Replies

1. 
   RalphBarker | Jul 05, 2009 06:07pm | #1

   Isn't a muzzleloader just a (temporary) cabinet for lead balls? ;-)

   It's a little far from New Mexico, where I live, but I forwarded the link to a couple of photographer friends in WVA who used to shoot black powder competitions. I'd love to see photos of the work being shown there.

1. 
   danmart | Jul 05, 2009 09:12pm | #2

   I used to live near Montgomery and Juan Tabo. Just down from El Durado HS. Spent 4-5 years in the 1550 Flight Training Wing on Kirtland AFB. Loved ABQ.

   Rifle building was a nice area to work while living away from the hardwood forests here in the East. You should look in on some of the sites around the net. Its a good adventure if you have limited space or limited access to hardwood. Most of the suppliers can mail order stuff that wasn't around when I started up.

   I have posted some photos here in the past but with the current crackdown on photos you can post I have deleted most of the older stuff and hesitate to put much on these days.

   dan

1. 
   RalphBarker | Jul 06, 2009 12:48am | #3

   Yes, I've seen (aka drooled over) your photos in the past.When I drove back to visit my friends in Morgantown, WVA, they took me over to a friend of theirs who builds rifles - Marvin Wotring. Marvin broke my black-powder cherry by letting me shoot a .36 caliber "flinchlock" he had on display. Three rounds, about a 2" spread, but all in the black on the target. I was pleased. Nowadays, I understand he shoots mostly a big bench gun at the competitions. Perhaps you've met him.

1. 
   danmart | Jul 06, 2009 09:32pm | #5

   Well you must have been looking at something from the contemporary longrifle meets or chuck's gathering to begin drooling?? My stuff still needs some little tweeks here and there to pass the muster.

   Truthfully, any builder out there needs to make a trek to Kempton once for ideas and again for a humility check. A couple times I thought I had some thing special and off I went to PA. Before I took it out of the car, I checked the tables for the new stuff built over the winter by the old guardians. Needless to say, I didn't have the nerve to put mine on a table.

   No cryin' its good to take a humility pill, get more ideas, ask questions and go back home and get started ... again. That's how I've learned some of the tricks that I use to get better at working the rifles.

   Photo: a buttplate to a kentucky that is engraved/carved by K. Casteel. He will be at Kempton and he usually give some kind of demo/talk on his techniques and ideas.

   
1. 
   BILLB | Jul 08, 2009 06:21am | #6

   Greetings All,

   I am fortunate to live only 30 min. from Frank Dixons shop in PA. I've been to the gunmakers fair for the past 5 or so years. It is truly humbling to see the level of craftsmanship displayed there. It is worth the trip if for no other reason than to elevate your aspirations for your own craftsmanship. The metal working and the woodworking on display is remarkable. I have found the gunmakers to be a friendly bunch and the historical displays and country atmosphere (Dixons shop is on his farm in rural Kempton PA.)will round out your day.

   Oh, and for those making the trek to PA., the relatively new Cabela's store is not a 20 min. drive from Dixons. Not a bad way to spend a weekend I'd say.

   BillB

2. 
   WillGeorge | Jul 08, 2009 09:03pm | #7

   Love the silver.. Make the perfect imprint with a 4 bore elephant gun at the shoulder.....

   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4_bore

   NOT SURE how this post fits but I have stated in the past that my grandfather had a 8 Gage (long barrel) Goose gun.. I think he got the whole flock with it! And he hunted bear with a cross Bow in Canada. I am sure he had some permit or license to do so.. Not sure.. He said he did so I believe it...

   Some would say I am full of it.. I say maybe but that that gun was.. was huge and made a really loud noise.. I was really afraid of it... I was a TANK RECOVERY mechanic in the Army Artillery with 8 inch', 5 inch and 155 MM guns..  AND as a recovery mechanics I knew ALL about noise.. Yes.. I hardly hear anything these days!

   But then again MY GRANDFATHER WAS an Officer in WWI for Artillery..

   I am sure he listened to very loud noises all the time.. Not friendly to me as I remember him.. Maybe he never heard when we told him.. WE all loved him.. He died a grumpy old man and I think he never heard the kind words we had for him!

   War sucks! FOR both sides!

   Edited 7/8/2009 2:07 pm by WillGeorge

3. 
   SteveSchoene | Jul 09, 2009 07:17pm | #8

   I saw (and heard) some 4 gauge shells being fired over the 4th.  They weren't in hand held weapons, but were blanks in saluting cannons made by an acquaitance.  Makes a real step up from the puny 12 gauge salutes. 

    

4. 
   WillGeorge | Jul 10, 2009 07:20pm | #9

   I love the smell of black powder in the morning, afternoon, OR night... (Just the smell of Sulfur that I assume that burned up really fast). Not the rotten Egg smell thing...

   I just loved the old Army 8 inch guns we had at Fort Hood Texas...

   I cannot find a picture of it.. But I was one of many that was..

   http://www.ridinthewave.com/thinkytees/2ndArmored.html

   And I WAS just this little man Mechanick.. .. In 1960 that I thought I would die by a Nuke attack!

   I called y fife ever dfay to talk to her...

    

   Edited 7/10/2009 12:29 pm by WillGeorge

5. 
   whitedogstr8leg | Jul 10, 2009 07:28pm | #10

    Up in Ft. McCoy, Wis. I went deer hunting using an M110 SP 8" howitzer.  One shot, one deer.   BTW, I was the Foward Observer that day.  Battery was about two miles behind me, deer was 2 miles to my front.  And this was BEFORE all that laser stuff they use nowadays.

6. 
   HWG | Jul 10, 2009 08:21pm | #11

   Deer burgers for all?Woody

2. 
   WillGeorge | Jul 06, 2009 05:17pm | #4

   Isn't a muzzleloader just a (temporary) cabinet for lead balls? ;-)

   Good one!