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Did you know a wool felt hat could be rather easily stiffened up? I didn't know that tip. The tip comes in a little after 5:35. Gus

Folks, I realize this video is on steaming hat blanks to make cowboy hats, but I learned a few things from it that may be of use to make a cocked hat (aka Tri Corn hat) or even to slightly form a "Long Hunter's" or Frontier hat in our time period. So I thought I would share it with the forum...

John, You have already gotten a lot of good advice, but I thought I would add a few things. My Paternal Grandpa, born around 1890, LOVED using black walnut for all sorts of things. Matter of fact, he preferred it over cherry and most other hard woods. He got a deal where he cleared off some...

I heartily second Bill's comments Timber Wolf. You tell an interesting story along with the suggestions/instructions. That is almost becoming a lost art. Thanks for the chuckles as well as the info. Gus

Bought my first ML while home on boot camp leave ca. Jan 1972, so getting close to 52 years. Gus

In addition to what Grenadier1758 mentioned, something others probably have done for some time, but I was never taught; is to shorten the half cock so the face of the sear barely clears the half cock at the point the sear face just clears the bottom of the full cock notch. I've done this on...

Do you mention this because otherwise the trigger nose will catch in the half c(o)ck or are you talking the feel of the trigger when it breaks/releases off the tumbler or too heavy of a pull to get it to release? Gus

FWIW, I strongly suspect they are "Indian Trade Knives" sold by Clay Smith in the past. The styles of blades and grips changed a bit over the years and or different ones at the same time. Clay always advertised them as foreign made blades, but of decent steel. To see what he has left, scroll...

James Wilson Everett on that forum is a real treasure. I like the way he has so many period correct, sliding lid, small boxes in his chest to separate things. One thing I might caution about is not just placing files together in a box without some way to protect the sharpness of the files...

Hi Bark-eater, Please understand, I'm not trying to be coy, but there's some things about such a chest that even with 20-25 years of diligent effort to find an original - I haven't found one and don't think I ever will. The things I'm referring to are: 1. Such boxes really were quite...

OK, Part Two: OOPS, missed one I wanted to include in the first post: https://newlingristmill.org/tools-of-the-trade-a-chest-of-tools/ Though the box is made from plywood in this series of video's, the interior is period correct: More video's for more ideas: In this one, you can...

Hi Bark-eater, I work out of wood tool box for my leatherworking tools that was made on the interior with an 18th century system of 2 removeable trays, each held above the other by interior supports and a plain open area under the 2nd tray. I did this as a way to practice to make an 18th...

You are most welcome. Gus

Sorry, I meant to add this new text in my reply above, but hit the post reply too early. Since I posted those posts years ago, a little more info has become available. The arms sent from the Tower to Virginia in the 1690's were almost certainly mostly, if not all military match lock arms...

I have some info on this: https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/how-common-was-military-surplus-in-the-18th-century.159037/post-2273203 and this I copied from part of an earlier post of mine: Gun building in Williamsburg, VA began with John Brush who arrived from London in 1717. He was...

I know what you mean by one of those shipping boxes. Great find! You are most welcome. Gus

You are most welcome. Gus

OK, now I'm not trying to tell anyone how they must attach the back plates, but I'm going to make a suggestion to keep them more period correct. I have not seen a huge number of original handles of the types mentioned above, but the ones I've seen on items I have felt comfortable that were...

OK, now I realize many to most of us don't have access to a forge or even a local blacksmith to make our own hinges. I was able to find two sources of "ready made" hinges of this type. This first link shows the lesser expensive ones and has the best selection of sizes...

A slightly different way to make such a handle: OK, the next two videos show the style with a heart shape back plate for each handle. Now, I don't know for sure, but I strongly suspect the plainer rectangular back plate is older and of course it would be easier to make. The following...