Official Publication of the NMLRA Since 1939

Volume 79 – No. 2 $5.00 October 2017

FULL-STOCKED HAWKEN RIFLES

ARMING THE 9TH REGIMENT

The Art of Harvey Hildebrand

WILDERNESS WRITINGS: for BATTLE OF TIPS the TRAIL PIERRE'S HOLE

A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, The Second Amendment the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. By Tom Schiffer

Or: Don’t let the shootingBY TOM SCHIFFER get in the way of the fun!

7/11/17 8:00 AM $ .95 296692 History BookOrder Cover 13.indd 1 Now - Price 69

plus $10 .00 shipping. Call 812.667.5131 Ext. 232 or email Lindsey Nelson - [email protected] For International Orders Please Contact The Office. Tom will be signing book immediately following the membership meeting at our Fall Championship Shoot on Sunday September 10th at 7pm EDITOR’S LETTER Head to Pennsylvania for the 18th Century Trade Faire & Rifle Frolic Lee A. Larkin Editor Can you believe that another Fall National Shoot at Friendship has come and gone? If you have not had your fill of shooting for the year, be sure to head to central Pennsylvania, for the 18th Century Trade Faire and Rifle Frolic. The Rifle Frolic will be held at the Altoona Rifle and Pistol Club, October 6-8, 2017. Check out Jim Fulmer’s “Beyond Friendship” at the back of this issue for more information.

We have a number of interesting feature articles for October: Richard Apsley gives a look into a militia unit from Indiana that was mustered on a number of occasions during the Civil War, in his article titled: “A Standing Security Against Invasion and Depredation: Arming the 9th Regiment, Jennings County, Indiana Legion, 1861-1865”; Fred Lipp gives us insight into what it takes to rifle a barrel the old way in “Grooving a Rifle Barrel”; Mike Phifer takes us back to the Fur Trade era “Battle of Pierre’s Hole”; Fred Stutzenberger, gives us the short story about a gun that took forty years to build in “The Forty Year Chunk Gun”; and Bob Woodfill continues his study of Hawken rifles with “The Full Stock Hawken.”

Be sure to check out the Bevel Brothers as they continue their discussion of the matches at the Primitive Range at Friendship; John Curry’s “Wilderness Writings” focuses on some great “Tips for the Trail”; Alan Garbers gives us another interesting installment of “Web Blasts”; Al Raychard discusses “Why I Hunt – and Why Everyone Should”; and, last but not least, Jim Fulmer discusses two of the newest NMLRA events that are helping to introduce muzzleloading to shooters and non-shooters alike.

All in all, there is a little something for everybody in this issue. Here is hoping you enjoy it. Until next time: Keep your powder dry and an eye on your back trail!

Cover and Center Spread Photo Credit: Harvey Hildebrand, featured story in the March 2017 issue of Muzzle Blasts Magazine, www.hiltandbrandink.com

Muzzle Blasts Statement Muzzle Blasts is your membership magazine included in the annual membership fee of $40. Muzzle Blasts (ISSN-0027-5360) is published monthly by the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Material content of the publication relates only to the muzzleloading guns, accoutrements, Association, Maxine Moss Drive, Friendship, IN 47021. Rate of membership is $40 per and historical data of that particular era. Because of the diversified approach to muzzle- year. Periodicals postage paid at Friendship, Indiana, and additional mailing offices. POST- loading guns, Muzzle Blasts is not responsible for opinions expressed by its writers, and is MASTER: Send address changes to Muzzle Blasts, P.O. Box 67, Friendship, IN 47021-0067. not responsible for mishaps of any nature that might occur from use of published data or CAUTION: All technical data in this publication, especially for loading, reflect the limited from recommendations by any member of the staff. experience of individuals using specific tools, products, equipment, and components under Advertising appearing in this magazine relates to the muzzleloading era and appears purely on specific conditions and circumstances not necessarily reported in the article and over which a non-endorsement basis by either the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Assn. or Muzzle Blasts. the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association (NMLRA) has no control. The data have not otherwise been tested or verified by the NMLRA. The NMLRA, its agents, officers, The Muzzle Blasts editor has the right to refuse advertising for any reason whatsoever. and employees accept no responsibility for the results obtained by persons using such data For information on submitting articles, advertising rates, magazine mechanicals, and so and disclaim all liability for any consequential injuries or damages. forth, send for free brochure to NMLRA, P.O. Box 67, Friendship, IN 47021, or call No advertised item is intended for sale in those states or in those areas where local restrictions (812) 667-5131. may limit or prohibit the purchase, carrying, or use of certain items. Membership fees are explained on the Association Affairs pages in this issue; $40 is the one-year Check local laws before purchasing. Mention of a product or service in membership fee for 2017 advertisements or text does not necessarily mean that it has been tested 2017 Copyright © National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association, Friendship, Indiana, or approved by the NMLRA. 47021 USA.

October 2017 3 Contents 8 14

Full Stocked Hawken Rifles Tips for the Trail Bob Woodfill John Curry

32 49

Grooving a Rifle Barrel Battle of Pierre's Hole Fred Lipp Mike Phifer Contact Us! Muzzle Blasts Staff

National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association Muzzle Blasts Coordinator P.O. Box 67, Friendship, IN 47021 Carrie Bruce Telephone (812) 667-5131 Fax (812) 667-5136 [email protected] (812) 667-5131 ext. 230 E-mail Address for NMLRA office—[email protected] Muzzle Blasts Editor Business Hours Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. EST Lee A. Larkin [email protected]

4 MuzzleBlasts Volume 79 – No. 2 • October 2017 68

Muzzleloading Afield - Life Less 73 Ordinary Why I Hunt —­ And Why Everyone Should The Bevel Brothers Al Raychard

Editor's Letter The Art of Harvey 03 Lee A. Larkin 42 Hildebrand

Association Affairs The 40-Year Chunk Gun 06 44 Fred Stutzenberger

President's Message Junior Blasts 07 Joe Hill 54 Alan Garbers

1 of 1000 New Members Charter Club 11 56 Shoot Dates

Last Relay Walter Cline Range 13 60 Calendar

Arming the 9th Regiment Financial Statement 20 Richard S. Apsley 62

Web Blasts Rendezvous Monthly 36 Alan Garbers 66 Advertising & Muzzle Blasts Secretary Lindsey Brown Letters to the Editor NMLRA Classified Ads [email protected] (812) 667-5131 ext. 231 38 78

Muzzle Blasts Designer Charter Club Chatter Beyond Friendship Stacy Gibson 40 82 James C. Fulmer

October 2017 5 National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association P.O. Box 67, Friendship, IN 47021 Telephone (812) 667-5131 FAX (812) 667-5136 Business Hours 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. EST (Mon.– Fri.) E-mail Address for NMLRA office—[email protected] Muzzle Blasts Coordinator Carrie Bruce—[email protected] of Concern to the Membership Muzzle Blasts Editor Lee A. Larkin—[email protected] Association Affairs Advertising & Muzzle Blasts Secretary Lindsey Brown—[email protected] NMLRA Platform NMLRA Officers and Directors As an association founded upon our heritage of early American firearms, we declare our support of Executive Committee the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Terms Ending 2018 We are dedicated to: President— Clifford (Ted) Blackwell...... Beech Grove, IN Joe Hill David DeLong ...... Round Pond, ME 1. The understanding of, and the ability in, marksmanship with early American muzzleloading guns. 25792 Bright Leaf Drive, West Harri- 2. Match promotion for the purpose of advancing fine accuracy with these arms and the establishment son, IN 47060 • (513) 678-5550 Adina Cloud ...... Paoli, IN of standard practices for competition. [email protected] Jerry von Dielingen ...... Lexington,KY 3. The recognition and support for the continuing and growing interest in the added challenge of Colton Fleetwood ...... Vallonia, IN hunting with a muzzleloading gun. Vice President— John (Digger) Kemple ...... Paoli, IN Brent Steele 4. Greater safety with all guns, especially with muzzleloading rifles, pistols, and shotguns. Mike Yazel ...... Mentone, IN 714 Leatherwood Rd, Bedford, IN 5. The collecting, preservation, and recreation of antique guns and related accoutrements, and the 47421 • (812) 276-3326 Terms Ending 2019 recognition of the value of living history re-enactments. [email protected] Dana Dore ...... Chino Valley, AZ NMLRA Mission Statement Alan Shourds ...... Chrisney, IN The National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association exists to promote, support, nurture, and Secretary— preserve NMLRA’s and our nation’s rich historical heritage in the sport of muzzleloading through Colton Fleetwood Rebecca Waterman ...... New Bremen, OH recreational, educational, historical, and cultural venues such as match competition, hunting, gun 10207 N. St. Rd. 135, Vallonia, IN Brent Steele ...... Bedford, IN making and safety, historical re-enactments, exhibits, museums, libraries, and other related programs 47281 • (812) 968-9120 Andy Larson ...... Houston, TX [email protected] NMLRA Office Staff– (812) 667-5131 (phone extensions listed) Alliey Nunn ...... Indianapolis, IN Accounting Manager—Joan Rohrig, ext. 227; [email protected] Treasurer— Roger Spurgeon ...... Indianapolis, IN

Accounting Assistant—Dianna Smith, ext. 225; [email protected] Mike Yazel Terms Ending 2020 P.O. Box 492, Mentone, IN 46539 Advertising and Muzzle Blasts Secretary—Lindsey Brown ext 231; [email protected] (574) 551-7687 William (Bill) Foy Jr...... Marion, OH Maintenance Supervisor—Dan Thomas [email protected] Alan Hoeweler...... Cincinnati, OH Membership Manager, Muzzle Blasts Coordinator— Carrie Bruce ext. 230; [email protected] Jeff Cunningham...... Paoli, IN Charter Clubs, Membership and Education Secretary—Lora Parks, ext. 224; [email protected] NMLRA Office Marty Murphy...... Xenia, OH P.O. Box 67, Friendship, IN 47021 Karen Latta...... Amo, IN Merchandise Clerk, Commercial Row Secretary —Lindsey Nelson, ext. 228; [email protected] phone (812) 667-5131 Office Manager, Longhunter Program Director, Field Rep Secretary—Joyce Vogel, ext. 221; fax (812) 667-5136 Mike Weissmann...... Batavia, OH [email protected] [email protected] Michael Eder...... Indianapolis, IN Secretary and Camping Coordinator—Brenda Hooton, ext. 223; [email protected]

NMLRA Memberships–Visa, M/C & Discover Accepted Patron Life – $1200. Payment plan of $200 down and $80 quarterly until balance is paid in full. Annual Membership $40. 3-Year Membership $115; 5-Year Membership $185. Includes monthly Benefactor Life – $1,500. Payment plan of $200 down and $80 quarterly until balance is paid in full. publication and all membership privileges. Associate Life – $300. To be paid in one payment. Full membership required by another family mem- Annual Family Membership $53. ($63 Foreign) Valid for parents and children under the age of ber, same rules apply as regular Associate Membership. eighteen (18), living at the same address. Each member has all membership privileges except the Senior Life – $500. To be paid in one payment. Must be 62 or older to qualify. Family Membership is entitled to one vote, one copy of the monthly publication, and adults only may 10 Year+ Life – $500. rent campsites. To be paid in one payment. Must have paid regular adult dues for 10 or more consecutive years. Subject to verification from NMLRA office. Annual Junior Membership $15. Valid for persons under the age of 18. Date of birth required. Send membership information to the NMLRA Office listed above. Phone (812) 667-5131—For Includes all membership privileges except for voting and camping. Will receive Muzzle Blasts each memberships only month. (800) 745-1493. Golden Guardian Annual Membership $140. Includes monthly publication, membership privileges, and $100 is tax deductible. Canadian and Overseas Annual Memberships $50. 3-Year Membership $145. 5-Year Membership $235. Associate Annual Membership $14.50. 3-Year Associate Membership $39. 5-Year Associate Membership Newest NMLRA $65. Includes all membership privileges except receiving Muzzle Blasts. An Associate Member must be in the immediate family (spouse and all minor children) of an NMLRA member. Life Members NMLRA Business Membership FROM July 19, 2017 thru August 3, 2017 Annual Business Membership $250. Includes monthly publication and membership privileges, the use of the NMLRA business member logo, advertising and exhibit discounts, and the exclusive right BRUCE PEIRANO BRUCE WARREN to rent the direct mail list. STEPHEN PRUYNE MARC ADAMCHEK NMLRA Life Memberships–Visa, M/C & Discover Accepted You may now become a Life Member at a discounted rate if you Endowment Life – $1000. Payment plan of $200 down and $80 quarterly until balance is paid in are 62 or older or have been a member for 10 or more consecutive full. years (must be verified by the office).

6 MuzzleBlasts PRESIDENT'S Message

I hope everyone had a good summer and those who could make it had a great time at the Fall National Championship. If you’ve never been, put it on your bucket list; it’s good times with great people and top competition. The range was in terrific condition this year and the grounds looked superb, a special thanks to Dan Thomas and crew for making sure everything looked great and was ready to go.

We wanted to try to get the playground in before the fall shoot, but were held up by the manufacturer; Joe Hill rest assured it will be done before this winter. This fall and winter will be busy times on the range with NMLRA President more improvements: finishing the electric in the skeet campground, the pistol line will be finished, both playgrounds, and numerous other projects.

This year has gone by very quickly for me as your President, and we still have quite a few things in front of us to accomplish, but I know first-hand, that with the help of the Board of Directors and our members we can continue to grow this organization and put it on solid ground. It is my number one mission as president of the NMLRA.

I would also like to remind everybody that Tom Schiffer’s book The History of the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association is now on sale and can be purchased through the NMLRA office. It’s $64.95. There are lots of great pictures and stories to take you down memory lane and to give newer folks an idea where the NMLRA came from. Tom spoke at the membership meeting in September about the book project and did book signings immediately afterward. I can tell you first-hand this book is a fantastic telling of the history of the NMLRA.

We’ve had a recent change in the office staff. Carrie Bruce took a new position with Winnelson in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Please join me in wishing her the very best and continued success. Thanks Carrie for your many contributions to the NMLRA.

Also, please don’t forget to support the NMLRA Western National Shoot being held February 27- March 5, 2018. Put it on your calendar; it’s another opportunity to shoot with great people in a world- class facility.

October 2017 7 Full-Stocked By Bob Woodfill

Full-stockedHawken Hawken rifles occurred throughout the Hawken Era (1822-1860). Rifles ull-stocked Hawken rifles were made by Jake and Sam Hawken from 1822-1860, in Fconjunction with their more familiar half-stocked versions. Their numbers can only be estimated, but a review of A full-stocked S. Hawken rifle (Gorden, 2007). surviving Hawken rifles in the Buffalo Bill Cody Museum, the Jim Gorden collection, state and private collections, Several well-known full-stocked Hawken suggests that the ratio of full to half-stocked Hawken rifles is rifles have previously been described in the literature: The about 1:5 or 20% of the production. This does not include Smithsonian Hawken (Baird, 1977 and Goodwin, 1978), the the light squirrel or heavy turkey/target rifles made for the Kennett Hawken (Goodwin, 1978), the Dunham Hawken local Missouri trade, but only the large-bore rifles intended (Baird, 1968), the Clyman Hawken (Camp, 1960), the Bar- for fur traders, explorers, and emigrants heading west to the sotti Hawken (Hansen, 1979) and the John Brown Hawken Rocky Mountains, or on to the Pacific coast.

Generally, the full-stocked Hawken rifles sold at a lesser price than the half-stocked versions. From extensive research done by Hansen (1979) on the Chouteau and Hawken documents S. Hawken stamped rifle in the Buffalo Bill Historical in St. Louis, data indicates that in the 1850’s, full-stocked Center (Gorden, 2007). Hawkens sold for $18, while the half-stocked rifles sold for $25. The less expensive full-stocked rifles had solid patented breeches and straight wood, while the half-stocks had detach- able patented breeches and generally more figure in the wood. The triggers, trigger guards, buttplates and sights were gener- ally of the same period. The additional time needed to fit the detachable patented breeches, underibs, and thimbles on half- stocked rifles added to the labor costs. Special presentation rifles with features such as fancy wood, engraving, patchboxes, and inlays would often push the price up to $35-38, whether it was a full or half-stocked rifle (Hansen, 1979). Beautifully sculptured snail on S. Hawken full-stocked rifle in the Buffalo Bill Historical Center (Gorden, 2007).

The Smithsonian Hawken (Courtesy of the Smithsonian).

8 MuzzleBlasts Early full-stocked J&S Hawken rifle with grease hole in stock (Gorden, 2007). at the LDS visitor’s center in Salt Lake City, UT. at both the breech and muzzle. Its caliber is 58 and the barrel markings are illegible, although it has all of the features of There were three distinct periods when full-stocked Hawken rifles of a J.&S. Hawken made during the 1830’s. It has a rifles with similar characteristics were made: Kentucky-style breech plug with a long tang. The nipple lug is forged onto the barrel, rather than using a patent breech. 1849-1860 Full-stocked Hawken rifles made during this The lock is a George Goulcher (1830-60) with a long hammer period were stamped “S. Hawken St. Louis”. They had solid throw to fit a high-angle nipple. The buttplate is forged with patented breeches with long, tapered tangs. The breeches had the turned-down crescent and shows a fine brass joint line. beautifully sculptured snails. The cheekpiece was the square The trigger guard is the close-to-wrist type used during the Tennessee type. The triggers, trigger guards, and buttplates J.&S. period. The stock has the typical Tennessee-type cheek- were standardized castings similar to period half-stocks. piece that was often seen on J.&S. full-stocked rifles. 1830-1849 Full-stocked Hawken rifles made during this Fortunately, today, we have some excellent, and currently avail- period were stamped “J.&S. Hawken St. Louis”. Some had a able parts, which one can use to make a replica copy of this J&S nipple lug forged to the barrel in conjunction with a Ken- full-stock Hawken. tucky-style breech plug with a long tang. Others had the more conventional solid patented breech plugs and long Tennes- Barrel — Although 1 1/8” diameter, straight-tapered octagonal see-style tangs. The trigger guards were generally the close- barrels in 58-caliber are available from the various muzzle-load- to-grip style. The buttplates erew forged, sometimes with the ing barrel makers and suppliers, I would recommend using a brazed joint showing. 1” diameter barrel, which makes a lighter 10 pound rifle. The Hawken brothers seem to have used over-sized barrels, com- 1822-1830 Prior to the 1825 partnership between Jake and pared to today’s standards, to handle the large charges of black Sam Hawken, only one rifle is known to have been made-- powder fired in their barrels. The 69-caliber Ashley flint ‘Super Hawken’ (Woodfill, 2017). Based on historical records, Hansen (1997) suggests that both Davis Goucher-style lock. Jake and Sam were busy prior to 1825 in their individual gunsmithing shops, repairing rifles and making equipment for the fur and local trade. Except for the Ashley Hawken, no documented rifles are known to have been made during this period until about 1830, when Jake and Sam seemed to have formulated the design for a half-stocked plains rifle, which also happened to coincide with the introduction of the percussion cap in the St. Louis area.

Lock — Davis (redavislocks.com), Track (www.trackofthewolf. com) and other suppliers can provide you with a Goulcher cap lock with the name of G. Goulcher cast in the lockplate. Full-stock Hawken with nipple lug forged to the I would recommend the uncut plate version and the longer barrel (Gorden, 2007). hammer, to better fit the high-angle nipple.

I am going to more fully describe one of these 1830’s full- Breech plug — A solid patent breech for a 1” diameter barrel stocked Hawkens in the Jim Gordon collection, and show (Plug-PAT-16-3) is available from Track, and can be modified how to make a replica copy. The rifle shown in Gorden by reshaping the snail and welding on a long Tennessee-type (2007, p. 368) and Baird (1968, p. 2 and p. 27), has a 38 tang to match the original rifle. 1/8” long octagonal barrel which measures 1 1/8” diameter

October 2017 9 My completed replica full-stocked, 58-caliber J.&S. Hawken rifle was chronographed with various charges of Goex 2FFg, a 0.020” thick lubricated patch, and a Hornady 0.570” diameter round ball. The 140-grain charge gave a 5-shot average of 1825 fps with a uniform 20 fps ES, while a half-charge load of 70 grains gave 1291 fps. With a 125-yard zero for the 140-grain hunting load, the 70-grain load give a nice zero trajectory at 50 yards for general plinking.

Modified solid patented breech on replica rifle.

Stoc — Pecatonica River Long Rifle Supply Company (www. longrifle-pr.com), and other suppliers, can supply you with a Hawken-style full-stock semi-inlet with the Tennessee-type cheekpiece in either maple or walnut in various barrel dimen- sions.

Target shot at 50 and 100 yards with reproduction rifle.

Selected References J.&S. Hawken ‘square’ lock panels on replica rifle. Baird, John. Hawken Rifles, The Mountain Man’s Choice. Accessories — An early Hawken trigger guard (TG-Hawk-E-I Pence, IN: Franklin P, 1968. or TG-Hawk-N-I), an early Hawken buttplate (BP-Hawk- SE-I), a Davis (TR-PA-20) or L&R (TR-LR-1400) double set Baird, John. “Smithsonian Hawken--Flintlock or triggers, and a large buckhorn rear sight (RS-PA-237) are avail- percussion, originally?” The Buckskin Report (December able from Track and other suppliers. 1977) 8-13.

Camp, Charles L. James Clyman, Frontiersman. Portland, OR, 1960.

Goodwin, Lt. Col. Vaughn K. “The Quandary of the Fraternal Twins.” Muzzle Blasts (May 1978) 4-11.

Gordon, Jim. Great Gunmakers for the Early West: Volume III--Western U.S., Santa Fe. NM: James Gordon, 2007.

Hansen, Charles E., Jr. The Hawken Rifle: Its Place In History. Chadron, NE: Fur P, 1979.

Woodfill, Bob. “The Ashley Hawken, Parts 1&2”. Muzzle Blasts (July and August 2017).

Full-buckhorn rear sight on replica rifle.

10 MuzzleBlasts Is Your Name on the Wall?

New 1 of 1000 Members #9 - H. Bradley Martin, TX

1 of 1000 Endowment Program For more information about the program, please contact: Bob Copner - 1 of 1000 Endowment Chair- man - 4682 Valley End Lane, Fairfield, CA 94534, National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association, P.O. Box 67, Friendship, IN 47021 - (812) 667-5131 or 707-864-0442 - [email protected]

Attention: 1 of 1000 Members We plan to continue publishing 1 of 1000 member profiles in Muzzle Blasts. Profiles published to date include randomly selected early and later members. If you would like to submit your profile (approximately 400 words and a photograph) explaining why being a member of the 1 of 1000 is important to you, please send it to Carrie Bruce at [email protected], Bob Copner at [email protected] or mail to P.O. Box 67, Friendship, Indiana 47021.

What happens to my tax-deductible donation to the 1 of 1000 Endowment Program? The money you put in, will remain in the endowment and can only be used to generate interest or to purchase a permanent asset such as land. The principal can never be used for the general operation of the Association. The NMLRA Board of Directors can use up to 75% of the interest for the new and innovative programs that ensure the long-term viability of the Association and help it to prosper.

October 2017 11 CONTEMPORARY ARTISANS

Randy Grunkemeyer (812) 934-6412 14094 N. Co. Rd 600 E., Batesville, IN 47006 [email protected] rggunsmithing.com

6th Annual Early Kentucky Craftsman Fair Hosted by Friends of Fort Harrod

November 18th & 19th, 2017 Saturday 9:00am – 5:00pm Sunday 10:00am – 4:00pm

Lyons Park Community Center East Factory Street Harrodsburg KY

Craftsmen and women will be selling 18th Century historical clothing, weaving, beadwork, horn ware, leather goods, glass ware, knives, black powder guns and accoutrements Silent Auction and drawing for Door Prize TIGER HUNT Admission $3.00 (12 and under free) Curly Maple Gunstocks For more information: Blanks and precarved stocks Tommy Barnett (859-613-1426) or Larry Catlett (859-734-3767) Sugar (hard) and Red (soft) Maple Curly Cherry and Curly Ash Visit www.friendsoffortharrod.com 814-472-5161 Michael D. Barton P.O. Box 379, Beaverdale, PA 15921 www.gunstockwood.com

12 MuzzleBlasts We regret to report the death of these fellow members. The Association extends its condolences to Last Relay their families and friends. DENNIS E MITCHELL JO BURKHEAD MICHAEL B JEFFERS RALPH HOUSEHOLDER OHIO KENTUCKY OHIO OHIO CLYDE H MARTIN PERRY VANSCOY RONALD DOD ILLINOIS MARYLAND FLORIDA

Dennis Mitchell (1951 – 2017) Dennis E. Mitchell, 66 of Cincinnati, vacationed in many of the 50 states. Alaska, Maine, Washington, and Ohio, formerly of Taftville, Connecticut, Montana were his favorite destinations. died Thursday July 20, 2017 following an extended battle with pancreatic cancer. He was a competitive pistol and rifle enthusiast, and over the years was Born in Norwich, Connecticut on March a member of five Cincinnati area shooting clubs. He was a member of 16, 1951, he was the son of the late the National Rifle Association and the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Edward A. Mitchell Jr. and Yvette (Arpin) Association. In addition to shooting, he was an NMLRA Certified Range Mitchell. He graduated from the Norwich Officer and trained many beginners on firearm safety. Free Academy in 1969 and graduated from the University of Connecticut with a BS in Surviving is his loving wife of 40 years, Anne (Sawyer) Mitchell, formerly Chemical Engineering. During his working career with Monsanto and of Norwich, Connecticut, who continues to reside in Cincinnati. He Bayer he held positions in both Management and Engineering. also leaves behind one son Andy Mitchell, his wife Brittany (Brookbank) Mitchell, of Monroe, Ohio, and two daughters; and Laura (Mitchell) Family was an important part of his life. He enjoyed extended family get Raverty and her husband Patrick Raverty, of Hebron, KY. He also leaves togethers, and cooked for all occasions. He enjoyed helping his children behind two grandchildren, Joey and Isabelle. Donations may be made to with everything from home projects and gardening to financial guidance. the American Cancer Society, Ohio Division, 5555 Frantz Rd., Dublin, Dennis loved the outdoors, and enjoyed traveling. Over the years he OH 43017. Clyde Martin (1930 – 2017) Clyde H. Martin, 87, of Urbana passed away on Sunday, July 16, 2017, Clyde was an avid hunter and fisherman during his life. at Amber Glen in Urbana. He was a member of the National Rifle Association (NRA), the National Mr. Martin was born on Feb. 14, 1930, in Urbana, the only child of Muzzle Loading Rifle Association (NMLRA), the St. Joseph Sportsman Thene E. and Bernice E. (Davidson) Martin. He was a graduate of Urba- Club, and VFW Post 630. na High School Class of 1948. He dearly loved spending time with his family. Clyde leaves behind one After serving in the U.S. Navy as a hospital corpsman from 1948 to son, Shawn A, (Saundra R.) Martin of Sidney; one daughter, Susan A. 1953, he returned to Urbana and married Jeannine E. Roney on Aug. (John A.) Johnson of Urbana; three grandchildren, Patrick T. (Meredith) 15, 1953. She preceded him in death on Feb. 6, 2017. She was the love Martin, Lindsay C. (Matt) Lebo, and Brittany N. (Scott) Hedden; and of his life. five great grandchildren, Giuliana Martin, Freyja Martin, Maynard Mar- tin, Lucas Lebo and Dawson Lebo. Clyde was a third-generation firefighter for the City of Urbana, retiring as captain on Feb. 2, 1991, after 35 years of service.

October 2017 13 for the TIPS by John Curry TRAIL I was forwarded what I felt to be an extremely interesting let- of my customs and habits are still and all, done in a strictly ter a short while back by one of our fine Arkansas members, eighteenth century fashion, while for safety’s sake - some- Mr. Dan Pratt. He made some very kind statements, told a things require me to rely on the wonders of our twenty-first couple of great stories and asked several very good questions. century. His letter (in part) reads: Procurement of water is probably one of the most “I have been a member for quite some time and really enjoy serious problems you face while on the trail. I had a friend Muzzle Blasts magazine. I especially enjoy ‘Wilderness Writ- who was an avid shooter and a fan of mine but had never ings” by John Curry and have a question for John that maybe spent too awfully much time out in the woods. His heart’s you could get to him. I was wondering what Mr. Curry does for desire was to go on an extended, eighteenth century style ticks when he is doing his backwoods forays? scout. He appeared to be a very smart fellow and he had indeed managed to accumulate a fine assemblage of colonial I know he likes to keep things as close to the old days as possible frontier era clothing, accouterments, weaponry, trail gear, but if he could share some of the concessions he now makes, I’m etc. with an expert knowledge of the whole. And so, after sure a lot of us would be real interested in hearing. Most of his some time of his asking and my politely declining, I acceded story’s talk of springs but I wonder if he carries water purifica- to his wishes... Coming out of the Daniel Boone National tion as a backup? Same goes for first aid and communications. Forest just south of Clear Creek Lake after a wonderful, four day romp, I noticed my friend Keep up the good work on the was lagging some considerable magazine and relay my thanks to distance behind the rest of our Mr. Curry. company. In fact, there came Regards, a time when I could no longer Daniel Pratt. #113568” physically see him. Calling a halt, I took two of my old Good questions Dan, reliables – Steve Brehob and and good things to sort of have Mike Clemons with me back up a grip on before you set off into the trail in search of our missing the wilderness. Let me start out companion. Sure enough, may- here by just mentioning that I be three/four hundred yards to understand everybody has their the rear, there he was… propped own ideas on how to best range up against a tree on the side of through the pathless, untamed the Sheltowee Trace, his face places so near and dear to our white as a sheet. Come to find hearts. No doubt some do it he had brought along one can- much better than me. That teen full of water and when that being said, I have, over the last was gone, he was afraid to even few decades, developed a bit of consider boiling or processing a routine if you will, that has any water we found out there in managed to get me into the larg- the wild! Taking Steve’s, Mikes est, wildest, most foreboding, and my own canteens which unsympathetic forests and back were all nearly full from a fine, home again, safe and sound (as deep, ever-flowing spring near well as all in one piece). Inter- our previous camp – the water estingly enough, the lion’s share of which we’d been boiling and

14 MuzzleBlasts the water. Eventually we returned to our patiently awaiting company. Before long we were all on the trail once again as a single group. By the time we reached our vehicles and Clear Creek Lake (maybe another mile and a half) our skeptical, water-shy, trail partner was totally recovered and fit as the proverbial fiddle.

Springs, licks and tiny, little runs you find deep in the forest – miles away from any manner of farming activity will most generally be free of any artificial, synthetic pesticides, herbicides or chemicals. In cases such as this, the water will contain only natural contaminates which a good five minute, rolling boil will kill. Water however, coming from lakes, ponds, creeks, rivers or within a mile or two of any type of farming activity cannot be safely boiled but should be processed through some sort of portable water filter. Mod- ern-day, “camping style” water filters are relatively small, light and easily transportable. They’re not intrusive to your eighteenth century set up in the least. You can stash them Steve Welch gathers a pot full of coffee water from a tiny, rock strewn run some distance above historic, John’s Creek of away in a small, hand sewn linen bag amongst the rest of late 1740’s/early 1750’s, Harmon brothers fame. your trail gear, so unless you have need for it, no one will even notice it, much less realize what it is. (Water filter!?! using for the last few days, I slowly began to re-hydrate our What water filter?) But on those occasions when you do dangerously thirsty trail pardner. A moment or two later, I need one, you’ll have one right there with you. sent Steve and Mike back to let the others know what was going on (along with all our ailing friend’s weapons and trail O.K., let’s talk about bugs and serpents... gear), while I remained behind to assist in any way I could. Warm weather months are my least favorite time of the year We sat there for a while, talking, laughing, slowly sipping to get out into the wilderness. Sounds kind of odd, huh?

October 2017 15 Well, here’s the deal: copperheads, rattlers, deer ticks, dog ly we came upon a series of nice, inviting, flat bottomed ticks, mosquitos, spiders, mites, poisonous centipedes, etc. rockhouses carved out of the craggy, southeastern wall of an all love warm weather. Traveling through the hiddy holes imposing, limestone faced ridge. Didn’t need to tell us twice, and little known recesses of the Ohio and upper Cumberland we were home! At the extreme southern point of that ridge, valleys; myself, my people and my horses have all had our mother nature had fashioned a magnificent rocky overhang share of close encounters with various species of pit vipers. I with a jaw dropping panorama down into the valley and its personally have been nailed a couple of times by poisonous attendant, unending, virginal forest further below us. Talk spiders… and pretty much anyone who has ever spent any about a room with a view! What a sight folks! The kind of amount of time in the hinterlands with me has wound up unsullied, backcountry home-away-from-home you dream at their doctor’s office receiving treatment for Lyme disease. of. I would have used it myself but the first ones to arrive One very dear friend nearly died of Rocky Mountain Spotted had already laid their claims and there were indeed, plenty Fever several years back. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever for more high quality rock shelters to be had. So (with a sigh Pete’s sake – and this was in southeast Kentucky! I know a and a heavy heart) I slipped a couple of rockhouses on down lot of twenty-first century, mosquito/tick/mite/all around the ridge and selected yet another nice looking, transitory insect repellants boast of wonderful results in the deepwoods abode for my very own. but my own personal experience shows that nothing really works all that well… especially for any length of time. So, Well, the scout went wonderfully, the forest was incredible you’ll have to pardon me if I don’t get too overly enthusiastic and all hands had an absolutely tremendous, eighteenth cen- about them. tury experience. (I actually wrote about it in Muzzle Blasts five or six years ago.) Nevertheless, all silver linings usually Probably the last, “middle-of-the-summer”, historic scout have a dark cloud. Approximately ninety days later – ram- I conducted took place in a wild and beautiful part of the bling up and down the broad aisleways of commercial row extreme southern section of Indiana’s Hoosier National For- at the N.M.L.R.A’s big fall championship shoot; I ran into a est - in the valley of what is better known throughout that couple of the lads who were with me on Big Creek and had particular area as “Big Creek”. The weather was marvelous… (as luck would have it) spent the night in that picturesque, upper seventies/ low eighties. Not a sign of rain. Direct- far southeastern rockhouse. With solemn looks on their

Beautiful, inviting rockhouse - the floor of which just happens to be heavily laced with an armada of ravenous turkey mites!

16 MuzzleBlasts faces, they dutifully showed me their lower arms along with pouch or haversack until you truly need it. Be as covert as their knees and calves: My, my, my… Badly scarred in ugly, possible about its actual usage... Follow all directions implic- ominous, swirling shades of blues and reds and purples. itly for most effective use. Then just be careful, watch where Son! They appeared to be more like third degree burns than you step, as well as where you camp and always stay sharp. anything else. Come to find out, they had (completely un- beknownst to any of us) bedded down within that rockhouse Hey y’all! squarely in the midst of a rather impressive nest of turkey Need a campfire? mites! The dire ramifications of which they were not to fully The wilderness is just loaded down with natural fire-making comprehend until several days afterward. Actually, by the materials. You do not need tow! Grapevine bark makes time I saw them at Friendship, they informed me they were about the most impressive tinder I’ve ever seen - with a ton in fact, entirely healed – if that’s what you want to call it. less smoke too. You can find it just about anywhere in the Lord have mercy! I felt so sorry for those poor fellows. If I’d woods. It will take a glow to a flame soaking wet… I know! only known, I wouldn’t have had anything like that happen I’ve done it many times! Just pull a four or five foot strip to them for all the world. Their arms and legs looked like off the vine and wad it up. Then twist it back and forth they’d been in some sort of a bad house fire and just narrowly and push and pull it this way and that for maybe five or so escaped... Poor guys. minutes until it separates, gets stringy and you lose all that hard, outer bark. Put a glowing piece of char to that stuff, At any rate, a few hard lessons like the above blow on it and you’ve got a flame! Inner bark of cottonwood and I’ve come to the conclusion that I really like winter! is almost as common and just as good. It strips off the tree Give me twenty degrees above zero, six inches of snow with a skim of ice around the spring and you can keep your pit vipers, spider venom, West Nile disease, Rocky Mountain spot- ted fever, Lyme disease and ever last one of those danged old turkey mites thank you very much. Now, if you really have to go out into the woods during the summer months, check with a good sporting goods store and get the absolute best insect repellant they recommend. Keep that little squirt bottle or aerosol can hidden Primitive style tinder, waiting for you out there in the forest. (l-r), thoroughly shredded way down in the bottom of your shot grapevine bark and inner bark of cottonwood.

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October 2017 17 as thin as paper and burns char cloth. One pint- from a glow into a flame in sized chunk of charred the blink of an eye. hickory jack no bulk- ier than a peanut will Far and away the greatest sustain a glow for ten tinder I’ve ever used is or fifteen minutes! You also the most common. can always spot hickory That being the teensy, jack because its topside tiny, hair-like tip ends is rough, brown and of thoroughly dry, dead barky much like the tree brush, bushes, extremely it was attached to, while small tree branches, etc. its underside is perfectly Make sure the stuff is so Far left; good view of my little, iron char box. In the center of this photo; flat and white as snow. small and fine that merely two chunks of charred hickory jack fungus and to the extreme right – a nice piece of punk wood, ready to be charred. It’s that relatively thin, the act of collecting it can smooth underpart you break it - and you’ve got just exactly what you need. Gather want to cut free, to a depth of maybe a quarter inch and a huge, two/three foot in diameter ball of that super light char. You’ve got to experiment with tree fungus though forest trash. Stick a glowing piece of char in it. Blow on it because some varieties will indeed take a spark to a glow for a second or two then step back and watch the fireworks. while others won’t. Inner bark of cottonwood chars just like Makes pretty much no smoke like old oily tow will and cloth as well, and it takes a glow pretty darned good but it’s jumps up into a blazing fire right now! Has to be fairly dry rather delicate and needs to be used before too awfully long though. In rainy weather, we’ve come across real light, use- as it tends to disintegrate and turn into a sooty, black residue able stuff like that inside rockhouses and under rock ledges. over time. Keep in mind, if you can find it reasonably dry - you’ve got a fire. It’s hard to imagine how important dry feet are when you’re in camp overnight. Heaven knows Suitable char material is just as easily ac- it’s pretty much impossible to keep your feet dry on the trail. quired in the wild. You simply don’t need to haul But that’s really no big deal at all. They can be soaking wet out that char cloth (unless you’re living in Boston, Williams- all day and not bother you a bit, as long as you’re on the burg or Philadelphia). Excellent punk wood is everywhere in move, trudging through the forest. Nevertheless – come the wilderness. Get it when it depresses slightly to the touch nightfall… and you’re in camp… You stop all that moving but doesn’t crumble or fall and you’re either sitting apart. All you have to do still or maybe lying quiet- is burn it in your previous ly, all snugged up in your fire until it’s charred, then bedroll and I guarantee bury the charred part in the those damp feet are going ground with the uncharred to feel like they’ve been end sticking out so you frozen solid in blocks of can find it in the morn- ice! I’m telling ya now, ing – and it’s char! Bust it when it comes to your up into smaller pieces and feet; “tolerably dry” or carry it in your char box. It “kinda dry” won’t cut it. travels and keeps as well or Always, always, always better than char cloth does. take along a spare pair Heads up… Don’t even try of moccasins to wear in using any sort of large bush camp at night. Keep or evergreen wood. It just them rolled up in your doesn’t work. hoppus or down in your knapsack. If you’re wear- The underneath part of ing stockings, take them certain types of tree fungus off, sleep without them (like hickory jack) can also and dry them near the fire be charred in your char Author, trying to keep his feet dry but not having a lot of luck at it, along with your wet mocs. box, much like common follows the stone enshrouded banks of the Hunter’s Branch very near Rockcastle River. In the morning, put your

18 MuzzleBlasts nice, comfy, recently dried, unspoken law is: no one stockings and trail mocca- looks at, touches or even sins back on when you get mentions his phone unless up. Stash your camp mocs we have some sort of dire into your bedroll or wher- emergency out there on ever you prefer to carry the trail – in the middle them, and you’re a match of nowhere. And then, for anything the forest can those nasty little, modern toss your way… You can cell phones become worth thank me later. their weight in gold. Thank the Lord we’ve nev- I like to bring a er had a situation like that compass along happen but in the event it whenever I ever did, our cell phones wander off intothe vast, would be there – ready enigmatic forests and wild and waiting. places. Put me in any sort When it comes of extensive wilderness, to useful tips and particularly one I’ve never hints for the backwoods seen before and it’s rather I’m afraid the above few an easy thing for me to suggestions I’ve present- get royally turned around. ed to this point, hardly Ahhh well… One of my scratch the surface. There all-time heroes – Col. is in fact, so much more James Robertson (as much This is a cell phone - but you’d never know it unless I told you, huh? No intrusion to your period correctness whatsoever. Pack it away and to be told. Ya know, beloved in Tennessee as forget about it… Given the wrong set of circumstances however, it just people write books on this Daniel Boone is in Ken- might be a lifesaver. sort of thing… Not so tucky) was headed east to much on the historically sensitive, primitive type aspects that the Yadkin Valley settlements of North Carolina in 1770 we’re more interested in - but the majority of their kind of when he found himself swallowed up amidst an absolutely information is still and all, fairly applicable to “old school” endless grove of thick, twelve/sixteen foot high rhododen- traditionals like us. If you wish, I’d be glad to do several dron. The weather was rainy so there was no sun or stars to more installments on this subject from our own, eighteenth/ guide by. Lost in that ocean of rhododendron for several early nineteenth century perspective. Actually, I can think days, forced even to abandon his horse; Robertson nearly of quite a few more, useful odds and ends right off the top of died before he was providentially discovered by another my head. Just do like our buddy Dan and drop me a line in group of hunters headed in the opposite direction. From care of the fine folks at Muzzle Blasts, P.O. Box 67, Friend- that day on James Robertson never ventured into the path- ship, Indiana 47021 or maybe email [email protected] and less, far-western regions without a compass – and neither do they’ll be sure to send your message my way. I… No sir! 1 References: One of the last things Dan asked in his letter 1. Curry, John, Rockhouses & Rhododendron, Vol. I, p. xvi. was whether or not we took modern communication devices along with us on our primitive forays. My answer (and the answer of pretty much everyone I know who lives this LIKE US ON FACEBOOK frontier lifestyle) is a very emphatic yes. These days every- body brings along a cell phone – turned off of course until needed. You keep them conveniently hidden away, inside FACEBOOK.COM/NMLRA a smallish, handsewn linen bag or secretly tucked within an innocent enough looking, tiny, brain tanned or bark FIND NEW FRIENDS tanned pouch. Actually, unless you told somebody what was inside it, no one would ever have a clue. It’s just another WHEN YOU JOIN THE little linen or deerskin poke. Then you take that little bag or poke or whatever and stuff it down into your haversack “NMLRA” FACEBOOK GROUP GOO.GL/XEICMJ or shot pouch… out of sight and out of mind. Now, the

October 2017 19 A Standing Security Against Invasion and Depredation: Arming the 9th Regiment, Jennings County, Indiana Legion, 1861-1865 By Richard S. Apsley

On May 11, 1861, Indiana Legislators passed “The Act for the Regulation and Organization of the Indiana Militia.” This act called for the formation of both sedentary militia and active militia. The sedentary militia was the non-uniformed Militia, later called “Minutemen” like their counterparts during the American Revolutionary War, being all able-bodied males qualified to bear arms who would muster during emergencies. The active militia being the uniformed “Indiana Legion,” organized as a single army corp.

Companies of uniformed Indiana Legion volunteers formed in almost every county state-wide. Some counties raised a sufficient amount of volunteers to form a regiment.

Our enthusiastic and patriotic citizens answered Gover- Part of the recreated Company A “Vernon Greys” 9th Regiment nor Morton's call and organized loyal men in many towns (Jennings) Indiana Legion. Notice the gray wool uniforms common among early war Indiana volunteer infantry regiments throughout Jennings County, placing themselves under the and Indiana Legion troops (photo courtesy of Jan and Terry command of the company elected and state-assigned officers Furgason). of the Third Brigade, Ninth Regiment (Jennings) of the Indi- ana Legion. The Third Brigade will become part of the First to Madison to join with the Jefferson County, Indiana Legion, Division in July of 1864. (2)(3)(4) for border defense and possible transportation to Louisville, Kentucky. Vernon, Indiana is located about 35 miles west of the Nation- al Muzzle Loading Rifle Association’s ranges and headquarters The 9th Regiment (Jennings) was ordered into service many located at Friendship, Indiana. Vernon would prove to be a times during the American Civil War, primarily to assist in good defensive position and rally point for the Indiana Legion defending the southern border from any and all hazards. The in July of 1863, and was an ideal location for company drill typical home guard duties of protecting railroad bridges, fed- and regiment musters since the first Jennings County militia eral and state facilities, border patrol and defense, and other was formed in 1817. Just a short 25 mile trip southeast of duties necessary for the state’s security proved just a small Vernon is Madison on the Ohio River, on Indiana’s border portion of the Indiana Legion's actions during the war. with Kentucky. To prepare for these tasks, the regiment needed to drill Vernon’s strategic benefits during the Civil War also had much and practice with the tools of the soldier. Colonel George to do with its location just two miles south and east of the W. Malick, Lt. Colonel James H. Vawter, and Major (later important crossing of the Indianapolis and Madison railroad promoted to Colonel) Kennedy Brown ordered all companies and Ohio and Mississippi railroad. in the 9th to drill at least once a month. The companies were required to form and muster as a complete regiment for coor- During “The Great Emergency of 1863” (Morgan’s Raid) the dinated battalion drill at least three times each year. 9th Regiment and other Legion troops would be transport- ed by rail as far west as Mitchell, Indiana, then hauled back Our regiment had proven by September of 1861 that they east through their hometowns to Sunman and VanWeddens were organized and properly trained for deployment, but arms Station in a frantic attempt to cut-off and engage Morgan’s were still in short supply, and many recruits joined the Ninth Raiders. only to be disappointed with the condition and quantity of state supplied arms necessary for monthly drill and live-round In June of 1864 the regiment would “ride the cars” southward training.

20 MuzzleBlasts The companies of the 9th Regiment not yet armed by June of 1862 were now carrying proper weapons of the soldier. The entire 9th Regiment, 650 men strong, volunteered to guard Confederate prisoners of war at Camp Morton (Indianapolis) where the Regiment was armed with a variety of smoothbore muskets and rifle muskets.(2)(5)

The soldiers of the 9th performed their duties well, and the regiment was quickly gaining a reputation for excellence. Newly elected Colonel Kennedy Brown reported that during an alarm in late 1862 the Regiment was formed complete and ready for transport in less than 18 hours. Not too bad, con- sidering the company officers frequently had to ride through the countryside to retrieve men from the fields and shops throughout Jennings County.(2) A close-up view of a reproduction Davide Pedersoli U.S. Model 1816 with a “drum and nipple” type percussion alteration. Note The various types of arms and ammunition in use by the In- that the pan of the flintlock is modified to help support the drum. diana Legion proved to be a logistical nightmare for Quarter- (Photo by author) master General Lazarus Noble. Our regiment alone possessed weapons in three different calibers at one point, some arms requiring “ball” ammunition and others requiring “minié bullets” in various calibers.

In September 1862 Company B, the “Bigger Guards,” sported “31 French rifle muskets”(2) at their fall muster. These “rifle muskets” fired .69 caliber minié balls.

In October 1862, as listed on the 9th Regiment battalion muster sheets, Company K, the “Marion Guards”, possessed “51 French rifle muskets” (2) also requiring minié balls, and A close view of a U.S. Model 1816 (the modified flintlock is the “Bigger Guards” now armed themselves with “66 altered marked “Harpers Ferry 1837”) “cone-in-barrel” type percussion alteration. In this style, the nipple is just slightly off-set to percussion muskets, caliber .69”(2), the latter requiring a from the centerline of the barrel, and the hammer is angled round ball. almost into the line of sight. This .69 caliber smoothbore was discovered in Jennings County, and may prove to be a weapon Company I, the “Paris Guards”, drilled with “60 Austrian rifle once used by the 9th Regiment (Photo courtesy of Connie and Mike Ochs). muskets, caliber .54”(2). Company E, the “Scipio Guards”, carried arms similar to the “Paris Guards” with “50 Austrian rifle muskets” (2). On March 23, 1863, the Quartermaster General collected all the state arms in Jennings County, presumably for cataloging and inspection. This left our Regiment without arms from March 23 until July 9, 1863, but the active companies still drilled monthly. In fact, the Regiment (temporarily armed only with enthusiasm) held a Battalion drill near the Sullivan Road just outside of Vernon on April 13, 1863, with each company muster report stating “no arms.”(2)

From Wednesday, July 8 through Monday July 13, 1863, Confederate General John Hunt Morgan and approximately 3,000 mounted Confederate soldiers rode their way through Southern Indiana, spreading havoc throughout the entire The reproduction Davide Pedersoli U.S. Model 1816 percussion region. alteration (Top) and ArmiSport U.S. Model 1842 (Bottom) .69 caliber smoothbore muskets are good examples of arms used by the Indiana Legion. These two excellent firearms are also more On Thursday, July 9, 1863 Colonel Kennedy Brown urgently than capable of harvesting game with both shot and round ball, reacted to the alarm and made arrangements to re-arm and making them highly versatile for hunting, target shooting, and re-supply the 9th Regiment (Jennings) Indiana Legion at the reenacting. (Photo by author) double-quick. Colonel Brown sent a telegraphed message ear-

October 2017 21 ly on July 9th and requested 600 muskets and 20,000 rounds of ammunition and rations for the Regiment.(1)

The Adjutant General quickly complied, and the Regiment received 600 French rifle muskets caliber .69, cartridge boxes, cartridge box belts with plates, cap pouches, waist belts and plates, bayonets and scabbards, and tools and equipment to maintain these weapons at 8:00 p.m. the same day. Colonel Brown was probably dismayed at the amount of ammunition received. Only 7,000 rounds of minié bullets arrived. (1)(2)

Some Indiana Legion forces had to acquire decent weapons while undergoing extremely hazardous “on-the-job training.” A mounted Jennings County Minuteman company, Captain A.W. Boyd’s “Butlerville Minutemen,” would first attack and then pursue the elusive General Morgan and his cavaliers even into Ohio, reporting: “My men all furnished themselves with such arms as they could get until we captured those (16) with all their arms and accouterments. I captured in all some 50 Head of Horses 100 muskets and 20 revolvers and sundries. I pursued on into Ohio and then returned.”(2) The order from Adjutant General Lazarus Noble to supply arms to the 9th Regiment Jennings on July 9, 1863. (Image courtesy of This is just a pain- the Jennings County Library) fully brief history illustrating the difficulty of arming and supplying just one “Home Guard” Regiment active in the Indiana Legion Tens of thousands of long-arms were distributed by the State to Indiana Legion companies throughout Indiana. It is not surprising during the Civil that a few of these weapons ended up in the hands of mustered- War. out Legion soldiers at the end of the conflict.

(These two photos are courtesy of the descendants of First Lt. Joseph Ayers, Company I “Paris Guards” 9th Regiment (Jennings) Indiana Legion)

The Author portrays Captain A.W. Boyd at the annual Vernon Sassafras Days, proudly displaying his captured .36 caliber Colt revolvers (photo courtesy of Nash Frederick).

22 MuzzleBlasts These documents are Captain A.W. Boyd’s July 1863 company muster sheets and actions report to the Adjutant General (Images courtesy of the Jennings County Library).

This article is taken in part from “Research notes on the 9th Regiment (Jennings) 3rd Brigade 1st Division Indiana Legion - Volume 1: The Home Guard of Jennings County 1861- 1865” © Copyright 2016 by Richard S. Apsley.

Please visit our web site www.vernongreysmilitia.yolasite.com for contact information, news, pictures, and event schedules. “Happy 200th Birthday Jennings County!” 1863-4. Documents Presented to the General Assem- Sources bly, with the Governor's Message, January 6, 1865. Governor Oliver P. Morton Telegraph Books 1861- Indianapolis: W.R. Holloway, State Printer, 1865. 1865: General Dispatch #11 5/10/1863 – 1/11/1864 and General Dispatch #12 7/11/1863 – 12/24/1863. Terrell, William Henry Harrison. Report of the Indiana State Library, Indianapolis. Web Adjutant General of the State of Indiana, Volume 1, pgs. 110-112. Indianapolis: A.H. Connor (etc.) State Jennings County Indiana Legion Papers. Indiana State Printer, 1865. Archives, Commission on Public Records, Indianap- olis. (NOTE: Now contained within two volumes of Terrell, William Henry Harrison. Report of the microfilm at the Jennings County Public Library.) Adjutant General of the State of Indiana, Volume 8, pgs. 374-384. Indianapolis: A.H. Connor (etc.) State Operations of the Indiana Legion and Minute Men, Printer, 1865.

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26 MuzzleBlasts Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle in its Golden Age Annotated 3rd Edition - Joe Kindig, Jr. Kindig defines the American Longrifle as the finest example of truly American rococo art, using 262 rifles from his extensive Call collection. The most comprehensive source ever published, our monumental 3rd Edition features dramatically improved photos using the original negatives, now including the locks. A new 48 (812) 667-5131 page addition features over 240 full color photos with multiple, detailed views of 28 of the finest Kentuckys, many previously unpublished. Much new information discovered over the last 35 years has been added, along with the extensive information to advertise & photos from Shumway’s 1983 edition. The early Pennsylvania & Maryland schools of gunsmithing are covered, along with biographical data on the makers. 624 pages and over 1,100 photos & illustrations, 240 in full color, in an oversize, 9” x 12” hardbound volume. in our $125.00 plus $8.95 Shipping classified 164 pg catalog available for $5 & FREE Bi-Monthly Sales Flyer 1.800.786.6210 ads section www.crazycrow.com Dealer Inquiries Invited P.O. Box 847 D-5 * Pottsboro, TX 75076 Hand Made Buckskin Frontiersmans Garments. Blanket Coats, Moccasins, Rifle Cases, Hunting Pouches. Tomahawks, Knives, Muzzleloading Guns, Fur Hats, Illustrated Catalog, $3.00. Tecumseh’s Trading Post 4 Liberty Lane, Cody, WY 82414

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28 MuzzleBlasts October 2017 29 The Log Cabin Shop Presents the Early American Trades Fair at the Log Cabin Shop 8010 Lafayette Rd Lodi,Ohio October 13th & 14th, 2017 Noon - 6pm Friday Meet with and learn from 9am - 6pm Saturday skilled craftspeople as they work. Many hand- crafted items on display for sale or trade.

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October 2017 31 by Fred Lipp What goes into a Barrel that you can’t see? Have you ever thought, what goes into making a rifle barrel? Of make an exact diameter. He has constructed his own reaming course we know that the rifle-maker gets the barrel with a hole machine. John attributes his love of barrel reaming from a down the length of the steel bar. But what happens after that? book entitled How to Ream and Rifle a Muzzle Loading Rifle Well, a long process begins. at Home by Mark D. Wagner. He thinks you can still buy the book at Brownell or at Log Cabin. After he read the book, his At every NMLRA National Shoot at Friendship, Indiana, be- journey began. hind Gun Maker’s Hall on the back porch, there are guys busy finishing rifle barrels. John W. Kleihege reams the barrels and John now has four reaming machines and he has built them all. Bill Hoover cuts the grooves to make the rifling in the barrels. He makes his own reams from metalworking square lathe bits. When resting, there are benches to sit on and there is a gallery The metal working lathe bits that John uses are about 8 inches of people watching the action. Of course we have the obligatory long and they are highly alloyed with Cobalt, not the normal people sitting around telling the craftsmen how to do their jobs! H.S.S. He has a tool grinder, not to be confused with a bench This goes along with the idea of Gun Maker’s Hall, the old time grinder, and he grinds the tools to shape. The square bits fit into ways being demonstrated the old time way. a collet in his tool and cutter grinder. The first grinding opera- tion is to grind a round section on one end of this hardened tool Reaming bit, the other end is left square. This end will be silver soldered, using a high temperature silver solder to a long steel rod that John W. Kleihege reams the barrels after getting these steel tubes will eventually be attached to the flywheel on his machine. This with a hole down the center. He takes his home made reamer long steel rod is the largest steel rod that the bore will allow. For and he runs it down the barrel, the old fashion way, by hand. example, a .45 cal. bore, he will use a 7/16 inch rod which has a A reamer is used to produce a straight and accurate hole, with decimal equivalent of 0.4375 diameter. a smooth surface, while a drill does not go straight nor does it John uses his surface grinder to shape the reamer on four long sides so he has one cutting edge. He creates a square reamer. He has special markings on the long steel rod to tell him which side is the cutting edge. This is handy when the reamer is oily covered with fines, chips.

John with his reaming machine is reaming a barrel. This is one of John’s reamers

32 MuzzleBlasts Notice the cord in his left hand and the holes along the side of the machine. The Reaming of the Barrel After John places the barrel to be reamed in the machine, with the reamer already in the barrel, he fastens the barrel in place and he then attaches the long rod to the flywheel at the opposite end from the barrel. Now with everything in place, John begins the reaming

The reamer is coming out the end of the barrel and also, the wooden spill on the back side of the reamer.

The back porch behind Gun Maker’s Hall with all of the spectators. Bill is running his cutter back and forth down the barrel.

October 2017 33 process. He turns the flywheel, which is a large round thick steel disc, slowly with his right hand and his left hand is controlling the position of the barrel. John uses a cord that is attached to a lever board that goes into wooden holes on the side of his machine, these holes go along the side of the barrel. There are many of these holes along the edge of the machine. John chang- es from one hole to another as the reamer advances down the barrel. The barrel moves as he changes holes. A sense of feel and experience tells John when it is time to move to the next hole. John is continuously turning the handle on the flywheel, while the reamer is cutting on the inside of the barrel. A wooden spill backs the reamer and paper shims are inserted after every pass to increase the cutting diameter of the reamer. The Rifling of the Barrel Bill Hoover of Orrville, Ohio, cuts the grooves or rifling, on Notice how the cutter can cut on both the push and pull strokes. the inside of the barrel. Back in the 1970s, Bill bought his first group of eight to 10 men who take turns going to different rifling machine from Sy Blackburn in Frederickstown, Ohio. Sy events putting on rifle grooving demonstrations and other built this machine. He has come from a family of three genera- aspects of gun building. These men call themselves “The Gun tions of muzzleloading gunsmiths. Shop.” They all portray 1700s and 1800s barrel rifling and gun making. Between these men, there are at least 20 different Bill began rifling barrels shortly after he got his machine, and rifling machines. Bill prefers calling the rifle grooves furrows when the word got out, he was in business. There are now a instead of grooves, which he feels is a better name. Bill recom- mends that the shooter use a ball that is close to the bore size with a 0.010 inch patch. Bill is the only one in his group that does a gain twist. A gain twist is a little different from your regu-

The lead bar has a twisted groove in it; this is the groove that These shims go under the cutter to increase the depth of cut in will be used to guide the cutter in the barrel. the rifling.

34 MuzzleBlasts lar straight twist. A straight twist, which most barrels are, has a con- sistent rotation; the amount of spiral never changes as the ball goes down the length of the barrel. The gain twist starts off with a slow rotation at the breech, but as the ball travels down the barrel, the ball begins to rotate faster than at the breech. When the ball reaches the muzzle, it is spinning much faster than from the beginning. These grooves or furrows are cut 0.006 to 0.007 inch deep when the barrel is completed. Bill now has four of these machines, two produce straight rifling with twist of 1:40. This means that in one revolution the ball has traveled 40 inches. The other two machines are the ones with a gain twist. Walter Grothe’s wife, Karen, holds a bench rest record with one of the barrels made on his machine..

Bill mounts his barrels in his machine and then he makes adjust- ments to align the barrel straight with the machine. He does this by raising his holders up and down. A wooden hickory rod, called a float, goes into the barrel. This wooden rod will hold the adjustable hardened steel cutter. The float will also help to align the barrel so the rod goes down straight. The other end of the rod is connected to a mandrell which causes the spill or rotation of the cutter. This mandrell is called a “lead bar.”

Cutting the Furrows Bill moves his push pull rod back and forth cutting the furrows on both strokes. He does this until no more chips come out the end of the barrel. The cutter is designed to cut furrows on both the push and the pull strokes. After he has completed the furrow, he then rotates the barrel to the next furrows and he proceeds to cut the next furrows. Bill does this until he has cut all the furrows in the barrel with this setting. This will complete the initial series of cuts. Wally Hart is cleaning the chips away from the cutter as the cutter exits the barrel. Bill now indexes back to the first furrow in the barrel. He now places a shim under the cutter so it protrudes out a little further, so that the cutter will cut a little deeper into the rifled furrow. This shim is only several thousands of an inch thick. He repeats the process again cutting all the furrows in the barrel with only this shim.

Again, he returns to the first furrow and he adds another thin shim, this goes on until he has cut all the furrows to the depth that he wants. Summary Now you know a little something about what goes into the making of the inside of your rifle barrel. These old methods are demon- strated behind Gun Maker’s Hall at every national shoot. So, go in the front door of Gunmaker’s Hall, step into the main room, look around at the fine guns, then proceed out to the back porch, down the steps and observe the craftsmen working on their barrels. These craftsmen want you to not only observe, but they want you to ask questions, so do not be afraid to ask. They are more than happy to talk about their operations and what they are doing. A close-up of the indexing plate, notice the holes in the plate, this is how John locates the barrel each time.

October 2017 35 Alan Garbers

Here’s the 20th Anniversary edition of “Web Blasts.” We have explored over 2,100 websites! Here’s a tip to businesses and clubs: blackpowdergang.com keep your website fresh. If I don’t see updates, such as recent Black Powder Gang – “Our forum is all about those historic 18th- photographs or current event calendars, I don’t use it and you’re and 19th-century firearms - muzzleloaders and breech loaders - that losing customers. I have selected the top ten websites of the past were loaded with what was known then simply as ‘gunpowder.’ year based on community service content. If you know of a site that These firearms encompass all of the guns that were designed, built, should be featured this next year, email me (it makes my job much and used from 1700 thru 1900.” easier!). recollections.biz/blog/top-historical-reenactment-societies chronicleoftheoldwest.com The Top 29 Historical Reenactment Societies – “At Recollections, The Chuck Wagon – There are many old late 19th century recipes we’re passionate about historical reenactment and historical listed here. From bacon-fried apples to black pudding. accuracy. We love historical clothing of all eras–but as you know, we’re particularly fond of Victorian clothing and styles from the musketeer.ch/blackpowder/bp_menu.html American Civil War era. We wanted to honor some of the most Ulrich Bretscher’s Black Powder Page – If you’re into the science of outstanding historical reenactment societies which we know of. what makes black powder work and the history of making it, check This list is by no means exhaustive—all reenactment societies are out this site. Ulrich also goes over making a simple handgonne, as performing a great service.” well as other facets of the craft. bushcraftusa.com smokingmeatforums.com Bush Craft – If you’re into being a modern “mountain man” then Smoking Meats Forum – Many of you have a freezer full of wild you need to check out this site. It covers just about everything about game. Instead of making that same ol’ worn out stew recipe, try living off the land. You might even pick up a few things to make smoking it in sausage or jerky. Everything you need to know is here. your period treks easier.

sabinebrosche.com/making-paint-from-rocks-soil/ bladeforums.com Making Paint from Rocks and Soil – Back before there was a Blade Forums – Knife enthusiasts and blade makers, this site is for hardware store or building supply mega-mart on every corner, our you. Some of it is pre-1840, some not, but you will enjoy all of it. ancestors used to make their own paint. If you want your camp gear Anything you can think of from axes to swords is here. If edged to have that authentic look, you may want to try making your own weapons and tools are your “thing,” this site should be bookmarked. paint. lewisandclarkjournals.unl.edu/journals skyaboveus.com/hunting-shooting/Building-a-Muzzle- The Journals of Lewis and Clark – These journals give invaluable Loading-Rifle-The-Basics insight into the journeys of Lewis and Clark, and how things were Building a Muzzle Loading Rifle – While I wouldn’t want to try and in the western mountains before the flood of farmers, miners, and build a rifle from scratch reading this site, it does provide the basic ranchers headed west. The journals are pretty dry reading at times, platform to start researching the complete job. If you think you but this site makes them key-word searchable and divides them into might have the skills required to build a gun from scratch, check it who documented an event. out. Some of the photos can be enlarged to see greater detail.

Have something to share? If you find an interesting website related to muzzleloading or muzzleloading accoutrements, send me a message at [email protected] and I’ll check it out.

36 MuzzleBlasts

Join us for the Rifle Frolic at the Altoona Rifle and Pistol

Club

546 Pistol Club Rd.

th th Altoona, PA October 6 -8 , 2017 Latitude 40 34' 48" North Longitude 78 16' 48" West

National Muzzle Loading Rifle Assoc. Located in the mountains outside Altoona, Pennsylvania

Shooters Note: Camping available on site for modern tents, campers, and primitive pre-1840. For more info contact Jim at 610-413-6608 or Don at Early setup: Oct. 5th 814-742-8208 Tear down: By Noon Oct. 9th Website: www.nmlra.org

October 2017 37 sighted, laminatedto or plasticthe stocked, Hi Chuck, ettersFUBAR guns that just happen to be fed Editor Dear Editor, through the muzzle! These things in no That is exactly the point Chuck: We want L to get traditional muzzleloading guns into I have always been attracted to muzzle- way resemble the guns of our fore-fa- loaders since my early childhood, when thers! They don’t use real black powder. the hands of young shooters. Most new I got to hold the family caplock rifle that They use modern bullets that claim shooters use in-lines because it’s the cheapest belonged to my great great grandfather. tight groups and knock down power at way to field a muzzleloader for an extended I was part of the Davy Crockett and 200 yards and beyond. They are for all muzzleloading season. The NMLRA needs Daniel Boone TV generation. When the purposes, a modern, singleshot, high to show these inline shooters that there is movie “Jerimiah Johnson” came along, I powered rifle! something else out there that they are miss- built my own “genuine Hawken,” a .50 ing. Somehow we need to get the word out cal. rifle with the help of a family friend. We have been encouraged to come to to the inline shooters so they will be aware our club and compete with inlines. We of traditional muzzleloaders. I guess we just Over the years since, I have built over a offered to allow them to compete direct- have different approaches; you seem to not dozen more rifles and smoothbores, but ly against our flintlocks and caplocks. We want to have anything to do with inline about 30 years ago I drifted away from did not have a single entry of an inline shooters and I want to engage them and muzzleloaders in favor of longbows. I in two years of trying! Ninety-percent show them what I shoot, hoping they will continued to hunt deer and squirrels of the deer hunters in our muzzleloader get the bug to go traditional. Am I wrong? with my flintlock however and never season use inlines. These people simply killed a deer with any other firearm than don’t care about shooting traditional Sincerely, my handmade, flint or cap sidelock muz- muzzleloaders. They just want to kill a zleloader. A few years ago, I got the bug deer! Lee again, and joined a local muzzleloading club. I found I could still shoot well after Promoting inlines is not the answer to the age of 60, and won many matches declining memberships in the NMLRA. Dear Editor, with my flintlock, usually against cap- The majority of inline shooters don’t care First I would like to thank the NMLRA lock shooters. My club is affiliated with about the NMLRA and never will. We and Muzzle Blasts staff for their cards NMLRA and I felt I should join. This need to promote tradition and the pure and prayers during my recent illness and year I did join the NMLRA and started enjoyment we get from shooting a real surgery. All went well and I am on the receiving the Muzzle Blasts magazine. I black powder muzzleloader. We have to road to recovery. anticipated seeing pictures of game shot try and get these guns into the hands of Secondly, my wife Mickie Rader and her with beautiful flintlock and caplock new shooters. friend Melanie Collier were grateful for longrifles. Imagine my dismay, when Sincerely, the ladies that showed up or inquired instead I see hunters wearing modern about the quilting classes they offered camo, showing off game shot with scope Chuck Jones during the 2017 spring shoot. The cours-

38 MuzzleBlasts es will be offered again in the fall, but Remington 700M, .50 cal. Back when it very seldom turned down! One Saturday the ladies wanted me to emphasis that was first introduced you had to use Black I had 20 individuals shoot my “Golden anyone interested in sewing, knitting, Powder and number 11 caps. Age” style Lancaster .40 cal. flinter by crochet, or tatting may join them for W.P. Kirkeminde! I show them how to free during the shoots in the Education Living in Ontario, Canada, and in a load and then let them experience the Building as part of socializing with other snow belt, our deer season is usually very joy of our sport. They very often request women. Mickie and Melanie hope to wet. This is when my inline comes in a second shot – and they get to load. It is have enough ladies together that they handy, and saving my traditional muzzle- gratifying to see the surprised look when can produce a quilt that can be raffled loaders from the harsh environment. My the shooter sees how accurate and fun or auctioned to raise money for the inline is equipped with a Leopold Scope, a longrifle or pistol is to shoot. I always NMLRA. If anyone has questions about 3 to 9 power. Using black powder, and point out the craftsmanship and graceful the quilting classes or is just interested in musket caps, with a 396 grain lead beauty of the gun. I give the shooter a anything related to the fiber arts, feel free bullet, I have harvested a great number souvenir ball and sometimes their first to stop by the Education building the of deer in rain and snow. muzzleloading target. I always give them first Saturday through Thursday of either At our muzzleloading shoots we make my phone number and offer to aid them national shoots at Friendship. sure that inlines are included. in getting started in muzzleloading. I also do the same with my black powder Thank you again to all who prayed for Love the new format of Muzzle Blasts. cartridge gun. me and my wife. We have been coming to Friendship for the past nineteen years Sincerely, Brothers and Sisters, I believe it is and love every minute spent there. We incumbent on each one of us to “Go out are very fortunate to live only sixteen Paul Mullin amongst them and spread the good news miles from the Walter Cline Range. of the world of muzzleloading and black powder cartridge shooting!” Just because Sincerely, Dear Editor, a person shoots a “Modern” gun doesn’t Mr. Raychard put all his thoughts and mean that person wouldn’t enjoy shoot- findings in the 10 X ring! Full disclosure: Jacob & Mickie Rader ing a muzzleloader even more – does it? I do have an inline in my gun rack. It was made by Simeon North of Middle- Keep your flint sharp, powder dry, and town, Connecticut. It is dated 1832. It watch your back trail, partner. Dear Editor, can be loaded from the muzzle or breech. I like the new color format of MB, it The old soldier will still throw a good Sincerely, adds so much more to the magazine. spark and speaks with authority! I would like to add to the controversy of J. A. Rathman At the present time, the majority of inline muzzleloaders, although I only use young up and coming shooter’s taste in traditional side hammers, included are firearms are a reflection of the current photos of early inline flintlocks. culture we live in. It is the utilitarian and We want At a bookstore I saw a picture of a wheel- the “Tactical” aspects of a reliable and lock with enclosed action. Would that be accurate projectile delivery system, that is classified as an inline? fun to shoot, that interests most “Mod- to hear ern Gun” buyers. To some people, a gun Sincerely, is only a tool to put meat on the table and I respect that. However to many of Ted Wruck from you! us a gun is so much more. It is surprising how many people have Submit your letter to never handled a longrifle or muzzleload- the editor by mailing to: Dear Editor, ing pistol much less shot a muzzleloading I have just finished reading the article shotgun. I make it a point to introduce about inlines by Al Raychard, in the July myself (I am on the Board of Directors NMLRA 2017 issue of MB and have to agree with of the 1500 member Frontier Sportsman the position he has taken in dealing with Letter to the Editor Club) to shooters at both of our ranges inline muzzleloaders. and always ask if the shooters are muz- PO Box 67 I was the very first person in Canada to zleloader shooters. If not, I always ask possess an inline muzzleloader, it being a and coax them into giving it a go. I am Friendship, IN 47021

October 2017 39 CHARTER CLUB CHATTER

By Doug Zaffino

I’d like to pass along some of what the NMLRA is doing in Guideline number one: Happy Shooting! conjunction with its Charter Clubs. One of the first accomplishments was to create an emblem. This “50” pin program came about due to NMLRA range rules apply. Clubs may deviate from these rules as the responses from a survey I sent out a few years ago. long as safety practices are followed and deviations are posted at the target shack and range for all to see prior to buying and shooting these Many have seen this emblem as part of our “50” pin program. My targets (target ranges should not be lowered, but may be increased, at goal was to proudly show off our relationship with the NMLRA and the clubs discretion). our Charter Clubs. Hopefully accomplishing this is the moniker on the top of the logo, “Sharing Our Heritage”. On the bottom Targets may or may not be bought from the NMLRA, but targets is the proclamation, “Charter Club” signifying that this emblem is obtained elsewhere shall be exact copies of the NMLRA targets in specifically designed for NMLRA Charter Clubs. All of the above is order to maintain consistency. centered on the NMLRA logo. Of course all of this is draped in the red white and blue for the good old USA. Note that the 50 on the pin Minimum yardage on each target will be as noted on NMLRA target isn’t the age of the NMLRA, but references a 50 point score. catalog.

A few sentences ago I mentioned our “50” pin program. So far the Each charter club shall utilize a range officer during the shooting of information has been dispersed to the charter clubs, and should now these targets. be explained to association members, the participants and receivers These “50” pins will be awarded at the discretion of each charter club. of the awards. I hope this program will entice participation, improve These pins may be awarded at club monthly shoots or club sponsored attendance at charter club events, reward, and promote new goals rendezvous. Basically open to all club competitions which are open for the general membership. Participation in this program is purely to the general public and, or club members. The charter club may voluntary by the club. Don’t forget to check with the club if you get award “50” pins to NMLRA, charter club, non-charter club, and a “50” on a target or perfect trail event. After a few more words I’ll non-NMLRA participants. Of course if the recipient isn’t a charter include a list of guidelines to determine the qualifications for receipt club or NMLRA member, this may be your opportunity to sell a of the ‘50” pins. membership. Simply put, anyone who shoots a 50 or better on designated targets Here’s how we will do it. First the charter club will request the desired (or perfect trail) will be eligible for a “50” pin. This program is number of “50” pins from the NMLRA (first five are free). For the intended for NMLRA charter clubs and participation is purely cost after the first five pins check with Joyce, and for immediate voluntary, and run by the charter club itself. You’ll notice that the pins delivery. will sport the new NMLRA Charter Club logo. It is my intention that this logo will convey a positive relationship between the NMLRA When a shooter scores a “50” or better on the appropriate target, it and Charter Clubs. The pin program is intended to be managed by must be brought to the range officer operating the range at the time. the charter clubs in accordance with the following guidelines. The range officer will then confirm the “50” or 50 plus score and sign

40 MuzzleBlasts the target. The deserving shooter will then receive a “50” pin by the charter club in which the shooter shot the score.

Pins may be given for perfect scores on trails or other similar courses.

No age or gender discrimination in handing out earned pins.

State groups or federations (Example The Pennsylvania Federation of Black Powder Shooters) who have clubs as their members and or individual memberships, may award pins to  Sign me up! Here’s my annual membership fee of qualified shooters at the group’s own shoots (assuming this federation is an NMLRA Charter $40.00 ($50.00 in U.S. funds for mailing addresses Club) but not member club shoots unless they are an NMLRA charter club. outside the United States). Send me the monthly membership magazine Muzzle Blasts, and full The first mailing will also include a certificate acknowledging the individual charter clubs NMLRA membership credentials. associated with the NMLRA. These certificates will be sporting our new NMLRA charter Name ______club logo. I am quite proud of this logo and I hope you guys like it as well. Address ______Also in this mailing there will be a target catalog of NMLRA targets available from the City State Zip ______NMLRA. The range qualifications for each target eligible for a “50” pin will also be marked E-mail ______on the catalog.  Payment Enclosed (check or money order). When ordering targets, remember that charter clubs get a discount. Also clubs can save Charge to Visa  Master Card  Discover money by arranging for someone to pick them up at Friendship or Phoenix. You will find the Card# ______postage savings to be quite substantial. 3 digit V-Code ______Exp. ______While we are stuffing one envelope we’ll toss in the five free “50” pins. Signature ______Daytime Phone# ______

Mail to: NMLRA Membership Dept. MB HAPPY SHOOTING PO Box 67, Friendship, IN 47021-0067 or call 812-667-5131. Sign up on the website: http://www.nmlra.org e-mail: [email protected] AND • Muzzle Blasts Members of the NMLRA receive Muzzle Blasts, the monthly membership publication devoted to all aspects of the muzzleloading sport. KEEP IT SAFE! • Scholarship Program The NMLRA sponsors a scholarship program for its members and their dependents. • National Competitions With your NMLRA mem- We produce an extensive line of Possibles Bags bership card, you have the opportunity to attend and Accessories to outfit the muzzleloader hunter and reenactor two national championship matches in centrally located Friendship, Indiana. And if a Western climate is more to your liking, the NMLRA holds Shoulder Bags its Western National Shoot in Phoenix, Arizona Belt Bags during the winter months. • Muzzleloading Education Members of the Belts NMLRA can take advantage of the association’s Rifle Slings Muzzleloading Education Program. • Char ter Clubs The NMLRA has over three Holster hundred muzzleloading charter clubs across Horn straps the country, each with its own schedule of events and range times. Lock Covers • National Range The Walter Cline National Range in And More Friendship, Indiana, is open to NMLRA members who wish to shoot—whether it be for a day or a weekend, because camping facilities are available at the range. 2216 Ritner Hwy., Carlisle , PA 17015 • T erritorial Competitions Thirty NMLRA-sponsored Phone : 7172495977 8:00 to 5:00 Week days territorial matches are held throughout the United www.blackpowderbags.com States, and your NMLRA membership card allows

you to participate in these events.

October 2017 41 ww.hiltandbrandink.com

The March 2017 Muzzle Blasts published a first-rate article on me and my art – sans art! So here’s the elusive art in clockwise order:

Large bronze eagle plaque I designed and sculpted, 18th century Germanic “hangers” I designed and were built by the late Sid Burt and scrimshawed by me, Jaybird Alarm, Horn items, five are antiques, the rest are my work, guess which, Spirit of the Charge, Scrimshawed lass on Sid Burt dagger handle, In the Service of the King, Powder horns from the 1970s, Scrimshawed silver and turquoise bracelet, Silver medallion commemorating Marquette and Jolliet Tricentennial in 1973.

42 MuzzleBlasts ww.hiltandbrandink.com

The March 2017 Muzzle Blasts published a first-rate article on me and my art – sans art! So here’s the elusive art in clockwise order:

Large bronze eagle plaque I designed and sculpted, 18th century Germanic “hangers” I designed and were built by the late Sid Burt and scrimshawed by me, Jaybird Alarm, Horn items, five are antiques, the rest are my work, guess which, Spirit of the Charge, Scrimshawed lass on Sid Burt dagger handle, In the Service of the King, Powder horns from the 1970s, Scrimshawed silver and turquoise bracelet, Silver medallion commemorating Marquette and Jolliet Tricentennial in 1973.

October 2017 43 the 40-year chunk gun

(Fig. 17) Chunky complete with ramrod and sight shades. By Fred Stutzenberger

Back in the 1970s, Tom Harbin constructed a stock duplicator Although the rifle-to-be with its 1.125 x 42” barrel was heavy of tubular steel, with a router on one arm and a Teflon-tipped enough to be a chunk gun, the southern mountain stock follower on the other. It worked on the pantograph principle pattern would need some modification for best shooting in so well that I started making master stocks of my favorite rifle the prone over-the-log position. A hefty chunk of matching patterns. I shaped dozens of stocks in various configurations. cherry was bonded to the full length of the comb (Fig. 2) with Barrels were inlet into all to keep the fore ends from warping Acra-GlasTM (see suppliers). Careful shaping of the graft pro- before they were stuck up into the rafters for future use. Over the next four decades, the barrel/stock combinations were final-shaped into finished rifles, all except one -- a south- ern mountain pattern with a heavy Douglas .54 caliber barrel marked premium via the XX in the oval (Fig. 1). A half-cen- tury ago, that was the mark of the premium barrel. When it

(Fig. 1) The XX Douglas logo was the mark of a premium muz- zleloading rifle barrel back in the ‘70s.

finally came down from its lofty perch just this year, it was covered with at least a quarter inch of shop dust. Achoo! After a paroxysm of sneezing, I was relieved to see that the bore was still bright despite the blackened exterior.

(Fig. 3) Getting a snug fit between the stock and the graft took a bit of shaping to reduce gaps to a minimum.

vided a close fit over the existing comb (Fig. 3). The addition was saddle-shaped to extend down over along both sides of the existing comb to widen the butt cross-section for the addition of a checkered shotgun-style butt plate (Fig. 4) from Pete Allan’s Foundry (see suppliers). By the time I was this far along, I had (Fig. 2) The drop in the southern mountain stock profile was re- developed enough personal rapport with the gun to name her duced by grafting an additional piece of cherry onto the comb. Chunky Cherry.

44 MuzzleBlasts Another modification to Chunky was an extension of the tang on the patent type breech plug. I had milled the original tang quite long (Fig. 5), but not quite long enough to accommodate a bolt through the wrist into the plate of the Davis triggers. Our local welding wizard, Dock Houston, came to the rescue there with a perfectly welded joint that was shaped into an extended tang (Fig. 6). By that time, I had gotten to take the project quite seriously, so I thought that I had better talk to someone knowledgeable about chunk guns before proceeding further.

Brian Turpin suggested Paul Griffith, one of the top scorers in the national chunk gun matches. A short e-mail to Paul brought a prompt detailed response to my list of questions (Paul has since passed to the other side, but his spirit remains alive and vibrant in the chunk gun community).

(Fig. 4) The checkered shotgun-style buttplate had a broad With a renewed sense of direction, I burned most of a weekend profile to distribute the recoil.

(Fig. 5) The surface of the original tang shows the age of four decades.

(Fig. 6) The lengthened tang provided room for an aperture sight and two screws through the wrist into the trigger plate.

October 2017 45 jag. An expandable brass land lap (Fig. 8) was turned according to the method described by Webb Terry (37). Another 400 cycles with 320 grit abrasive, yielded a bore that should have carried a disclaimer: “Caution! Looking through this bore at direct light may be hazardous to the human eye!” I chose the mule ear lock by Bernie Tulino (Pioneer Arms, (Fig. 7) The lead lap, coated with fine abrasive, was passed Broomall, PA) for its simplicity and fast ignition. Even after back and forth through the bore 400 times to eliminate tight inletting close to a hundred locks (including two of the Dale and loose spots. Storey mule ears), this mulie proved to be a challenge. Suffice it to say that it was an adventure. In any case, it surely looked nice lapping the bore. A lead lap was cast around a #14 wood screw and worked well once I got it nestled up next to that big barrel (Fig. 7) that provided for easy expansion to compensate for (Fig.9). On the opposite lock panel, I resisted doing anything wear. After 400 cycles with 220 grit carbide abrasive, the bore fancy and installed a simple little sideplate that centered well in was washed by pumping gasoline up and down with a patched the panel (Fig. 10). Chunk gun matches limit competitors to open, non-adjustable iron sights (NMLRA Range Rule Book Sections 5010, 5020, 5430), but in deference to my failing eyesight, I decided to equip Chunky with provisions for aperture sights to help me, but only when I was working up a load. That was another ad- venture, because the rear sight base had to be propped up with (Fig. 8) This expandable brass lap was used with fine abrasive an angled spacer to get the proper alignment. After the spacer (400 excursions) to polish the surfaces of the rifling lands.

(Fig. 9) The large mule ear lock provided direct ignition into the powder chamber of the patent breech design. An interference-type safety was added to the lock plate,

46 MuzzleBlasts (Fig. 10) The position of the bolting lug on the lock plate allowed centering of the sideplate in the panel.

was milled and attached, the tang had to be drilled and tapped in the angle of the hole to interfere with sight adjustment in for the sight post and elevation screw (Fig. 11). the vertical plane. The hole had to be elongated slightly in the longitudinal axis to solve that problem. Still, it was worth the Then I discovered that there was a slight misalignment between extra trouble because the final rear aperture assembly (Fig. 12) the elevation screw and the sight post. This caused interference is now very sturdy and can be teamed up (or used instead of) between the hole through the tang and the angle of the post. I regulation open sights (Fig. 13). wanted to keep the hole through the tang small enough to be an easy slide fit to the post (which would also have added more support to the post itself). However, depending on how tightly the rear tang screw was turned in made enough of a difference

(Fig. 11) Continuing the threads through the spacer and the tang helps to stabilize the elevation screw of the aperture (Fig. 12.The aluminum spacer between the sight base and the sight. tang brought the line of sight parallel to the barrel.

October 2017 47 (Fig. 13) The hooded front sight was for use with the adjustable rear aperture during the initial work-up of the optimal load. I (Fig. 15) Forming a rounded toeplate was a new experience for mill the open rear sights in strips of six from ½ x ½ x 1/8” mild me. The curvature was formed using a swage plate and a round steel angle iron. steel rod.

Any type of trigger is allowed in most chunk matches. I decided Chunky has been a series of modifications and experiments. The on the fine Davis #0009 Hawken double-set double-acting nice thing about experimenting is that even if the result is not triggers (see suppliers). Not only are they first-rate quality, the completely to one’s liking, it is still an educational process. After long trigger plate allowed bolting the tang to the plate at both all, learning what not to do is as important as learning what to ends. To speed up inletting, I took over 90% of the wood out of do. the trigger plate mortise by routing on the milling table of the drill press (Fig. 14) while supporting the fore end on a roll- er-equipped support.

(Fig. 16) Despite the steel particles in the AcraGlasTM, the muz- zle cap would not brown, so I just spray-painted it black.

Addendum: Since this writing, I have been informed by Bill Cox that L&R Lock Company developed and has begun marketing a mule ear lock with a half-cock position. Acknowledgments: Thanks to Paul Griffith, Tom Harbin, Dock Houston and (Fig. 14) My drill press, equipped with a milling table, made Brian Turpin for their assistance in this project. quick work of cutting the trigger plate mortise. Suppliers: The remainder of the work was pretty much routine. The fore Brownells Inc., Brownells.com, 1-800-741-0015, for epoxy end was slimmed and shaped (alright, I know that it could have adhesives and a wide range of gunsmithing tools and been left fat and square, but Chunky doesn’t imply ugly). A materials. steel toe plate (Fig. 15) was inlet to mate with the rounded butt R.E. Davis Company, http://www.redaviscompany. plate (to take the shock of using the stock as a body support com/0710.html, for a wide variety of locks and triggers when getting my old bones up and down in the prone posi- tion). The one adventure that did not work out to my complete Pete Allan Foundry and Manufacturing Company, 10591 Nassau Street NE Blaine, MN 55449-5207, phone (763) satisfaction was the cast epoxy muzzle cap. I had the (not so) 786-2186 for a variety of rifle castings bright idea of mixing micro-atomized steel particles in with AcraGlasTM to create a tough epoxy muzzle cap that could be Pioneer Arms Company, 355 Lawrence Rd., Broomall, PA 19008, pioneerarms.com/mule_ear_lock.html, for mule ear browned to look just like one made of sheet steel. Seemed good locks in theory, but the cap just would not brown (that AcraGlas is tough stuff once it is set). So I spray-painted it black and let it References: go at that (Fig. 16). Lying among the winter leaves, Chunky has Terry, Webb. (Davis, Don, Ed.) Muzzleloading Shooting and Winning with the Champions. Friendship, IN: National that no frills-all business look about her (Fig. 17 pictured on Muzzle Loading Rifle Assn. first page)

48 MuzzleBlasts Rocky Mountain Trapper (from Frances Fuller Victor’s The River of the West: Life and Adventure in the Rocky Mountains and Oregon) By Mike Phifer

Milton Sublette and Henry Fraeb’s brigade of trappers were the Blackfoot, the Gros Ventres were tough warriors and had just breaking camp on July 18, 1832, in the southern end of caused the mountaineers no shortage of misery. Pierre’s Hole, when someone spotted something moving near the foot of the Teton Pass. It was far enough away the men Antoine Godin, an Iroquois mixed blood whose father had couldn’t tell if it was buffalo or men. Some figured it might been killed by the Blackfoot, and a Flathead warrior rode out be Lucien Fontenelle and his caravan from the American Fur to meet the chief. Godin asked the Flathead if his gun was Company. loaded in which the warrior replied it was. The Iroquois then told him to be ready to use it. Nathaniel Wyeth grabbed his spy glass to get a better look and he got an eye full. It was Indians and there were was about Meeting the chief about half way between the rest of the Gros 150 to 200 of them - men, women and children. Some were Ventres and the trappers, Godin reached out to shake his mounted, but most were walking. As they came closer it hand. Suddenly Godin yelled “Fire!” The Flathead quickly shot became clear these Indians who were waving a British flag were the chief dead and before he tumbled to the ground, Godin Gros Ventres. Apparently the Indians had taken the flag from snatched his scarlet blanket. a party of Hudson’s Bay Company trappers they had tangled Waving the blanket, Godin and the Flathead galloped back with earlier. toward the trappers’s camp with their trophy. A scattering of As the trappers watched warily a chief sporting a scarlet blanket shots from the Gros Ventres failed to find their mark. The draped over his shoulders rode out toward them. He was trappers and Gros Ventres would be soon in for a wild fight. unarmed and held up a peace pipe, but Milton Sublette and The previous day Milton Sublette and Henry Fraeb with 22 the others were suspicious. Although related to the Araphaos, trappers of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company had just left the mountaineers associated the Gros Ventres more with the the Pierre’s Hole rendezvous. With them rode 15 tough free Blackfoot who this tribe often allied themselves with. Like trappers under an Arkansan named Alexander Sinclair. Also ac-

October 2017 49 companying Sublette was Wyeth with his 11 greenhorns from The rendezvous in the scenic Pierre’s Hole was one of the New England. Wyeth was an enterprising Yankee from Mas- biggest with over a 1,000 people in attendance.1 American, sachusetts, who had done well for himself as an ice merchant. French-Canadian, Iroquois and Delaware trappers of the Now he had the grand scheme of heading to Oregon where his American Fur Company, Rocky Mountain Fur Company, men would trap and the furs would be sent to market by ship. the recently bankrupt company of John Gantt and Jefferson In the holds of these vessels he would also send salmon packed Blackwell, as well as free trappers, Wyeth’s New Englanders, in barrels. and others were all there. Also at the rendezvous were a large number of Nez Perces and Flatheads. To keep his men’s scalps, as well as his own, Wyeth had joined up with William Sublette, brother of Milton, and the Rocky After almost a week and a half of trading, drinking, gambling, Mountain Fur Company supply train at Independence, Mis- fighting, and carousing, the rendezvous started to break up on souri. Sublette had come out of St. Louis bound for the Pierre’s July 17. The Rocky Mountain Fur Company did well as the Hole rendezvous located in modern Teton County, Idaho, just American Fur Company supply caravan missed the rendezvous west of the Teton Mountains. delayed by the slow pace of a steamer up the Missouri River to Fort Union where they planned to set out for Pierre’s Hole Racing against their rival American Fur Company trade cara- from. van led by Fontenelle and Etienne Provost, Sublette arrived in Pierre’s Hole first, but not without trouble. Along the way they When Milton Sublette, Fraeb, and their men rode out of the had lost ten horses to Indian raiders, but more serious was the rendezvous headed south for the Humbolt River for a fall hunt ordeal of Thomas Fitzpatrick, one of the partners of the Rocky along with Sinclair and his free trappers, Wyeth rode with Mountain Fur Company. them intending to stick with them until they were through Blackfoot country. Wyeth had left Independence with 18 men, Riding ahead of Sublette’s caravan to warn the trappers at but seven changed their minds about going to Oregon and left Pierre’s Hole of their approach, Fitzpatrick encountered a band him.2 The combined party of trappers made six miles before of Gros Ventres. Although he barely escaped them, Fitzpatrick stopping for the night. The next morning they spotted the was now afoot as he lost both his horses. He struggled on living Gros Ventres. off berries, roots and scraps of meat found on rotting buffalo carcasses afraid to use his gun to kill game as the Indians would While Godin and the Flathead galloped back to their camp, hear the shot. Soon this would not be an option as he lost his the Gros Ventres headed for cover in a nearby swampy area gun and shooting pouch crossing a stream. Staggering on for formed by an old beaver dam. Here in a thick woods of days an emaciated and bone tired Fitzpatrick was eventually cottonwoods, brush and willows matted with vines, the Indian found by two Iroquois trappers who took him to the rendez- women began scratching out a trench and constructing a vous. There he was greatly received by William and the rest of breastwork of logs and branches. The warriors skirmished at the caravan who had arrived on July 8 and had given Fitzpat- the edge of the wooded swamp with the trappers. rick up for dead. Reportedly Fitzpatrick’s ordeal had turned his hair white. Meanwhile, two messengers rode hard back to rendezvous to tell William Sublette what had happened and to send help. William Sublette along with his friend Robert Campbell and

Milton Sublette’s party were just breaking camp when the Gros Ventres were spotted.

Alfred Jacob Miller’s Breakfast at Sunrise (Library and Archives Canada)

50 MuzzleBlasts many of the trappers and Indians mounted up and thundered Campbell and mountaineer Joe Meek took hold of Sublette off to aid Milton Sublette and Fraeb. Zenas Leonard who was and got him out of the wooded swamp. with Milton Sublette’s party remembered that after a few hours they “were reinforced by 200 whites, 200 Flatheads, and 300 Fighting, meanwhile, continued between the trappers, their Nez Perces Indians.” Campbell, on the other hand, in a letter Indian allies and the determined Gros Ventres. Milton Sublette written shortly afterwards to his brother states: “Our force led a small contingent against rear of the enemy Indians posi- consisted of from 40 to 50 whites – a few half breeds – and tion, while the Flatheads and Nez Perces moved on the flanks. two small bands of friendly Indians.”3 This created a crossfire which in some cases caused “friendly fire” casualties. The butcher’s bill began to mount for both Seeing that they were now outnumbered the Gros Ventres sides as firing continued throughout the day. warriors withdrew deeper into the wooded swamp to their breastworks and prepared for a hard fight. Some accounts Mountaineer George Nidever remembered a drunken Cana- mention the Gros Ventres women and children retreating to dian mixed blood of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company who: the mountains. “tried to distinguish himself by rashly crawling up to the very wall of the fort and then peeping over the top. He paid for his William Sublette who was in command of the trappers temerity when he received two bullets in his forehead.”6 planned to attack the Gros Ventres in the woods which some of the men thought madness. William told them that if they Zenas Leonard crawled in the thickets on his hands and knees did not “show a bold front” now at the beginning of the with two men named Kean and Smith along with two Indians trapping season “their prospects in the mountains would be making it to about 40 yards of the Gros Ventres’s breast- blasted.” Campbell, meanwhile, told the Flatheads of “our works. At that point one of the Indians was killed. The others determination to assail their enemies, in their strong hold, and remained still, except for Smith who moved his foot which that we knew we should have their assistance.”4 shook some weeds and immediately drew fire. He was hit. Leonard attempted to move forward, “but finding the balls to Wyeth’s men still green to the mountains and Indian fight- pass too quick and close” determined to retreat. As Leonard fell ing had fortified their camp with packs and were kept out of back he discovered the other men had already departed except harm’s way. Campbell later wrote that he and William Sublette for the wounded Smith who asked to be carried out. Leonard and raised “the war whoop” and, “with about twenty others later wrote this “met my approbation precisely, for I was glad dashed off at full speed towards” the swampy woods.5 to get out of this unpleasant situation under any pretext – pro- vided my reputation for courage would not be questioned.”7 Earlier both Campbell and William had taken the precaution To put an end to things the trappers wanted to burn out the of exchanging oral wills in case things went badly. Before Gros Ventres and dry wood began to be gathered. The Flat- entering the thick woods, William took his brother aside and head and Nez Perces warriors rejected this idea as they did not told him Campbell knew his will and was to be his executor. want to see the Gros Ventres’ plunder destroyed. Meanwhile, Then he led the way into the thickets followed by Campbell the Gros Ventres taunted that they might all die defending and Sinclair. The men moved forward on hands and knees their breastworks, but they would be avenged as 400 lodges each taking turns being in the lead. Some of the other trappers of their tribe were nearby. They would rub out the whites and followed behind. their allied Indians.

Reaching a more open spot in the woods they soon discovered The mountaineers and allied Indians misinterpreted the Gros the Gros Ventres’ breastworks. Sinclair was in the advance at Ventres taunt believing their camp back at the rendezvous was this point and quickly drew fire from an enemy warrior and being attacked and plundered. Quickly the trappers, Flat- was mortally wounded. Sinclair asked Campbell to be taken to heads and Nez Perces mounted up and galloped off back to his brother who was nearby. The dying free trapper wish was the rendezvous only to discover everything was fine. “I never granted as Campbell passed him off to other mountaineers shall forget the scene here exhibited,” later wrote Leonard of who got a hold of him and took him out of the swampy woods the trappers’ reaction. “The rage of some was unbounded, to see his brother one last time. and approached to madness. For my own part, although I felt William Sublette soon pushed forward and caught sight of a much regret at the result after so much toil and danger, yet I Gros Ventres warrior peering through an aperture in the breast- could not but give the savages credit for the skill they displayed 8 works. Sublette quickly took aim and fired hitting the warrior. in preserving their lives.” While reloading, Sublette pointed the aperture out to Camp- The mountaineers and Indians remained the night at their bell when suddenly a ball struck him in the shoulder. That rendezvous encampment and returned to the battlefield in the same ball passed through him and struck a trapper in the head. morning only to find the Gros Ventre’s breastworks aban- Sublette stayed in the action a short time, but the loss of blood doned. The Gros Ventres had slipped out of their makeshift was weakening him and he called for Campbell to help him. fort in the night leaving ten bodies behind. A few more bodies

October 2017 51 were discovered in the thick woods, as was a wounded Gros Hartford, CT: Columbian, 1871. Ventres woman who one of the Flatheads quickly killed. The Gros Ventres would later admit to suffering 26 killed. The Washington, Irving. Adventures of Captain Bonneville. mountaineers, meanwhile, had five killed and six wounded, London: Bentley, 1837. while their Indian allies suffered seven killed and six or seven Wyeth, John B. Oregon. Cambridge: Wyeth, 1833. wounded. The mountaineers returned to their camp at the rendezvous Wyeth, Nathaniel. The Correspondence and Journals of Captain Nathaniel J. Wyeth 1831-6, From the His- concerned of an Indian attack. “We think that 400 lodges or tory of Oregon, Volume 1. Eugene, OR: OR U P, 1899. about 600 warriors of the Blackfoot are on the other side of the pass and if they come they must be met with our whole Endnotes force in which case the contest will be a doubtful one,” Wyeth 9 penned in his journal. 1. Named after Iroquois trapper Pierre Tevanitagon, who had originally come west from the Montreal area No attack would come and Milton Sublette accompanied by with the North West Company. He was killed there in Wyeth started on their journey again on the 24th. Six days lat- 1827 by the Blackfoot. er, William Sublette had healed enough to start back towards St. Louis on July 30 with 60 men and 169 packs of beaver. 2. Wyeth had set out from Boston with 20 men, picked up four more at Baltimore where he arrived by Other parties of trappers, meanwhile, headed out for their fall ship. Before and just after arriving at Independence a hunt. More blood would be spilled as trouble between the total of six men deserted him. mountaineers and the Gros Ventres as well as the Blackfoot was far from over. 3. Zenas Leonard, Adventures of a Mountain Man: The Narratives of Zenas Leonard, (edited by Milo Milton Quaife),(Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, References 1978), p. 70; Letter 1 Lewis’ Fork , July 18th, 1832 The Rocky Mountain Letters of Robert Campbell https://user.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/html/caml- Campbell, Robert. The Rocky Mountain Letters of tr01.html accessed January 9, 2017 Robert Campbell. Library of the Fur Trade: Historical Source Documents. https://user.xmission.com/~dru- dy/mtman/html/camltr01.html 4. Letter 1 Lewis’ Fork , July 18th, 1832 The Rocky Mountain Letters of Robert Campbell accessed January 9, 2017 Chittenden, Hiram Martin. The American Fur Trade of the Far West, Volume 2. Lincoln, NE: U of NE P, 1986. 5. Letter 1 Lewis’ Fork , July 18th, 1832 The Rocky Mountain Letters of Robert Campbell accessed Gowan, Fred. Rocky Mountain Rendezvous: A Histo- January 9, 2017 ry of the Fur Trade Rendezvous 1825 – 1840. Layton, UT: G.M. Smith, 1985. 6. Quoted in Fred Gowan’s Rocky Mountain Rendez- vous: A History of the Fur Trade Rendezvous 1825 Hafen, LeRoy R. Broken Hand. The Life of Thomas – 1840, (Layton, Utah: Gibbs M. Smith Inc., 1985), p. Fitzpatrick Mountain Man, Guide and Indian Agent. 207. Lincoln, NE: U of NE P, 1981.

7. Leonard, p. 72. Leonard, Zenas. Adventures of a Mountain Man: The Narratives of Zenas Leonard, (edited by Milo Milton Quaife). Lincoln, NE: U of NE P, 1978. 8. Leonard p. 73-74.

Sunder, John E. Bill Sublette: Mountain Man. Nor- 9. Nathaniel Wyeth, “The Correspondence and Jour- man, OK: U of OK P, 1959. nals of Captain Nathaniel J. Wyeth 1831-6,” Source of the History of Oregon Volume I, (Eugene, Oregon: University Press, 1899), p. 160. Tykal, Jack B. Etienne Provost: Man of the Mountains. Liberty, UT: Eagle’s View, 1989. Milton Sublette’s party were just breaking camp when the Gros Ventres were spotted. Utley, Robert M. A Life Wild and Perilous: Mountain Men and the Paths to the Pacific. New York: Holt, 1997. Alfred Jacob Miller’s Breakfast at Sunrise (Library and Archives Canada) Vestal, Stanley. Joe Meek: The Merry Mountain Man. Lincoln, NE: U of NE P, 1952. Rocky Mountain Trapper (from Frances Fuller Victor’s The River of the West: Life and Adventure in the Rocky Mountains and Oregon) Victor, Frances Fuller. The River of the West: Life and Adventure in the Rocky Mountains and Oregon.

52 MuzzleBlasts October 2017 53 JuniorBy Alan Garbers Illustrations byBlasts George Peskunck Larrabee John Tanner was nine years old when Shawnees kidnapped him When John fired the pistol, the recoil smashed the gun into his from his family’s new farm on the banks of the Ohio River. small face, bloodying it. But, he got the pigeon. Thinking his family was dead and being so deep into the wilder- ness around the Great Lakes, John gradually accepted his fate. It Running home triumphantly with the pigeon, John was given a was customary for Indians to replace lost family members with flintlock fowler (a firearm that shoots shot or a ball) and powder captives, and so it was for John. An older woman had lost her horn. By the end of the day, he had killed three more pigeons son and demanded that her husband find her a new son. John for his family to eat. was it. With his new life, came a new name: Shaw-shaw-wa-ne- ba-se, meaning “falcon.” John grew to realize that if he helped his family, he earned their respect and affection. He also learned that if everyone worked together in his village, everyone lived well. Hunting and trap- ping was an important way to help his family and keep them healthy.

His first family treated him cruelly and he endured the constant threat of death. But, when he was eleven, he was traded to an- other family. The head of his new family was an older woman, Net-no-kwa, an Ottawa. His new mother treated him with kindness, but expected John to help his new family in return. One day John was out hunting ducks, a bear jumped up and At that time, the woods teamed with passenger pigeons and ran up a tree. Black bears were highly prized for their fat and John asked his adopted father if he could use his large pistol to meat. John attempted to remove the duck shot from his fowler hunt them. His adopted father and mother agreed that John and put in a heavy ball, but something must have gone wrong. was of the proper age to learn to hunt. They told John, that if he When the gun fired, the barrel burst halfway down. While John could kill anything with the pistol, they would give John a gun was dazed from the blast, he still reloaded and fired at the bear, of his own to hunt with. killing it. John immediately loaded the pistol and went hunting. Seeing As John grew, so did his skills as a hunter and leader. He loved a pigeon, he brought the huge flintlock pistol up to his face and protected his Indian family as if he were born to them. to aim down the barrel, the breech almost touching his nose. Eventually he married and had children of his own and taught

54 MuzzleBlasts them the proper ways to provide for their family. With one player pulling, and one player riding, the team rushes across a 100-foot course. The first team to cross the finish line How do we know all of this? Eventually John took a job at a fort wins. as an interpreter and a friend helped John publish his life story almost 200 years ago. It is one of the best autobiographies of that time. You can read how a scared little boy in a strange land Firearm Safety became a man and leader to those that once were his enemies. For the whole story visit: http://imp.lss.wisc.edu/jrvalent/AIS/ Don’t use more blackpowder than the gun maker recommends. Assets/Pdfs/BookTanner.pdf Some will tell you that a black powder gun can’t be overloaded; the unused powder just blows out the end. THIS IS FALSE!

Game of the Month Modern blackpowder guns are strong, but overloading them can cause the barrels to bulge, crack, split, or even blow up. The Travois/Litter Race Follow the gun maker’s guide for loading the gun. If you do not have the guide, you can contact the maker or look on their The Plains Indians used a travois to carry people and cargo. website. Often a horse pulled the travois. If needed people or even large dogs could pull them. In many ways a travois is like litters used by army medics to carry wounded from the battle field. Imagine What's That? a litter being pulled by just one person and that is what a travois is like. Here are a few words or terms you may hear around a firing Items needed for each team: range. You pick out the correct definition. Two long poles. Land – Two short poles. 1. To end a sea voyage. 2. The ground or area in which One large blanket that can get dirty. we live. 3. The raised portion of rifling in a barrel. ¼” rope. Jump – 1. To spring into the air. 2. The abrupt rise of the fire- Two player teams are chosen. There can be as many teams com- arm’s muzzle when fired. 3. To show eagerness. peting as there is room for. With the poles, blanket, and rope the teams assemble a travois. The two long poles will be grasped Round – 1. All components required to fire one shot. 2. Circu- at one end and drug on the ground at the other end. The two lar. 3. A type of song. short poles are lashed to the long poles as cross members to keep the long poles apart. Hint: Divide the blanket into imaginary thirds. The middle third should be under the travois and the two remaining thirds should overlap each other on top. The Riddles person’s weight will help keep the blanket from coming undone. What starts with T, ends with T, and has T in it? A teapot. It is also best to have the travois narrow in the front and wider in the back to keep it stable.) Three pirates where in a dingy when it tipped over, but only two got their hair wet. Why? One was bald. With the travois assembled, one player grabs the handles while the other player climbs aboard (it works best if the larger and A boy throws a ball as far as he could, but it came right back to stronger person pulls while the smaller and lighter person rides). him. How? He threw it straight up.

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October 2017 55 Charter Club Shoot Dates

Big Horn Mountainmen Shoots 3rd Sunday monthly except February and June, Rick Central Florida Muzzleloaders ALASKA Shoots first Sunday monthly Wicks, 7366 N County Rd. 27, Loveland, CO 80538, 970-667- Shoots the 3rd Sunday each month except December and Alaska State Muzzleloading Association Gregg Kimball, 1917 N. O’Malley Way, Upland, CA 91784, 909- 3979, [email protected], www.buckhornskinners. January, starts at 8:00am, Ben Bateman, 407-451-9411, Keith Bayha, 29792 W. Glenn Hwy. Sutton, AK 99674, 907- 985-8698, [email protected] -12/17 org [email protected] 746-6662, [email protected], akmuzzleloaders.org California St. Muzzleloading Rifle Association Colorado Springs Muzzle Loaders Escambia River Gun Club McKinley Mountainmen ML Rifle Club Michael Bush, 3216 Smithlee Dr., Sacramento, CA 95827, Shoots 1st and 3rd Sundays monthly First Sunday each month at 9am, David Halupowski, 850-678- Shoots 2nd Saturday monthly, Keith Mathis, PO Box 298534, 916-362-1469, [email protected] Joy Hicks, 4820 Montebello Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80918, 4052, [email protected], escambiarivergunclub.org, 4020 Wasilla, AK 99629 907-232-6052, [email protected] 719-598-5715 Rocky Branch Rd, Cantonment, FL 32533 - 12/17 Escondido Fish & Game Assoc. ARIZONA Shoots 4th Sunday monthly, Geoff Orchin, PO Box Fort Lupton Muzzle Loading Club Eustis Gun Club 460506, Escondido, CA 92026, 760-741-3721; gorchin@ Fun Shoot, 3rd Saturday monthly; Paper Shoot, 2nd Sunday Terry L. McCauslin, 10100 Morningside Dr., Leesburg, FL Arizona Cactus Cappers escondidofishandgame.com- monthly. 34788, 352-308-9876 – 12/17 Shoots 3rd Sunday monthly William Micheli 4535 W. 107th Circle Westminster, CO. 80031; David Cuddeby, 4202 W. Nicolet, Phoenix, AZ 85051, 623- Laguna Mountain Shooting Club 303-981-0231, [email protected] Florida Frontiersmen, Inc. 937-5916, [email protected], cactuscapper.com Second weekend of each month, Boulder Creek Primitive Camp Shoots 1st Sat. monthly, Margaret Henderson, 348 13463 Boulder Creek Road Descanso, CA 91916, Overnight DELAWARE Timberwood Trail, Oviedo, FL 32765, secretary@ Arizona Muzzle Loading Association camping Friday and Saturday, portable water available on floridafrontiersmen.com, 813-989-9510-12/17 Shoots 2nd and 4th Sundays monthly, Tom Hoverson 3210 N. site RV ok Brandywine Muzzleloading Long Rifles Club Second Saturday of each month, David Van Hook, 366 Wallace Comanche Dr. Chandler, AZ 85224, Tom [email protected] Rick Emms, 858-748-3209, 13443 Acton Ave. Poway, CA Florida Muzzleloaders Association Dr., Newark, DE 19711, 302-731-7727, masterdvanhoo@ 92064 Fall Frolic Oct. 15, 2017 Hosted by Central Florida Rifle Bouse Hills Muzzle Loaders comcast.net, brandy winelongrifles.weebly.com and Pistol Club, Florida State Shoot April 21-22, 2018, Shoots 1st and 3rd Saturdays monthly, Turkey Shoot Nov. Mountain Ranch Muzzle Loaders Check the FMA website for monthly shoots across 19, Libby Sparks, 2005 N. 200th Ave., Buckeye, AZ.85396, Shoots 1st & 3rd Sundays monthly, Nanticoke Sportmens Club Florida, Bob Samson 407-492-0417, [email protected], Shoots 1st and 3rd Saturday monthly 623-853-9194 Rendezvous – 4th Weekend in April, 2nd Weekend in October floridamuzzlesloadersassociation.org. Thomas Brennan, 22336 Bridgeville Highway, Seaford, DE Eileen DeMaggio, 29 W Dunmar, Stockton, CA 95207, 19973, 302-628-9382, [email protected] – 12/16 Montezuma Muzzle Loaders [email protected], 209-474-0193 Fort White Gun Club, Inc. Shoots 2nd Saturday monthly Shoots 1st Saturday monthly, Kenneth W. Long, 1880 S John Canatsey, 26 Longview Loop, Elgin, AZ 85611; 520-455- Sac Valley Muzzleloaders FLORIDA State Route 47, High Springs, FL 32655, 352-318-0386, 4741, [email protected] Shoots 2nd Sunday monthly, Michael Bush, 3216 Smithlee Dr., Calusa Country Long Rifles [email protected]/16 Sacramento, CA 95827, 916-362-1469, meanmike8665@ Shoot 2nd and 4th Saturdays each month, Muzzle Stuffers aol.com, Donald Richards, 337 Lamplighter Dr., Melbourne, FL 32934, Jefferson Longrifles, Inc. Shoots 2nd and 4th Sunday monthly is Rifle and 4th Sunday is 321-794-7267, [email protected] – 12/17 Shoots 2nd Sunday monthly Pistol and Black Powder Cartridge Santa Cruz Muzzleloaders Mary Schaffer, 11433 E. Caballero St., Mesa, AZ 85207, Pistol Shoots 1st Saturday monthly; Rifle Shoots 3rd Saturday 602-617-8170 monthly Sherry Pennell, P.O. Box 226, Aromas, CA, 95004, 831-726- Original Williams Buckskinners 3803, [email protected], santacruzmuzzleloaders.org Shoots 3rd Sunday monthly Albert “Ace” Emanuel, PO Box 1102, Ash Fork, AZ 86320, 928- Smokey Valley Muzzle Loaders 310-7833, [email protected] Shoots 4th Sunday monthly Tim Dacumos, 1623 Washington Ave., Pomona, CA 91767, 7 Powder Horn Clan 909-620-8838 Various shoots – call for info.,William Owen 2071 N. Rain Tree rd., Flagstaff, AZ 86004; 928-526-0087; w.w.owen356@ Solano Muzzle Loaders Association gmail.com Shoots 1st Sunday and 3rd Saturday monthly Kathy Mitchell, 820 Pochard Way, Suisun City, CA 94585 The Old Pueblo Muzzleloaders Shoots 3rd Sunday monthly, Jon Foster, Tucson, AZ 85663, Sonoma Valley Muzzle Loaders 520-780-6363, [email protected] Shoots 1st Sunday monthly; Trek last full weekend in October Alan Keith, 8642 Trenton Rd., Forestville, CA 95436, 650-391- Yuma Territorial Long Rifles 5546, [email protected], sonomavalleymuzzleloaders. Shoot 1st and 3rd Saturday monthly September through org May, James Ingram, 3435 E Sombra Lane, Yuma, AZ 85365, 928-580-9888 South Bay Rod & Gun Club Shoots 1st Sunday monthly is Rifle, Dave Boyle, 1020 Marron ARKANSAS ValleyRd, Dulzura, CA 91017, 619-477-7187, jfrazierdboyle@ Foot Hills Muzzle Loaders earthlink.net Shoots 2nd Sunday monthly Ron Covey, 126 Ramsgate Road, Lakeview, AR 72642, Smokey Valley Muzzle Loaders 870-431-8021 Shoots 4th Sunday montly Tim Dacumos, 1623 Washington Ave., Pomona, CA 91767- Luther’s Long Hunters 3361, 909-620-8838 Shoots September 21-24 Zoe Caywood, 11989 Sellers Pl Rd. Hindsville, AR 72738, 479- Western States Muzzle Loaders Assoc. 236-4086, [email protected] July 13-18, 2017 Western States Black Powder Shoot and NMLRA National Territorial Match, Ken Laverty, 5440 Agostino Stone County Muzzleloaders Club Ct. Concord, CA 94521, 925-672-7088, klaverty@astound. Shoots 1st Sundays monthly, Ken White, 3394 Misenheimer org, www.wsmla.org Rd., Mountain View, AR 72560, [email protected], 870-214-0216 West Victor Valley Shooting Club Shoots 2nd Saturday each month, Linda Lee Chevalier, 21229 Balsa Street, Apple Valley, CA 92308, 760-247-3951, CALIFORNIA [email protected] Apple Valley Gun Club Shoots 4th Friday monthly Yolo Frontloaders Miki Marhoefer, Shoots 3rd Sunday of month, Rick Bello 6699 Midway Rd. Dixon, California 95620, 707-693-6914, [email protected] Bakersfield Muzzle Loaders Shoots 3rd Sunday monthly COLORADO Evelyn Berry, 37111 Torres Ave., Barstow, CA 92311, 760- 256-2778; [email protected] Buckhorn Skinners

56 MuzzleBlasts Duane Ashe, P.O. Box 21348, Tallahassee, FL 32316, Shoots 1pm 1st Sunday each month April through November, Thunder Creek Long Rifles bellsouth.net – 12/17 850-570-1464, [email protected], www. Susie Hulvey, (217) 519-0457, ladyhawke1756@yahoo. Shoots 1st Sunday monthly jeffersonlongrifles.com-12/17 com – 12/17 Wesley Scott Sparrow, 5345 Red River Court, Indianapolis, LOUISIANA IN 46221, 317-821-8525; ssparrow1972@sbcglobal. Bayou Muzzleloaders, Inc. Mosquito Lagoon Muzzleloaders 4-H Club Okaw Valley Muzzle Loaders net – 12/16 Shoots 2nd and 4th Wednesdays monthly; call for info on Shoots 1st Sunday monthly April through November, Linda Shoots 3rd Saturday monthly, Michael Jouban, 3912 Lafayette Saturday shoots, Gus A Koerner, 1665 Saratoga Dr., Titusville, Miller, 662 N 1200 East Rd., Tower Hill, IL 62571, 217-783- Dr., Pineville, LA 71360, 318-640-0072, hrdir2@suddenlink. Tri County Coonhunter’s M.L. net – 12/17 FL 32796, 321-591-6831-12/2016 2409, [email protected] – 12/17 Rifle Shoots 1st Sun. monthly Nick Doll, 311 S. Park Ave., Batesville, IN 47006, 812-934- Palmetto Muzzle Loaders Piasa Black Powder Burners 5723; – 12/17 MAINE Shoots 2nd Sunday monthly, Ralph West, 19500 SW 214 St., Shoots 3rd Sunday monthly Acadia Frontiersmen Miami, FL 33187, 305-233-5512-12/17 Chris Ruckman, 3212 Denton Lane, St. Charles, MO 63301, Twin Rivers Muzzleloaders Various rendezvous – call for info., Beth Sundberg, P.O. 618-363-9839, redsnapper15@ hotmail.com – 12/17 Shoots 3rd Saturday monthly March to October Box 1256, Southwest Harbor, ME 04679, 207-244-9601, Tallahassee Rifle and Pistol Club Dave Hood, 4009 Parkmont Dr., Logansport, IN 46947, 574- bethshininghair @gmail.com – 12/17 Shoots 3rd Sunday monthly, Philip J. Quaglino, 689 Millwood Prairieland Frontiersmen, Inc. 722-2326, woodrowwalker [email protected] 12/17 Dr., Havana, FL 32333, 850-539-0995, phillipe0010@gmail. Shoot 2nd Sun. monthly except May, Steven Wood, 200 W. Penobscot Long Rifles com – 12/17 Harrison St., Sullivan, IL 61951, [email protected], Valley of the Eagle Long Rifles No shoot schedule at this time, Glenn A. Dickey, New Sweden www.frontiernet.net/‘kkard1988, 217-728-7369 – 12/16 Shoots 1st Sunday monthly at 1pm except on Holiday Rd, Stetson, ME, 207-659-3456, [email protected] Treasure Coast Muzzleloaders weekends, shoots will be 2nd Sunday, Gale Garner, 9757 E. 1st and 3rd Saturday after 1st Wednesday of each month, Rock Run Long Rifles, Inc. State Rd., 66, Rome, IN 47574, 812-836-2847, garner@psci. York County Powder Burners Bill Marinko, 338 NW Dearman St, Port Saint Lucie, FL 34983, Shoots 1st Sunday monthly except July, and September shoot net – 12/17 Shoots monthly beginning in May, Michael Davis, 103 Staples 772-878-8588, [email protected] will be 2nd Sunday, Special Events, October 7, October 8, Paul Rd., Limington, ME 04049, 207-637-2603; 103staples@ or Sandi Swanson, 815-624-6725 – 12/17 Wahpanipe Muzzle Loading Club gmail.com- 12-17 Treaty Oak Long Rifles Turkey Shoot – Oct. 7, Allen & Julie Coon, 4091 S 800 E, Shoots 2nd Saturday monthly Tawaskote Longrifles Glenwood, IN 46133, 765-679-5408; [email protected] MARYLAND John Brueggemann, 5531 James C Johnson Rd., Jacksonville, FL Shoots 3rd Sunday monthly, Terry Wilson, 848 Champaign St, 12-31-17 32218, 904-766-4063 – 12/16 Bement, IL 61813, 217-841-4425, [email protected] Marriottsville Muzzleloaders Wetzel Trace Long Rifles Sept 3; Flintlock Only- Oct 1; Turkey Shoot- Nov 5; GEORGIA INDIANA Shoots 3rd Sunday monthly Holiday Shoot Dec 3: Timothy Frank, 106 Hershey Circle, Gary Leeper, 3994 E. St Rd 252, Franklin, IN 46131, 317-736- Stewartstown, PA 17363, 717-993-2077, secretary@ Blue Ridge Mountain Men Blue River Longrifles, Inc. mmlblackpowder.com, mmlblackpowder.com – 12/17 Shoots 3rd Saturday monthly, Dan Pressley, 52 Vanmar Dr., Shoots 4th Sunday monthly April through October 6797, [email protected]/16 Toccoa, GA 30577, 706-827-9946, dpressley@windstream. Stillboard Shotgun shoot 1st and 3rd Sunday monthly Tidewater Muzzle Loaders net, blueridgemountainmen.org – 12/16 September through May, James Cinkoske, 148 W 300 S, Wildcat Valley Muzzle Loading Club Shoots 3rd Saturday monthly March - October 5X Shoot Sept. 20; Holiday Shoot Dec. 13., Dennis R. Kelley, Greenfield, IN 46140, [email protected], 317-462-5858, Dave Hood, 4009 Parkmont Dr., Logansport, IN 46947, 574- 15927 Batson Rd., Spencerville, MD 20868, 301-421-0847, Brushy Creek Muzzleloaders www.blueriverlongrifles.com – 12/17 [email protected] – 12/17 Shoots 4th Sunday monthly 722-2326, woodrowwalker4570 @yahoo.com Cynthia Knopf, 3641 Eve Dr W, Jacksonville, FL 32246, 904- Buck Creek Muzzle Loaders MASSACHUSETTS 641-8061-12/17 Shoot 2nd Saturday monthly, except May 20-21, September IOWA 16-17, December 9 Meeting and Dinner, January 27-28 2018 Beaver Creek Plainsmen, Inc. Westfield Sportsman’s Club Griffin Long Rifles Linton Tade Fair Shoots last Sunday of month April – November; Territorial- Various Shoots – Call for info. Shoots 1st Sunday monthly January through September, Stephen Fields, 920 S. Palmer Ave., Bloomington, IN 47401, May 26, 27, 28; 40th Anniversary Shoot; July 28,29,30; Francis T. Mitchell, 101 Montgomery St., Westfield, MA 01085, Billy Townsend, 3400 Fawn Trail, Marietta, GA 30060, 770- 812-331-7032 – 12/14 IA-NMLRA Territorial- May 26,27,28. 413-568-5012, westfieldsportsmanclub.com – 12/16 977-0766, [email protected], www.thegriffingunclub. Norma Holcomb, 4216 E. Douglas Ave., Des Moines, IA 50317, org – 12/17 Conner Long Rifles 515-262-4712, [email protected] – 12/17 MICHIGAN Shoots 1st Sunday monthly, Michael Bird, 7275 E 108th St, Blue Water Sportsman Assoc Muscogee Long Rifles Fishers, IN 46038, 317-902-3710; [email protected], Iowa Black Powder Federation Shoots 2nd weekend monthly, Turkey Shoot weekend before Shoots – Winter League Jan. – April; Summer League – May www.connerriles.freeserves.com – 12/15 State Hawk & Knife Sept. 4. State Shotgun Shoot Sept. 22-24. – August; Last Blast Woodswalk December 31. Ron Provost, Thanksgiving, H. B. Aderhold, 1875 Holland Rd., Cataula, Norma Holcomb, 4216 E. Douglas Ave., Des Moines, IA 50317, GA 31804, 706-323-2100, [email protected], 123 Bell Marine City, MI 48039, 810-326-0285, bpron60@ Fall Creek Valley Conservation Club 515-262-4712, [email protected], www.iowablack comcast.net, bluewatersportsmans association.com-12/16 muscogeelongrifles.com-12/16 Shoots 3rd Sunday monthly rain or shine; Frederick Peterson, powderfederation.net – 12/17 Clinton River Muzzle Loaders (Detroit Sportsmens Congress) 13450 W. St. Rd. 32, Yorktown, IN 47396, 765-378-5944, Second Sunday most of the months- Memorial Shoot, August fpeterson1345 @comcast.net, fcvcc.org – 12/17 IDAHO KANSAS 13; Larry Mullen, 49800 Dequindre, Utica, MI 48317, 586- EE DA How Long Rifles, Inc. Fish Creek Longrifles Jedediah Smith Muzzleloading Gun Club 731-6088, [email protected]/17 Shoots 4th Sat. monthly - B.P.S.Silhouette Matches – Ken Shoots 1st Saturday monthly, Tim Hamblen, 124 E. 9th, Shoots 3rd Sunday monthly February through November Durham 208-869-4692 Seymour, IN 47274, 812-522-8211 except July and August Columbiaville Sportsman’s Club muzzleloader matches call for dates, no matches in August Merrill Powers, 11319 131 Rd., Spearville, KS 67876, 620- 2017 Dates - ML Turkey Shoot October 21st& 22nd; John R. or September, December caries per Christmas, Arnold K. Burr, Ft. Tassinong Muzzleloaders 385-2224, [email protected] Wahlers, 10486 N. Irish Rd. Otisville, MI. 48463, 810-223- 1885 E. Franklin Rd., Meridian, ID 83642, 208-870-0551 Shoots 2nd Sunday monthly, Terry Ireland 815-791-1604 3956, www.columbia sportsmansclub.org – 12/17 – 12/17 KENTUCKY Mahawa Sipiwi Muzzleloaders Grand Valley Cap n Ballers ILLINOIS Shoots monthly, Dee Lueckert, 2102 Yosemite Dr., Lebanon, IN Bryan Station Muzzle Loaders Shoot 1st Sunday monthly- Meat Shoot, September 30h, 46052, 765-482-4227 – 12/17 Shoots 4th Sunday monthly, woodswalk shoot 5th Sunday and October 1st. Buffalo Trace Muzzleloaders monthly when applicable Jeffrey Terrell, 3539 Toronto Trail, Wayland, MI. 49348, www. Shoots 4th full weekend monthly except November and Morgan County Longifles Jeanette Hillard, 171 Lake Village Dr., Harrodsburg, KY 40330, gvcnb.org – 12/17 December, Tony Schmidt, 128 East Vine St., Olney, IL 62450, 859-748-0499, [email protected] – 12/17 618-843-8079 – 12/17 Shoots 2nd Sunday monthly, Dennis Morgan, 9495 N. Moon Rd., Gosport, IN 47433, 812-876-1750, dmorgan@ Lapeer Firelocks stmarksbloomington.org-12/16 Buck Snort Longhunters Mike Przydatek, 58855 Place Rd. Lenox Township, MI. 48048, Chaplin Creek Muzzle Loaders Shoots 2nd Sunday monthly, Mike Martin, 64 Casey Ln 586-206-7648-12/17 Monthly shoots 3rd Sunday each month except June which is Pakoka Valley Long Rifles Elizabethtown, KY 42701, 270-737-3849, longhunter01@ 4th Sunday, Alan Kleinstiver, 119 E Alden Pl., DeKalb, IL 60115, windstream.net Lansing Muzzle Loading Gun Club 630-664-6757, [email protected] 12/17 Shoots 4th Saturday monthly; April and October are rendezvous Club meetings 2nd Sunday each month, Fall, September Kentucky Long Rifles, Inc. 2-3; Turkey, September 23-24, Rendezvous, October Ft. Dearborn Frontiersmen Div. Aurora Thomas Mosley, PO Box 5, Oakland City, IN 47660, 812-677- 2318, [email protected], facebook-Patoka Valley Long Shoots 3rd Sunday monthly, Dennis Winburn, PO Box 691, 21-22, Winter Woods Walk, January 4th 2018; Larry Rifles-12/17 Morehead, KY 40351, 606-784-8083; dwinburn40351@ Paterson, 15369 Chandler, Bath MI. 48808, 517-719-3541, Sportsmen’s Club yahoo.com lansingmuzzleloadinggunclub.com-11/18 Shoots 3rd Saturday monthly April through October, Ken Pequannah Muzzle Loaders Drogemuller, 3622 Fairview Ave., Downers Grove, IL 60515, Little Mount Muzzleloaders, Inc. Manistee Clan Muzzle Loaders Club 630-969-6849-12/17 Shoots 1st Saturday monthly except on holidays Max Muhlenkamp, 3904 East 700 South, Portland, IN 47371, Shoots 2nd Sunday monthly except for Memorial Shoot which Shoots the 1st and 3rd Sundays March- September, 260-335-2897 [email protected]/17 is held last Saturday in March Henry Rozmarek, 1669 Fruit Ridge Manistee, MI. Fort LaMotte Rangers Ken Lutes, 1849 Flanagan Station Rd., Winchester, KY 40391, 49660 ,231-723-7475. [email protected], Shoots 3rd Sun. monthly except winter months 859-771-4304, 1849ken @gmail.com manisteeclanmuzzleloadingclub.org – 12/17 Greg Parrott, 9172 E. 700th Ave., Robinson, IL 62454, 618- Pokagon Longrifles Inc. 544-4488, fortlamotte.com – 12/16 Shoots 3rd weekend March through October, Ruth Ann Pierman, 320 S Maple St, Hicksville, OH 43526, 419-487- Magoffin Co. Muzzleloaders Michigan State Muzzle Loading Association 3456, [email protected], www.pokagonlongrifles.com Wayne Jenkins, 2740 Pricey CK Rd, Salyersville, KY 41465, Ron Fernwalt (Shotgun) 16808 Peach Ridge, Kent City MI Goshen Trail Longrifles 606-349-2600, [email protected] – 12/16 49330, 616-836-5760: [email protected]. Diane McGregor Shoots 2nd Sunday monthly except in May which is 1st Sand Dune Long Rifles of MI City Rifle Club (Rifle), 4344 Old Baker Rd, Bridgeport, MI 48722, 989-746- Sunday, Kevin Settle, 4225 Fox Creek Rd., Mt. Vernon, IL Salt River Long Rifles 0723; [email protected] 62864, 618-242-7931, [email protected] – 12/17 Shoots 1st Sunday monthly, David Kurth, 2954 N. Horseshoe Bend, LaPorte, IN 46350, 219-363-1310, Dakurth1@aol. Shoots 1st Sunday monthly, Woodswalk and Blackpowder com, – 12/17 Clay Target Shoots alternate 5th Sunday monthly. Carl L. New Ocea Free Trappers Joliet Muzzle Loaders King, P.O. Box 114, Harrodsburg, KY 40330, 859-509-5027, Shoots 2nd Sunday monthly, Brenda Ingalls, 4929 S. 148th Shoots 2nd Sunday monthly, Fall Rendezvous – Last Weekend Stone’s Trace Regulators [email protected] – 12/16 Ave., Hesperia, MI 49421, 231-578-9688, Polaris_hotrod@ in October, Mike Priesbe, 314 Arrowhead Div., Shorewood, IL hotmail.com 60404-9663, 815-729-0568, [email protected] – 12/16 September 9-10, 2017, Thad Stern, PO Box 422, Cromwell, IN 46725, 574-536-4998, [email protected], www. Wilderness Rangers of Kentucky stonestraceregulators.com-12/17 Shoots 4th Sunday monthly, Alan C. Snyder, 5123 Magdalen River Valley Muzzle Loaders Leroy Rifle & Pistol Clubs Square, Louisville, KY 40241, 502-339-8605, alansy54@

October 2017 57 Shoots 4th Sunday monthly Garden State Blackpowder Assoc. 4409 Hammerton Dr., Columbus, OH 43228, 614-582-7448, Jim Fletcher, 2938 Kenwood Blvd., Toledo, OH 43606, 419- Beth Chubb, 1803 E. Warren Woods Rd., Buchanan, MI 49107, Shoots Last Sunday of every month [email protected] – 12/17 536-2505 – 12/17 269-695-3336 – 12/16 Debbie Schenker, 106 Alexandria Way, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920, 571-447-6111, [email protected], www.GSBPA. Dayton Muzzleloading Gun Club Wolf Creek Capsnappers Sauk Trail Long Rifles org – 12/16 Shoots 1st Sun. monthly Shoots 4th Sunday monthly May – November except holiday Shoots at Tecumseh, MI 2nd Sunday each month Flintlock Shoots-4th Sunday July, Nov. weekends Dennis Conner, 13627 E Michigan Ave. Grass Lake, MI 49240, NEW YORK Musket Shoots-4th Sunday Aug., and Oct. Lars Lutton – 386-847-4653; Ryan Armstrong740-336-1938, 517-522-8976 – 12/16 LaVonne Boitnott, 7770 E. Agenbroad Rd., New Carlisle, OH 7220 Thomas Rd., Chesterhill, OH 43728, lutton@ohio. Alabama Hunt Club 45344, 937-620-2346, [email protected] – 12/16 edu – 12/16 Tobacco River Muzzle Loaders Shoots 1st Sunday monthly, Sue Smith, 4777 East Rd., Cari Jefferon, 318 Glidden Rd, Beaverton, MI 48612, 301-256- Batavia, NY 14020, 585-343-7620; [email protected], Deathwind Longrifles OKLAHOMA 7784, [email protected], www.trmlc.weebly.com alabamahuntclub.com 12/17 Shoots 3rd Sunday March-November except April matches will be 8-9 due to Easter Sunday Longrifles of the Canadian Washtenaw Pioneers Muzzle Loaders Lock Stock & Barrel Trent Grove, 506 Beacon Rd., Newark, OH 43055, 740-814- Shoots monthly-call for dates, Ron Doggett, 4031 NW 34th, Robert Elka, 9346 Oak Road, Willis, MI 48191, r.elka2008@ Ted Wyskida, 5785 Innsbruck Rd., E. Syracuse, NY 13057, 5791, [email protected] – 12/17 Oklahoma City, OK 73112, 405-44-5764, www.military. comcast.net, www.wsclub.org-12/17 315-656-0177 – 12/16 okcgunclub.org/m/muzz.html Erie Wyandott Muzzleloader Club MINNESOTA Shoots 4th Sunday monthly May through Oct. OREGON Old Saratoga Muzzle Loading Club Dennis Depner, 1616 W. Fremont Rd., Port Clinton, OH 43452, Gopher Rifle and Revolver Club Tara Manzer, PO Box 204, Mechanicville, NY 12118, 518-664- Grizzly Mountain Long Rifles 419-734-2429; [email protected] – 12/16 Shoots 2nd Sunday of each month Call for dates. Rick Repovsch, 7628 – 115th Ave. N, Chamblin, 3713, [email protected] 12/17 MN 55316, 612-865-4422, [email protected], www. Ted Hartman, 4377 NW Canal Blvd #1, Redmond, OR 97756, Fort Greene Ville Muzzle Loaders 541-788-2122, [email protected] – 12/17 GRRC.org – 12/17 St. Lawrence Longrifles Shoots 3rd Sunday monthly except December, check website Shooting Monday evenings May through August, first Saturday for updates PENNSYLVANIA MISSISSIPPI January-August, Barry Dietlein, 1047 Maple Ridge Road, Andrew Kenworthy, 1965 W U.S. Rt. 36 W, Greenville, OH Hatchie Run Longrifles Brasher Falls, NY 13613, 315-769-2095, barryd@twcny. 45331, 937-548-8763, info@FortGreenevilleMuzzleloaders. Altoona Rifle and Pistol Club Shoots 4th Sunday of the month, Diane Rinehart, 104 Embry rr.com – 12/17 com – 12/17 Rifle Frolic October 9-11 Rd., Coldwater, MS 38618, 662-233-4747; dcrinehart@ Tim Bottenfield, 546 Pistol Club Rd., Altoona, PA 16601, 814- yahoo.com. – 12/17 NORTH CAROLINA Ft. McArthur Longrifles 937-1036, [email protected] – 12/16 Crosse Creek Rifle & Pistol Club, Inc. Shoots 2nd Sunday monthly Mississippi Dixie Muzzle Loaders Shoots 2nd Saturday monthly, Buck Buchanan, 1798 Potomac Jeff Pell, 5464 CH 107, Upper Sandusky, OH 43351, 419-209- Blue Mountain Muzzleloading Rifle Assoc. Various Shoots – call for info Shoots 1st Sunday monthly Feb. – Oct. Road, Fayetteville, NC 28304, 910-977-6200, buck100-10x@ 0141; [email protected] – 12/17 Michael Wengert, 5116 Old Route 27, Hamburg, PA 19526, Walter Mabry, 1531 Plantation Blvd., Jackson, MS 39211, 601- nc.rr.com – 12/16, 956-7238 – 12/17 Kill um Buck Longrifles 610-488-1608 – 12/16 French Broad Rifles Inc. Shoots 1st Sunday monthly Feb. to Dec. MISSOURI Shoots 2nd & 4th Saturdays monthly, October 13-15 Fall Angi Frantz, 147 Stratford Ave., Wadsworth, OH 44281, 330- Blue Ridge Rifles, Inc. Call for shoot information, Primitive Shoot 294-7211, [email protected] – 12/16 Barren Fork Traditional Muzzleloaders Cathy Bates, 1605 W Main St., Trappe, PA 19426, 610-489- Robert Rolfe, 15 Glenway Dr., Asheville, NC 28804, 828- Shoots 3rd Saturday monthly except January, Edward Peterka, Mansfield Muzzle Loader Rifle Club 3878, [email protected] – 12/17 RR 1, Box 363, Ava, MO 65608, 417-683-2764, auntiem2@ 620-1253, [email protected], www. frenchbroadrifles.com – 12/17 Call for Shoots centurylink.net, barrenforkmuzzleloaders.com – 12/17 Doug Pelton, 769 Sandusky St., Ashland, OH 44805, 419-282- Dogg Clan Muzzle Loaders 1485, [email protected]– 12/17 Shoots 3rd Sunday monthly April – November Boone’s Lick Muzzleloaders Lafayette Longrifles Rendezvous 3rd Sunday weekend of October Shoots 4th Sunday monthly except December Shoots 3rd Sundays monthly March – October James P. Montgomery, 5453 Bye Rd., East Palestine, OH Robert Keys, 7604 Mineshaft Rd., Raleigh, NC 27615, 919- Miami Rifle & Pistol Club Sara Schulze, 106 Julie Ct., Montgomery City, MO 63361, 573- 44413, 330-886-0133-12/2013 847-0069 – 12/17 Shoots 2nd Sunday monthly, Gregg Slepicka, 3545 Lutheran 564-3813, sararschulze @yahoo.com – 12/17 Church Rd., Farmersville, OH 45325, 937-241-8082 – 12/17 North Carolina State Muzzleloading Forest Grove Black Powder Rifle Men Fort Osage Muzzle Loaders New Frontiersmen Muzzle Loading Club Shoots 3rd Sunday monthly 11am-4pm Woodswalk course; Shoots 2nd Sunday monthly, Novelty Shoot 4th Saturday Shoots 3rd Sunday of each month January-November, Dave Michael Karkalla, 2158 Fairhill Rd, Sewickley, PA 15143, monthly March - October, Carl J Donze, PO Box 277, 94 NE Rifle Association Tom Como, 3520 Catlett Farm Road, Wake Forest, NC 27587, Moore 4095 Faulk Rd Ashland, OH 44805 419-589-4843, 412-877-5626, [email protected], www. 801 Rd., Knob Noster, MO 65336, 660-563-1295 or 660-563- 919-830-3678, beaverdamforge @aol.com, www.ncflintlock. [email protected], www.acwcl.org forestgrovesportsmen.com 5132, [email protected], fortosagemuzzle loaders.org- 12/17 wix.com – 12/16 Ohio Valley Muzzle Loading Gun Club Ft. McCord Militia J. P. Gemmer Muzzle Loading Gun Club Shoots September 2nd, October 7&8, November 4th. Grocery shoot Oct 8, Paper shoots Sept, 10 Public shoots 3rd Sun. monthly March – November Yadkin Valley Long Rifles Shoots 3rd Saturday monthly except January, Greg Williams, Bonny Calderwood, 29069 Big Pine Rd., Logan, OH 43138, Jacqueline B. Fischer, 595 Apple Way Rd., St. Thomas, Member matches first Sunday monthly March – December, 704-589-6125, [email protected] – 12/16 740-215-2836, [email protected] – 12/17 PA 17252, 301-582-2904, [email protected] Margie R. Browner, 435 Southside Ave., Webster Groves, stthomassportsmen.com – 12/17 MO 63119, 314-918-9092, [email protected], www. White Oak River Longrifles Salem Hunting Club Muzzleloaders gemmermuzzleloadingrifleclub.com Shoots 3rd Saturday monthly at Register Sutton Rd., Delway, Winter shoot, 1st Tuesday, December-April. Summer shoot, Garland Ridge Runners Muzzleloader Club, Inc. NC, Debbie Futral, 103 Kennedy Circle, Hubert, NC 28539, 2nd Sunday May – September, Turkey shoot, October 4th. Shoots last Sunday months June-October 10am, Bonnie Curry, Missouri Black Powder Society 910-545-9443, [email protected] – 12/17 Steven G. Stull, 10592 Whippoorwill Rd., Diamond, OH 44412, 814-688-4021, [email protected] Trap 5 stand sporting clays Berryville AR, September 21-24; 330-654-2989 – 12/17 Missouri sporting clay championship October 27-29. OHIO Lancaster Muzzle Loading Rifle Assoc. Larry Sunby, 9863 Lawrence 2210, Monett, MO 65708; Sandusky County Hawkeyes 731 Mt. Vernon Rd. Gap. PA. 17527; Margaret A. Allison, missouriblackpowdersociety @yahoo.com- 12/17 Bill Moose Muzzleloading Gun Club Shoots 1st Sunday monthly 717-442-8578-12/17 Shoots – Oct 7-8, Nov. 5 8821 Greensway Ave Darbyville, OH Steve Wright, 1433 CR 31, Fremont, OH 43420, 419-680- MO Ozark Muzzle Loaders 43146, [email protected], 740-954-0151, www. 5442, [email protected] – 12/17 Marriottsville Muzzleloader, Inc. Shoots 2nd Sunday monthly, Barry Steele, 279 Pleasant View billmoose.com Oktoberfest, Sept. 3; Flintlock only, Oct. 1; Turkey Shoot, Nov. Dr., Sunrise Beach, MO 65079, 573-200-9559 – 12/16 Seneca Muzzleloaders 5; Holiday shoot, Dec.3. Black Swamp MuzzleLoaders Call for shoot dates, Rob Gerding 526 Madison St. Port Tim Frank, 106 Hershey Circle, Stewartstown, PA. 17363, Strother Freetrappers Shoots 1st Sunday every month Clinton, OH. 43452, 419-341-8657, [email protected] or www.mmlblackpowder.com, secretary@mmlblackpowder. Shoots 1st Sunday monthly, Rendezvous 1st Sunday in April Bill Bare, 6520 TR 83, Findlay, OH 45840, 419-859-2020 [email protected] 12/17 com, 717-993-2077-12/17 and October, Les Whiteside, 506 W Ash, Archie, MO 64725, 816-392-0928, [email protected] – 12/16 Blue Jacket Muzzle Loaders Shawnee Long Rifles Old Westmoreland Rifles Shooters Tiem Match October 21-22, Dawn Swigart, 1777 Shoots 4th Sun. monthly except Dec., Jan. & Feb., January 1st Darryl Myers, 724-522-1729, John Kaminsky, 724-887-7265, Trappers of Starved Rock Faincett Ln, Xenia, OH 45385, 937-603-3830, dcswigart@ Shoot, Turkey Shoot Sunday before Thanksgiving Phil Cravener, 724-539-7667 – 12/17 Shoots 3rd Sunday monthly aol.com Aaron Moeller, 11192 Glynwood Rd, Wapakoneta, OH 45895, Pennsylvania Federation of Tom Stovall, 6433 Kathy Dr., High Ridge, MO 63049, 636- 41-953-2872, [email protected]– 12/17 376-4706, [email protected], trappersof starvedrock. Butler County Sportsmen Club Black Powder Shooters, Inc. com – 12/16 Shoots 1st Sunday monthly March - December Simon Kenton Long Rifles Eleanor P. Flora, 10 Stump Rd., Danville, PA 17821, 570-490- Ronald E. Benge, 1910 Layhigh Rd., Hamilton, OH 45013, Shoots 3rd Sunday monthly 3658, www.pfbps.com – 12/17 NEBRASKA 513-738-1199, ronbenge@zoom Dave Gauldin, 5028 Dinsmore Rd., West Carrollton, OH 45449, town.com, butlercountysportsmen.com – 12/17 937-604-5394, [email protected] – 12/16 She She Quin Buckskinners Ft. Atkinson Muzzleloaders Shoots 2nd Sun. monthly except in February will be 11&12, Shoots 3rd Sunday monthly; Fall Shoot in October, Canal Fulton Ramrod Club Sons of Liberty and June will be 23-25. Greta Schlabs, 11525 Old Mill Dr., Blair, NE 68008, Shoots 1st and 3rd Sundays monthly at noon, pistol shoot 4th Oct. 20-22, 2017 at Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp Jackson, OH Martha Spring, 75 Sportman Club Lane, Trout Run, PA. 17771, 402-533-8389,grlherman@ abbnebraska.com, Sunday monthly, Ray Heitger, 317 East 7th St SE., Brewster, Norman Garringer, 4662 Biers Run Rd., Chillicothe, OH 45601, 570-326-4713; [email protected] – 12/17 ftatkinsonmuzzle loaders.com-12/17 OH 44613, 330-767-3282, [email protected] – 12/17 740-773-3891, [email protected] – 12/17 Southern Chester County NEVADA Cincinnati Muzzle Loading Rifle Club Southern Ohio Dog & Game Protective Assoc. Shoots 2nd Saturday each month through December Lakes Crossing Muzzleloaders Shoots Sept. 24, Oct. 29, Nov. 19, Dec. 17., Robin December 17 Blanket Shoot starts at noon, Andrew B. Gregg, 584 Salem Church Rd, Newark, DE. 19702, Shoots 3rd Sunday monthly, Aubrey Campbell, 8011 Sand Bonaventura, 9749 Woodmill Lane, Cincinnati, OH 45231, Mike Weissmann, 513-382-1013, 10630 East Miami River Rd. 302-388-8695, [email protected], www.sccsfa. Pebble Dr., Reno, NV 89506; acinsac@sbcglobal, lakescrossing 513-284-5239, [email protected] – 12/17 Cincinnati, OH. 45252, [email protected]/17 org – 12/17 muzzleloaders.org – 12/16 Columbus Muzzleloading Gun Club Toledo Muzzle Loaders Sportsmen’s & Farmer’s Assoc NEW JERSEY Shoots – Sept. 23-24, Oct. 22, Nov. 19, Jan. 1,2018, Art McCall, Shoots 2nd Sunday monthly except May Quarterly matches

58 MuzzleBlasts Andrew Gregg, 720 Sportsmans Lane, Kennett Square, PA tennesseelonghunters.org 5627, [email protected] – 12/16 26354, 304-291-0803, [email protected] – 12/17 19348, 302-588-8695, [email protected] – 12/16 The South Central Middle East Tennessee Long Rifles WISCONSIN Upper Allegheny Muzzleloaders Shoot dates 3rd Saturday, Dean Simpson, 865-659-2893 WASHINGTON Monthly shoots April-Nov 2nd Sunday (call for deviations). Beloit Rifle Club, Inc. Eric Hewitt, 1165 Egypt Hollow Road Russell, PA 16345, The Widowmakers Cascade Mountain Men Shoots 3rd Sunday monthly except November 716-488-1992 – 12/16 Shoots vary please call, Jesse Rejko, 7210 White Oak Rd 3rd Sunday of each month. Harley J Whitt, 1908 Forest Ave., Beloit, WI 53511, 608-921- Stewart, TN 37175, 317-716-6697, deerstandalone@1791. Steve A. Baima, 13025 SE Newport Way, Vellevue, WA 98006, 1542, beloitrifleclub.org – 12/16 Washington County Buckskinners com; www.thewidowmakers7.com [email protected] – 12/17 Blanket Shoots 2nd Sunday monthly Fox Valley Muzzle Loaders Roy E. Scott, 304 Buckels Ave., Houston, PA 15342, 724-745- TEXAS Spokane Falls Muzzle Loaders Shoots 2nd Saturday monthly, Brian Bradley, 4330 County Rd. 8402, [email protected] – 12/16 Shoot 2nd Sun. monthly S. Oshkosh, WI. 54904 – [email protected], 920-233- Dallas Muzzle Loading Gun Club Jack Dolan, 25902 W. Hallett Rd., Medical Lake, WA 99022, 5332, www.foxvalleyuzzleloaders.com-12/17 Western States Muzzle Loaders Association Shoots 2nd Sunday monthly except May 509-299-5419, [email protected] – 12/17 Ft. Oneida M.L., Inc. Ken Laverty, 5440 Agostino Court, Concord, CA 94521, 925- Frank B. Sweeney, 9204 Heatherdale Dr. Dallas, TX. 75243, Shoot 2nd Sun. monthly 672-7088, [email protected], www.wsmla.org – 12/17 214-341-9421, [email protected] WEST VIRGINIA Todd Meyers, 2347 Conifer Ct., Suamico, WI 54313, 920-609- 3287 – 12/17 Greenwood Longrifles Appalchian Rangers Muzzleloading Club Whispering Pines Cap & Flint Club Shoots 2nd Sunday of every month Feb. – Oct. Shoots 3rd Sunday monthly except in Aug.18-20, and Shoots 1st Sat. monthly Smoky Hollow Muzzle Loaders Ken Springs, 341 North Shanks, Clute, TX 77531, 979-239- Jennie Shaffer, 404 Powell Ave, Stonewood, WV, 26301, 304- Shoot 1st Sun. monthly September 9. 624-8891, [email protected] – 12/17 Della Bennet, 9986 Apt. 3 Coryland Rd. Millerton, PA.16936, 8372, [email protected] Lulita Zellmer, N 59 W 27099 Ainsworth Rd, Sussex, WI 570-537-2398, [email protected] Kate Carpenter Muzzleloaders 53089, 262-538-1316, [email protected] – 12/17 – 12/17 Red River Renegades Shotgun Shoots 2nd Sunday monthly Shoots 3rd Saturday monthly January through September, Wisconsin Muzzle Loading Association RHODE ISLAND Turkey Shoot last weekend of Oct. – Sat. and Sun. Trap shoot at every match. Various Shoots – call for info. Rifle/Pistol Shoots Last Sunday monthly Willie Perkins, 798 Gray Gable Rd., Crawley, WV 24931, 304- Charlie Brown, 8131 N. Oak Ridge Dr., Milton, WI 53563, 608- Tiveron Rod & Gun Club Jim or Patty Lawrence, 4936 So. Lake Park Dr., Wichita Falls, 646-0836, [email protected] – 12/17 868-2514, brown@ centurytel.net – 12/17 Shoots Oct 7-8, Dec 2nd, Michael Von Villas #15 Carole Dr TX , 940-636-1226, [email protected] Tiventon, RI 02878, 401-624-1346, [email protected] Mountaineer Flintlock Rifles, Inc. Yellowstone Flint & Cap Club, Inc. Texas Muzzle Loading Rifle Association Shoots 2nd Saturday monthly Vicki Tollakson, PO Box 3, Argyle, WI 53504; nvet@centurytel. SOUTH CAROLINA Shoots October 5-8 Primitive Shoot 1st Saturday monthly net, yellowstoneblackhawk park.webs.com – 12/16 Andy Larson, 831 Wavecrest Lane, Houston, TX 77062, Turkey Shoot 2nd Saturday in November Carolina PO Boy Muzzleloaders 281-486-7166, [email protected], tmlrassociation. David R. Pennington, 12 Morgan Court, Hurricane, WV 25526, WYOMING Shoots 2nd Sunday monthly except in May which is 1st com, – 12/16 304-543-5223, [email protected] – 12/17 Sunday Big Horn Basin Muzzleloaders Bobby Parris, 1171 County Line Rd., Harlem, GA 30814, UTAH Tygart Valley Muzzleloaders Shoot 1st Sun. monthly 706-556-6102 Shoots 2nd Saturday monthly April - September Jim Hanchett, 590 Lane 9, Powell, WY 82435, 307-754-4219, Mountain Men of the Wasatch Jim Cost, 204 1st St., Elkins, WV 26241, 304-642-1200 [email protected] – 12/16 Charles Towne Long Rifles Shoots 2nd Sunday and Last Saturday monthly – 12/16 Shoots last Sun. monthly except Nov. and Dec. which is David George, 1440 West 650 South, Heber, UT 84032, 801- CANADA 3rd Sun. 599-7771 – 12/17 West Virginia Muzzleloader Association Mike Arthur, 843-412-1992, [email protected]; Shannon Lewis, 525 Bailey Ridge Road, Buckhannon, WV Trails End Muzzleloaders charlestownelong rifles.blogspot.com VERMONT 26201, 304-613-5045, [email protected], wvmla. ML Cartridge Shoot- Sept. 24, Oct. 8. com – 12/17 David Arnold, 10635 Pioneer Line, Chatham, ON Canada N7M Piedmont Muzzleloaders, Inc. Bayley-Hazen Muzzleloaders 5J2, 519-354-9892, [email protected], workingcowboy Shoots 3rd Sun. monthly Shoot last Sat. monthly March through October WV Ridge Runners leather.com –linktotrailsend, – 12/17 Marshal Kline, 310 Quail Run Circle, Fountain Inn, SC 29644, Bob Lindemann, 266 Turner Rd, Moretown, VT 05660, 802- Shoots 3rd Sunday monthly March – Oct; Meat Shoot 3rd 864-419-6962, [email protected] 229-2062, [email protected] – 12/17 Sun. in Oct. Lamoille Valley Fish & Game Club Marvin Wotring, 392 Upper Cobun Creek Rd., Morgantown, WV SOUTH DAKOTA Harland Blodgett, 22 Poker Hill Rd., Underhill, VT 05489, 802- Muzzle Loaders of the Black Hills 899-3889; hfblodgett@ yahoo.com – 12/16 Shoots 3rd Sunday monthly April through September Rocky Schmelz, PO Box 3055, Rapid City, SD 57709-3055, VIRGINIA 605-430-5540; [email protected] Bayley Hazen Muzzleloaders Split Rock Muzzle Loading Clan 3rd Saturday monthly Shoots 2nd Sunday monthly April through Oct. Bob Lindemann 266, Turner Rd. Moretown, VT. 05660, www.splitrockmuzzleloaders.com/ [email protected], 802-229-2062-12/17 Lynn Aspaas, 4500 Pin Oak Court, Sioux Falls, SD 57103, 605- 335-4023, [email protected] [email protected] Bull Run Muzzleloaders Shoots 3rd Sunday monthly, Tony Sucher, 5415 Dublin Ave., Springfield, VA 22151, 703-354-2726, ajsucher@cox. TENNESSEE net – 12/17 Chattanooga Rifle Club Rangers Shoots 4th Sun.of month Feb. through Nov. except July James River Black Powder Club Charles Sedgwick, 7636 Lenox Trace Drive, Hixson, TN 37343, Various Shoots – call for info. 423-842-7287; [email protected] Susan Martins, 1156 Sunken Meadow Rd, Spring Grove, VA 23881; 757-866-8389 – 12/16 Chilhowee Rod & Gun Club Shoots October 21, October 20-Practice day, Inline match, Riflemen of Wynne’s Falls limited to 40 shooters, John Mankin 114 Co Rd 7001 Meat Shoot Oct. 1; Trophy Shoot Nov. 5 Athens, TN 37303, 423-462-4802, [email protected], David Clark, 214 Bailey Place, Danville, VA 24540, 434-836- chilhoweerodandgunclub.com 5652, [email protected] – 12/17 Elk River Long Rifles The Shenandoah Longrifles Shoots 2nd Saturday monthly Various Shoots – call for info. Beckie Henderson, 900 Bragg Circle, Tullahoma, TN 37388, Hollie Blankemeyer, 2942 Oak Crest Ave, Roanoke, VA 24015; 931-455-3904 540-797-6265; [email protected], shenandoahlong rifles. com – 12/16 Possum Branch Backwoodsmen Shoots 3rd Sunday monthly February-September; Shoots 2nd Wilderness Road Muzzleloaders Weekend in October Shoots 2nd Saturday monthly (weather permitting) Buck Goober Edison, 615-405-1823; Jack Jones, 3347 N. Mt. O’Conner Memorial shoot May 27-28, Fall shoot Sept 9-10, Pleasant Rd., Greenbrier, TN 37073, 615-948-6284, jbj3346@ James Hartlage, 485 Lakeview Dr., Wytheville, VA aol.com 24382, 276-228-463, [email protected], www. wildernessroadmuzzleloaders.com – 12/16 Tennessee Longhunters Shoots August, October & December Witten Fort Long Rifles Carl Crane 1104 Shannon Lane Franklin, TN 34064, 615- Shoots second Saturday monthly April through October and 790-9211 OR 615-224-2107, [email protected]; www. first Saturday in November Wayne Craig, P.O. Box 113, Richland, VA 24641, 276-964-

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October 2017 59 OCTOBER MAY AUGUST October 6, 7, & 8, 2017 May 5, 2018 August 11 & 12, 2018 NMLRA Boy Scout Camporee; Contact: Doug Inline Offhand Fun Shoot; Contact: Mike National Family Fun Shoot; Contact: Bob Weaver Galbraith (513) 379-8963, [email protected]; Weissmann (513) 382-1013, [email protected]; (574) 876-1065, bweaver@anchorconstruction. register online at nmlra.org. Volunteers needed Steve Chapman (260) 347-2573, Chapmansk40@ com, www.nmlra.org October 13 & 14, 2017 yahoo.com August 17, 18, & 19, 2018 Pistol Match; Contact: Russ Combs (317) 839- Turkey Shoot; Contact Lester Salisbury May 6, 2018 8273, [email protected]; Lou Helsel (513) (419) 942-1808, [email protected] NMLRA 22 Fun Shoot; Contact: Mike Weissmann 724-1207, [email protected] or [email protected] October 21 & 22, 2017 (513) 382-1013, [email protected] Miami Long-Range Black Powder Cartridge May 11, 2018 August 18 & 19, 2018 Knockdown Silhouette Match; Contact: Mike NMLRA M5; Contact: Bob Wetzler NMLRA Long-Range Black Powder Cartridge Hoke (812) 662-6403, [email protected] (812) 689-6629, [email protected] Knockdown Silhouette Match; Contact: Mike Hoke (812) 662-6403, [email protected] May 12, 2018 NOVEMBER NMLRA Inline Hunter Muzzleloading Match; August 25, 2018 Contact: Bob Wetzler (812) 689-6629, NMLRA 22 Fun Shoot; Contact: Mike Weissmann November 4, 2017 [email protected]; Dan Thomas (812) 212-0954, (513) 382-1013, [email protected] NMLRA Meat Shoot; Contact: “Mingo” Mings, [email protected] August 26, 2018 starts at 9:30am (812) 546-5063 after 6:30 p.m. May 18, 19, & 20 2018 Inline Offhand Fun Shoot; Contact: Mike Weissmann November 11 & 12, 2017 Pistol Match (May 20th is the Pistol Wiener World (513) 382-1013, [email protected]; Steve Chapman Miami Long-Range Black Powder Cartridge Championship); Contact: Russ Combs (260) 347-2573, [email protected] Knockdown Silhouette Match; Contact: Mike (317) 839-8273, [email protected]; Lou Hoke (812) 662-6403, [email protected] Helsel (513) 724-1207, [email protected] or SEPTEMBER [email protected] JANUARY May 19 & 20, 2018 September 8-16, 2018 NMLRA National Championship Shoot; Contact NMLRA/NRA Regional Long-Range Black Pow- NMLRA Office (812) 667-5131, nmlra@nmlra. January 13-14, 2018 der Cartridge Knockdown Silhouette Match; org, www.nmlra.org Blanket Shoot; Contact: “Mingo” Mings, Contact: Mike Hoke (812) 662-6403, (812) 546-5063 after 6:30 p.m. [email protected] September 22 & 23, 2018 Miami Long-Range Black Powder Cartridge MARCH JUNE Knockdown Silhouette Match; Contact: Mike Hoke (812) 662-6403, [email protected] March 17 & 18, 2018 June 9-17, 2018 Miami Long-Range Black Powder Cartridge NMLRA Spring National Shoot; Contact: OCTOBER Knockdown Silhouette Match; Contact: Mike NMLRA Office (812) 667-5131, Hoke (812) 662-6403, [email protected] [email protected], www.nmlra.org October 6, 7 & 8, 2018 June 23 & 24, 2018 NMLRA Boy Scout Camporee; Contact: Doug Galbraith (513) 379-8963, [email protected] regis- APRIL Miami Long-Range Black Powder Cartridge ter online at nmlra.org. Volunteers needed April 20, 21, & 22, 2018 Knockdown Silhouette Match; Contact: Mike Hoke (812) 662-6403, [email protected] October 20 & 21, 2018 Pistol Match; Contact: Russ Combs Miami Long-Range Black Powder Cartridge (317) 839-8273, [email protected]; Lou JULY Knockdown Silhouette Match; Contact: Mike Helsel (513) 724-1207, [email protected] or Hoke (812) 662-6403, [email protected] [email protected] July 14-15, 2018 April 21 & 22, 2018 NMLRA Youth Shoot; Contact: Jeff or Kristy NOVEMBER Miami Long-Range Black Powder Cartridge Nunn (317) 862-1604; [email protected] Knockdown Silhouette Match; Contact: Mike July 20, 21, & 22, 2018 November 3, 2018 Hoke (812) 662-6403, [email protected] NMLRA Meat Shoot; Contact: “Mingo” Mings, Pistol Match; Contact: Russ Combs (812) 546-5063 after 6:30 p.m. April 27, 28, & 29, 2018 (317) 839-8273, [email protected]; Lou Ladies Friendship Circle Rendezvous; Contact: Helsel (513) 724-1207, [email protected] or November 10 & 11, 2018 Marcia Kellam (812) 581-8971, [email protected] Miami Long-Range Black Powder Cartridge [email protected]; Annie Guthrie July 21 & 22, 2018 Knockdown Silhouette Match; Contact: Mike (513) 604-7313 Hoke (812) 662-6403, mhoke45100@frontier. Miami Long-Range Black Powder Cartridge com April 30 - May 4, 2018 Knockdown Silhouette Match; Contact: Mike Engraving Class by John Schippers; NMLRA Hoke (812) 662-6403, [email protected] Education Building; Contact: NMLRA Office (812) 667-5131, www.nmlra.org

60 MuzzleBlasts ALTERNATE RANGE USE INFORMATION The following is the basic information for sponsoring an event on the Walter Cline Range in Friendship, Indiana. To schedule an Alternate Range Use Event contact the NMLRA Office at (812) 667-5131.

Charges for NMLRA Members $5.00 for first day, $2.00 per day thereafter per registered participant. Camping fees are included for NMLRA members only. Insurance also included for NMLRA members. Charges for Non-NMLRA Members $6.00 for first day, $3.00 per day thereafter per registered participant. Camping fees will be charged at the then-current rate.

Visit our new website www.NMLRA.org

You’re always informed 2017 when you read Territorial Matches KEEP INFORMED • TheGunMag is a unique monthly print magazine for gunowners who are serious about their gun rights as well as their Georgia shooting, and a reliable gun information website: www.thegunmag.com. October 19-21, 2017 Sponsor Club: Blue Ridge Mountain Men • Authoritative briefings on state, federal TRY US FREE and international legislation and litiga- Contact Dan Pressley 706-491-2376, tion are updated constantly. ON OUR WEBSITE dpressley@windstream. Visit 24/7 at • Plus industry news reports, new product Missouri test reports and shooting sports news in THEGUNMAG.COM every issue. Trap & Skeet • Oct. 20-22, 2017 $3.95 on newsstands SATISFACTION GUARANTEED! Sponsor Club: Lentz Macon 63 Gun Club Subscribe and SAVE Second Amendment Foundation almost 50% LLC; Contact: Linda Yeubanks, 660-385-4963, PO Box 35, Buffalo, NY 14205 $25 a year (12 issues) [email protected]; Range location: Lentz Macon Phone: 716-885-6408 63 Gun Club, 29790 Jiqsaw Pl., Macon, MO. 63552 $45 for 2 years (24 issues) Online: thegunmag.com

October 2017 61 NMLRA FINANCIAL STATMENT Pershing & Company, Inc. 20 Central Square Greencastle, IN 46135-1249 765-653-4120

INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT’S REVIEW REPORT Board of Trustees of National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association Friendship, IN We have reviewed the accompanying financial statements of National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association (a nonprofit organization), which comprise the statements of financial position as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the related statements of activities and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes to the financial statements. A review includes primarily applying analytical procedures to management's financial data and making inquiries of management. A review is substantially less in scope than an audit, the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Management's Responsibility for the Financial Statements Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; this includes the design, im- plementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement whether due to fraud or error.

Accountant’s Responsibility Our responsibility is to conduct the review engagement in accordance with Statements on Standards for Ac- counting and Review Services promulgated by the Accounting and Review Services Committee of the AICPA. Those standards require us to perform procedures to obtain limited assurance as a basis for reporting whether we are aware of any material modifications that should be made to the financial statements for them to be in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. We believe that the results of our procedures provide a reasonable basis for our conclusion.

Accountant’s Conclusion Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying financial statements in order for them to be in accordance with accounting principles general)y accepted in the United States of America.

Supplementary Information The supplementary information contained in Schedule I is presented for purposes of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements. The information is the representation of management. We have performed a compilation engagement of the supplementary information in accordance with State- ments on Standards for Accounting and Review Services promulgated by the Accounting and Review Services Committee of the AICPA. We have not audited or reviewed the supplementary information and, accordingly, do not express an opinion, a conclusion, nor provide any form of assurance on such supplementary information.

Greencastle,IN May 23, 2017

62 MuzzleBlasts NMLRA FINANCIAL STATMENT National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association Fundraising 44,183 44,183 Statements of Financial Position Sales of Merchandise 58,911 58,911 December 31, 2016 and 2015 Donations 341,371 88,376 429,747 Educations projects 62,324 62,324 2016 2015 Investment Income 37,512 37,512 Assets Other 13,952 13,952 Cash and equivalents (Note 1) $ 331,678 $ 375,655 Longhunter Society 4,118 4,118 Accounts and receivable (Note 2) 7,780 8,297 Inventories (Note 1) 85,504 75,497 Total Revenue, gains and 1,743,749 0 88,376 1,832,125 Prepaid expenses 25,881 25,739 other support Investments (Note 3) 935,258 980,348 Expenses and Losses Endowment Fund (Note 12) 294,335 304,500 Program Services: Property of equipment (Note 5) 1,147,087 1,053,375 Muzzle Blasts 271,809 271,809 Total assets $ 2,827,523 $ 2,823,411 Range operations 158,261 158,261 Shoots and matches 302,247 302,247 Liabilities Education projects 90,637 90,637 Accounts payable $ 43,404 $ 34,498 Merchandise expenses 46,633 46,633 Deferred membership dues (Note 1) 750,899 74,064 Longhunter Society 610 610 Deferred registration (Note 10) 44,609 60,001 Notes payable (Note 10) 2,831 4,954 Total program services 870,197 0 0 870,197 Other liabilities 32,990 41,700 Supporting Services Total liabilties 874,733 882,217 Administrative services 391,453 391,453 Fundraising 12,516 7,876 20,392 Net Assets Unrestricted Membership services 196,767 196,676 Undesignated 390,467 212,317 Board of designated (Note 7) 671,490 890,387 Total supporting services 600,645 0 7,876 608,521 1,061,957 1,102,704 Total functional expenses 1,470,842 7,876 1,478,718 Permanently restricted (Note 8) 890,834 838,490 Unrealized loss (gain) investment 60,488 0 0 60,488 Total net assets 1,952,791 1,941,194 Total expenses 1,531,330 0 7,876 1,539,206 Total liabilities and net assets $ 2,827,523 $ 2,823,411 Change in Net Assets 212,419 0 80,500 292,919 Net Assets, Beginning of Year 890,285 0 757,989 1,648,274 National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association Net Assets, End of Year $ 1,102,704 $ 0 $ 838,489 $ 1,941,193 Statements of Activities For the Year Ended December 31, 2016 National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association Temporarily Permanently Statements of Cash Flows Unrestricted Restricted Restricted Total For the Year Ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 Revenue, Gains and Other Support 2016 2015 Membership dues $ 475,731 $ 475,731 Operating Activities Shoots and matches 645,976 645,976 Increase (Decrease) in net assets $ 11,597 $ 292,919 Advertising 102,700 102,700 Fundraising 38,630 38,630 Adjustment to reconcile change in net assets Sales of merchandise 68,533 68,533 to net cash provided by operating activities Donations 29,781 $ 54,623 84,404 Depreciation and amortization 79,420 78,532 Educations projects 93,441 93,441 Allowance for bad debt (1,500) 4,515 Investment income 49,820 49,820 Interest reinvested (37,067) (34,532) Other 14,633 14,633 Unrealized (gains)/loss on investments (34,456) 60,488 Longhunter Society 3,635 3,635 Changes in Total revenue, gains 1,522,880 0 54,623 1,577,503 Receivables 2,017 (1,322) and other support Prepaid expenses and deposits (143) 1,185 Expenses and Losses Inventories (10,007) (5,255) Program Services: Accounts payable 8,906 (330) Muzzle Blasts 294,953 294,953 Accrued expenses (8,711) (15,418) Range operations 157,068 157,068 Deferred income (5,557) (24,336) Shoots and matches 257,742 257,742 Net cash provided by operating activities 4,499 356,446 Education projects 123,773 123,773 Investing Activities Merchandise expenses 46,230 46,230 Purchase of property and equipment (173,132) (24,439) Longhunter Society 831 831 Investment activitiy (net) 72,156 (101,379) Total program services 880,597 0 0 880,597 Net cash used by investing activities (100,976) (125,818) Financing Activities Supporting Services Proceeds from new loans 0 0 Administrative services 473,426 473,426 Payments on notes payable (2,123) (39,696) Fundraising 7,735 2,279 10,014 Proceeds from contributions restricted for endowment 54,623 88,376 Membership services 236,325 236,325 Net cash provided/used by financing activities 52,500 48,680 Total supporting services 717,486 0 2,279 719,765 Net Increase/(Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents (43,977) 279,307 Total functional expenses 1,598,083 2,279 1,600,362 Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Year 375,655 96,347 Unrealized loss (gain) investment (34,456) 0 0 (34,456) Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Year $ 331,678 $ 375,655 Total expenses 1,563,627 0 2,279 1,565,906 Supplemental Cash Flow Information Interest paid $ 0 $ 787 Change in Net Assets (40,747) 0 52,344 11,597 See accompanying notes and accountants' report Net Assets Beginning of Year 1,102,704 0 838,490 1,941,194 National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association Net Assets, End of Year $ 1,061,957 $ 0 $ 890,834 $ 1,952,791 Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 2016 and 2015 National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association Note 1 - Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Statement of Accounts For the Year Ended December 31, 2015 Date of Management Review Management has evaluated subsequent events through May 23, 2017, the date on which the financial statements Temporarily Permanently were available to be issued. Unrestricted Restricted Restricted Total

Revenues, Gains and Other Support General Membership dues $ 473,504 $ 473,504 National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association (Association) is incorporated as a not-for-profit association in October Shoots and matches 602,320 602,320 1939, under the laws of the State of Ohio. Advertising 105,554 105,554 (Continued on page 64)

October 2017 63 NMLRA FINANCIAL STATMENT The Association is an organization made up of individual members and affiliated chapters that educate and Muzzle Blasts promotes black powder shooting in regional and national amatuer sport competitions. The Assocation's major Represent expenses incurred to produce the Association's monthly magazine which is devoted to all aspects sources of revenue are membership dues, shoots and matches income, and revenue from advertising placed in of the muzzle loading sport. it's monthly magazine, the Muzzle Blasts. Range Operations Net Asset Classification Include expenses necessary to maintain and facilitate the Association's shooting ranges. The Financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Statements of Financial Accounting Standards Shoots and Matches (SFAS) No. 117, Financial Statements of Not-for-Profit Organizations. SFAS No. 117 requires, among other things, that the financial statements report the changes in and total of each of the net asset classes, based upon Represents expenses incurred to administer the Association's bi-annual shooting events. These events offer do not restrictions, as applicable. Net assets are to be classified as unrestricted, temporarily restricted, and a concentrated opportunity for the exchange of ideas among people of similar interest. permanently restricted. Education Projects The following classes of net assets are maintained: Represent various projects undertaken to further black powder shooting among the public. These programs include workshops, lectures, and expenses related to the production and sale of educational materials. Unrestricted Net Assets Merchandise The unrestricted net assets class includes general and designated assets and liabilities of the Association. The unrestricted net assets of the Association may be used at the discretion of management to support the Include expenses necessary for the production and sale of various merchandise items and shooting targets. Association's purposes and operations. Longhunter Society Temporarily Restricted Net Assets Includes expenses to promote and preserve the sport of muzzle loading hunting and to provide a common The temporarily restricted net asset class includes assets of the Association related to gifts which explicit affiliation for muzzle loading hunters while enhancing their experience in the field. donor imposed restrictions that have not been met as to specified purpose, or to later periods of time or Administrative Services after specified dates. Unconditional promises to give that are due in future periods and are not permanently Includes the functions necessary to secure proper administrative functioning of management and of the restricted are classified as temporarily restricted net assets. Board of Directors; maintaining an adequate working environment; and managing financial and budgetary Permanently Restricted Net Assets responsibilities of the Association. The permanently restricted net asset class includes assets of the Association for which the donor has stip- Fundraising ulated that the contribution be maintained in perpetuity. Donor imposed restriction limiting the use of the Provides the structure necessary to encourage and secure private financial support from individuals, foun- assets or their economic benefit neither expire with the passage of time nor can be removed by satisfying dations, and corporations. a specific purposes. Membership Cash and Cash Equivalents Encompasses the identification and expansion of the Association's membership as the primary effort to For purposes of reporting cash flows, the Association considers all liquid investments with an original maturity promote, enhance, and advance black powder shooting. of three months or less to be cash equivalents. At various times during the fiscal year, the Association's cash balances and demand deposits exceeded the Federally insured limits. Note 2 - Accounts Receivable Inventory The Association's accounts receivable are shown net of collection allowance of $4,300 and $5,800 for 2016 and Inventory consists of various supplies and merchandise for sale and is stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost 2015 respectively. Collection allowance is calculated as 20% of receiveables over 90 days old. is determined on the first-in, first-out method. Physical inventory was taken on December 31, 2016 and 2015. Note 3 - Investments Income Taxes The Association's Investments are as follows: The Association is exempt from federal income taxes under 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. The Association is not considered to be a private foundation. The Association had available at December 31, 2016 and 2016 2015 2015, net operating loss carryforwards resulting from it's unrelated business activity of approximately $969,103 Costs Market Cost Market and $882,824 respectively, which may be applied against future years' federal unrelated business taxable in- Certificate of Deposit $ 64,119 $ 64,119 $ 251,542 $ 251,542 come. The net operating loss carryforwards expire at various dates through 2036. A deferred tax asset has not Stocks and Bonds with been recorded due to the uncertainty of realizing the benefit of the loss carryforwards. investment broker 897,175 871,139 788,147 728,806 The organization evaluates tax positions as required by generally accepted accounting principles in the United Total Investments $ 961,294 $ 935,258 $ 1,039,689 $ 980,348 States. As of December 31, 2016, the organization does not believe that it has taken any tax positions that would require the recording of any additional tax liability nor does it believe that there are any realized tax benefits that Note 4 - Fair Value Measurement of Financial Instruments would either increase or decrease within the next 12 months. The organization's income tax returns are subject to examination by the appropriate tax jurisdiction. As of December 31, 2016, the organization's federal and state The organization measures it's investments at fair value on a recurring basis. The inputs used to develop fair tax returns generally remain open for the last three years. value measures are ranked to indicate the quality and reliability of the resulting fair value measures, as follow: Property and Equipment Level 1: Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities. Expenditures for property and equipment and items which substantially increase the useful lives of existing assets are caplitalized at cost. The organization capitalizes property and equipment over $750. Lesser amounts Level 2: Observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data. are expensed. Donated property and equipment is capitalized at it's fair market value on the date of donation if Level 3: Unobservale inputs that are not corroborated by market data. the value exceeds $750. The Association provides for depreciation on the straight-line method at rates designed to depreciate the costs of assets over estimated useful lives ranging from 5 to 30 years. In determining the appropriate levels, the organization performs a detailed analysis of the assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value. The fair value of investment securities is the market value based on quoted market Deferred Revenue prices, when available, or market prices provided by recognized broker dealers. If listed prices or quotes are not Income from memebership dues and registration fees is deferred and recognized over the periods to which the available, fair value is based upon externally developed models that use unobservable inputs due to the limited dues and fees relate. Life memberships are being amortized over a forty year period. market activity of the instrument. Support and Revenue Most investments held by the origanization are measured using Level 1 inputs. The Association reports gifts of cash and other assets as restricted support if they are received with donor stipulations that limit the use of the donated assets. When a donor restriction expires, that is, when a stipulated Note 5 - Property and Equipment time restriction ends or purpose restriction is accomplished, temporarily restricted net assets are reclassified to unrestricted net assets and reported in the statement of activities as net assets released from restrictions. If a The Association's property and equipment are as follows (at cost): restriction is fulfilled in the same time peroid in which the contribution is received, the Association reports the 2016 2015 support as restricted. The Association's property and equipment are as follows (at cost): Estimates Range and clubhouse $ 901,259 $ 884,634 In preparing financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States Office fixtures and equipment 313,415 313,415 of America, management makes estimates and assumptions affecting the reported amounts of assets and lia- Range equipment 363,599 347,196 bilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as, the Frontline campground 323,228 323,228 reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those Office building 98,464 95,664 estimates. Residential 78,358 78,358 Museum building and equipment 112,674 112,674 Investments Education building 521,294 521,294 Investments are presented in the financial statements at fair value in accordance with accounting principles gen- Commercial Row buildings 49,874 49,874 erally accepted in the United States of America. Changes in fair value are recorded as unrealized gains (losses). Covered firing line 83,162 83,162 Realized gains (losses) are recorded upon the sale of the investments. Investment gains pertaining to certain Construction in progress 137,304 0 restricted net assets are recorded as temporarily restricted or permanently restricted in accordance with the $ 2,982,631 $ 2,809,499 applicable gift instruments. Interest income is recognized under the accrual basis and dividend income is recog- Accumulated depreciation and amortization (2,030,686) (1,951,264) nized on the ex-dividend date. 951,945 858,235 Land 195,142 195,142 Investments are exposed to various risks such as interest rates, market and credit risks. It is reasonably possible that changes in values of investments will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect $ 1,147,087 $ 1,053,377 the amounts reported. Expense Allocation Note 6 - Leases Expenses have been classified as program services, management and general, and fund raising based on the actual direct expenditures and cost allocations based upon estimates of time spent by Association personnel. The Association has several noncancelable operating leases, primarily for various items The following program and supporting servics are included in the accompanying financial statements: of equipment. Rental expense is as follows: $ 20,093 $ 18,883 Future minimum lease payments under operating leases are as follows:

64 MuzzleBlasts NMLRA FINANCIAL STATMENT Year Ending December 31,

Year 1: $ 17,315 $ 17,315 Year 2: 12,623 17,315 Year 3: 0 12,623 Year 4: 0 0 STAY UP TO Year 5: 0 0 Total minimum lease payments $ 29,938 $ 47,253 Note 7 - Board Designated Net Assets Board of designated net assets are as follows: DATE ON Life Member Funds $ 214,277 $ 341,859 Gunmakers Hall Fund 37,373 36,722 DEEX Fund 197,319 295,164 Property Improvement Fund 130,795 141,537 Other 91,362 75,105 $ 671,490 $ 890,387 THE GO. Note 8 - Permanently Restricted Net Assets 2016 2015

Permanently restricted net assets are restricted to: Investment in perpetually, the income of which is expendable to support: Any activity of the Association $ 890,834 $ 838,490 $ 890,834 $ 838,490 Note 9 - Employee Benefits The Association provides a qualified contribution program for employees who meet certain length of service re- quirements. The Association contributes toward an annuity contrct for each eligible employee The Association's expense replated to this plan was: $ 8,913 $ 7,947 Note 10 - Notes Payable

Note payable - Sheffield Financial. Monthly payments of $177. Interest rate of 0% Secured by Scag mower. Matures April 6, 2018 $ 2,831 $ 4,954 Total Debt 2,831 4,954 Less Current Maturities (2,123) (2,123) Long Term Debt $ 708 $ 2,831 Maturities of long-term debt For the calendar years ended December 31,

Year 1: $ 2,123 $ 2,123 Year 2: 708 2,123 Year 3: 0 708 $ 2,831 $ 4,954 Note 11 - Commitments and Contingencies

Town of Friendship's Debt Service The Town of Friendship, Indiana, where the Association's headquarters are located, has built a sewer which overlaps the Association's property. Under an understanding with the Friendship district, the Association is considered a "seasonal commercial user" and is responsible for bearing approximately 70% of the city's debt service on the project. The debt service is to be paid on a monthly basis, beginning in March 1999 and for the next 40 years. The Associ- ation is obligated to pay minimum monthly charges of $2,100. Additional amounts may be charged based upon any excess usage for that respective month. Due to certain variables involved, the potential liability and future minimum payments for these additional amounts of excess usage are not estimable. Therefore, no liability has been reflected in these financial statements. Future minimum usage charges, by year and in the aggregate, under the agreement are as follows: Years Ending December 31,

Year 1: $ 25,200 $ 25,200 Year 2: 25,200 25,200 Year 3: 25,200 25,200 Year 4: 25,200 25,200 Year 5: 25,200 25,200 Thereafter 432,600 457,800 $ 558,600 $ 583,800 For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 the Association paid In usage charges: $ 33,110 $ 34,319 Note 12 - Endowment Fund

In 2014 the organization transferred $200,000 to the Ripley County Community Foudation and received a $100,000 match from the Lily Endowment. The $304,500 endowment principal is part of permanently restricted net assets. In 2015 the organization transferred $3,000 from a permanently restricted fund and received a $1,500 match. The annual earnings of about 5% will be available to fund the operations of the NMLRA. Beginning Balance $ 304,500 Contributions 0 Investment Income 13,839 Investment & Mangement Fees (8,973) Distributions (15,031) Ending Balance $ 294,335 nmlra.org

OctoberApril 2017 65 Rendezvous

Monthly NMLRA-Sponsored Rendezvous Information Messages from the Rendezvous NRLHF 2017 Board of Directors and Cooking Up Delegates

Jim Penland - Chairman; NEPR Delegate (exp. 2018) a Taste 14 Wilson Parkway, Lockport, NY 14094, 716-434-6535 or cell 716-471-8728, [email protected] of Rendezvous Jean Heschke – Vice Chairman; NEPR Delegate (2017) by Linda Fulmer 2362 Hartland Rd., Gasport, NY 14067, 716-795-3303 [email protected] Vicki Johnson; ONW Delegate (2018) APPLE FRITTERS 4636 County Road P, McClure, OH 43536, 419-601- Beat four eggs. Add 1/4 cup of flour Take your apple slice (I like a sweet 2495, [email protected] and 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk (you Cooking Apples), dip the slice into Henry Felder; ONW Delgate (exp. 2017) want a thick batter, if too thin it will your batter, and drop it into very hot PO Box 78, Nashville, MI 49073, 517-852-9252, not stick to the apple). Add 1/2 cup oil. Keep turning them until they are [email protected] sugar, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, and a brown. Take the slice out and let it Melissa Adams; EPR Delegate (exp. 2017) pinch of salt. Mix together well. cool. 3605 W. Versailles, Piqua, OH 45356, (h) 937-773-8085 (c) 614-565-0513, [email protected] Take the apple and pare it and cut You can dip them in sugar or Jerry Heister; EPR Delegate (exp. 2018) out the core; cut it in round slices powder sugar, or cinnamon sugar. 270 McCorkle Road, Hershey, PA 17033, 717-533-3652, (about the thickness of a half dollar). Enjoy! [email protected] In a deep dish fry pan add lard or Daniel Cain; Corps of Discovery Delegate (exp. 2018) olive oil. 12896 Sunset Circle N.W., Uniontown, OH 44685, 330- 699-3492, [email protected] Greg Bagshaw -Public Relations Director; SEPR Delegate (exp. 2017) 2625 Liberty Church Road, APPLE BUTTER Yadkinville, NC 27055, 336-492-5137 or cell 336-918- 2 quarts apple (mix 3 or 4 different types of apples, some 7411, [email protected] sweet, some tart). Robert Woody; SEPR Delegate (exp. 2018) 6 cups apple cider 116 River Run Rd., Statesville,NC 28625, 1 1/2 cups sugar or brown sugar [email protected] Non-Voting Staff 1/2 teaspoon allspice Mark Adamik, Jr. - Parliamentarian 1/2 teaspoon cloves 440-465-9246, [email protected] 1 teaspoon cinnamon Andrew Huey – Treasurer 1/2 teaspoon salt 262 E. State St., Box 344, West Mansfield, OH 43358 937-935-4461, [email protected] Peel and quarter the apples. Boil an inch of the top, partially seal, Dan Duhamel – Quartermaster the cider in a large pan until it is and place on a rack in the bottom 24 Stella St., Burgettstown, PA 15021, 724-947-4931 or half-boiled away. Drop the apples of a large kettle, half full of boiling cell 724-207-0323, [email protected] in the boiling cider for 20 minutes water. Add boiling water to top the Karen Fuller – Recording Secretary or until soft and pulpy. Mash up the jars by an inch or two. When the Beverly Heister– Business Office Manager; NRLHF apples until smooth. Then put it in water again comes to a boil, allow PO Box 376, Hershey, PA 17033, 717-312-3016 a crock pot. Cook on low about 6 to the jars to remain for 5 minutes to [email protected] 8 hours. let them finish cooking and sealing. Directors representing the NMLRA Pour into hot jars, fill within half Jim Fulmer; NMLRA Director 3358 Mt. Rd., Hamburg, PA 19526, 610-488-1352 • • • [email protected] If you have any recipes you’d like to share, please send them to me at the Jerry Middendorf; NMLRA Director following address: Linda Fulmer, 3358 Mountain Road, Hamburg, PA 19526; 1252 N. Kentucky Ave., Westport, IN 47283 or e-mail to [email protected]. 812-591-2427, [email protected]

66 MuzzleBlasts National Rendezvous and Living History Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 376, Hershey, PA 17033 • Phone: 717-312-3016 • Fax: 717-707-0718 • [email protected] • www.nrlhf.org 2017 Event Schedule 36th Southeastern Primitive Rendezvous October 20 – 27, 2017 297 Reavis Road, Yadkinville, NC 27055 Contact: Mickey Mikulis (941) 745-4103 or [email protected] for more information or a pre-registration form log on to www.nrlhf.org. You may also call the Business Office at 717-312-3016 or send an email to [email protected]

National Rendezvous & Living History Foundation, Inc. Presents the 36th Annual SOUTHEASTERN PRIMITIVE RENDEZVOUS October 20 – 27, 2017 297 Reavis Road 941-745-4103 Yadkinville, NC www.southeasternprimitiverendezvous.com Booshway – Mickey Mikulis or www.nrlhf.org

Show your support every morning!

order today at nmlra.org

Coffee mugs...... $8.00 Stainless Tumbler. . $19.99

October 2017 67 Al Raychard WHY I HUNT - AND WHY EVERYONE SHOULD Many years ago someone asked me why I hunt. It was a question I had never asked myself, or been asked, so it took me somewhat by surprise. After some contemplation, the only answer I could come up with, the only one that made sense, at least to me was, “Because I do; maybe because I have to.” Years later, I asked the same question to an older, much wiser hunter than me. His answer was rather profound, but after thinking about it made perfect sense. “If I have to explain it,” he said, “you’ll never understand.” Why each of us picks up our favorite weapon each fall and heads for the woods and fields to hunt is truly difficult to define. The reasons are as unique, as varied and as individual Moose are just one example of how hunters have as each and every one of us. Some are personal, some are helped to conserve wildlife. philosophical; some just can’t be explained. I fall into that category. For me, hunting is part of what I am, a very big part. There are of course a multitude of reasons why hunters hunt, It’s in my DNA. Some might think hunters are made, passed and why hunting is a good thing, many of which counter the down from father to son or father to daughter, but I think misguided philosophy and preaching of the anti-hunt fraternity hunters are born. My dad never hunted a day in his life, but I whether they want to admit it or not. can’t imagine living a life without it. It’s not just about the kill, For one, hunting is safe. Thanks to hunter safety requirements the need to kill or downing a trophy. To be honest, that’s just a in nearly every state and regulations requiring hunter orange very small part of it. It’s more of a need, a requirement, like the during firearm seasons, including most muzzleloader seasons, air I breath, to be in the woods or the mountains to feel whole. hunting with a firearm, and hunting in general is one of the Some might call it a spiritual thing, and I suppose it is. All I safest outdoor activities. According to recent data hunting has a know is, without hunting, life would be like a body with no lower injury rate than golf, volleyball and tackle football. soul. I could live, but not very well. Hunting is also healthy. Not only is trekking around in the

Thanks to hunters, waterfowl numbers across North Americas are flourishing.

68 MuzzleBlasts woods, fields, and mountains good for the body and mind, there is no better way to spend quality time and solidify family bonds than hunting. Hunting gets kids outdoors and off the sofa, away from the TV, the computer, and other electronic gadgets kids use, and helps teach independence, resourcefulness and self-sufficiency, among other important needs in life. And the meat we bring home is free of growth hormones, chemicals, and while it varies from animal to animal, is lower in bad fat, higher in good fats such as Omega 3’s, is lower in calories, higher in protein, iron, zinc and B vitamins. It’s just good stuff. One thing the anti-hunting establishment rarely talks about is hunting has been and is good for conservation. Theodore Roosevelt, an avid hunter by the way, created the national forest and grassland system we have today. In doing so, some 230 million acres have been protected for all to enjoy, even those who do not hunt. America is home to millions of public lands open to recreation thanks in large part to hunters. Thanks largely to hunters, America’s elk have increased

October 2017 69 from about 41,000 in 1907 to more than one million and organizations. Since 1937 when hunters, not anti- today, including populations in Kentucky and other eastern hunters or animal rights groups, but hunters, actually asked states. Today, thanks to hunters, America is home about for a federal tax on guns, ammunition, and other items 32 million whitetail deer, up from about 500,000 in 1900, for the sole purpose of wildlife conservation, more than more than seven million wild turkeys, more than one million $8 billion dollars have been raised, roughly $11 million pronghorn and waterfowl populations are flourishing. And annually. All together hunters contribute about $1.6 billion that’s the short list and does not include other wildlife that annually to conservation. No other group has given more, benefit from hunters. or gives more to conservation. If you hike, fish, snowmobile, ride an ATV, bird watch or do anything on public land, It all takes money, of course, and over the years hunters have chances are you have hunters to thank. been generous. Through the purchase of hunting licenses and fees hunters spend about $790 million annually, nearly To get back to why I hunt, I honestly can’t say, and the all of which goes to supporting wildlife departments and reasons why I do are probably not important to anyone but conservation efforts. You can add in about another $500 me. But as fall and opening day approaches all I can say is million donated annually to various conservations groups I’m glad and more than a little bit proud that I do.

The money spent and donated by hunters has helped save and benefits other non-game wildlife such as bald eagles and woodpeckers.

70 MuzzleBlasts PRESS RELEASE

Available in December! Longhunter Big Game Records Book Vol. VII National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association, Friendship, Indiana The National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association sheets, measuring instructions, geographic definitions, and (NMLRA) and the Longhunter Society proudly photographs of the animals and the hunters. This new announce the publication of the new, seventh edition edition includes a total of 883 new trophy animals and 9 of the Muzzleloading Big Game Record Book. It is new world records. updated with the world records registered since the previous edition, and the stories of the hunts written by The books are ready for Pre-Sale. To order, send a check for the successful muzzleloading hunters. The book presents a $45 per book plus $9.50 shipping and handling for orders dozen categories of North American big game taken with within the US payable to The Longhunter Society to this muzzleloading rifles in accordance with fair chase rules. address: National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association, PO It is far more than a fireside reader, for it can also be used Box 67, Friendship, IN 47021; or for credit card orders, as a planner for record-book hunts: every listing specifies call 812-667-5131 ext. 221 or 232. The book can also be the location and the firearm used. Also included are score ordered online at www.nmlra.org.

October 2017 71 Give a NMLRA membership! Your gift will help preserve our heritage and provide a years' worth of information and entertainment that any muzzleloader or outdoor enthusiast would love!

Your Name______Membership #______r Yes, I would like to save $10 and send a gift membership for $30 ($40 for foreign) Name______Address______City______State_____Zip______E-mail______Phone______

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72 MuzzleBlasts Starting the Seneca run

back to basics: life less ordinary

bore (pretty much whatever you have as National Muzzle Loading Competitor Bevel Down: Last month we start- Ri e Association Target long as it’s got fixed open sights) and you 18th Century Bottles Relay ed looking at the Primitive Range at Scoring Novelty Target Bullet fully in bottle beck - 10 points. can shoot it/run it in either period attire ©Copyright 1991 Bullet nicking bottle neck - 7 points. Friendship. The Primitive range is a way Bullet fully in bottle body - 5 points. Bullet nicking bottle body - 3 points. for us to step into a bit of the life less or just your regular set of blue overalls, ordinary for a few days a couple of times ball cap, and a tee shirt (the standard a year. We didn’t get into all the matches Bibskinner’s outfit) if that’s what you like you can shoot there, but this month we’ll to wear when you’re shooting. take a look at some of the popular ones The course is a five shot match shot at five and talk about what you will need to com- different stations with a different target at pete. a different distance at every station. It’s a Bevel Up: The Open Seneca is one of timed match – you have ten minutes to the more intriguing matches. Like it says, move through a 300-yard course, loading it’s an open match so you can shoot either and firing one offhand shot at each of the a flint or a percussion rifle or smooth- five stations. The tie breakers are the X centers cut and then the lowest time, in Bottle Target

October 2017 73 that order. The younger and more physically fit shooters will are just as variable as to type, size, and distance. The actual run between stations to cut their time in case of a tie. The older range course is about 150 yards long. The way the match works and wiser shooters will use more of what we used to call the is you start at the scoring table with an unloaded gun. When Airborne Shuffle. You can’t really stroll through the course and the clock starts you go to the other end of the course and load expect to finish under ten minutes, but you don’t have to sprint when you get to the station furthest from the start point. Then the thing either. You can’t carry any kind of watch or timer you proceed to work your way back to the scoring table, load- with you and you can’t load while you move to the next station. ing and shooting at each station until you get all the way back You have to load from the pouch and horn – there are no load- and stop the clock. The Women’s and Junior Seneca matches ing benches along the route, no wind flags, no practice targets, start a little differently. Instead of starting the clock when the no shaders, and no spotting scopes. It’s a really good test of shooter leaves the scoring table, the shooter moves to the first your loading and shooting skills under variable conditions. station up at the other end of the course. The clock starts when the shooter begins to load and stops when he or she gets back If you want to experience more than just the shooting you can to the table. sign up for the Flintlock Seneca. That match is the same as the Open Seneca course, but it is shot with flintlocks only and One of the coolest stations has an axe set edgewise facing you requires the shooter to wear period costume fitting to the 1750 with a clay target hanging on both sides of the blade. If you to 1840 time frame and carry no auxiliary ramrod for loading split your ball just right you can break both birds with one (only the wooden rod carried in the pipes under the barrel is shot. A nifty trick if you can pull it off. The thing to remem- allowed). ber on that station is that your ball is probably half an inch or so wide, so your rifle barrel can wobble around quite a bit and Bevel Down: Shooting this course is similar to the still keep the width of the bore inside of a one inch circle. But Woodswalk we looked at back in August. The shooting stations if your sights are just a little tiny bit out of line – even with the are fewer and generally set on more even terrain, but the targets target set up just 30 feet away – you miss the whole thing.

Split the Ball Shooting the Widowmaker match

October 2017 75 And, as with the Woodswalk targets, the var- ingly – difficult. With just the top half of the ied distances and sizes of the targets means bull available for score, you have to choose you need to know where your rifle shoots up between a relatively safe hit up there in the close and out at 100 yards or so. Remember 7 or 8 ring, or a thin margined 9 or 10 the way a ball travels in an arc from the down there close to the edge of the paper. A muzzle to the target and crosses your line of little bit of error going for a 10 or an X can sight twice before it hits the ground. Figure easily turn that shot into a zero. It’s worth out exactly where your line of sight over the mentioning that the National record on that front and rear sights crosses that arc and target is a 49 3X shot by Bill Disbro back hold high, low, or dead on accordingly. in 1977. That’s over forty years ago, and the record still stands today! I asked Bill about Bevel Up: The next “entry level” match shooting that target. He told me he always that pretty much anybody can shoot wearing shoots the two small bulls first, then the two pretty much any kind of outfit and with shots into the big round bull. He saves the pretty much any rifle is the Rifle Frolic. It’s half bull for last because it gives him those shot on the Fer-du-Lac range close to the four previous shots to sort of practice a little Blockhouse on a paper target with silhou- more and know better exactly where the rifle ettes of six old timey looking bottles. The is shooting for that most difficult shot. match is six shots offhand at about 50 yards. It’s a re-entry match and a fun way to shoot So, after 40 years the record is still a 49 3X at bottles without having to clean up the – all it takes is a 50 to beat it, folks -- glass mess afterwards. The scoring is a bit tricky, though, so you will want to study Bevel Up: My favorite is the “Any Old the target pretty closely before you hang it Muzzleloading Pistol Match.” You shoot so you’ll know where to aim for the most that same six bottle silhouette target and it’s points. If you hit the neck with more than scored the same as in the Frolic. You can use, half the ball on the green bottle you get ten literally, any muzzleloading pistol you’ve got. points. If you just nick it in the neck with You can shoot your replica Colt 1860 Army, less than half the ball on the bottle you get a .36 Navy, one of those Hershel House seven points. A square shot into the big part “Tennessee Mountain” pistols with a four- of the bottle gets five and if you nick it you teen inch barrel, your single shot flintlock, get three. a percussion Kentucky, or even an inline if that’s what you want to shoot. Bevel Down: One of the favorite matches on the Primitive range is the Fer- Keep in mind here that all of the same du-Lac. It’s shot on a special bulls-eye target safety rules apply on the Primitive range as with two regular fifty yard bulls at the top of on the Walter Cline range across the creek. the paper, then a 100 yard bull below them, You load pistols at the bench and you must and then at the bottom of the paper is the use a loading stand. If you are shooting a top half of another 100 yard target. It’s very revolver, one chamber must remain empty important to make sure when you post this so that you have a safe chamber to lower the target that the half-bull part of the target hammer onto. All guns, including pistols, is on the bottom, otherwise your target is are carried to and from the line uncapped disqualified. or unprimed and with the muzzle pointed straight up. You cap or prime only at the line It’s a darned difficult target. All of the bulls and with the muzzle pointed downrange. are shot at the same distance (more or less 50 yards) even though two of the bulls are The match is especially friendly to newcom- sized for 100 yards. The two fifty yard shots ers and folks unpracticed in formal offhand and the full 100 yard bull aren’t all that pistol shooting. The targets are close, just 25 tough to shoot offhand, but when you get yards, and although it is still shot offhand, to the half bull, well, that’s a whole ‘nuther you can use a two-hand hold. Plus, it’s a thing. The target has to be posted so that re-entry match, so you can shoot all the the half bull is on the bottom. That makes it do-overs you care to post and just keep the especially – I’ll go so far as to say excruciat- best one to put on the wall at home. Fer-du-Lac Target

76 MuzzleBlasts Bevel Down: The Feather Duster regret selling that gun. Let that be a lesson to matches are also popular. They are basically all of you. shotgun matches. You can shoot shotgun The Widowmaker target is a silhouette of matches over on the trap and skeet ranges, a British Redcoat. The bullseye is a regular or on the Quail Walk range, but mostly eight ring black bull overlaid at the junction the shooters and matches over there are set of the two crossed straps on the front of the up for shotguns made for that purpose. A silhouette. It’s shot at about 50 yards or so. shooter with a forty-two inch barreled 28 The picture explains it better. gauge flintlock fowler has little chance of medaling in the regular matches on those Bevel Down: If you think you might ranges. But in a Feather Duster match you want to shoot some of these matches, check can haul out your trade gun or your smooth the shoot program first. The firing lines and rifle or flint fowler and use it on clay birds impact areas on some of the Primitive ranges just like at the trap range across the creek, overlap each other so some matches can’t but you’ll be able to compete against similar be shot while some other matches are going guns and equipment and have an actual on. The general match program will have a chance of winning once in a while. whole page where it sets out the Primitive Match Schedule so you can know on what I’m not saying you can’t shoot your smooth- days and times certain matches are shot. bore on the regular trap range – there are plenty of matches there that you can shoot The main thing, though, is to make sure you with your fowler or trade gun – it’s just that cross the creek and check out what’s going you’ll be competing against shooters with on in the Primitive Area. Even if you’re not equipment better suited to shooting at flying interested in dressing up in eighteenth cen- targets. They’ll have bigger gauges, shorter tury clothes you’ll find just a whole lot of barrels, more shot – all that and more. As enjoyable people and shooting over there. with most competitive sports, showing up with the wrong equipment will usually put Bevel Up: And one last thing: the you at a big disadvantage – sort of like taking Primitive range runs on volunteers. Chuck your Model A Ford to a Mustang rally. Ziegler is the Chief Range Officer right now but he does so much more than just run the Bevel Up: The Widowmaker is a match range. He maintains it. For a couple of weeks shot with smooth rifles. A smooth rifle is sort before the shoot he’s out there in his spare of an oxymoron, but it describes a particular time after work and on weekends clearing sort of gun that was common in the eigh- the weeds and brush off of the shooting teenth century. Essentially it is a smoothbore, lanes, mowing the grass, fixing the shot up usually between .50 and .62 caliber that is target rails and hangers, and painting the built with the lines and balance of a rifle. It steel targets. If you’ve got some spare time has a rear sight and unless you look down the and tools you’re welcome to come and help. bore and see that there are no rifling grooves Contact Joyce at NMLRA headquarters to you can’t tell it from any other Pennsylvania volunteer. style longrifle. Of course, if you don’t happen to own a smooth rifle you can shoot your regular Call smoothbore (no rear sight) in the match, but most folks are at a disadvantage shooting (812) 667-5131 without a rear sight against those who have one. About twenty years ago I had a smooth rifle that I built along the lines of an early to advertise Lancaster rifle. It had a nice brass patchbox and everything. It was a flintlock .55 cali- in our classified ber/28 gauge that shot a .530 round ball. With 85 grains of 3fg it would put five shots ads section Fer-du-Lac Target into a three inch circle at 80 yards. I still

October 2017 77 NMLRA Classif ied Ads Accessories in the USA. F-4Fg-Cannon- Cartridge-Cowboy-Express Powder- Olde Eynsford Powder Now Available- Pinnacle (B.P. substitute) and SHOOTER’S BOXES and Period-style Furnishings: lap desks, Swiss. candle boxes, fur trade mirrors. Quality craftsmanship. Go to www. northridgewoodworking.com. BLACK POWDER FOR SALE, Pacific Northwest Master Distributor, Swiss, Schuetzen, and Goex brands in stock. BUFFALO SHARPSIGHT OPTIC AID: tired of fuzzy out of focus sights on ARMS COMPANY, 208-263-6953, www.buffaloarms.com. your rifle or handgun. Check out www.Sharpsights.com to bring those sights and target back into focus. Books Archery DIXON MUZZLELOADING SHOP, Home of the Gunmakers Fair, last full weekend of July. “The Art of Building The Pennsylvania Long PRIMITIVE LONGBOWS Lakota, Modoc, English, arrows, quivers, Rifle,” $26.50 prepaid. Complete line of muzzleloading supplies, moccasins, Call/Write for catalog: MILLER’S LONGBOWS, 25 reloading equipment. 9952 Kunkels Mill Road, Kempton, PA 19529, Cordwood Road, Divide, Montana 59727. (610) 756-6271. Barrels Bullets/Patches

TIP CURTIS FRONTIER SHOP COLERAIN SWAMPED BARRELS: ECOSLUG® ML-NRBP .50 Caliber Non-Lead Saboted Muzzle- 31”, 38”, 42”, 44” - $205.00 & up. COLERAIN OCT TO ROUND: 36”, loading Projectile. Approved for use in California’s non-lead hunting 38”, 42”, 44”, 46” - $220 & up. All barrels available in .36 caliber to areas. Made in USA Patents 8,171,852 & 8,438,767. Patented .62 caliber rifled or smoothbore. GREEN MOUNTAIN BARRELS: 36”, bullet puller feature. For use in both modern in-lines and traditional 42” - .36 caliber to .58 caliber rifled or smoothbore – ¾”, 13/16”, fixed breech plug muzzleloaders with 1-28” to 1-48” twist barrels. 7/8”, 15/16”, 1”, 1 1/8” - $195 & up. GREEN MOUNTAIN SWAMPED For information and ordering see our website: www.eco-slug.com. BARRELS: 38”, 42”, 44” - .32, .36, .40, .45, .50, .54 caliber - $205 & P-BAR CO. LLC (440) 238-6050. up. Percussion locks $100. Flintlocks $150.00 & up. CUSTOM GUN- KITS - Pistol kits - $425 & up. Straight barrel rifle kits - $650 & up. Smoothbore rifle or fowler kits - $725 & up. Swamped barrel rifle Engravers kits - $725 & up. Over 130 patterns to choose from. P.O. Box 203, ENGRAVING, Guns, Locks, Etc. Full time, excellent turnaround, Cross Plains, TN 37049, (615) 654-4445, [email protected]. reasonable rates, call or write for estimate. SMITTY’S ENGRAVING, 21320 Pioneer Circle, OK 73045, (405) 226-0251. www.smittys- THE GUN WORKS – Master distributor of Black Widow Bullets engraving.us. (proven to have very good knock-down power) and Bridger’s Best patching. Looking for dealers in general sales. www.thegunworks. com, (541) 741-4118. Events ALAMANCE LONGRIFLES October 14, 2017, Busick's Quail Farm, THE GUN WORKS is the master distributor of Oregon Barrel Caswell County, NC. Craig Smith, 5125 Yanceyville Rd., Browns Company; making rifled and smooth bore barrels; 30 caliber to 2 Summit, NC 27214 (336) 207-1950 bore, pistol, rifle and cartridge, up to 35” octagon, tapered octagon, round, tapered round and octagon to round. Call for quote (541) 741-4118 or www.thegunworks.com. FEBRUARY 2ND & 3RD, 2018-21ST ANNUAL 18TH CENTURY MARKET FAIR, Pritchard Community Center, Elizabethtown, KY. Food available. Friday 12:00-6:00pm and RICE BARREL CO., INC. Match grade quality. Traditional cut Saturday 9:00am - 4:00pm. $3.00 admission. Information call rifled on a proprietary state of the art CNC rifler. Straight barrels to Danny Hill (270) 369-6129. 44”, swamped to 48”, rifled or smooth (any twist) square or round grooves. www.ricebarrels.com or (336) 492-2614. For Sale

Blackpowder FOR SALE: Full stock .62 cal. Flint lock rifle, barrel 42"x15/16" across flats. Figured maple wood, sliding patch box cover, 1:48" COONIE’S BLACK POWDER, Box 2062, Hobbs, NM 88241; (575) rifling pitch, 58" overall, perfect bore, no markings. (906) 842-3424 393-6060 email [email protected] Goex Black Powder- made

78 MuzzleBlasts All Classified Ads are 55 cents per word (minimum of 15 words). Extras: words in bold type - $5, border around ad - $10. Words are considered to be each word in a name; initials in a name; abbreviations; addresses (each set of numbers and/or abbreviations); full zip code; telephone numbers; listing of products and prices of products, each item and each price. Please specify heading (i.e., “For Sale,”). ALL CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING MUST BE PAID IN ADVANCE.

Muzzle Blasts Advertising, P.O. Box 67, Friendship, IN 47021; phone (812) 667-5131.

BRASS BALL MOULDS. These fit standard handles .200” to .600” and more. Quality Leathergoods, Leather Tools, Black Powder Gear, - $35.00. .601” to .850” - $45.00. Plus postage. Larger moulds are all steel Clicker or Mallet Dies. Complete Internet Catalog at www. available. Email inquiry to: [email protected]. LeatherUnltd.com or call 800-993-2889 for quality leather and friendly service from a family owned and operated business. SELLING: Furs, buckskins, rawhides, antlers, sinew, claws, teeth, beads, feathers, etc. Tens of thousands of items. Complete internet Supplies catalog www.hideandfur.com. MOUNTAIN TOP TRADING CO., since ’89. French Amber Flints, STRIPS: Fox tails from $2 $3 $5 to $15 each. Davy Crockett Blankets, bags, horns, knives, hawks, pewter jewelry, pins and hats $5. Rabbit skins, rabbit feet, raccoon tails, all kinds of skins, buttons, tinware, time pieces, hand forged buckles and padlocks, and coyote skins $45. Free Pricelist. Tel: (718) 786-0203. Email: camp gear, tents and tipis, clothing. NO CATALOG AVAILABLE. [email protected]. Website: stripsinc.tripod.com. www.mountaintoptradingco.com, (509) 397-4447, (509) 397-3291 Fax; MTTC, 413 S. Main, Colfax, WA 99111. Video/DVD

BUILDING KENTUCKY RIFLES, NEW DVD RECREATING THE KY RIFLE HUNTING POUCH featuring KEN SCOTT. $29.95 plus $7 shipping. 35+ DVDs on Building KY rifles, blacksmithing, reenacting. FREE BROCHURE. 270-782-7506.

GUN-BUILDING DVD’S by James Turpin. Building series -#1 , #II (percussion) & pistols $29.95 ea. Colonial Arts series 1 through 4 $24.95 ea. S&H $5.00 for one or $6.50 2 or more. For more info, please go to our website www.primitiveartsvideo.com. PRIMITIVE ARTS VIDEO, PO Box 13478, Overland Park, KS 66282-3478. Gunmakers Wanted

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October 2017 79 last five years. Some people call the event the beginners rendez- vous, some people call it one of the toughest shoots they have been to with the 280 yard shots. There needs to be more events like this across the country to get new people started and build grassroots support for our sport.

Every event I know needs some help; the life blood of any event or undertaking is volunteers. The reason there isn’t anymore shooting at this event than there is isn’t because of room or prizes; it is because we need more people to physically run the event. If you get a chance, volunteer, if you can’t volunteer thank the volunteers who do work the event, they genuinely appreciate that they make a difference.

The difference of having a good experience or bad experience while learning something different such as shooting a muz- zleloader or throwing a tomahawk or shooting a bow, is the difference between a person who embraces the muzzleloading sport or who sells all the gear he just bought.

To reach more people who aren’t into our sport of muzzle- loading or even know about it, the NMLRA has just started another event to expose new people or novices to our sport and our association. This last July 22-23 from 10 A.M. to 3 P.M. at the Cabela’s store in Hamburg, Pennsylvania, the NMLRA had a Black Powder weekend. The NMLRA was able to set up a primitive encampment and camp over night on site next to the store. Here at this event the NMLRA was able to give a brief glimpse back into history by blowing smoke with muz- Author giving instruction and history of the cap & ball revolver zleloading firearms, and doing a little tomahawk throwing and set up right across the road to a primitive encampment with primitive archery. pre-1840 camp rules in effect. This is where people can learn and experience and grow in the sport. I have watched people Located outside in front of the Cabela’s store from the front who where novices evolve into experienced shooters by having door was a great display and various demonstrations were given the opportunity to watch and learn in this type of atmosphere. about muzzleloading. There were people showing how to clean and maintain a flintlock, percussion, and in-line gun. Blanks The NMLRA has been doing the same basic program for the were being fired out of an original double barrel muzzleload- Advertiser Index American Pioneer Video...... 15 Jim Chambers...... 24 Rice Barrel...... 26 American Single Shot Rifle Association...... 17 Kenum Distribution...... 28 RMC Ox-Yoke...... 29 Blue River Long Rifles...... Inside Back Cover L & R Lock Company...... 27 Shumway Publishing...... 55 Caywood Gunmakers...... 26 Muzlstik...... 53 Strips Inc...... 12 Chiappa Firearms...... 26 Muzzleloader Builder’s Supply...... 56 The Single Shot Echange...... 27 Coonie’s Black Powder...... 27 Muzzleloader Magazine...... 28 Tecumseh’s Trading Post...... 27 Crazy Crow...... 27 NRLHF - Southeastern Primitive Rendezvous.....67 The Backwoodsman...... 61 Davide Perdersoli...... 24 Panther Primitives...... 59 The Gun Mag...... 61 Dixie Gun Works...... 17 P-Bar Inc, LLC...... 25 The Leatherman...... 41 Ft. Harrod Craftsman Fair...... 12 Pecatonica River...... 7 The Log Cabin Shop...... 30 Ft. Reberdeau...... 37 Primitive Archer...... 53 Townsend & Son, Inc...... 13 Gary's Gunsmith Shop...... 26 R.E. Davis...... 30 Track of the Wolf, Inc...... 31 Jedediah Starr Trading Company...... 26 R.K. Lodges...... 28 Western Powder Blackhorns...... 28

80 MuzzleBlasts ing shotgun, a re-pro style Hawken, and various cap and ball revolvers. It literally attracted hundreds of people at a time to see what was going on and maybe get a chance to fire off a blank after plenty of instruction. For many people this was the first time they ever had the opportunity to fire any firearm let a lone a muzzleloader.

The tomahawk throw was very popular among the store cus- tomers. All of us remember how it was when we threw our first hawk and it stuck. It was no different for the general public who came to the store and stumbled into the Black-Powder Week- end. Cabela’s sold out of tomahawks by the afternoon of the first day. Everybody who tried it had fun. We had great instruc- tors who could teach just about anybody how to throw.

The Primitive Archery was popular for everybody as well. Ex- perienced archery hunters had a lot of questions and enjoyed it a lot, but also I heard something several times that weekend on both the muzzleloading range and the archery, “I haven’t done this since I was in the “Boy Scouts” or at “Camp.” There were many, many, way too many people there said the same thing, “I haven’t done this since …”

We need to change that. The Cabela’s event at Hamburg was a very successful event. What impressed me was the fact that Cabela’s not only attracts customers from all over our country, but from all over the world. I can’t thank the people at Cabe- la’s enough for all the support they gave us over the years. But their success is our success, because every customer that buys a muzzleloader has the potential to be a new NMLRA member. And for every NMLRA member, there is also the potential to be a new Cabela’s customer. Yes, it is that simple.

More events like the “18th Century Rifle Frolic” and the “Black Powder Days at Cabela’s” are needed to drive an influx of new people to our sport. There needs to be many more events out there just like these. Support these types of events and we will see muzzleloading grow once again. Dale Clemons promoting the NMLRA at Cabela's

Jerry Hiester instructing a young shooter Bob Rubbo NMLRA Pa Field Rep Dale Clemons instructing how to throw a with a long bow. instructing a new primitive archer tomahawk

October 2017 81 Beyond Friendship By James C. Fulmer

He stuck both tomahawks on second attempt

"Lovely" was from the Bronx, New York and had fun shooting bow, throwing tomahawk , and shooting blanks in cap & ball revolver Deer Target with a arrow curtain behind it for safety. The range is unique in that there is a modern range as well as an he National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association will once T area separate from the main range that allows for primitive-style again co-host the “18th Century Marketfaire and Rifle Frolic” shooting for 18th century firearms and period dress only. at the Altoona Rifle and Pistol Club October 6-8, 2017, in Sinking Valley, near Altoona, Pennsylvania. The range is located The public who attend make this event special. The NMLRA near Fort Roberdeau which was reconstructed in 1976 as a Blair has an area for “first shots” at the range where NMLRA range County Bicentennial project on the original site in the Sinking officers give a brief history of the firearm the person chose to Valley. Fort Roberdeau is also known as the “Lead Mine Fort.” shoot. Their choices ranged from flint and percussion long-rifles It was built in 1778 during the American Revolution and oc- to half-stock Hawken rifles. Nearly 400 visiting public shot cupied until 1780. Here is where American Patriots mined lead during last year’s event. Some were not only shooting a muz- so desperately needed at that time during the Revolution. The zleloader for the first time, but shooting a firearm for the very “Lead Fort” reminds citizens of the sacrifices that were made first time. After shooting they were given their targets and many in the early days of America’s struggle for independence from carried them away like diplomas. It was fun to watch! Great Britain. The fort is close enough to walk from the range, but many drive to it for a visit so they don’t miss too much Saturday evening after the shooting, an event called “Come and range time. Meet Your Neighbor” is held in the Altoona Rifle and Pistol Clubhouse with entertainment, door prizes, and fund raisers The NMLRA runs a large, all-inclusive match schedule at this to help support the event. This event is a great event for new event. Last year, every type of muzzleloading firearm was fired at people to be introduced to competitive shoots and primitive this event including scoped in-lines, flintlocks, and over the log camping. Here is where a nylon pup tent or a tin tepee can be rifles weighing over 20 lbs. There was something for everybody. Continued on page 80

82 MuzzleBlasts 6th Annual 1700-1890 Indoor Trade show November 4-5, 2017 Han c ock County 4H Fairgrounds

620 N. Apple St. Greenfield, IN 46140 There will be rendezvous and muzzle loader related items including leather, knives, jewelry, clothing, accoutrements, books, powder horns, wood tables and boxes, antique guns and more. We’ll be at the Hancock County Fairgrounds, in the heated Sheep barn. Traders can spend the night. There will be plenty of parking available. Greenfield is exit 104 off I-70. WHEN: Saturday November 4th 9-5pm and Sunday November 5th 9-3pm Admission: $4.00, Children 12 and under Free No animals except vendors and service animals, please. Vendors - $30.00 per 8ft table. Set-up Friday 6-9pm, Saturday 6-9am Contact Jim Cinkoske, 148 W 300 S, Greenfield, IN 46140, (317) 462-5858 for more information E-mail [email protected], Please put “Indoor Show” in the subject line.

Concessions will be available both days

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National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association P.O. Box 67, Friendship, IN 47021 NMLRA.org Telephone (812) 667-5131 FACEBOOK.COM/NMLRA TWITTER.COM/NMLRABP

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