Co., and Godmother, Madame Marie Barclay. (signed) Maria Barclay, John McLoughlin, Francis Ermatinger, David McLoughlin, Dugald McTavish, Forbes Barclay. ANT. LANGLOIS, priest. " (Records of the St. James Church, Fort Vancouver) The above information was found in The Mountain Men and the Fur Trade of the Far West, Volume VIII, pages 157-173. I hope this information is of some assistance. YMHOS, David Mullen - -- David & Evelyn Mullen 202 Mesa Verde Jemez Springs, NM 87025 (505) 829-3212 email: dmullen@jemez.com Angela Gottfred wrote: > > I'm doing some research into the family tree of NWC wintering partner > Jean-Etienne Waden, and have run into a dead end. (Waden's not related, but > looking into his descendants has turned up some neat stuff.) > > I'm looking for information on Chief Factor William Sinclair. He married > Mary McKay, the step-daughter of Dr. John McLoughlin, but aside from that I > know very little. Since it was quite possibly in Oregon during the Mountain > Man era, I though somebody on this list might be able to help. I'd > especially like to know when he married Mary, and anything about their > children (especially Catharine), but background about his career would also > be helpful. I'm also curious about his mother, and where he was born. > > Your humble & obedient servant, > Angela Gottfred > agottfre@telusplanet.net ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 16:03:44 -0500 From: Mike Rock Subject: MtMan-List: slightly off topic...print wanted I am looking for a print called Trade from the Monongehela...Muzzle Blasts printed it I think. Shows fellows shooting at a chunk in front of a blacksmith shop. Had a copy and had it framed for 300 and gave it as a prize in a chunk gun match I sponsered. Now I want one for ME. :) Thanks all Mike Rock ------------------------------ Date: 17 Aug 99 18:41:01 -0600 From: Phyllis and Don Keas Subject: MtMan-List: FWD: [Fwd: Fwd: Fw: Self Administered CPR If you are home alone DON AND PHYLLIS KEAS ---LIving History Consultants - -------------------------------------- Date: 8/16/99 8:41 AM From: Kristy Hoover >>> >>> CPR SELF ADMINISTERED >>> You want to pass this on to your family and friends. I sincerely hope = no >>one >>> encounters this situation in their life time but just in case. >>> >>> DO IT YOURSELF CPR >>> Let's say it's 4:17 p.m. and you're driving home, (alone of course) after >>an >>> unusually hard day on the job. Not only was the work load >>extraordinarily >>> heavy, you also had a disagreement with your boss, and no matter how hard >>you >>> tried he just wouldn't see your side of the situation. You're really >>upset >>> and the more you think about it the more up tight you become. >>> >>> All of a sudden you start experiencing severe pain in your chest that >>starts >>> to radiate out into your arm and up into your jaw. You are only about >>five >>> miles from the hospital nearest your home, unfortunately you don't = know >>if >>> you'll be able to make it that far. >>> >>> What can you do? You've been trained in CPR but the guy that taught = the >>> course neglected to tell you how to perform it on yourself. >>> >>> HOW TO SURVIVE A HEART ATTACK WHEN ALONE >>> >>> (Since many people are alone when they suffer a heart attack, this >>article >>> seemed in order.) Without help the person whose heart stops beating >>properly >>> and who begins to feel Faint, has only about 10 seconds left before >>losing >>> consciousness. However, these victims can help themselves by coughing >>> repeatedly and very vigorously. A deep breath should be taken before each >> >>> cough, and the cough must be deep and prolonged, as when producing sputum >> >>> from deep inside the chest. A breath and a cough must be repeated = about >>every >>> two seconds without let up until help arrives, or until the heart is felt >>to >>> be beating normally again. Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and >> >>> coughing movements squeeze the heart and keep the blood circulating. = The >>> squeezing pressure on the heart also helps it regain normal rhythm. = In >>this >>> way, heart attack victims can get to a phone and, between breaths, = call >>for >>> help. >>> >>> Tell as many other people as possible about this, it could save their >>lives! >>> >>> From >>> Health Cares, Rochester General Hospital via Chapter 240s newsletter >>> AND THE BEAT GOES ON... >>> (reprint from The Mended Hearts, Inc. publication, Heart Response) >>> >>> [Unable to display image] >>> >> - --part4_8d9eb9df.24cbb09c_boundary-- - --part3_8d9eb9df.24cbdc47_boundary-- - --part2_8d9eb9df.24cbf90e_boundary-- - --part1_8d9eb9df.24ce4172_boundary-- - --WebTV-Mail-543-5814-- - --0-1957747793-934761315=3D:386-- RFC822 header - ----------------------------------- Received: from uswgco3.uswc.uswest.com [209.54.108.174] by mail.market1.= com with ESMTP (SMTPD32-5.01) id A3D918A500F2; Mon, 16 Aug 1999 08:44:41 -0600 Received: from egate-ut2.uswc.uswest.com (egate-ut2.uswc.uswest.com [148.= 157.122.199]) by uswgco3.uswc.uswest.com (8.8.5/8.8.5) with ESMTP id IAA26964 for ; Mon, 16 Aug 1999 08:44:48 -0600 (MDT) Received: from centhub.mnet.uswest.com (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by egate-= ut2.uswc.uswest.com (8.8.8/8.8.8) with SMTP id IAA04393 for ; Mon, 16 Aug 1999 08:44:47 -0600 (MDT) Received: from netmail5.uswc.uswest.com (netmail5.uswc.uswest.com [151.= 117.75.71]) by centhub.mnet.uswest.com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id = IAA14956 for ; Mon, 16 Aug 1999 08:44:46 -0600 Received: from uswest.com ([151.116.59.242]) by netmail5.uswc.uswest.com (Netscape Messaging Server 3.61) with ESMTP id AAA47E8; Mon, 16 Aug 1999 08:44:38 -0600 Message-ID: <37B8232D.439CF9BE@uswest.com> Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1999 08:41:49 -0600 From: "Kristy Hoover" Organization: U S WEST Wireless, LCC X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.05 [en]C-USWC0820 (WinNT; U) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: alan , angie , anne , bev , dad , delevan , corey , erica , jana , jen , jennifer , jocelyn , kat , marshall , mike , missy , noel , phyllis & don , sandy , stephanie , tonia , wendy Subject: [Fwd: Fwd: Fw: Self Administered CPR If you are home alone - = Important] Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary=3D"------------= 51CA691546107B21E09AD927" X-RCPT-TO: X-UIDL: 1536 Status: U = ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 18:00:03 -0700 From: randybublitz@juno.com Subject: Re: MtMan-List: slightly off topic...print wanted Mike Rock, I have a copy of this print. It is a little faded, I imagine, from years of hanging. If you really want it I would be willing to trade ?. Contact me off line. PS I'm a reasonable guy. Hardtack Your Second Amendment Rights protect ALL of your other Rights, Don't give up your Rights ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 22:29:34 -0400 From: Tom Roberts Subject: MtMan-List: Flint Edge Okay, it's time for my next pilgrim question. How does one restore the keen edge of the gunflint? There are many sites on knapping in general but they are aimed at creating points. I know the principal is the same but the process seems much finer for gunflints. The flints I have (English gray) appear cut at first glance but upon close scrutiny are actually split as evidenced by the slightly concave surface indicating a spall. They do not seem to hold up well at all, offering only 20 or so strikes before dull to the point of no sparks. My meager efforts so far, although some edge is restored, result an a flint that is jagged and way too short. When new, the fully seated flint is within 1/16" of the frizzen face at half cock. Any advice besides buying a pile of flints? Tom ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 22:12:30 -0500 From: John Kramer Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Flint Edge As with most things from Europe the quality is specious at best and often= no more than simple hyperbole. They've refined hornswaggling, what they sti= ll refer to as, Colonists (us) for more than 3 centuries now into a fine art form. I've never been impressed with English black or French brown flint= .=20 Mostly expensive. I use rocks I find on the ground, I've had flints of jasper, chert, Texas= grey and other rocks last for hundreds of sparks without bothering to sharpen = the edge. Making points is much more technical than flints to shoot with. If they= need sharpening block the touchhole, and strike the edge square on with a non- sparking material like a piece of antler, a nifty brass hammer, or anothe= r rock; flaking off slivers to restore the edge. It is more technique than= how hard you hit. Buy flints? Why? There are so many available for free just laying aroun= d.=20 Broken arrowheads work well. Take your striker and find something that t= hrows hot spark then knap off a hunk or several about the right size for your musket. John... At 10:29 PM 8/17/99 -0400, you wrote: >Okay, it's time for my next pilgrim question.=A0 How does one restore th= e >keen edge of the gunflint?=A0=A0 There are many sites >on knapping in general but they are aimed at creating points.=A0 I know >the principal is the same but the process seems much >finer for gunflints.=A0 The flints I have (English gray) appear cut at >first glance but upon close scrutiny are actually split as >evidenced by the slightly concave surface indicating a spall.=A0 They do >not seem to hold up well at all, offering only 20 or >so strikes before dull to the point of no sparks.=A0=A0 My meager effort= s so >far, although some edge is restored, result an a flint >that is jagged and way too short.=A0 When new, the fully seated flint is >within 1/16" of the frizzen face at half cock.=A0=A0 Any advice besides >buying a pile of flints? > >Tom >=20 Use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without. John Kramer ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 22:06:42 -0700 From: "Munroe Crutchley" Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Flint Edge > Okay, it's time for my next pilgrim question. How does one restore the > keen edge of the gunflint I'm not a flinlock shooter, but I have seen people cock the hammer while holding the frizzen tight against the flint; in other words, dragging the flint backwards hard against the frizzen face. Doing this a few times seems to break small chips off the top of the flint temporarily restoring a new edge. Munroe Crutchley Grants Pass, OR ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Aug 1999 11:36:41 -0400 From: Bob Spencer Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Flint Edge >How does one restore the >keen edge of the gunflint? Tom, you might want to look at the FAQ "Tuning the Flintlock" on the MLML Home Page, URL below. Down near the bottom of the article there is a picture of a simple tool, made from a nail, which will do the sharpening very easily and well. Instructions are there. I've used the tool a fair bit, and would be glad to answer any questions you have about it or its use. Bob Bob Spencer Louisville, KY http://members.aye.net/~bspen/index.html ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Aug 1999 10:42:55 -0500 From: James A Lindberg Subject: MtMan-List: Snake stick game Some one on a scout group asked how to play the snake stick game, where there are 5 sticks. I figured someone here would know the rules and scoring. Thanks, Jim ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Aug 1999 09:46:10 +0000 From: R Lahti Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Snake stick game James A Lindberg wrote: > Some one on a scout group asked how to play the snake stick game, where > there are 5 sticks. I figured someone here would know the rules and > scoring. Jim, I have a set of "sticks" made of small flat pieces of bone about four fingers wide and the width and thickness of a popsicle stick. This is what is in "Feminine Furtrade Fashions" by K. Wilson and J. Hanson. Wish my scanner was working! First two sticks.......the snake or zigzag (two per set; have blank reverses and a zigzag pattern the length of the face side. Second stick......Chief or "man" - also has four grooves in back. Face side is a string of closely spaced black dots (like dice have) running the length of the stick on the face side with two closely spaced parallel lines of dots running across the width of the face at the mid point (the lengthwise dots run up to these two lines of cross wise dots but not across them.). Third stick.........the "four"- has a blank reverse. The face has five sets of four slashes made across the stick (one at each end of the stick, one in the middle and one set between each end set and the middle set, for a total of five sets) There is a black dot centered between each set of slash marks for a total of four dots. Called the Stave Game: Popular among Northern Plains tribes, there are four bone or wood dice; 2 'snakes', 1 'chief', and 1 'four'. The player throws the dice, held vertically, ahead on a blanket. A game is 12 points. Rules the same as for dice. Scoring is as follows: 3 blank and 1 chief= 6 points; 3 blank and chiefs back= 3 points; 2 snakes, 1 chief, and 1 four= 2 points; 2 blank, 1 four, and chiefs back= 1 point; all other combinations = 0 points. A long but fun game. When no points are scored the next player tosses. There was no reference as to who got to go first but I would think you would make one free toss each and whomever throws the most points with that toss starts off first for the actual game. I don't know of any other game like this that uses 5 sticks so I can only assume this is the one you were referring to. Hope this helps. I remain...... YMOS Capt. Lahti' > > > Thanks, > > Jim ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Aug 1999 10:13:55 +0000 From: R Lahti Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Snake stick game James A Lindberg wrote: > Some one on a scout group asked how to play the snake stick game, where > there are 5 sticks. I figured someone here would know the rules and > scoring. Jim, I just thought of another game that I am sure the scouts would like as much as the Stave game or stick game. It is a mountain man game that we may have invented in this modern era. The "Hairy Lizards" and the NW Brigade AMM used to play it a lot but I think we may have matured some since then. The "Snort Game"....... Have each player carve a small plug of his or (unlikely it will happen) her own design that will fit up one nostril. I favor a plug that is fairly tight in the "bore" and about 1/2 inch long. Two players set cross legged opposite each other with (preferably) a wide brimmed hat turned upside down between them. Each player in turn puts their plug in a preferred nostril and with an index finger plugging the opposite nostril, "snorts" their plug into the crown of the hat. If both players score a hit, they continue to play but must move back an even amount of distance. The length is not critical but about a foot to 18" at a time seems to work and soon separates the men from the boys, so to speak. Upon a miss by either player, that player gets up and surrenders his/her position to a challenger. Bets may be made by players or bystanders on each "short of the plug". The game can also be played while both players are standing and they may start sitting or standing by mutual agreement but it is more fun to be sitting on the ground unless it is early spring or early winter when the ground is wet. You will find that you may need to make a new snort plug for each outing since they tend to dry out and loose size which tends to make for a loose fit in the bore which of course makes for a loss of accuracy. I also don't think Dutch Shoultz' accuracy system as made famous on the MLML list will work with this game. I also think it helps to train for this game ahead of time by using the snorting method to expel nasal mucus which builds strong lungs and more importantly, muscle control. Using a larger and larger digit to cleans your nostril will help prepare it for heavier plugs and seems to straighten out the passages for better accuracy. Though the scouts would not be able to partake, a good game strategy would include the consumption of just the right amount of "Spiritous Liquors". The amount consumed being the tricky part. One must gage the optimum quantity and I firmly believe too, that type of "Spirits" is important. I have had good results with "Capt. Morgans Spiced Rum" but others have good results with other concoctions. I don't know if one would get any benefit from consuming large quantities of things like "Gator Aid" or "Kool Aid" but if you have a runny sinus infection, I believe you have an edge on the competition.I personally have to stay away from foods of the "pepper family" prior to a game since they make me plug up with a dry congestion resulting in my need to breath through my mouth.. I would try to use the other persons hat though. Well, I would try to use their hat in any case, truth be known. I hope this has been of additional help to you in your task of keeping adolescents entertained in a relatively none destructive way. I would caution you to advise your kids to not take the knowledge of this game home with them if they wish to ever be allowed back. I remain..... YMOS Capt. Lahti' ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Aug 1999 13:15:51 EDT From: RR1LA@aol.com Subject: Re: MtMan-List: OT Self Administered CPR If you are home alone not to be contrary, but I was just this morning reading a report that this may be more incorrect information traveling the internet... here's the scoop according to Dr. Mara McErlean, Professor of Emergency Medicine, Albany Medical College, reporting on preliminary results of a study by the AMA.... There is currently NO KNOWN BENEFIT from attempting 'COUGH CPR" and it may actually cause more heart damage. According to the AMA, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO IF ALONE IS TAKE AN ASPIRIN while you are waiting for trained help; they recommend that anybody at risk for heart attack or stroke always carry an aspirin with them... (taken from Bottom Line Personal 9/1/99) Barn ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Aug 1999 11:01:24 -0700 From: "Vince Stevens" Subject: Re: MtMan-List: on the road again Tony, If you have the time stop by the new Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center in Great Falls, MT. It's worth the $5 admission fee just to see the movie they show about the expedition. Giant Springs (the spring described by Lewis(?)) is just a short distance down the road. The waters are running a little low this time of year, but the the falls and the reason for the month long portage are still pretty impressive. Vince - -- HotBot - Search smarter. http://www.hotbot.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Aug 1999 17:55:10 -0700 From: "larry pendleton" Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Flint Edge Tom, Both John and Bob are right, sorta, If you live in the right part of the country it is real easy to find flints or rocks that will work just fine as gun flints. Unfortunately I don't. Rocks that will throw a spark are real scarce in northeast Texas. You can go 100 to 150 mi. in any direction and find plenty. I buy mine usually from Track of The Wolf, and no, I don't own part of the outfit. I just seem to get better quality from them. By that I mean when I order x number dozen flints, I get more good useable flints and less culls. Another option is to buy them at a rendezvous where you can pick and choose and get nothing but the primo flints that you really like. I prefer the black English flints. It sounds like the ones you have are the sawed flints. Even though there is a concave side to them, the way you describe them as being gray and looking like they were sawed, I'll bet they are sawed flints, or maybe the ones that are partially sawed. I have never had any luck at all with those things. John is right, if you are in the right area you can pickup better flints off the ground than you can buy. I have a friend who goes to west Texas regularly, and he always brings back a pocket full of chert. He can get 50 to a 100 shots easy off of a piece of it. The method of knapping a gun flint that Bob is speaking of works really well for a beginner. A common mistake is to strike the flint at the wrong angle and to hit it too hard, thus chipping off more of the edge than is necessary, but if you use a tool like he is speaking of, it eliminates the problem. You will also end up with a more uniform edge. Another thing to consider is the fact that some locks just eat flints. It has to do with the geometry of the lock. You might want to get a gunsmith or a old hand with flintlocks to take at your lock. There might be something that could be done to it inexpensively that would help. Keep them sparks a flyin ! BE SAFE HAVE FUN Pendleton - -----Original Message----- From: John Kramer To: hist_text@lists.xmission.com Date: Tuesday, August 17, 1999 8:13 PM Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Flint Edge As with most things from Europe the quality is specious at best and often no more than simple hyperbole. They've refined hornswaggling, what they still refer to as, Colonists (us) for more than 3 centuries now into a fine art form. I've never been impressed with English black or French brown flint. Mostly expensive. I use rocks I find on the ground, I've had flints of jasper, chert, Texas grey and other rocks last for hundreds of sparks without bothering to sharpen the edge. Making points is much more technical than flints to shoot with. If they need sharpening block the touchhole, and strike the edge square on with a non- sparking material like a piece of antler, a nifty brass hammer, or another rock; flaking off slivers to restore the edge. It is more technique than how hard you hit. Buy flints? Why? There are so many available for free just laying around. Broken arrowheads work well. Take your striker and find something that throws hot spark then knap off a hunk or several about the right size for your musket. John... At 10:29 PM 8/17/99 -0400, you wrote: >Okay, it's time for my next pilgrim question. How does one restore the >keen edge of the gunflint? There are many sites >on knapping in general but they are aimed at creating points. I know >the principal is the same but the process seems much >finer for gunflints. The flints I have (English gray) appear cut at >first glance but upon close scrutiny are actually split as >evidenced by the slightly concave surface indicating a spall. They do >not seem to hold up well at all, offering only 20 or >so strikes before dull to the point of no sparks. My meager efforts so >far, although some edge is restored, result an a flint >that is jagged and way too short. When new, the fully seated flint is >within 1/16" of the frizzen face at half cock. Any advice besides >buying a pile of flints? > >Tom > Use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without. John Kramer ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Aug 1999 16:57:00 -0700 From: "John C. Funk, Jr." Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Snake stick game Capt. L. Tell em about the game involving the dropping of a coin into a hat.....say..... from about waist high!!!!! - ----- Original Message ----- From: R Lahti To: Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 1999 3:13 AM Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Snake stick game > > > James A Lindberg wrote: > > > Some one on a scout group asked how to play the snake stick game, where > > there are 5 sticks. I figured someone here would know the rules and > > scoring. > > Jim, > > I just thought of another game that I am sure the scouts would like as much > as the Stave game or stick game. It is a mountain man game that we may have > invented in this modern era. The "Hairy Lizards" and the NW Brigade AMM > used to play it a lot but I think we may have matured some since then. > > The "Snort Game"....... Have each player carve a small plug of his or > (unlikely it will happen) her own design that will fit up one nostril. I > favor a plug that is fairly tight in the "bore" and about 1/2 inch long. > > Two players set cross legged opposite each other with (preferably) a wide > brimmed hat turned upside down between them. Each player in turn puts their > plug in a preferred nostril and with an index finger plugging the opposite > nostril, "snorts" their plug into the crown of the hat. If both players > score a hit, they continue to play but must move back an even amount of > distance. The length is not critical but about a foot to 18" at a time > seems to work and soon separates the men from the boys, so to speak. Upon a > miss by either player, that player gets up and surrenders his/her position > to a challenger. Bets may be made by players or bystanders on each "short > of the plug". The game can also be played while both players are standing > and they may start sitting or standing by mutual agreement but it is more > fun to be sitting on the ground unless it is early spring or early winter > when the ground is wet. > > You will find that you may need to make a new snort plug for each outing > since they tend to dry out and loose size which tends to make for a loose > fit in the bore which of course makes for a loss of accuracy. I also don't > think Dutch Shoultz' accuracy system as made famous on the MLML list will > work with this game. I also think it helps to train for this game ahead of > time by using the snorting method to expel nasal mucus which builds strong > lungs and more importantly, muscle control. Using a larger and larger digit > to cleans your nostril will help prepare it for heavier plugs and seems to > straighten out the passages for better accuracy. Though the scouts would > not be able to partake, a good game strategy would include the consumption > of just the right amount of "Spiritous Liquors". The amount consumed being > the tricky part. One must gage the optimum quantity and I firmly believe > too, that type of "Spirits" is important. I have had good results with > "Capt. Morgans Spiced Rum" but others have good results with other > concoctions. I don't know if one would get any benefit from consuming large > quantities of things like "Gator Aid" or "Kool Aid" but if you have a runny > sinus infection, I believe you have an edge on the competition.I personally > have to stay away from foods of the "pepper family" prior to a game since > they make me plug up with a dry congestion resulting in my need to breath > through my mouth.. I would try to use the other persons hat though. Well, > I would try to use their hat in any case, truth be known. > > I hope this has been of additional help to you in your task of keeping > adolescents entertained in a relatively none destructive way. I would > caution you to advise your kids to not take the knowledge of this game home > with them if they wish to ever be allowed back. I remain..... > > YMOS > Capt. Lahti' > > > > ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Aug 1999 17:13:20 +0000 From: R Lahti Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Snake stick game John C. Funk, Jr. wrote: > Capt. L. > Tell em about the game involving the dropping of a coin into a > hat.....say..... from about waist high!!!!! John, There is no such game! I have never played it nor have I ever seen anyone play it and any one who says I did was lying! A note of caution, let the penny lay where it falls! And I assume it is dropped from somewhat less than waist high but I am only guessing of course. And furthermore it wasn't a penny! We were all drunk at the time! I remain....... YMOS Capt. Lahti' ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Aug 1999 21:11:44 -0400 From: Tom Roberts Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Flint Edge Thanks to all for the flint help. Unfortunately, where I live the closest thing to flints lying about is grains of sand. Maybe someday I'll be fortunate to live and shoot where flints grow wild. In the mean time, I'll try some different types and continue to experiment with the knapping process. I do have some obsidian chunks I gathered in Idaho - anyone ever try that in a flintlock? BTW, great lead on the MLML page! Tom larry pendleton wrote: > Tom, > Both John and Bob are right, sorta, If you live in the right part of the > country...... ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Aug 1999 22:06:00 -0500 From: John Kramer Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Flint Edge Yep, obsidian can work though they don't hold well with a long taper edge= , broken shards of glass can also be made to work. I have found flint in s= o many areas of the country I find it difficult to believe there is nothing usab= le anywhere. Sometimes its red, sometimes yellow, or grey, or black, or mot= tled, or brown or non-descript. The question is whether it is hard enough to s= have off a little metal and cause spark. Once you start picking the stuff up = there is never a shortage again. Of course I call any fine grain rock that throws spark flint. After a wh= ile you can usually tell by looking. Maybe not on a beach but somewhere not = far away there is something that will spark. Check the decorative rocks in peoples gardens many of them work just fine. I've picked up usable rocks from gr= avel roadways, stream beds, and hillsides all over the country. =20 John... At 09:11 PM 8/18/99 -0400, you wrote: >Thanks to all for the flint help.=A0 Unfortunately, where I live the clo= sest thing >to flints lying about is grains of sand.=A0 Maybe someday I'll be fortun= ate to >live and shoot where flints grow wild.=A0 In the mean time, I'll try som= e >different types and continue to experiment with the knapping process.=A0= I do have >some obsidian chunks I gathered in Idaho - anyone ever try that in a >flintlock?=A0=A0 BTW, great lead on the MLML page! > >Tom > >larry pendleton wrote: > >> Tom, >>=A0=A0 Both John and Bob are right, sorta, If you live in the right par= t of the >> country...... >=20 Use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without. John Kramer ------------------------------ End of hist_text-digest V1 #353 ******************************* - To unsubscribe to hist_text-digest, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe hist_text-digest" in the body of the message.