What Muzzleloading Stuff Did You Do Today?

Loja man said:

Thanks Daryl!! Confession time! You know how you get in a routine of doing things and then you jump into something somewhat new, you don’t think it through all the way! So most of the time I’m making sheaths for knives. When I started cutting the leather for this tomahawk sheath, I never really processed which side I wanted to carry it on. It wasn’t till I was finished making it that I realized I made it for a left side carry!

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Time to embrace your amphibious side….

Today I learnt about cutting patches at the muzzle with numb fingers.
We got a pretty good snowfall here in Waller County, NW of Houston. Did not go to work today, so thought I would go out and play flatland mountain man with my new-to-me .50 cal halfstock… had not shot it yet.
In the time it took to set up the backdrop that the north wind had blown over, pop a cap to clear, run an alcohol patch down, run a dry patch, and pour a 55 grain load of Goex 3f, fingers were pretty cold. I had wet a strip of ticking in the house with Dawn/water mix, so started the ball and cut the patch. Realized my starter is for .54 and wouldn’t go down, but found the ramrod slid the load down nicely. Now cap time… kinda fumbly but not too bad. Sat in the snow, elbows on legs, and shot. Close, to the left… cool, let’s do this again! Poured another charge from the horn into the measure, poured it down the barrel, placed the cold wet ticking in place and set the ball on it, started it flush, cut with the razor sharp knife, rammed it home, pulled another cap from the tin, visually only because now I couldn’t feel my fingers. Miraculously got it turned properly to push onto the nipple. Sat back down, elbows on legs, full cock, fire. One inch above POA.
Good enuf, screw this! I’m going in! Started picking up and noticed the blood on my right hand. Then remembered that razor sharp knife… got a nice little circular flap on the end of my left index finger.
I don’t think I could hang with @Omahkapi’si

Snow in Houston area is a rare thing, we had our share up here last week
VERY nice halfstock.

Thanks @kelvinator, it was built in 1976 by K. W. Coulter... no idea who he is or where, but it is very well made. Would love to know about him. It has a repaired break at the wrist and I got it for what i think was a great deal from a member here.

I posted this linen previously that I'm going to try for patching. Notice the clean fuzzy edge. I usually tear my patch strips but this stuff wouldn't tear! It must be woven in a way that resists tearing. I'm liking that feature.

It didn't seem to have any sizing in it. I cut this strip and put it in the washer for a hot water wash. Then I'll do a hot setting on the drier and measure again. Curious how the cut edge will come out.

Ramrod pipes are in and pinned, and I shaped the forearm at the muzzle. I'm still not happy with the lock panel so I'll work on that next.
Now it's time to get more firewood since we're going to get -7' F tonight.

Making a bunch more wool wolf ear hoods to sell here soon. Got 'em all cut out today

bajabuc said:

the strapping tape idea didn't work

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Damn, well, back to the drawing board.

AnotherHawkenGuy said:

Making a bunch more wool wolf ear hoods to sell here soon. Got 'em all cut out today

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You gonna export them to Houston?

Songwriter said:

Today I learnt about cutting patches at the muzzle with numb fingers.
We got a pretty good snowfall here in Waller County, NW of Houston. Did not go to work today, so thought I would go out and play flatland mountain man with my new-to-me .50 cal halfstock… had not shot it yet.
In the time it took to set up the backdrop that the north wind had blown over, pop a cap to clear, run an alcohol patch down, run a dry patch, and pour a 55 grain load of Goex 3f, fingers were pretty cold. I had wet a strip of ticking in the house with Dawn/water mix, so started the ball and cut the patch. Realized my starter is for .54 and wouldn’t go down, but found the ramrod slid the load down nicely. Now cap time… kinda fumbly but not too bad. Sat in the snow, elbows on legs, and shot. Close, to the left… cool, let’s do this again! Poured another charge from the horn into the measure, poured it down the barrel, placed the cold wet ticking in place and set the ball on it, started it flush, cut with the razor sharp knife, rammed it home, pulled another cap from the tin, visually only because now I couldn’t feel my fingers. Miraculously got it turned properly to push onto the nipple. Sat back down, elbows on legs, full cock, fire. One inch above POA.
Good enuf, screw this! I’m going in! Started picking up and noticed the blood on my right hand. Then remembered that razor sharp knife… got a nice little circular flap on the end of my left index finger. View attachment 377587View attachment 377588
I don’t think I could hang with @Omahkapi’si

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well friend u done good

I installed a U.S. pattern sling on my original M1842 Springfield percussion smoothbore musket:



The sling was made by L.D. Haning and is of exceptional quality. I applied neatsfoot oil to darken the leather and it turned out beautifully.

I just signed up for the wait list for the Kibler Hawken.