NAPR

[hepburn4590]

Several years ago there used to be an organization called "The National Association of Primitive Riflemen." I am assuming that it is now defunt. Or is it? If it is, are there any remnants of it left? Could it be resurected? There seems to be a concern in some places on this forum that we've strayed from the 'way.' Might this be an avenue of return?

 

[Many Klatch]

NAPR went under about 20 years ago. They had some problems and a lot of people were upset with them. I don't know that there are too many that want to see NAPR resurrected.

Many Klatch

 

[omarick1948]

I think the biggest problem with the NAPR was the leadership.....not the organization!

I enjoyed their BUCKSKIN REPORT magazine...still have and re-read all the back issues, from time to time.

 

[mazo kid]

As Many Klatch said, the organization went under several years ago. Before their demise, there were Western Nat'l. Rendezvous that were run jointly by NAPR and NMLRA. There was some controversy and NAPR split off, ran their own rendys for a couple of years, if memory serves me. I still have two dues cards, one signed by John Baird and the other by his son David after John stepped down as honcho. John Baird published The Buckskin Report magazine for several years (and later the Black Powder Cartridge Rifle was incorporated) and wrote 2-3 books on Hawken rifles.
I think if you wanted to resurrect the NAPR organization, it would have to be started from scratch.
I still have and enjoy re-reading my Buckskin Report magazines from time to time and have duplicate copies of most issues.

 

[Dphar]

Several years ago there used to be an organization called "The National Association of Primitive Riflemen." I am assuming that it is now defunt. Or is it? If it is, are there any remnants of it left? Could it be resurected? There seems to be a concern in some places on this forum that we've strayed from the 'way.' Might this be an avenue of return?

The problem with NAPR was basically that John Baird thought he could print the truth. You can print the truth. But you cannot keep a magazine solvent in this manner, you must print what is good and generally not mention something that is bad. Nor does printing the truth prevent frivolous law suits. Telling the truth can kill off the advertising and a magazine lives or dies on this. John pushed a button too many in this regard and money got short.
John eventually bowed out and Dave, his oldest son took over. Dave had the magazine (and the organization) within a few months of being solvent again when the bankers shut them down.
Was really sad for everyone involved...
There is a place for the magazine I think and the organization but you would need someone to start it up again. A great many people who were shooting MLs in the Buckskin Report days are now shooting BPCR. Had John been able to buy a permanent rendezvous site as he wanted things might have been better as well. 20-20 hindsight would have the organization and magazine(s) still going full ahead with different choices early on. But hindsight is not reality.

Dan

 

[ameling]

The NAPR was started as a result of the interest generated by the people subscribing to The Buckskin Report magazine. People wanted something more than the NMLRA - and its emphasis on paper-punching at Friendship. So people started talking about creating an organization, and Mr. Baird took the lead in creating it. Then the magazine changed names to become The Buckskin Report, and various orginizational problems cropped up - along with shifting visions of its future. But the focal point always was the magazine.

And what a great magazine it was in its time. It started mostly with a focus on the Rocky Mountain fur trade, but kept expanding and exploring other time periods. They ran one of the first series of articles on Roger's Ranges, and many things associated with the Rev War. And one of the best introductions to the Longhunters was in an article written in the November 1977 issue Vol. 5 No. 2 called AN INTRODUCTION TO THE LONG HUNTER 1761 - 1774 by Curtis R. Triplett - 5 pages worth with over a half page of notes/bibliography. It pretty much led to the research and writing of M Baker's book Sons of a Trackless Forest.

That particular issue also has an article by Terry C. Johnston called From This Soil. It lists several hundred names of people associated with the western fur trade, along with their birthdate and where they were born or came from. (Like Peg-Leg Smith was born in 1801 in Garrard County KY or John Jacob Astor 1763 in Waldorf, Duchy of Baden Germany, or Osbourne Russell 1814 in Bowdoinham Maine)

In the end, it would be better to join an existing organization or start a new one than try to ressurrect the NAPR.

Just my humble thoughts to share. Take them as such.

Mikey - yee ol' grumpy German blacksmith out in the Hinterlands

p.s. I have most of the issues of The Buckskin Report, The Black Powder Report, and Black Powder Catridge Firearms. Many I received when I subscribed, the rest I picked up from people "cleaning out" their closets. I even have duplicates of about half - from buying/trading for the whole "stack" from buddies cleaning house. Great reference material. But also very interesting to see the progression as new research/information has come out.

p.p.s. Anybody remember the American Rondezvous Magazine?

 

[mazo kid]

Mike, yep, I remember the American Rendezvous magazine. Still have my copies, the few they published. As I recall, they were about the first muzzleloading/rendezvous magazine to publish in color and I think that did them in. They still owe me for a years subscription. As long as we are reminiscing.... there was a rendezvous/black powder publication out of Canada about the same time, can't think of the name right now; that didn't last long either. And THEY still owe me a years subscription too!
Emery

 

[TANSTAAFL]

I am one of the remnants from NAPR of the 70s/80s, it was great while it lasted. The blow up with NMRLA IMO came when NMLRA decided they could not stand competition from the the western upstart and started dictating terms and conditions etc. We bucked up from the chafing and split off from NMRLA, then internal bickering started as to what direction to take the group, and the rest is history.

 

[TANSTAAFL]

In the end, it would be better to join an existing organization or start a new one than try to ressurrect the NAPR.

I have often thought that Claude is in a better position to start up such an organization than anyone around at this time. But I would not pretend suggesting to Claude that he do so, for the task would be daunting indeed and fraught with innumerable risks.

 

[mazo kid]

You are right, it would be an enormous job. BUT.... Just look at the talent you could draw from for articles!! Emery

 

[ameling]

Unfortunately, internal club "politics", personal ego's, greed, and divergent "visions" of the path/future are hard to overcome when creating an organization. Volume (as in numbers of people) and the physical area that separates them are huge obsticles to overcome.

I remember all that NAPR stuff, and some of the almost-takeover by the NMLRA. Yes, I've also lived through several small clubs dissintegrating - and one currently trying to die. So now I try hard to stay away from ... clubs.

So it goes.

Mikey - yee ol' grumpy German blacksmith out in the Hinterlands

p.s. The really unfortunate DEATH of a club tends to come from the personal greed of one or more individuals within it. People who have some uncontrolled urge to make money off of the club for their own pockets. And they usually can't understand why other people would object to that. The club will start to die the moment that ... disease ... is allowed to take hold within it.

Sorry for the rant - too many bad experiences in the past ....

 

[Claude Mathis]

In the end, it would be better to join an existing organization or start a new one than try to ressurrect the NAPR.

I have often thought that Claude is in a better position to start up such an organization than anyone around at this time. But I would not pretend suggesting to Claude that he do so, for the task would be daunting indeed and fraught with innumerable risks.

I've considered it. I have incorporated other non-profits, but that's the easy part. Anyone can "start" an organization/magazine, etc. The hard part is finding the time necessary to do it properly.

Who knows, perhaps someday the stars will line up just right?

 

[TANSTAAFL]

In the end, it would be better to join an existing organization or start a new one than try to ressurrect the NAPR.

I have often thought that Claude is in a better position to start up such an organization than anyone around at this time. But I would not pretend suggesting to Claude that he do so, for the task would be daunting indeed and fraught with innumerable risks.

I've considered it. I have incorporated other non-profits, but that's the easy part. Anyone can "start" an organization/magazine, etc. The hard part is finding the time necessary to do it properly.

Who knows, perhaps someday the stars will line up just right?

Well, if if it should come to pass, just say the word and a $100.00 check is in the mail to help with seed money , and I am sure many others here would contribute likewise.

I think it would be fantastic to have a yearly, rondy, encampment, frolic (or whatever the name) to be held alternatively in different parts of the country. There would be nothing comparative in the muzzleloading world to a week of fun and games with our likeminded people found here at the MLF.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Old thread. I just 'discovered' a long stored patch jacket that has an NAPR patch on it. I was a member and remember the split from NMLRA. Several other ronny organizations also split for similar reasons.