Guns Along the Susquehanna

I’m not sure if I’ll do public living history just yet. I’ve done it and enjoyed it (and was pretty good at 1st and 3rd person…) but I’m not quite sure what I’m looking for this go around. I’m keen on small group immersive events and maybe tacticals. Certainly period hunting and camping. I’m not up on what kind of quality there is in F&I and AWI ‘battles’ and events, but I got burned out on ACW mainstream powder burners and hokey living history events. 

If any of that makes sense. 

I appreciate the compliment. I’m really making an attempt and ‘quality’ and ‘correct’. I know I have a long way to go. That’s why I’m putting so much thought into choosing a flintlock. 

I used to super enjoy doing living history right up to a couple years before Covid, when I physically could no longer do much of it.

Colonial Williamsburg was a blast to do it, because so many children came with parents.  I wouldn't wait for them to come over, instead I would sort of gather parents and their children up, get them under shade and a place where the kids could sit on the grass and ask, "Has anyone explained just what is going on?"  or "Have you wondered why Soldiers like me are in "skirts?"  (Referring to our Philabeags or Short Kilts in the Black Watch.)  

I would often do a little first person mixed in with 3rd person to explain things, but the key was getting the kids and thus their parents more into it by putting them in the time period as second person and explaining how their lives would have been.  Of course, most parents loved that.  Many of them actually thought I worked for CW and left good comments on it.  Now, I didn't have set times for this, just did it as groups walked by.  Late in the afternoon, a couple of their paid interpreters stopped by and joined one of my groups.  One even asked if I did work for CW.  They liked it as well, because of my enthusiasm and getting the tourists involved.  They would also give me tips to add some things.  

And then there was the good looking Lady around my age, who had done her Doctorate on 18th century International Trade and worked for the Foundation.  Now that was a challenge, but an enjoyable one to be sure.  

But, I'm going too far off topic, so will end this now.

Gus

In staying with correct period terminology… I’m down to a colonial-made, Germanic-influenced smoothbore gun, or an English import fowling piece. I’ve been lead to believe from my reading that a ‘Fowler’ is actually the guy holding the gun. Dunno. 

A thought that occurred to me… I’m likely to eventually build an early rifle that will probably show German influence. Either I build a Moravian gun to have a ‘matched set’, or I build a British gun to have some variety. Hmmm…

At what point is it paralysis by analysis? Ha. 

Sets in quick! 😄

Funny… In my work I’ve never had trouble making decisions. But stuff like this? I over research and spend a great amount of time in the ‘moaning chair’. 

This could have been as simple as “Type G Trade Gun… Go!”  But No! I read BOOKS! And RESEARCHED! And Dave invited me here with a group of wonderful gents as compulsive as I am! 

😜

Tomorrow my local mentor will stop by with my barrel, some books, and a trade gun he’s built. We’ll develop the build plan and lock it into iron. 

As much as I like the Moravian gun, I’m having trouble placing something like that in the 1740-1750 time period. I’m sure they were around in some form, but I’m not finding concrete dated examples. 

I like the English gun stock architecture, so I’m leaning towards a colonial-built gun on that stock pattern, with colonial carving and engraving that will likely have some Germanic influence. English or German import furniture, English round-face import lock. 

I’ll start a separate build thread when a plan is nailed down. I’d go full Moravian IF I could solidly place the style elements in the 1740s. 

Thanks for the encouragement. This will be a “non-electric” build. 

And man… I can’t wait to see a Jaeger for your boy! That’ll be fantastic!