Old Sturbridge Village Firearms/Militia Exhibit

[Woodwright]

Great post and photos. Thank you for taking the time. I would be there today if I was not 1,182 miles away.

 

[Anvilboy]

I was there about two weeks ago. Richard Colton was demonstrating making a fowler. He was very informative and his fowler was well constructed and light. The blacksmith was very good too! He was making box joint pliers and they were excellent.

 

[Rató:rats]

Very cool great pics
I like how they labeled their smoothbores as Fowling Piece instead of Fowler
Thanks for sharing

 

[rickystl]

Thanks so much for posting these great photos. Much appreciated.

Rick

 

[appalichian hunter]

Neat place like too visit there when up that way.

 

[hiker45acp]

Thanks for posting those photos. Great pics. I am in Eastern MA and its been 30 years since I have been there. Need to get out there and check it out. I know they have really expanded over the years ,hearing from others that have gone recently. Now I am motivated and fall is a great time to go.

 

[Brokennock]

Great stuff.
It isn't too far from me. I haven't done a tour of the place in a very long time. I stop in the shop now and then. Bought some tinware and other things like that.
Might have to tour the place again soon.

 

[Springerpanhead]

I shod the light horses used for the carriage rides at OSV and both light and heavies at Mystic Seaport for many years. ( Same contractor for rides at both places ) What appears to be a gravel road around the village is actually a very sophisticated drainage system that rapidly removes water from the ”street” so the visitors aren’t sloshing through mud. The material used for the street comes from a bank located on the south end of the property. It is extremely abrasive. At Mystic Seaport plain Hi carbon steel, extra wide shoes lasted 6 to 7 weeks, and we’re in one piece when I removed them. At Sturbridge, the same extra wides which had additionally been coated at the toe and heels with tungsten carbide, would last 19 days. If I got there on day 20, I would be removing 2 pieces because the shoe was worn completely away at the toe.

 

[Black Powder Guy]

Hi MAPMFF. Great pictures. I was there as a kid a few times. I was born a little west of there in Springfield.

 

[Buckskinquin]

More uniforms, and a few pistols including a nice pair of brass barreled English.View attachment 100811View attachment 100812View attachment 100813View attachment 100814View attachment 100815

Take a drive to Saratoga Springs Military Museum for more great military displays. As a bonus theres a great Irish Pub across the street!

 

[D.Summers]

Man, I bet that was fun! There's a museum at Luray Caverns in the great Shenandoah that has a few locally made rifles, but no displays of that caliber!

 

[MAPMFF]

As mentioned, shot some video, shot from the hip, didn't really have an organized plan in mind, just a 1:00 video of some clips. Best!

 

[MAPMFF]

Thanks for posting those photos. Great pics. I am in Eastern MA and its been 30 years since I have been there. Need to get out there and check it out. I know they have really expanded over the years ,hearing from others that have gone recently. Now I am motivated and fall is a great time to go.

Same here, up on the Northshore, only an hour twenty for me down 495/290 and the Pike to get there, I should go more often, would like to go back and get some videos around Christmas, they light the place up nicely during the evening. Plus when your done just go across the road to BT's Smokehouse for some delicious ribs and brisket.

 

[fireman1]

Thanks for posting these!! I had no idea they had guns.

OSV was one of the standard field trips when I was a kid. Probably did it 3-4 times growing up in and around Boston. I really need ot get back there with my kids and grandkids.

I still have some of the cheap souvenirs I bought back then.....pushing 50 years now.

 

[TheBoat]

I must of missed that whole exibit at Sturbridge Village in Mass. Was too busy eating the Ham and Pea Soup cooked over a wood fire as it was a cold and rainy day. Other great exibits with old stuff I have been to are the Cowboy Musem in Oklahma City, the Military Museum in OKC , The Pebody Musem in Salem Mass, the Kittery NAVAL Musem on the Portsmouth Naval shipyard. you need your CAC Card to get onbase. The have a Brass NAVY 44-40 Gattling gun and older Marine Muskets and such, I actually donated a reall cool 200 year old item they have in the glass display case. Colonial Wiliamsburg has a Great Working Museum and also old Yorktown in Jamestown VA where you can watch them fire Blanks with Matclocks. now that must have been interesting to hunt with. how do you sneek thru the wilds of the new world with a slow match burning? Does anyone know how to make these wood powder measures . Take NOTE! When he Fires the BLANK. He does NOT Point the gun at a People! that would just be stupid!

 

[kfbelk]

Thanks for the great pictures, at my age I doubt that I will ever get to visit but I will sure be able to tell my grandson’s about it.

 

[Anvilboy]

Another thing, they allow veterans free admission as does Colonial Williamsburg! Made it all that much more enjoyable!

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Awesome, thank you for posting!

 

[toot]

As @deermanok said, if you are in the area check it out, it is a good take. Almost all the trades are represented in working shops, tin maker, hooper, blacksmith, shoe maker, cabinetry, saw mill, grist mill, etc. They host a large Revolutionary War event each year, typically in August and have another smaller, 1820/30s militia muster once a year as well. I shot a little video footage, if I toss something together I'll put a link in the thread as well. Hope you enjoyed the photos

enjoyed it , yes it is a great place to go with the family. I go and participate in the 1830's militia muster. ALLEN ECKERT, who put the event on lets us have a period meal in the tavern. as said it doesn't get much better!

 

[toot]

I was there about two weeks ago. Richard Colton was demonstrating making a fowler. He was very informative and his fowler was well constructed and light. The blacksmith was very good too! He was making box joint pliers and they were excellent.

the place is a time travel, back in to the 1820-1830's. it is a NEW ENGLAND TREASURE!!