Not trying to pick a fight...

[IronMan]

I have a CVA Bobcat that was given to me for Christmas. It is the only BP rifle I own. At this time it has the synth stock. When I can I will replace it with wood simply because I prefer the feel of wood on a long gun. The Bobcat seems to shoot well,what little shooting I have been able to do since Christmas,but I will replace the synth stock with wood.

IronMan

 

[noahmercy]

I personally don't care for the idea as applied to my muzzleloaders. :m2c: A wood stock can be waterproofed and bedded to the point of being as inert as synthetic (thereby rendering any argument against using wood in inclement weather moot) without looking "period incorrect". And as has already been pointed out, any dings accrued while hunting are reminders of time spent afield...some of the richest times of our lives.

However...I believe synthetics have merit when training young'uns. They lack some of the finer motor skills and can bang guns up pretty efficiently. If one is more comfortable allowing the future of our sport to learn to handle fron-stuffers with a plastic-stocked sidelock, I can get behind that 100%. (Sure beats letting them play with plastic video games.) :thumbsup:

 

[sse]

I just wanted to see how people here feel about "traditional style" rifles, percussion or flintlock, with synthetic stocks?

YECCCHHHH!!!!!

 

[Tlukes]

If that is what you want.
:hmm:
I want my flinter to be as cloce to what my Forefathers used. :m2c:

 

[Claude Mathis]

Playing devil's advocate, I have to ask is your barrel and stock furniture made the same way, and of the same material, as the guns of those honored ancestors? Isn't that anachronistic?

BTW, I use the word often, I love the SCA [Society of Creative Anachronism]

Maybe I am trying to pick a fight and just don't realize it???

Maybe. I'm not sure what the point of the question is? Are you taking a poll to see who is traditionally minded as opposed to someone who doesn't care about mixing traditional and modern components? (Kind of like rubber tires on a stagecoach)

I would no more put a synthetic stock on my flintlock anymore than I would chrome the furniture on the gun to make it more "durable".

Nor would I put rubber soles on my moccasins or a battery and bulb in my candle lantern. But hey, that's just me. :haha:

 

Playing devil's advocate, I have to ask is your barrel and stock furniture made the same way, and of the same material, as the guns of those honored ancestors? Isn't that anachronistic?

BTW, I use the word often, I love the SCA [Society of Creative Anachronism]

Maybe I am trying to pick a fight and just don't realize it???

Maybe. I'm not sure what the point of the question is? Are you taking a poll to see who is traditionally minded as opposed to someone who doesn't care about mixing traditional and modern components? (Kind of like rubber tires on a stagecoach)

I would no more put a synthetic stock on my flintlock anymore than I would chrome the furniture on the gun to make it more "durable".

Nor would I put rubber soles on my moccasins or a battery and bulb in my candle lantern. But hey, that's just me. :haha:

Gee!! Claude,.... and, I was was jest think'n of put'n a "Briggs & Stratten" on one of my "long ears"!!!! :haha: :haha:

"YEEH-HAAW-PUTT-PUTT" :crackup:
YMHS
rollingb

 

[kentucky bucky]

Wouldn't hit a dog in the a** with one!!! :m2c:

 

Maybe. I'm not sure what the point of the question is? Are you taking a poll to see who is traditionally minded as opposed to someone who doesn't care about mixing traditional and modern components? (Kind of like rubber tires on a stagecoach)

I would no more put a synthetic stock on my flintlock anymore than I would chrome the furniture on the gun to make it more "durable".

Nor would I put rubber soles on my moccasins or a battery and bulb in my candle lantern. But hey, that's just me. :haha:

I guess where I'm coming from is economy and survival. I love doing living history, I truly do. But I've slept through the eyes of two terrible hurricanes, Betsy 1965 and Camile 1969 and know what its like to go from modern civilization to stoneage survival overnight. I wasn't brave, sleeping through such stressful times is my body's way of dealing with that stress.

But cost keeps many a person from exploring our united interest in blackpowder firearms. I feel if it gets smoke in their nose, then its the first step in the addiction of blackpowder and living history. Give people an inexpensive way to explore our hobby/sport/life style and our ranks will grow. But, if many insist on being stitch nazis and button counters, you will thin your numbers to a few purists. I love quality, but there strength in numbers. And the numbers should be educated, not ridiculed.

Just :m2c:

 

[Ohio Joe]

Claypipe,

We know how you feel about synthetic stocks on a traditional style muzzleloader. That's fine. Now an early handgonne is a muzzleloader, (like the one your holding in Buckskinner Magazine), are you saying it is o'kay with you to use a synthetic stock on it?

Just wondering, not trying to put you on the spot. Someone writes an article about such things, I wonder how they feel if it carries over into what they enjoy doing?

 

[Dave Poss]

True story...I knew a guy who made a beautiful set of handsewn buckskin clothes....then went to his garage and made fiberglass buttons for them that looked just like antler!!!!!! ::
point is: the mixing of modern and traditional is sorta like smoking a cigar while loading your blackpowder rifle...it just shouldn't be done! :cry:
But, like others have said, "it's your gun."

 

Claypipe,
We know how you feel about synthetic stocks on a traditional style muzzleloader. That's fine. Now an early handgonne is a muzzleloader, (like the one your holding in Buckskinner Magazine), are you saying it is o'kay with you to use a synthetic stock on it?

Just wondering, not trying to put you on the spot. Someone writes an article about such things, I wonder how they feel if it carries over into what they enjoy doing?

I enjoy living history, but if it comes down to looking good at an event or eating. I'm eating. I don't see this so much as a hobby, but as a way of life. Granted, synthetic materials don't belong at a living history event. But I'm not looking at just Voo's, I'm looking at natural diasters, depressions, recessions and the like. I'm happy for the many who can be blissfully ignorant of hunger. I teach my children wood craft and lore, so that they never have to panic in times of naught. Am I nuts? If so, then so were our ancestors who survived with what they had on hand and made do with it.

But I also see many a soul turned off by the attitudes of the purist that don't give them a chance to learn from their mistakes or looks down their nose and ridicules newbies because all they can afford is a cheap Spanish made rifle.

In answer to your question I would refer to the SCA guideline of:
The only requirement to come to an event is that you make some attempt at pre-1600 costume

Members of the SCA are a nurturing lot and welcome all to attend their events, even if they are not members of the SCA or PC in their dress. Living History is an expensive hobby, no matter the time period. Many a scadian will give you the shirt off their back in time of need. Basically, it comes down to this, don't turn away some newbie simply because his costume isn't made with the right material or doesn't have the right buttons or can't afford a custom made flintlock. Give them a chance to grow into the sport. I want to have fun, and at no one's expense.

Just :m2c:

 

Claypipe,.... What makes you think traditional rendezvous don't have the same required "make some attempt" rule thet the SCA has????

I'm sure the SCA is a fine group, and I'm glad to see they have the same attitude towards "newbies" thet traitional fellas have at rendezvous!!

rollingb

 

BTW, even though I have an Ithaca Model 37 with a synthetic stock and a Remington 11-48, its my front stuffers I take to the woods when its deer season, even if its shotgun season. Modern Rifles are not allowed for deer here in Massachusetts. The 37 I prefer for home defense and the 1148 I use for grouse and pheasant. Though that may change, now that I have a 16 gauge rolling block shotgun.

Again, just :m2c:

 

I too, hunt only with muzzleloaders, even when I lived in interior Alaska. Have'n sold all my centerfires over 20 years ago (except my rollingblock "collection"), I git the most enjoyment from hunt'n with the muzzleloaders I build.

rollingb

 

Been to a few voo's up here in the Northeast. Some years ago, I watched a fella dressed as a "Cheyene dog soldier" cuss out a mother who came to pick up her daughter, who was visiting with a friend for the day. Because mom wasn't in period dress, he wouldn't let her enter the site. That rose my hackles so much I walked up and told him off. The daughter was a minor, what right did he have to keep mom from picking up her daughter, even if it meant mom had to walk into camp in non-period clothes. When my friend, who is a true Cheyenne Dog Soldier, a Vietnam Vet and runs an annual Pow-Wow/Voo up here, heard what happen it took half an hour to calm him down. He wanted that fool's hair.

 

[Ohio Joe]

The only people I have seen break the rules of a time dated event are those who believe they are above the rules. 65 lodges in a Rendezvous Camp can not be wrong especially when the folks in those lodges are abiding by the ground rules.

I have never seen anyone turned away who has made the effort to learn so they could participate in the events at Rendezvous...

I have seen those who don't care what the rules are, and don't even try to change. If it says traditional style clothing,,, traditional sidelock with wood stock, fixed sights, and patched roundball only, then that is exactly what it is.

If the fence straddlers don't like it, they can stay home. Were not going to extend the 1840 cutoff date just so someone can stand on a firing line with a traditional muzzleloading group, while they are wearing sunglasses, blue jeans, cowboy boots, and a baseball cap, shooting their modern muzzleloader. It just ain't gonna happen...
Nylon tents are not going to happen in Rendevous Camp either...

Now this may offend some folks... You don't think the person that is above the rules isn't offending those who follow the rules...

Buckskinners bend over backwards to help out the newbies... Anyone that tells you different just don't know buckskinners.

If you want to be modern, then look for modern events. If you want to know about a traditional time period, come and visit the Rendezvous Camps on visiting day.

You'll get to do things you never thought you were capable of, and you can wear your tourist shorts and tennis shoes on those visiting days. You'll get the best visiting you have ever experienced, and some grub that'll taste mighty good!

I just don't have any idea where some people get the notion that us buckskinners aren't friendly and helpful... I expect it comes from the fence straddlers who find it easy to complain about something they know nothing about because they never took the time to ask... Now that's my two cents worth. eace:

 

Claypipe,.... I understand what yore say'n,.... but, you have to understand also, thet with all the participants across this nation involved with rendezvous,.. ther are bound to be a few "bad apples"!!

I don't like it any more then you do,.... and, I always do what I can, to prevent such things whenever I can.

YMHS
rollingb/Rondo

 

[Huntinfool]

"The only requirement to come to an event is that you make some attempt at pre-1600 costume"

In that case why don't you wear a synthetic helmet and paint it silver, or maybe you already do. Now I'm not trying to pick a fight but I do have a rifle that is made just like those in the 18th century with maple wood.

I wouldn't dream of stripping the finish as you said because of a few scratches. Heck I noticed some new dings in her today while at the range. And I'll put my rifle up against any synthetic stock gun out there. Especially when it comes to survival and puttin' meat on the table!

She's a beauty and she shoots dang near perfect! I just can't see her in a synthetic dress No Sir!

She'll get er done too! Here's my 3X5 card from today at the range 25 yards offhand. Next time I hope I don't drop my 3rd shot! LOL!

YMH&OS, :redthumb:
Chuck!

 

Chuck, absolutely beautiful pistol and rifle. Where did you get the pistol and what caliber is it?

Vic

 

If you're talking about survival in it's truest sense in the modern world you'd be much better served with something other than a muzzleloader whether it's stock is plastic or wood. As for surviving in cities I couldn't tell you a thing as I've never lived in one nor will I ever live in one, can't stand any of 'em. I darn sure wouldn't live in The Socialist Republic of Massachussets. Ah ain't never lived nowheres but in the country fer muh whole life! I can tell you a thing or three about survivin' in the mountains or here in the Ozarks........heck....we grew up just barely survivin'!!!!!! We wuz so poor down here we didn't know the Great Depression was over til 1968.

Vic