As a Rev War reenactor it was interesting to me whilst attending the "Battle of Brooklyn" commemorative last August. I parked on a tree lined brownstone apartment buildings street and got out of the car in full regalia. Hmm, it's NYC, so best to stick the Bess in a sock for the walk to the park where the event was to take place. Half way there a car slammed to a stop, a young woman emerged and excitedly ask to take my picture, as if the dichotomy of seeing a Patriot in 21st century Brooklyn was somehow "magical". I obliged and unsocked the Bess, stood for some pix, and thank her. Feeling good about the experience I hefted the naked 10lb Bess over my shoulder and during the walk to the park no pedestrians showed signs of horror at seeing old Bess (or me).
When the park event was over, the plan was to walk 4 city blocks to the local VFW for pictures and private commemoration ceremony. The 3rd NJ Regiment sort of split up and Tom and I walked the bustling Brooklyn sidewalk, firelocks hefted over our shoulders, in full costume. We just threw caution to the wind showing off the guns. City folk were either blind to us or a quite ebullient at our sight. The kicker was that on two different occasions, police cruiser cars stopped, cops smiled, saluted and applauded! Wow. Firelocks out in the open on a Brooklyn street and for the most part folks kinda liked that, even the police.
Topic: Firelocks and New Yawk City (Read 26 times)