Brass Tacks

[capnwilliam]

Most of us have heard the expression "getting down to brass tacks" to signify getting to the heart of the matter. Does anyone know whether it originated from the practice of decorating rifles with same?

And what ABOUT decoraring rifles with same: in what era(s)and area(s)was this popular? Was it done by Indians, whites, frontiersmen, townsmen? What were common patterns? Was it purely decorative or was there a practical reason for doing it? Was it done on smoothbores? Pistols?

Capt. William

 

[vradin]

Most of us have heard the expression "getting down to brass tacks" to signify getting to the heart of the matter. Does anyone know whether it originated from the practice of decorating rifles with same?

From the website: Word Origins

Brass Tacks
The phrase "get down to brass tacks" is of uncertain etymology. No one knows why it was originally coined, but there are several explanations. What we do know is that the phrase dates to at least the 1890s and that it is American in origin. Beyond that, there is only speculation.

The earliest citation in the Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang is from an 1895 letter by Frederick Remington: How little I know ... when you get down to brass-tacks. The OED2 dates it to 1897.

Morris postulates two explanations. The first was that general stores used to mark out a yard on the counter with brass tacks so that customers buying cloth could "get down to brass tacks" and ensure they weren't being cheated. The second is that brass tacks were used as a foundation for upholstery. So getting down to brass tacks meant getting down to basics.

More likely is the explanation in Partridge's A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English and in Brewer's, which hold that brass tacks is rhyming slang for facts.

Just a guess, and with absolutely NO documentation to support it but seems that the brass tack decoration might serve dual purpose- counting coup, and giving a smooth-stocked gun some traction in a slippery hand.

vic

 

[Joe Yanta]

:imo:

What I have learned about brass tacks isnt much. They were used both for decorations and just way to construct a sheath or belt by the native Americans. I can make a better sheath in half the time using brass tacks than sewing with sinew. I have seen original guns with brass tacks carefully placed in the grip and forearm area of the weapon. The placement of tacks in these areas would certainly add to holding on to the piece while on horse back or on the run.

:hmm:
I am just going on recollection here and could be totally off, correct me if I am wrong. It seems to me that the eastern woodland tribes were not into brass tacks as much as the plains and southwest tribes were. Perhaps spanish traders were able to afford a bigger supply of tacks to these tribes than being freighted all the way from the east. Just a thought.

Now lets get to the "real brass tacks". Real brass tacks are hard to find. I have been disappointed buying genuine and absolute brass tacks at rendezvous, bead shops and hardware stores. They look good, with instant patina even, but they are not true brass tacks. Cheap ones are steel or pot metal painted to look like brass. Others are brass plated steel. So far the best I have found are solid brass heads or domes connected to steel nails or pins. I have not found any brass tacks of useable size that will not be picked up with a magnet.:results:

Good thread.

Joe

 

[vradin]

Now lets get to the "real brass tacks". Real brass tacks are hard to find. I have been disappointed buying genuine and absolute brass tacks at rendezvous, bead shops and hardware stores. They look good, with instant patina even, but they are not true brass tacks. Cheap ones are steel or pot metal painted to look like brass. Others are brass plated steel. So far the best I have found are solid brass heads or domes connected to steel nails or pins. I have not found any brass tacks of useable size that will not be picked up with a magnet

IME, you won't find real brass tacks except at a furniture reupholstery supply, and even then you still need to check for iron in the tack. The iron and pot metal tacks can "bleed" in humid conditions staining whatever it is stuck into.

vic

 

[Stumpkiller]

Track of the Wolf has brass headed tacks with steel shanks.

I have coned-head tacks added to my New Englander and they do add a lot to the cold-weather control with mittens or fingerless gloves.

 

[capnwilliam]

Thanks for all the info, mates. I ordered some "brass" :hmm: tacks from Crazy Crow: I'll have to do the magnet test before installation. If the heads test ferrous, I'll take Stumpkiller's suggestion and order from TOTW.

Capt. William

 

[musketman]

Remember, there's a fine line between cool and gaudy... :winking: :haha:

 

[Walker357]

Given the chance, I go for gaudy.

 

[Cherokee]

Hi guys IM new here. I would kinda like to do something with tacs on my build. I have Cherokee blood in my family and would like my rifle to reflect the Indian owned side of things.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I used 64 tacks to add a bit of uniqueness to my cookie-cutter New Englander.

 

[Jimrogers]

This was my first muzzleloader given to me by a friend looking for a rendezvous buddy for $100. A TC Hawken I tacked years ago. I've always thought it added a lot to a vanilla gun.

 

I've never seen or read about a gun belonging to a SE Indian that had tacks on it. But, then again, I'm no expert on guns. I'm not saying they didn't, we just don't know. Mainly the tacks being used on guns, have been on Western (W.of the Ms.) Indian's items; guns, knife sheaths, saddles and tomahawks.

JM2cents.

Pare-

 

[CrackStock]

Good post Pare-

Time and location drive this train. In my Rev War and early South Eastern activities, brass tacks just would not fit in.

On the other hand, Mike Nesbitt uses them for his North Western personna. They look great on his guns.

I once thought about using some brass rod to drill and insert as a decoration for kills made with my halfstock caplock guns. An inexpensive and simple method of inletting and celebrating.

YMHS,
CrackStock

 

[bovey]

Here is a source for solid brass tacks...

http://www.thetrunkshoppe.com/hardware.html

 

[Okwaho]

I agree with Pare here.I'e seen regular white beads and white wampum and paint used but never tacks on a woodland Indian gun.Granted,as Pare said, we don't know for sure since so many were either used up or buried and the wood rotted away so all I can go on is what I have seen published or written about.
Tom Patton :m2c:

 

[bob1961]

what would steel shanked tacks do to your stock if ya used them....if ya oiled in or coated them after ya put them in would that seal'um...............bob

 

Good question. And, one I don't have an answer to. I know that nails do go into wood easier when waxed though. This may be the same with tacks in a stock.

Pare-

 

[capnwilliam]

I'm glad I read Pare's post, before I started tacking; looking always for the southeastern look, not western.

Capt. William