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This is a general answer and not to any one person.
I loved competing on the Primitive Range at Friendship in the 70's because once you stepped over a line, you were only allowed to use the shooting gear and other accessories you had with you on your person. That meant your gear had to be authentic and it was about as close as what we can get to what they did back in the period. Forgot your flint and steel or tow? Sorry, you forfeited the points for that part of the competition. Forgot your balls or patching or had the WRONG size balls or patching? Sorry, you forfeited those points or shot with a bare ball, etc. Pull something out of your gear that was not authentic? Sorry, it was confiscated until given back to you AFTER the match. Broke your ramrod? Sorry, you forfeited the rest of the shots in that match unless you could cut and whittle a branch from the trees in the area of the match. You did not get to go back over the line and get the correct shooting accessories, or something you forgot, even if your wood range box WAS period correct. A Mountain Man, or Longhunter or Frontiersman back in the day was also "stuck" if something happened and he could not fix it on the spot. They had some things in the packs on their horses, but they almost never would have had a wood box to go to. Can't remember anyone having an authentic pack animal with authentic packs and gear trying to cross the line for one of those matches.....
That rule might seem too harsh for some, but that was the way we did things on the Primitive Range back then because it was the closest to what the original people did. BTW, when I ran the Northwest Trade Gun Match and before a shooter stepped over the line, I reminded him to check to see if he had everything with him/her before he/she stepped over the line before the match. Not everyone running the matches did that, but some and maybe most of us did. If you got used to having everything you needed with/on you, it also made things better for modern hunting.
I honestly can't remember anyone criticizing another person for having a plastic range box or other modern container at regular Black Powder shoots, outside of the Primitive Range or special Primitive Matches, and that includes competition all the way up to the three World Championships I attended.
Now if someone wishes to criticize me for having plastic range boxes at a regular black powder match (outside primitive events) instead of a wood box, then they better be prepared to have their gear inspected for authenticity as well. MANY wood boxes I have seen are nice boxes, BUT have the wrong construction details or hinges or locks, etc. that can not have been made prior to the WBTS or in the time period they are portraying. I would be all too happy to point out every non authentic thing about the box and every item the person has, who did something like that.
IOW, for the good of the sport and general comradery that attracts and keeps people in the hobby, if one wishes to have a wood shooting box, that's all well and good, but please don't criticize others for not having one.
Gus
I loved competing on the Primitive Range at Friendship in the 70's because once you stepped over a line, you were only allowed to use the shooting gear and other accessories you had with you on your person. That meant your gear had to be authentic and it was about as close as what we can get to what they did back in the period. Forgot your flint and steel or tow? Sorry, you forfeited the points for that part of the competition. Forgot your balls or patching or had the WRONG size balls or patching? Sorry, you forfeited those points or shot with a bare ball, etc. Pull something out of your gear that was not authentic? Sorry, it was confiscated until given back to you AFTER the match. Broke your ramrod? Sorry, you forfeited the rest of the shots in that match unless you could cut and whittle a branch from the trees in the area of the match. You did not get to go back over the line and get the correct shooting accessories, or something you forgot, even if your wood range box WAS period correct. A Mountain Man, or Longhunter or Frontiersman back in the day was also "stuck" if something happened and he could not fix it on the spot. They had some things in the packs on their horses, but they almost never would have had a wood box to go to. Can't remember anyone having an authentic pack animal with authentic packs and gear trying to cross the line for one of those matches.....
That rule might seem too harsh for some, but that was the way we did things on the Primitive Range back then because it was the closest to what the original people did. BTW, when I ran the Northwest Trade Gun Match and before a shooter stepped over the line, I reminded him to check to see if he had everything with him/her before he/she stepped over the line before the match. Not everyone running the matches did that, but some and maybe most of us did. If you got used to having everything you needed with/on you, it also made things better for modern hunting.
I honestly can't remember anyone criticizing another person for having a plastic range box or other modern container at regular Black Powder shoots, outside of the Primitive Range or special Primitive Matches, and that includes competition all the way up to the three World Championships I attended.
Now if someone wishes to criticize me for having plastic range boxes at a regular black powder match (outside primitive events) instead of a wood box, then they better be prepared to have their gear inspected for authenticity as well. MANY wood boxes I have seen are nice boxes, BUT have the wrong construction details or hinges or locks, etc. that can not have been made prior to the WBTS or in the time period they are portraying. I would be all too happy to point out every non authentic thing about the box and every item the person has, who did something like that.
IOW, for the good of the sport and general comradery that attracts and keeps people in the hobby, if one wishes to have a wood shooting box, that's all well and good, but please don't criticize others for not having one.
Gus
