Making Accessories

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Making accoutrements is a big part of the whole traditional muzzleloader experience for me. I’m fairly certain that long hunters, farmers, explorers, settlers and all the other folks of the 18th and 19th centuries probably made a lot of their accoutrements as needed.
 
I have always purchased what I needed. My dad was good at two things, carpentry, and sales. I only received proficiency in the latter.

I buy, sell and trade guns to support my hobby. Some of them need work to make them marketable. So, I've been honing my repair skills. I've also received accessories with some of my dealings.

I did recently pick up some brass at the range thinking they'd make nice powder measurers. I forgot that I could use them for ramrod tips, also. One of my next projects will be a wooden pistol stand.

Thanks for the post. Love the ideas! And, yes, it's very satisfying doing things myself. Especially when I don't think I have any talent!

Walt
 
Making accessories can become a tangled web…

Hemp Sash 10’ x 2.5 “ for a Big Ole Boy! lol

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Making your own accoutrements is what helps makes this hobby special. It also teaches you to use a variety of hand tools that are important to master, most of which were used by our ancestors.
A small saw, file, scraper , and a gimlet or hand drill is all you need to make a powder horn. Add some needles ,linen thread, and wax and awl to make a bag. A powder measure can be made from a brass or copper tube, cane, or a hollowed horn or antler. Fun, fun, fun!

The NMLRA has many youtube videos on making these accoutrements. Check them out and join the NMLRA ,if you are not a member.
 
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I aged some bone in tea overnight and it worked great. Don't know if it would work on that. I also aged some brass with salt and vinegar and let it soak a bit too.

The best aging on brass came from rubbing it with dirty patches after cleaning the rifle...some members offered that idea.
 
I aged some bone in tea overnight and it worked great. Don't know if it would work on that. I also aged some brass with salt and vinegar and let it soak a bit too.

The best aging on brass came from rubbing it with dirty patches after cleaning the rifle...some members offered that idea.
Thank you, I am going to try these methods.
 
Long time ago, I aged some brass with Cold Blue.....Selenium dioxide. If it works , it will be quick and easy for ya. It should have some effect on copper.
 
My experience using cold blue was that it would wear off with use…
But by then you had a natural aged color anyway…👍
 
Things that one makes for oneself is called "custom". I always made equipment from whatever I had on hand or, like you, found at the range and in the woods. That in itself is a great and satisfying hobby.
 
Things that one makes for oneself is called "custom". I always made equipment from whatever I had on hand or, like you, found at the range and in the woods. That in itself is a great and satisfying hobby.
Agreed sir, making shooting accessories has become as interesting to me as the shooting itself. My goal so far has been to create only from what I can scrounge.

As a side note the activity it creates has helped me relax a bit and maybe even lose some weight. Who knew muzzleloading had health benefits?

Jeff
 
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