A view from the past

[Longhunter]

I found this post I made in July of 2008 on another site. I thought it might be of interest

I've been shooting black powder since Kit was a pup. Back when people looked at you sideways and rolled their eyes when they saw you in the woods with a sidelock gun. Then the movie Jerimah Johnson came out and suddenly everybody wanted to be a Mountain man. Things was good, shooting black powder guns was cool. Muzzleloading clubs and Rendezvous sprung up all across the land, from the mountains in the Northwest to the swamplands of the south. "Them was shinin times"

Muzzleloading became so popular that in many states a special hunting season was created just for black powder. Here in Michigan it was roundball only in the southern half of the state that was the "shotgun only" zone.

Man is a lazy creature by nature...he's always layin on his backside tryin to figure out a way to make things easier. So the next thing you know we've got this black powder shootin gun that don't look nothin like the gun that ole Jerimah shot. They call it a muzzleloader because you load it down the muzzle, but it's a "Ba$tard child" ...a cross between modern and traditional. To make matters worst, folks started snatchin em up like they was candy in a kindergarden class. Of coarse because they was "called" a muzzleloader, they were legal to use in OUR special ML season.

A few die hards like me and some of you clung to our sidelocks and watched as our world changed for the worst. I always had the dream that Flintlocks someday would shine again.

A few years ago when the rumblings of a National Traditional Muzzle Loading Association started to come to life, I was ecstatic. I begin to have hope that this dream could and would come true. If a group of dedicated people came together with the one minded goal that they could preserve and promote our muzzleloading Heritage,..THEN we had a chance to take back that which was taken from us... our special hunting season. If we could inspire newcomers with the pride of our/their History, we could and can be recognized as an individual group NOT to be lumped in with other so called ML er's by the powers that be (lawmakers)

To be able to grow to a formidable force, we need to stick together...pull together...be one minded in our goals. We need to be willing to sacrifice unselfishly for the good of the cause. It cuts me to the quick when I see and hear petty bickering within our ranks. Selfishness and Pride can be our undoing. It can distract us from our goals, but worst it can turn good people away from us and our cause.

The TMA was not formed for me and my personal agenda...or for you with yours...it was formed for all of us who want to preserve our traditional muzzle loading Heritage for now and for future generations.

Please think of this the next time your pride is stepped on.

Ron LaClair, "Longhunter"

TMA Charter member #54

[RobD]

amen, ron ... and the same sentiments apply to stickbows.

in all cases, the common denominator is "technology", in which clearly the landscape of this 21st century is extremely unlike that of the centuries that birthed the firearms we love so much.  add to the mix the changing values in culture and one can see why the old ways are struggling to, well, survive.

it takes way more than just a love of flint and cap locks, and the old ways, to perpetuate a sport or lifestyle - it takes modern smarts of technology and marketing ... and a dedicated commitment.  and that's just for starters.

[Caddo]

Good words Ron...good words.

[Uncle Russ]

Good strong words Longhunter!
 

Uncle Russ...

[Riley/MN]

Good words Ron!

[snake eyes]

Ron,
       Well put!
snake-eyes

[Ohio Joe]

Well put, Ron  :rt th

[Uncle Russ]

I enjoy that more with each reading!
Really, really good words that carry a powerful impact with many of us old-timers.

Uncle Russ...

[Rocklock]

M & M. Magnumitis and Money.  Folks have been sold so much bigger and faster is better and farther on everything that they apply it to all sports. ...  golf, archery, skiing, motorcycles, 4 wheelers, etc. hell a .30-06 ain't big enough or bad enough and u need to laser the range to a half a yard and dial it intp a computer actuated compensating 20x-+ scope.

Manufacturers make $ developing stuff you just gotta have then spend some $ making you believe you gotta have it and more $ bribing guvment types to pass laws so the latest whiz bang is now legal. And where does all that ad and bribe $ come from?  The poor schmucks who buy the whiz bang.

[RobD]

to each their own, it's all subjective one way or another.  i've had some purty powerful modern firearms over the decades, and once an apex of sorts was attained i just kept backsliding into the 19th and 18th centuries.  now all i have are ml's and bpcr's, all loaded with real back powder and shooting pure lead or lead alloy.  the only modern firearm i have is a 357mag, for home protection and s/d.  the kids of this 21st century either get it or don't, most don't and will follow the lead of their peers into the world of the ar15's and their pseudo military ilk.  though flicks like 'the last of the mohicans' and 'the revenant' help, it can still be a tough row to hoe in getting the ranks of trad ml increased, indeed.

[Winter Hawk]

Just saw this, and it is most appropriate!  While I'm not done with cartridge firearms, I find myself carrying a muzzleloader whenever I'm out in the woods.  Always have, except when I was going for our winter meat on Prince of Wales Island.

~WH~

P.s. - maybe this should be a "sticky"?

[hawkthrower]

Go Ron! - make it a sticky - We all need reminding that there is purpose to our passion and passion to our purpose!

[Hanshi]

  Yes it does need to be a sticky!

[Roaddog]

We all benefit and lern from those words.Thanks Ron

[rollingb]

Great post Ron!