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.

!!! PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ AN IMPORTANT TMA MESSAGE !!!

Author Topic: The Longhunter Teardrop Heart  (Read 415 times)

Offline Wife ofTheWeavingWelshman

The Longhunter Teardrop Heart
« on: November 17, 2009, 04:05:30 PM »
Hi Guys,

Can any of you tell me the why and the when of the teardrop heart being the symbol of the Longhunter?
Thanks,
<B>Dorothy Blevens</B>
TMA Member #513 Expires on 10/30/10

Give honor and glory not to me but to G-d.

http://www.TheWeavingWelshman.com

Offline Mitch

(No subject)
« Reply #1 on: November 17, 2009, 05:45:13 PM »
First time I've ever heard that one....when/where did you hear/read that? No "symbol" accredited to longhunters historically that I'm aware of in any way.
Ride the high trail....never tuck your tail

TMA#211 renewal date 01AUG08

Offline Loyalist Dave

  • TMA Forum Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 687
  • Total likes: 1
  • TMA Member: 800
  • Location: MD
(No subject)
« Reply #2 on: November 20, 2009, 10:08:46 PM »
I believe the "teardrop" heart symbolizes the weeping heart of Christ.

LD
It's not what you think you know; it's what you can prove.

Offline R.M.

(No subject)
« Reply #3 on: November 20, 2009, 10:14:26 PM »
This is what I come up with from http://www.threefeatherspewter.com/Celtic%20Items.htm

The Weeping Heart design is of Scottish origin.  It comes from a brooch that was two hearts intertwined and was used in betrothals.  When the Scots came to the New World, before leaving their loved one behind, the brooch would be broken into two pieces.  The gent would wear one piece and she would wear the other.  Because they were apart, it was called a Weeping Heart.
R.M.
 :Canada
TMA Charter Member #134   Exp. 11/14
Join the TMA. For the money, it's the best BOOM for your 15 bucks.

The tree of liberty must be watered periodically with the blood of tyrants and patriots alike..........Thomas Jefferson

Offline Wife ofTheWeavingWelshman

(No subject)
« Reply #4 on: November 21, 2009, 01:21:16 AM »
Hi guys thank for your post.  That isn't it.  Mt. Top has a bag with a teardrop heart on it and our friend that doesn't rondy any more but did for over 20 years mentioned it also.......so I was just wondering.
[albumimg:2pyd37pj]4507[/albumimg:2pyd37pj][/img]
Thanks,
<B>Dorothy Blevens</B>
TMA Member #513 Expires on 10/30/10

Give honor and glory not to me but to G-d.

http://www.TheWeavingWelshman.com

Offline Eric S Campbell

(No subject)
« Reply #5 on: November 21, 2009, 08:38:46 AM »
Just something made up in the 70s I suspect.

Offline Eric S Campbell

(No subject)
« Reply #6 on: November 21, 2009, 08:39:07 AM »
Just something made up in the 70s I suspect.

Online Bigsmoke

(No subject)
« Reply #7 on: November 21, 2009, 11:31:18 AM »
Hi there, WOTWW,

I really don't know from anything about the lore of the weeping heart or the mildly sniveling heart either, for that matter.
But that pouch, I do know.

At some point in time, we decided that we needed to produce a fancy, "Sunday go to meeting" pouch and that is what we came up with.  The only real significance of the heart is that considering it was made in Coeur d'Alene (coeur = heart) we included that piercing and it was the most pleasant heart shape we knew of.  Much better than a Valentine heart.  And, of course, we called it the Coeur d'Alene bag.

We also offered that bag in a couple of different variations.  Totally plain with no piercings on the flap, just the scallops, just the heart, and both heart and scallops.  I also came up with "John's special bag" which included an extra divider inside with more pockets on it.  That made for several thicknesses of leather and the ladies we had sewing really didn't care for that at all.

I think we did a star instead of the heart and even did some custom versions with buffalo and other cutouts.

To this day, I believe that was the finest bag we ever produced and when I take my pouch out my breath still catches, just a bit.  It is a wee bit fancy for my taste, but still...

That's about all there is to it.  We did take the drawing of the heart from some drawings we found somewhere in one book or another.  The book is in a box along with many others in our storage locker in Coeur d'Alene.  Wish there was a more fascinating story behind all that, but alas, there isn't.
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest Up to God.

BigSmoke - John Shorb
TMA Charter Member #150  
NRA - Life
Coeur d'Alene Muzzleloaders - Life

Offline woodman

(No subject)
« Reply #8 on: November 21, 2009, 11:48:13 AM »
The weeping heart is a design that goes back centuries. Origanly used as apiercing on war axes with the tip turned to the right signifiing the fith wound of Christ. In later years the tip was turned to the left signifing the weeping of a womans heart whose husband had been killed in battle.
  In the book Firearms, traps, and tools of the Mountain Man , there are several line drawings of origanal trade hawks with the weeping heart design pierced thru them.
  Woodman
Colorado TMA State Representative
Founding Member Uncompahgre Freetrappers
 associate member War Eagles
Happy Canyon Rendezvous Booshway
Tma Member #413 exp 1/21/11

Offline Loyalist Dave

  • TMA Forum Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 687
  • Total likes: 1
  • TMA Member: 800
  • Location: MD
(No subject)
« Reply #9 on: November 21, 2009, 12:13:47 PM »
Well if the website is referring to the luckenbooth, they are topped by a crown and often show a pair of hearts, most are not weeping, and there is no reference to the brooch being broken in two, for if it is broken or cut, it surely does not resemble a weeping heart.  Luckenbooth's were a traditional bridal or christening gift.  Many extant examples are a single, not weeping, heart.  Believed to ward of the evil eye or to protect a young infant from Faeries.  

LD
It's not what you think you know; it's what you can prove.

Online Two Steps

  • TMA Contributing Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 5203
  • Total likes: 96
  • TMA Charter Member
  • TMA Member: TMA Charter Member #47 Expires 8/14/2025
(No subject)
« Reply #10 on: November 21, 2009, 12:19:49 PM »
Madison Grant, in "The Kentucky Rifle Hunting Pouch" guesstimates that overlays and cutouts began to appear around 1820 or so....and fell into disuse around the second quarter of that century.
Al
Two Steps/Al Bateman
I envy no man that knows more than myself,
and pity them that know less.  (Sir T. Brown)

TMA Charter Member 47

Offline Wife ofTheWeavingWelshman

(No subject)
« Reply #11 on: November 21, 2009, 01:44:31 PM »
Hey thanks guys, lots of info.

John good to know you started it here.   :P   Thanks for your history.
Thanks,
<B>Dorothy Blevens</B>
TMA Member #513 Expires on 10/30/10

Give honor and glory not to me but to G-d.

http://www.TheWeavingWelshman.com