From: owner-hist_text-digest@lists.xmission.com (hist_text-digest) To: hist_text-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: hist_text-digest V1 #850 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 Sunday, September 2 2001 Volume 01 : Number 850 In this issue: -牋牋牋 Re: MtMan-List: what exactly do "YOU" carry in your possibles bag ???? -牋牋牋 Re: MtMan-List: Double three point blankets -牋牋牋 Fw: MtMan-List: what exactly do "YOU" carry in your possibles bag ???? -牋牋牋 Re: Fw: MtMan-List: what exactly do "YOU" carry in your possibles bag ???? -牋牋牋 Re: MtMan-List: what exactly do "YOU" carry in your possibles bag ???? -牋牋牋 Re: MtMan-List: what exactly do "YOU" carry in your possibles bag? -牋牋牋 MtMan-List: Chouteau Days -牋牋牋 MtMan-List: smoothbore rear sights -牋牋牋 Re: MtMan-List: smoothbore rear sights -牋牋牋 Re: MtMan-List: Chouteau Days -牋牋牋 Re: MtMan-List: what exactly do "YOU" carry in your possibles bag ???? -牋牋牋 Re: MtMan-List: smoothbore rear sights -牋牋牋 Re: MtMan-List: Chouteau Days -牋牋牋 Re: MtMan-List: Chouteau Days -牋牋牋 Re: MtMan-List: smoothbore rear sights -牋牋牋 Re: MtMan-List: smoothbore rear sights ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 2 Sep 2001 08:47:55 -0500 From: "Lanney Ratcliff" Subject: Re: MtMan-List: what exactly do "YOU" carry in your possibles bag ???? This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_0003_01C1338B.F5A0A060 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Just curious what you keep in your "possibles" bag. Please itemize. I keep Mark Baker in mine and he just hands out whatever I need. Lanney Ratcliff - ------=_NextPart_000_0003_01C1338B.F5A0A060 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Just curious what you keep in your = "possibles"=20 bag. Please itemize.

I keep Mark Baker in mine and he just hands out = whatever I=20 need.

Lanney Ratcliff

- ------=_NextPart_000_0003_01C1338B.F5A0A060-- - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 02 Sep 2001 07:54:49 -0600 From: Angela Gottfred Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Double three point blankets Thanks to everyone who responded with info on the double three point blankets. I knew you folks would have the answer. Your humble & obedient servant, Angela Gottfred - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 2 Sep 2001 11:34:37 -0500 From: "Lanney Ratcliff" Subject: Fw: MtMan-List: what exactly do "YOU" carry in your possibles bag ???? This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_001A_01C133A3.3F567100 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Dave I just couldn't help the Mark Baker comment. Just couldn't help myself = at all. My possibles bag contents will vary, depending on circumstances. = However I nearly always contain certain items: 1.prescription drugs for diabetes & hypertension....always 2.aspirin if I am at high altitude.....a big help in avoiding altitude = sickness 3.fire kit w/tinder 4.knife w/small stone 5.journal w/pencil 6. compact sewing kit with linen & cotton thread and various needles and = a length of buckskin whang 7.compass.....mine has a built in sundial 8.small qty ready to eat rations.....dried fruit, cheese, jerky, etc 9.sometimes tin cup w/spoon....especially if camp dogging is a = possibility 10. pipe & tobacco or a cigar 11. camera & film where applicable 12. flask w/rum or whisky if going visiting......I don't drink (see = "diabetes" above) but don't mind treating my friends. YMOS Lanney Ratcliff - ----- Original Message -----=20 From: cd252=20 To: hist_text@lists.xmission.com=20 Sent: Sunday, September 02, 2001 3:05 AM Subject: MtMan-List: what exactly do "YOU" carry in your possibles bag = ???? =20 Hi, =20 Just curious what you keep in your "possibles" bag. Please itemize. =20 Thanks, Dave - ------=_NextPart_000_001A_01C133A3.3F567100 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Dave

I just couldn't help the Mark Baker comment. = Just=20 couldn't help myself at all.

My possibles bag contents will vary, depending on=20 circumstances. However I nearly always contain certain=20 items:

1.prescription drugs for diabetes &=20 hypertension....always

2.aspirin if I am at high altitude.....a big = help in=20 avoiding altitude sickness

3.fire kit w/tinder

4.knife w/small stone

5.journal w/pencil

6. compact sewing kit with linen & cotton thread = and=20 various needles and a length of buckskin whang

7.compass.....mine has a built in = sundial

8.small qty ready to eat rations.....dried fruit, = cheese,=20 jerky, etc

9.sometimes tin cup w/spoon....especially if camp = dogging is a=20 possibility

10. pipe & tobacco or a cigar

11. camera & film where applicable

12. flask w/rum or whisky if going visiting......I = don't drink=20 (see "diabetes" above) but don't mind treating my friends.

YMOS

Lanney Ratcliff

----- Original Message -----=20

From: cd252

To: hist_text@lists.xmission.com =

Sent: Sunday, September 02, 2001 3:05 AM

Subject: MtMan-List: what exactly do "YOU" carry in your = possibles=20 bag ????

Hi,

Just curious what you keep in your "possibles" = bag. Please=20 itemize.

Thanks,

Dave

- ------=_NextPart_000_001A_01C133A3.3F567100-- - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 02 Sep 2001 17:47:14 +0000 From: "darlene secondine" Subject: Re: Fw: MtMan-List: what exactly do "YOU" carry in your possibles bag ???? Howdy Dave, Throw in a bag mold a couple sticks of bar lead and folding ladle and some tow, everything else is about the same. Happy trails, Don, in the Ohio country >From: "Lanney Ratcliff" >Reply-To: hist_text@lists.xmission.com >To: "History List" >Subject: Fw: MtMan-List: what exactly do "YOU" carry in your possibles bag >???? >Date: Sun, 2 Sep 2001 11:34:37 -0500 > >Dave >I just couldn't help the Mark Baker comment. Just couldn't help myself at >all. > >My possibles bag contents will vary, depending on circumstances. However I >nearly always contain certain items: >1.prescription drugs for diabetes & hypertension....always >2.aspirin if I am at high altitude.....a big help in avoiding altitude >sickness >3.fire kit w/tinder >4.knife w/small stone >5.journal w/pencil >6. compact sewing kit with linen & cotton thread and various needles and a >length of buckskin whang >7.compass.....mine has a built in sundial >8.small qty ready to eat rations.....dried fruit, cheese, jerky, etc >9.sometimes tin cup w/spoon....especially if camp dogging is a possibility >10. pipe & tobacco or a cigar >11. camera & film where applicable >12. flask w/rum or whisky if going visiting......I don't drink (see >"diabetes" above) but don't mind treating my friends. >YMOS >Lanney Ratcliff >----- Original Message ----- >From: cd252 >To: hist_text@lists.xmission.com >Sent: Sunday, September 02, 2001 3:05 AM >Subject: MtMan-List: what exactly do "YOU" carry in your possibles bag ???? > > > > Hi, > > Just curious what you keep in your "possibles" bag. Please itemize. > > Thanks, > Dave _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 2 Sep 2001 14:02:00 -0400 From: "Addison Miller" Subject: Re: MtMan-List: what exactly do "YOU" carry in your possibles bag ???? This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_000B_01C133B7.D60D1D60 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable I actually carry.... depending on how long I am going to be out... If just for a morning hunt, I carry a medium size with the following.... 1. 2 extra flints 2. sundial/compass 3. gun oil 4. several clean patches 5. cleaning solvent 6. vent pick, screw driver, brush combo 7. patch worm, ball puller, cleaning jag 8. 20 ball of the same caliber as the rifle 9. 4 oz flask of "snake bite" remedy 10. small knife and stone 11. water tight lucifer tin 12. powder horn 13. 1'x1' heavy leather 14. 2 - 36" long whangs 15. smoking material If this is going to be an ALL day trip... then I add in a leather = haversack.... 1. small tin boiler and cup 2. coffee grounds in premeasured bags 3. fire starting kit 4. parched corn, dried peas, hard cheese and jerky 5. basic first aid kit 6. spoon 7. 8 oz flask of "snake bite" medicine... more chance of getting bit if = out all day... 8. canteen of water (if none available where I am going) 9. sewing kit Hope this info helps.... Ad Miller Alderson, WV - ------=_NextPart_000_000B_01C133B7.D60D1D60 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

I actually carry.... depending on how = long I am=20 going to be out...

If just for a morning hunt, I carry a = medium size=20 with the following....

1. 2 extra flints

2. sundial/compass

3. gun oil

4. several clean = patches

5. cleaning solvent

6. vent pick, screw driver, brush = combo

7. patch worm, ball puller, = cleaning=20 jag

8. 20 ball of the same caliber as = the=20 rifle

9. 4 oz flask of "snake bite"=20 remedy

10. small knife and stone

11. water tight lucifer = tin

12. powder horn

13. 1'x1' heavy leather

14. 2 - 36" long whangs

15. smoking material

If this is going to be an ALL day = trip... then I=20 add in a leather haversack....

1. small tin boiler and = cup

2. coffee grounds in premeasured=20 bags

3. fire starting kit

4. parched corn, dried = peas, hard=20 cheese and jerky

5. basic first aid = kit

6. spoon

7. 8 oz flask of "snake bite" = medicine...=20 more chance of getting bit if out all day...

8. canteen of water (if none = available where=20 I am going)

9. sewing kit

Hope this info helps....

Ad Miller

Alderson, WV

- ------=_NextPart_000_000B_01C133B7.D60D1D60-- - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 02 Sep 2001 14:04:22 -0400 From: tom roberts Subject: Re: MtMan-List: what exactly do "YOU" carry in your possibles bag? Just dumped mine out to see what all is in there and here's what I found: 1 ticking pouch containing: 2 hand forged forks (made by a fine Ohio blacksmith) 2 hand forged spoons 1 horsehair/bone toothbrush 1 forged "Z" hook (for hanging/skinning squirrels) 1 wire blanket pin 1 spare rivercane pipe stem 2 small sticks of lighter pine 1 small flat file 1 ticking pouch containing: a couple fist sized balls of tinder (moss, tow, palm hair) 1 tin with char under leather, small steel, small flint, glass lens, wad of tinder 2 small chunks of pine pitch 1 ticking pouch containing: 1 tin with tobacco and clay pipe bowl 1 tin with assorted fish hooks, linen line, lead strips 1 small roll of heavy waxed linen string 1 wooden tube containing a few sewing needles 1 journal with pencil 1 canvas pouch with a small New Testament (ABS, printed 1826) 1 ticking pouch containing jerky and a small tea brick 1 small folding tin lantern with spare candle, spare pencil, spare pipe stem, obsidian flake 1 small copper flask with a medicinal product from a Carolina mountaineer 1 short length of hickory stick (pointed for digging or a stake) 1 horsehair rope, about 1/4" x 40ft a couple scraps of braintan a small copper boiler with bail a string of small whiteheart beads Sounds like I've got everything but a saddle, but I can and do thin it down depending on what I'm doing. Tom - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 2 Sep 2001 13:48:35 -0700 (PDT) From: George Noe Subject: MtMan-List: Chouteau Days http://members.socket.net/~mofurco/salina/carol.htm Pix from last year ! The Museum is on the site where Chouteau's home was located. In Salina, Oklahoma. Dates: October 12 - 13 We are interested in help for "School Day" dremos on Friday, and number of camps on Sat. Anybody interested ??? ===== George R. Noe< gnoe39@yahoo.com > Watch your back trail, and keep your eyes on the skyline. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger http://im.yahoo.com - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 2 Sep 2001 16:20:49 -0500 From: "Frank Fusco" Subject: MtMan-List: smoothbore rear sights A friend has a very nice repro NW trade musket that has a fine groove engraved at the breech end of the barrel. This groove is about 8 inches long and serves as a rear sight. It does not raise above the plane of the barrel. My friend said that when he visited the Museum of the Fur Trade he saw that about 25% of the trade muskets displayed had a similar rear sight. From my readings, I know that this was a common technique for having a rear 'sight' on a smoothbore. If such sights are period correct, does anyone know why they are banned from most primitive matches today? It seems to me that such banning is a 'not-authentic' ruling by those wishing most to preserve history correctly. Frank G. Fusco Mountain Home, Arkansas http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/ozarksmuzzleloaders - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 2 Sep 2001 14:35:11 -0700 (PDT) From: scott mcmahon Subject: Re: MtMan-List: smoothbore rear sights Mr. Fusco, Never understood that rule myself nor have I ever understood rendezvous' allowing T.C. "Hawkens" with modern sights but banning such period firearms as 1816 Halls breechloaders or 1830's model Halls breechloading carbines?! We had a controversy at our local rendezvous a couple of years ago over the same thing and the only explianation I got was that those guns were just not "furtrade" guns? I took it to mean that since those running the events didn't have them they weren't allowed! I've found that furtrade reenactors/living historians who are really interested in doing things right are few and far between, at least here in Texas. Scott McMahon _______________________________________________________ http://inbox.excite.com - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 2 Sep 2001 14:53:07 -0700 (PDT) From: George Noe Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Chouteau Days PS. You can bring your "public" type tradegoods and sell them !! Not many Mt.Man type trade, but you can set up to sell anything, or almost anything. ===== George R. Noe< gnoe39@yahoo.com > Watch your back trail, and keep your eyes on the skyline. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger http://im.yahoo.com - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 2 Sep 2001 18:26:46 -0400 From: Ikon@mindspring.com Subject: Re: MtMan-List: what exactly do "YOU" carry in your possibles bag ???? This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_000D_01C133DC.D2A47720 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Let's see. hole punch file extra flints although I shoot caps patch worm ball screw puller patch material tin of lube tin of caps a few yards of heavy thread a few feet of latigo lacing a nice piece of tanned deerskin that wraps around a palm size mag. = glass. a few yards of sinew, immitation. extra lead balls I will usually throw in a mess of deer jerky, salt, coffee and a few = munchies. The coffee cup is on the outside of the pouch. I carry my flint & steel in a small pouch on the belt. =20 I also carry my shooting pouch on the side. It is not very big but it = includes 20 balls, a tin of pre lubed pre cut patches, and a tin of = caps. Inside I have a 4 ball pre lubed patched balls spead loader made = of black walnet and on the end is a little leather ring that carries 10 = caps. Man, those caps do get to be a pain. One day I will make the flint that = I always talk about. Thats about it. ----- Original Message -----=20 From: cd252=20 To: hist_text@lists.xmission.com=20 Sent: Sunday, September 02, 2001 4:05 AM Subject: MtMan-List: what exactly do "YOU" carry in your possibles bag = ???? =20 Hi, =20 Just curious what you keep in your "possibles" bag. Please itemize. =20 Thanks, Dave - ------=_NextPart_000_000D_01C133DC.D2A47720 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Let's see.

hole punch

file

extra flints although I shoot = caps

patch worm

ball screw puller

patch material

tin of lube

tin of caps

a few yards of heavy = thread

a few feet of latigo = lacing

a nice piece of tanned deerskin that = wraps around a=20 palm size mag. glass.

a few yards of sinew, = immitation.

extra lead balls

I will usually throw in a mess of deer = jerky, salt,=20 coffee and a few munchies.

The coffee cup is on the outside of the = pouch.

I carry my flint & steel in a small = pouch on=20 the belt.

I also carry my shooting pouch on the = side. =20 It is not very big but it includes 20 balls, a tin of pre lubed pre cut=20 patches, and a tin of caps. Inside I have a 4 ball pre lubed = patched=20 balls spead loader made of black walnet and on the end is a little = leather ring=20 that carries 10 caps.

Man, those caps do get to be a = pain. One day=20 I will make the flint that I always talk about.

Thats about it.

----- Original Message -----
From:=20 cd252 =
To: hist_text@lists.xmission.com =

Sent: Sunday, September 02, = 2001 4:05=20 AM

Subject: MtMan-List: what = exactly do=20 "YOU" carry in your possibles bag ????

Hi,

Just curious what you keep in your "possibles" = bag. Please=20 itemize.

Thanks,

Dave

- ------=_NextPart_000_000D_01C133DC.D2A47720-- - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 02 Sep 2001 18:25:04 -0400 From: tom roberts Subject: Re: MtMan-List: smoothbore rear sights Frank, Was recently at the MFT and do not recall seeing such a mark on trade guns. Spent much of the day at the gun cabinets but I could have missed it. What I do recall (as I have an interest in rear sights) was a chisled notch across the barrel just forward of the breech with said notch having a fine groove filed at the center, thus creating a rear sight. As I remember, (which is less than 100% trustworthy) there were about a dozen (of more than 100) guns so configured. Would seem to me that the "above the plane of the barrel" type of sight would be much more visible (and effective) than a fine linear scribe within the barrel. BTW, without a primary source document describing either type as being done at the time of build or during the timeframe of interest (does anyone know of one?) it's impossible to prove that the gun wasn't updated later. Even though there's probably quite a few folks (including me) that believe the rear sight was pre-1840 RMFT, unless it can be proven, any event organizer has the right to ban them. It keeps the playing field somewhat level. I guess if you're a really good shot, the rear sight helps only slightly and if you're not all that good (like me) it still might not help too much. (Dr.P., no remarks! ) In any case, I'm not sure that "common" is an accurate descriptor for rear sights on a correct smoothbore. Anyone have some references? Just $.02 Tom Frank Fusco wrote: > > A friend has a very nice repro NW trade musket that has a fine groove > engraved at the breech end of the barrel. This groove is about 8 inches long > and serves as a rear sight. It does not raise above the plane of the barrel. > My friend said that when he visited the Museum of the Fur Trade he saw > that about 25% of the trade muskets displayed had a similar rear sight. > From my readings, I know that this was a common technique for having a > rear 'sight' on a smoothbore. > If such sights are period correct, does anyone know why they are banned > from most primitive matches today? It seems to me that such banning is a > 'not-authentic' ruling by those wishing most to preserve history correctly. > Frank G. Fusco > Mountain Home, Arkansas > http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/ozarksmuzzleloaders > > ---------------------- > hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 2 Sep 2001 17:55:21 -0400 From: hawknest4@juno.com Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Chouteau Days george where is salina okla---I know where salina kan is---how far from fort smith "HAWK" Michael Pierce "Home of ".Old Grizz" Product line " trademark (C) 854 Glenfield Dr. Palm Harbor florida 34684 Phone Number: 1-727-771-1815 E-Mail: hawknest4@juno.com Web site: http://www.angelfire.com/fl2/mpierce ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 2 Sep 2001 16:47:59 -0700 (PDT) From: George Noe Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Chouteau Days Hawk, I don't know how far, from Ft. Smith to Salina, Ok. On the map it's only about a couple of inches. From Ft. Smith go Morthwest to Musgogee, OK; then North to Pryor, OK. ( Named for Nathaniel Pryor of Lewis and Clark group, he was an Indian agent or something in that area.) Then about 8 - 10 miles East to Salina. Or from Siloam Springs AR., go West to Locust Grove, Ok., then North to Salina. The Museum is on the East end of town, on the road from Pryor. (Not as far for you and friends to come as Douglas and I from Duncan, OK.Its about a 5 hr drive for us.)This will be our third year ! Hope we can get several to come and set up ! Carol said she would like to see the Museum grounds and the Park next to it full of camps.(2 -3 acres) Its in Town and we don't see how we could have a "shoot", but she said we might be able to somehow. That would have to be in future plans. If you and others cain't set up, PLEASE try to come just for Sat. Would like to meet any and all !!!! grn - --- hawknest4@juno.com wrote: > george > where is salina okla---I know where salina kan > is---how far from fort > smith > ===== George R. Noe< gnoe39@yahoo.com > Watch your back trail, and keep your eyes on the skyline. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger http://im.yahoo.com - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 2 Sep 2001 21:13:32 -0400 From: "Addison Miller" Subject: Re: MtMan-List: smoothbore rear sights > If such sights are period correct, does anyone know why they are banned > from most primitive matches today? It seems to me that such banning is a > 'not-authentic' ruling by those wishing most to preserve history correctly. > Frank G. Fusco When I raised this same subject to NMLRA, I was told that even though rear sights on smoothies WERE period correct, they felt it was unfair to have a competetion where some had sights and some didn't... and instead of making TWO matches, they said "No rear sights"... I was at the MFT as well, and have pictures on my web site of original smoothies and trade guns WITH original rear sights. ( www.geocities.com/ronnyvous ) Ad Miller Alderson, WV - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 03 Sep 2001 02:22:04 +0000 From: "darlene secondine" Subject: Re: MtMan-List: smoothbore rear sights Howdy Boys, Can you imagine the ole boys at the original RM Rondesvous standing around saying stuff like" Hell Meek, don't blow down that barrel, you'll blow yore fool head off!" or ..."you can't shoot that gun in this match 'cause you got a rear sight and I don't!" When you think about some of these damned silly rules it kinda reminds one of Congress. If somebody would have tried that kind of stuff at a real rondy, they'd have been laughed out of the mountains. Well, there it is, Don in the Ohio Country >From: tom roberts >Reply-To: hist_text@lists.xmission.com >To: hist_text@lists.xmission.com >Subject: Re: MtMan-List: smoothbore rear sights >Date: Sun, 02 Sep 2001 18:25:04 -0400 > >Frank, > >Was recently at the MFT and do not recall seeing such a mark >on trade guns. Spent much of the day at the gun cabinets but >I could have missed it. What I do recall (as I have an interest >in rear sights) was a chisled notch across the barrel just forward >of the breech with said notch having a fine groove filed at the >center, thus creating a rear sight. As I remember, (which is >less than 100% trustworthy) there were about a dozen (of more than 100) >guns so configured. Would seem to me that the "above the plane of the >barrel" type of sight would be much more visible (and effective) >than a fine linear scribe within the barrel. BTW, without a primary >source >document describing either type as being done at the time of build >or during the timeframe of interest (does anyone know of one?) it's >impossible to prove that the gun wasn't updated later. Even though >there's probably quite a few folks (including me) that believe the rear >sight was pre-1840 RMFT, unless it can be proven, any event organizer >has >the right to ban them. It keeps the playing field somewhat level. I >guess >if you're a really good shot, the rear sight helps only slightly and if >you're not all that good (like me) it still might not help too much. > > >(Dr.P., no remarks! ) > >In any case, I'm not sure that "common" is an accurate descriptor for >rear >sights on a correct smoothbore. Anyone have some references? > > >Just $.02 > >Tom > > >Frank Fusco wrote: > > > > A friend has a very nice repro NW trade musket that has a fine >groove > > engraved at the breech end of the barrel. This groove is about 8 inches >long > > and serves as a rear sight. It does not raise above the plane of the >barrel. > > My friend said that when he visited the Museum of the Fur Trade he >saw > > that about 25% of the trade muskets displayed had a similar rear sight. > > From my readings, I know that this was a common technique for having >a > > rear 'sight' on a smoothbore. > > If such sights are period correct, does anyone know why they are >banned > > from most primitive matches today? It seems to me that such banning is a > > 'not-authentic' ruling by those wishing most to preserve history >correctly. > > Frank G. Fusco > > Mountain Home, Arkansas > > http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/ozarksmuzzleloaders > > > > ---------------------- > > hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html > >---------------------- >hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ End of hist_text-digest V1 #850 ******************************* - To unsubscribe to hist_text-digest, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe hist_text-digest" in the body of the message.