Brass Tacks

[dispatch 510]

Hello to everyone,i am kindly new here,just lurking around.great source of info.anyway my ? is where do you find brass tacks.i've got a 45 cal hawkins that i would like to decorate. thanks in advance for any help.

 

[musketman]

Most good muzzleloader suppliers will cary them, as so your local hardware, be sure to get solad tacks, not the brass plated ones...

Crazy Crow Trading Post carries them...

http://www.crazycrow.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?

Just type in "brass tacks" in their search box...

 

[Le Mamou]

"Track of the Wolf" also carries brass tacks.

Avant Jour

 

[bovey]

Also try the Trunk Shoppe...

http://www.thetrunkshoppe.com/

Click on "Hardware and Restoratives"

 

[Johnny Tremain]

Most good muzzleloader suppliers will cary them, as so your local hardware, be sure to get solad tacks, not the brass plated ones...

Crazy Crow Trading Post carries them...

http://www.crazycrow.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?

Just type in "brass tacks" in their search box...

Thanks, Ive been looking for nickel brass tacks for week.

Gottem now :-D

 

[Packdog]

I can't say for sure but I have read over and over that the trunk shop tacks are period correct or at least close. Something about the dome shape. Maybe someone else can add to that.

 

[musketman]

Most good muzzleloader suppliers will cary them, as so your local hardware, be sure to get solad tacks, not the brass plated ones...

Crazy Crow Trading Post carries them...

http://www.crazycrow.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?

Just type in "brass tacks" in their search box...

Thanks, Ive been looking for nickel brass tacks for week.

Gottem now :-D

No problem, it was easy for me to find because I'm "tacky"... :haha:

 

I can't say for sure but I have read over and over that the trunk shop tacks are period correct or at least close. Something about the dome shape. Maybe someone else can add to that.

Yes the Trunk Shoppe tacks are the only PC pre-1840's tacks available (actually pre-1860 or so when the steel shank tacks began being made.)
Pre-1840 tacks were cast all in one piece with a square shank - dome shape varied depending on country of origin.
The wrench in the works though is cost the PC tacka start at $.45 EACH - steel shank tacks on the other hand are much less expensive - of course if one truly wants to be PC than the extra cost will be a secondary consideration.

see The Museum of the Fur Trade Quarterly Vol 18 Nos 1 & 2 for a good article.

 

[crockett]

Square shank??? I suppose you could get some brass rod and solder on new shanks. Does anyone know what the width was on the square shank? 3/32? 1/16? Etc. Thanks :master:

 

One example - Head sizes varied from 1/4" to 1/2" or so. Shanks are tapered square so soldering new ones on would be VERY labor intensive and therefore not cost effective - at least not if you're making a living at it like I do. Plus you'd still not be historically correct since the early originals like those from the Trunk Shoppe are solid cast one piece units not a head with a separate soldered on shank.

 

[crockett]

Thanks. What I was thinking about was a tack type sheath. I have been told the use of tacks, even on a sheath is more Indian than Mountain Man and if I did a mountain man type to only use a few tacks, I figured I could snap off the steel shanks and solder on some brass so that if you look at the back of the sheath there will be brass rather than steel.
In any event- thanks for the help.

Crockett