Welcome to the TMA - the Traditional Muzzleloading Association
The TMA is always free to access: totally non-profit and therefore no nagging for your money, no sponsors means no endless array of ads to wade through, and no "membership fees" ever required. Brought to you by traditional muzzleloaders with decades of wisdom in weaponry, accoutrements, and along with 18th and 19th century history knowledge of those times during the birth our nation, the United States of America.


Recent Posts

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31
The Campfire / Re: What's Everyone Doing?
« Last post by Bigsmoke on April 22, 2026, 11:11:41 PM »
Red 1 5, that is a mighty handsome bookcase there.  It came out a lot more interesting than just using plain old dimensional lumber.  Nice job!!

Tom, good looking round ball.  Of course, has anyone ever heard of square balls, or triangular ones for that matter?  I don't think so.

No photos, but today I continued to work on my new horn shop.  Fixed the stand table that the lathe sits on.  It broke a while back when I had to lay it over to put different caster wheels on it.  And to celebrate getting the half sheet of pegboard up, I ordered a bunch of peg board hooks and such.  I was amazed at all the stuff that Amazon has for that.  I guess they have a little bit of everything.  That will be here next Monday along with the hardware for the dust collection system so I will be a busy guy for a couple of days.

Now to go outside in a few minutes and watch the space launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base.  We have a pretty good view once the rocket takes off and gets up maybe 500'.
32
Flintlock Pistols / Re: proff mark
« Last post by Rob DiStefano on April 22, 2026, 07:39:10 PM »
Yep, post that image over at ALR, those guys are well into the era and period correct stuff.   :*:
33
Flintlock Pistols / Re: proff mark
« Last post by Hank in WV on April 22, 2026, 06:14:28 PM »
If no luck here, try over on the ALR site.
34
The Campfire / Re: What's Everyone Doing?
« Last post by No Powder on April 22, 2026, 05:57:08 PM »
 [ Invalid Attachment ] Decided that if I continue to shoot the postals, I might need to make a few more balls. So I got the Rapine .490 bag mold out and made about 60 balls. That should last a little bit longer.
35
Trail Walks and Trekking / Re: Can't see anything
« Last post by No Powder on April 22, 2026, 03:56:48 PM »
 :hairy John, I really like the plan of attack for spending, that you and Mrs. Smoke have put together. If we were to do that here at the No Powder residence, it would have to be brought up for discussion. I believe 5 more horns and 5 more shooting bags, would be a bit over $100. And let's not forget, I'm (re)tired, and she is still working. Which means she could have 2 or 3 votes to my one.
36
Flintlock Pistols / proff mark
« Last post by peterh on April 22, 2026, 03:02:52 PM »
 [ Invalid Attachment ]   need help identifying this marking
37
Trail Walks and Trekking / Re: Can't see anything
« Last post by Bigsmoke on April 22, 2026, 12:56:21 PM »
Tom,
Ms Smoke and I have an agreement.
For purchases over $100 we have to discuss the situation.
However, for things under that sum, as long as we don't abuse the situation, we can go ahead and enjoy the fruits of our labor, past and present.
It works for us, it could for you as well.
As long as you have an agreement first.
John
38
People of the Times / 4/22/2026 A Two Fer!
« Last post by Craig Tx on April 22, 2026, 09:01:32 AM »
4/22/1540: Coronado departs Culiacan in search of Seven Cities of Cibola

On this day in 1540, an expedition led by Spanish explorer Francisco Vazquez de Coronado left Culiacan in Mexico in search of the Seven Cities of Cibola, concerning which wondrous tales had been brought to Mexico by Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca.

There was no gold at Cibola (the Zuni villages in western New Mexico), but the explorer was led on by stories of great rewards to be found in Quivira, a region on the Great Plains far to the east. Chasing this chimera occupied Coronado until the early part of 1542; along the way he apparently marched across the Llano Estacado of eastern New Mexico and the Texas Panhandle, passing through present Palo Duro Canyon. When he returned to Mexico, he was subjected to an official examination of his conduct as leader of the expedition and as governor of Nueva Galicia. He was cleared of charges in connection with the expedition, but on some of the other charges was fined and lost his commission. He died in 1554.

4/22/1689: Spanish explorer finds defunct French fort

On this day in 1689, Spanish explorer Alonso De Leon discovered the ruins of a French settlement, Fort St. Louis, on the Texas coast.

The fort had been established by Rene Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, in the summer of 1685. In February 1685 La Salle, seeking the mouth of the Mississippi River, had landed 280 colonists, including 100 soldiers, at the mouth of Matagorda Bay in Spanish-claimed territory. The explorer made a temporary camp on Matagorda Island while he sought a more secure location farther up the bay. In April he chose a site on an eminence overlooking the "Riviere aux Boeufs." Though disease devastated his men, La Salle saw the building well under way by autumn, when he set out to explore the surrounding country. In January 1687 he departed on his last journey, leaving at the fort scarcely more than twenty men, women, and children in the charge of the Sieur de Barbier. In late 1688 or early 1689 the Karankawa Indians gained entry to the fort under guise of friendship and murdered all the occupants but five children. Meanwhile, news that the French had founded a settlement on the northern Gulf Coast had agitated New Spain in the mid-1680s. As a result, De Leon led four expeditions between 1686 and 1689 seeking to find and destroy the French installation. The fourth expedition left Coahuila on March 27, 1689, with a force of 114 men, and found the deserted settlement on April 22.
39
Trail Walks and Trekking / Re: Can't see anything
« Last post by No Powder on April 21, 2026, 09:27:00 PM »
Now you got me scratching my head John. When I bought my first muzzleloader, a 50 cal.,I could have done that. But as time went by, and I invested in a few more flintlocks, I didn't have one being used more than another. And even today I use them all. In the course of a summer, I don't think I use the same one twice at our woods walks. And since I don't hunt as much anymore, I never know which one I might grab to go hunting. Plus, I would definitely have to buy more horns off of you. And, I don't know if Mrs. No Powder would allow that to happen. Decisions, decisions.  ;banghead;
40
Trail Walks and Trekking / Re: Can't see anything
« Last post by Bigsmoke on April 21, 2026, 07:34:40 PM »
Tom, The wise thing is to have a separate bag and powder horn for each rifle or shotgun.
Which firearm do you shoot the most?
I would mate that with this bag and horn.
Put the rest of the other caliber specific stuff into other bags.
It will work a lot better for you, I think.
That is what I have done and I really like it that way.
Which reminds me, I need another bag and horn for my smoothbore barrel that goes on the T/C PA Hunter that I just had converted to percussion.  I think I am going to really like it now.
John
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