Can I use this rifle at Rendezvous?

[bobthemotorcycle]

I was at a civil war reenactment at Pea Ridge today and while there I met a man who does rendezvous. I have all my stepdads rendezvous stuff and am thinking of joind in the fun.

I do not have his .50cal Thompson/Hawkens Percusion Rifle but I do have my moms old .36 cal Thompson/Hawken Percusion Rifle.

Is it allowed to be used for the time period of pre-1840?

Here is a picture, I know the pistol is not allowed.

 

[lonehorseman]

"Pre 1840" covers a lot of ground. It depends on the time period portrayed at the event. I attend Revolutionary Period Rondys and reenactments; percussion guns are not permitted. If I remember correctly, percussion was invented around 1830, but did not see widespread use until 1840 and later. I am sure both would work for CW period events.

 

[Prairieofthedog]

Bobby Guapo,even tho your .36 is not PC-HC for the Pre-1840 era,I think it would be excepted at most Rondy's.At least in my area.Most Rondy's are pretty loose on the firearms end of things,no inlines of course LOL.Most Rondy's around here require round ball,iron sights and period dress.Take care of your moms gun,it is one of TC's most collected guns.It is a .36 Seneca and a beautiful handling gun.Try the Rondy's they are a blast.

 

[stinkyfeet]

The TC is a popular gun for the mountain man at the rendevous's. I shoot a full stock flintlock hawkens, a lyman gpr percussion, and the wife when she shoots uses a tc hawkens in 50 and we have never been turned away from any pre-1840 events ever. When in doubt call ahead and ask, but most of us started with a TC and in my experience are widely accepted if not using a peep sight.

 

[bobthemotorcycle]

Yep, its Mountain Man pre 1840 type Rendezvous.

I like hearing that the .36 cal is sweet shooting. For some reason the old west really liked the .36 cal. I notice that profesional gunfighters like .36 cal pistol and I notice a lot of guys who shoot a lot of black powder rifle like the .36 cal and call it a great squrial gun.

I am very interested in getting more involved with this rifle. My son actually owns it now but I am going to ask him to let me use it for a few years.

The people in the old days used their guns to live on way more than we do so I am interested in learning what they knew.

Man this blackpowder stuff is addictive. Today I was thinking of selling my Harley Davidson to finance my future blackpowder wants, is that crazy or what. I will not sell it for that reason but my goodness, just thinking about it blew me away.

How hard is it to build rifle kits. I want a realy nice maple wood rifle that can shoot really straight.

 

[George T.]

Your right that is scary! However you asked a good question.

The fact that so many black powder clubs are hung up on P/C stuff is one of the many reasons that our sport is getting smaller all of the time.

I have seen posts that say thet we need another movie that shows the MLR era. I do not know what the answer is but hanging up on the clothes and rifles is not going to grow this sport.

Geo. T.

 

[necchi]

I do not know what the answer is but hanging up on the clothes and rifles is not going to grow this sport.

Yeah right, tell that to the guy that just dumped $1000, on camp gear so he could participate, when he's standing on the shooting line next to some guy in Bluejeans and a Baseball cap shooting a plastic stock Bobcat.

You really need to actually get to some Rendezvous Geo T before you pass judgement so quick.
New to it people with little gear are usually welcome, but they will get the idea that to continue participating it's gonna take some effort.

If they don't want to get the gear, then they have made the choice not to join,,

 

[outbackzack]

As a casual, backyard BP enthusiast, that is the attitude that keeps me from large events. I have a lovely traditional Hawkens style cap lock, but I also have a synthetic stocked flinter, because it was a gift. I enjoy both. I do not enjoy being looked down upon just because I don't feel like dropping thousands of dollars to fit in.


I have enough sense that I would not show up at an event with the plastic flinter, but really, if I am just going for a day, I would wear blue jeans and a baseball cap.

 

[Rifleman1776]

It would depend on the time period the ronny depicts. Some cut off at 1830. Also it depends on the individual rules of the event. However, most are very accepting of newcomers and allow minor 'sins' like your rifle. It is how the avocation grows. But, I guarantee, after one event you will be shopping for a more period correct flinter. :grin: Go and enjoy.

 

[necchi]

Nay sayers, Read this;

If folks can't spring for a 12 dollar painter pants,cut the pockets off, and a cheap drop sleeve shirt after an event or two,,,
,, Stay home.

 

[Baxter]

I appreciate the "exception of newcomers and visitors" in the advert and your notation regarding "an event or two". Footwear might be a budget killer ; breechcloth and barefoot, as in really primitive? baxter

 

[necchi]

Go on over to the local Goodwill/Savers/Second hand store an keep an eye out for some "bedroom slippers"
At Bemidji they are not real worried, anything but white/colored tennis shoes will work.
Don't fret too much, just getting to one and seeing first hand what's going on is what matters at this point, :wink:

 

[lonehorseman]

Bobby, as you can see, there are varying opinions on this hobby/sport. The best thing YOU can do, is decide what interests you most. If you just want to go to a range and shoot, then any gun (even one with a plastic stock) will work. Some muzzleloading clubs are built around shooting ONLY, but most are organized around a particular time period, and YES, you have to conform to their rules to participate. If you are interested in a certain period, YOU will need to do some research. Many participants are bound by the history of their geographic area. Here, in KY, most of our grandest history (My opinion) occurred in the mid-late 1700's. While there are a number of shoots that allow percussion guns, all of the 18th Century re-enactments require flintlocks. There is nothing wrong with going to a reenactment in jeans, if you just want to look around as a visitor. Participation, on the other hand, requires more involvement. This has nothing to do with anyone being snooty, or trying to limit participation, it is all about staying true to the event period being portrayed. Does this exclude some people? Yes, but in the same way Honda owners are excluded from Harley Shows! As Necchi said, it can be expensive to get into the hobby, but most worthwhile things are not free. How much you want to spend is entirely up to you. Some guys walk in with a rifle and the clothing on their backs; others show up with a trailer! I must admit to being the latter, and right now I could use a larger trailer. This stuff is addictive!

 

[Baxter]

Thanks, again. Not sure I want to put my feet into somebody else's cast off footwear.. I will email Janet to get an idea of what to expect - probably won't require us (daughter and me) to wear greenhorn signs. "Spanish dancing shoes" (George Herter's description of cowboy boots) are all that I own. Never will know if we don't try. baxter

 

[zimmerstutzen]

A pair of leather moccasin slippers from a discount store (with leather soles, not hard soles,) will probably get you by.

There is a reason why some groups want to stay as HC as possible. They spend a great deal of time and effort to maintain their historically correct charactoer and don't wish to share their rendy with blue jeans a vinyl possible fanny pack and a polyester Ponderosa shirt.

There are lots of rendys that tolerate newbies and anachronistic mixes of gear. When I started there was a guy that showed up and wore suede zippered chaps, a fringed zippered blue suede jacket and motorcycle boots. Four years later, he still dressed the same way. Other newbies, including me made the effort to learn what was appropriate and tried to stay in period dress.

 

[S.Kenton]

The local Rondys that I go to do not require full dress to participate any of the shoots.They're glad to see ya no matter what your wearing. That kind of attitude is needed in our sport. IMHO

 

[Coot]

Well, "our sport" covers a lot of ground, so what one person finds interesting or fun about a muzzleloader may not have any appeal to another. If all someone wants to do is shoot in competitions, then the type of clothing worn is not important - an accurate gun is. On the other hand, if the interest is in reenactments where only blanks are fired, then the accuracy that is important is of the historical rather than 10 ring kind. Some who fancy hunting may find the quest for extreme accuracy of either of the foregoing types a bit amusing as they measure things by putting meat on the table. I have found the vast majority of clubs & events to welcome visitors but if someone wants to participate in that clubs events, then expecting them to share that groups interests and values only seems reasonable.

 

[George T.]

One thing though they chose to buy those fancy duds! We have people that come to out monthly matches that dress in the correct garb. However the majority say 35 to 3 choose to wear standard street clothes. My point is that it is a dieing sport we are part of. Anything that we can do to expand membership will benefit our sport in general. Just saying! geo. T.

 

[necchi]

Yeah, I hear that "dieing" part all the time but I'm not seeing it around here, :idunno:

Like my poster say's new folks are welcome,, I have seen where repeat folks are allowed to come an shoot anytime they want, and their scores will be recognized by all but when it comes to passing out awards or the booty for the compition they aren't counted.

It's the same as when I started, comming to shoots in street clothes, then getting clothes but in my old nylon tent "outside", then getting my first camp,, I wanted in,,,
I have loaned shirts and spare mocs to plenty of folks, even rifles, the "loaner gear" is actually part of my camp boxes,,

Again new guys are heartily welcomed and encouraged, but there comes a time to step up to the plate.

NMLRA started letting inlines in, now I hear their membership is dropping, :idunno:

 

[Archie]

Thanks for posting the flyer Necchi. I might just show up as a visitor one of those days just to get a feel for the activities. If you are going to be there shoot me an email or pm when it gets closer.