Post by: Rasch Chronicles on August 14, 2011, 09:36:26 PM
I was wondering how you protect your rifles on longer treks, if at all?
Best Regards,
Albert A Rasch
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles™ (http://http)
We Build a Pirogue! (http://http)
Post by: mario on August 14, 2011, 09:50:51 PM
Mario
Post by: Rasch Chronicles on August 14, 2011, 11:34:59 PM
As my trekking usually involved body armor, a pretty much weather proof rifle, and an eighty pound ruck, I am a little out of tune with Period Trekking.
If I was exploring the Ohio valley, or pushing into frontier Tennessee, how would I have kept my flintlock rifle from harm? Did they have oilcloth rifle socks? Was there a methodology that was common in those days, like bear fat?
Thanks!
Best regards,
Albert “The Afghan” Rasch (http://http)
Real Men Hunt (http://http)
Post by: rickevans on August 15, 2011, 11:14:33 AM
Post by: mario on August 15, 2011, 01:00:58 PM
I use bear oil for the lock and barrel.
In the areas you describe you have a fair chance of stumbling on the local tribes who do not want you poaching on their land. So you'd need that firelock to be easy to bring into action, just in case.
Mario
Post by: Rasch Chronicles on August 16, 2011, 12:39:11 AM
Having read That Dark and Bloody River recently I assumed that whilst on the move it was always in hand, just like here for that matter. I suppose that the mental difference is that now-a-days you're probably carrying what amounts to a custom gun, vrs back then when it was a tool for survival.
I am going to have to study far more into the era in order to determine what constituted a "working man's" rifle. I really like the Tennessee rifle's simplicity and flowing lines, and I could see building one in 45- 50 as a meat gun.
Thanks again fellows!
Best Regards,
Albert A Rasch
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles™ (http://http)
Lions in the Yard! (http://http)
?O??? ????!
Post by: mario on August 16, 2011, 12:49:26 AM
Quote from: "Rasch Chronicles"
I am going to have to study far more into the era in order to determine what constituted a "working man's" rifle. I really like the Tennessee rifle's simplicity and flowing lines, and I could see building one in 45- 50 as a meat gun.
I like the TN/Southern rifles as well. But they are too late (1790s +) for what I do (pre-1783).
What era are you looking into?
Mario
Post by: Loyalist Dave on August 16, 2011, 12:56:54 AM
LD
Post by: mario on August 16, 2011, 01:05:50 AM
Quote from: "Rasch Chronicles"
...a pretty much weather proof rifle,
They issuing AKs these days?
Mario
Kalashnikov devotee...
Post by: Rasch Chronicles on August 16, 2011, 02:33:21 AM
First, let me thank you guys for taking the time to "converse" with me!
To be honest, I am more of a firearms buff, and only now am I delving into the different "periods."
I am fascinated by the F&I war era, but the western expansion through and over the Appalachia is fascinating too! I lean more towards the latter as exploration is far more interesting to me. (I guess I am tired of warfare, historic or otherwise.)
Having said that, I am slowly but surely acquiring parts and tools for a broad range of traditional firearms. I have my Chambers NE Fowler which will be fitted for a bayonet, something that a frontier militia man might have owned in the 1760s. Then I would like a Virginia rifle as a representative firearm of the American Revolution. Moving forward in time I have a real like and appreciation for the Tennessee style rifle. I could see myself making several in different calibers. To round out the time frame, I have to have a Lewis and Clark 1792/1803 rifle!
But one thing at a time! I tend to get too far ahead of myself, and I need to get outta here before I can travel “there”!
In thinking about this now, and talking with you alll, I think I will study the 1770s through 1790s and see where that leads.
Thanks again fellows, I really appreciate you time!
Best regards,
Albert “The Afghan” Rasch (http://http)
Real Men Hunt (http://http)
?O??? ????!
Post by: Captchee on August 16, 2011, 10:35:26 AM
Or it can start out hot then turn to blowing snow and rain .
Years ago I stopped using a cows knee . Total PITA when you need to take a shot quick .
Here is what I found that works well for me .
After loading I thumb in a little grease along the top edge of the pan where it meets the barrel .
While hunting I carry the gun so that the lock is under my arm and protected . I also check my prime often .
When it seriously starts to rain in turn the gun over can carry it upside down but still tucked close in so as to protect the lock
For bore protection , frankly I don’t concern myself with that unless im loaded with a conical and the weather is bad . In which case I practice muzzle awareness by keeping the muzzle level or slightly down in the carry even though the conical is a tight fit .
The real problem is late fall when we get a lot of fog and snow with very low temperatures and im deer or elk hunting .
This time of year the elk and deer have been pushed down . But this also means that the mountain lions are following the herds .
I have had days where I have cut the tracks of 5 different cats within a morning hunt .
They like the fog and you better have a gun at the ready for most times your going or they are going to be real close before you see them .
In those case I carry my rifle just as I described above with the lock tucked under my arm . I also check the prime even more and replace it every time I check it regardless of how it looks
Post by: Buzzard on August 16, 2011, 11:33:13 AM
Post by: Loyalist Dave on August 16, 2011, 06:25:46 PM
Quote
my Chambers NE Fowler which will be fitted for a bayonet, something that a frontier militia man might have owned in the 1760s.
Hey Pardner,
..., then it wouldn't have been fitted for a bayonet.
Bayonets were property of the crown and sometimes sold to colonial governments, not readily available to civilians, and were stockpiled in Military armories, if the colonies had them at all. One of the problems Washington had when the AWI started is the militia folks who arrived without muskets (most didn't), didn't have bayonets or even arms to mount them, and thus could not deal with British Regulars with King's muskets, who did. Bunker Hill (Breed's Hill) was a loss though the Continentals held the high ground, and they repulsed two of three assaults..., because the ammo ran short, and they had no bayonets, so had to withdraw.
And a wooden rammer and a bayonet doesn't mix well..., a huge design flaw in the original King's musket, which was quickly upgraded to a metal rammer. Too easy to break off the wooden rammer without the wooden stock to help support it when stored beneath the barrel, and you must remove the wood to allow for the socket of the bayonet.
So I'd save your money, and the lines of the gun, and carry a proper tomahawk, instead of a bayonet.
LD
Post by: Rasch Chronicles on August 17, 2011, 03:47:04 AM
Always ruining the party...
LOL! That makes alot of sense. I am repeatedly embarassing myself here with my lack of knowledge.
Now what to do... Make up a story of how I obtained a King's bayonet before The American Revolution, get a French one instead from a Frenchman who dropped his rifle when overrun, claim ignorance and run around while people snicker behind my back at my lack of HC...
Choices, choices.
Best regards,
Albert “Afghanus” Rasch (http://http)
Charged! Hog Hunting at its Best! (http://http)
?O??? ????!
Post by: rickevans on August 17, 2011, 01:25:30 PM
Post by: Rasch Chronicles on August 17, 2011, 11:35:39 PM
Best Regards,
Albert A Rasch
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles™ (http://http)
Lions in the Yard! (http://http)
?O??? ????!
Post by: Loyalist Dave on August 18, 2011, 03:35:40 PM
The 18th century bayonet is not very useful either, and was really only suited for line tactics. It's not at all as useful as a modern bayonet. As such, it was rather poorly suited to North American woods combat. Native Americans and French Canadians did not have bayonets in the F&I, but were victorious at: The Trough, Bloody Creek, The William Henry Massacre, German flats, The Monongahela, Petitcodiac, Sabbath Day Point, and Sideling Hill. Jump ahead a bit and look at Pontiac's rebellion, where all but one of the targeted forts fell to the Indians, and go a bit further in history, and at King's Mountain, the British had the high ground and bayonets, yet the folks in the woods with the rifles, whipped 'em good. It's only when folks went toe to toe in a field (or ran out of ammo) that the bayonet came into play back then.
LD
Post by: Rasch Chronicles on August 19, 2011, 10:43:03 AM
You have saved this poor soul from a serious faux pax! Imagine the social stigma I would have suffered enured as I was to that idea.
LOL!
Thanks for setting the historic tableu straight. Again imagination and preconceptions tend to make for poor historical accuracy, and in firearms and accoutrements there really is no excuse for getting them wrong.
Best regards!
Albert
Post by: Loyalist Dave on August 24, 2011, 09:36:26 AM
LD
Post by: Fort Greene Ville on September 10, 2011, 06:59:08 AM
I ditto Cap & Buzzard.
Last fall during deer gun season here in Ohio it rained 12hrs and turned to snow for 6hrs. I had tried the cows knee once before in similar conditions only to find that the water ran down the barrel and stock to the lock. Went to shoot but prime was goo! This time last fall went Mother started her crap I grabbed for my tin of tallow to grease the pan edges. Now it was fairly cold so the tallow was too hard to spread, which I will fix
, so I grabbed the next best thing, My beeswax base chap stick. Now stop laugh'n! I don't go anywhere with out it! but any how it worked like charm and the meat went to the freezer.On a side note hunters of the day had the luxury of time. If Mother Nature threw a curve of bad weather they would just wait it out. We do not have that ability under most of our limited time constraints.
FGV
Post by: Longhunter on September 11, 2011, 04:24:09 PM
Quote
Fellows,
I was wondering how you protect your rifles on longer treks, if at all?
When I carry my rifle in inclement weather I use an Elk skin case. It's thick enough to keep out rain snow and dirt and it's soft and pliable so that it rolls up in a haversack or pack.
(http://www.shrewbows.com/rons_linkpics/Gun%20case%202.JPG)
Post by: huntinguy on September 12, 2011, 04:14:42 PM
When I hunt with my caplock, I just keep it under my poncho. Seems to stay dry. And the sights don't get waterlogged.
Hmmm, I am thinking I am not being PC here....
...... I will go hide now.
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~Kees~
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