This whole business of making your own stuff

[rich pierce]

I've made a lot of my own stuff since the 1970s and have made and sold a few knives, horns and rifles. The lack of good " goods" and the opportunity to get outfitted for less by doing it myself got me started. I also had the naive idea prevalent at the time and still common now, that our forefathers made much to most of their own gear. Now I have a better idea of the trade goods available in colonial America, I am not as broke, and enjoy buying some fine reproductions from excellent craftsmen. We've come a long ways in our understanding of period goods and crafts.

But it is sure a lot of fun to make something needed that works well enough, looks pretty good, and builds new skills.

 

[tenngun]

I have a coat made for reinacting in the late 70s. The stylingis right and all hand sewn, but chrom tanned gold deer skin and beaded about the cape,I wear it to town now,it aint been to camp since the 90s. I also have a gold yellow deerskin coat that again is cut historicly and wool lined that was made for town not camp. Today I'm all cloth and a little brain tan and no fringe yellow.
Live and learn or you dont live very long

 

[BillinOregon]

"As near as I can tell the only thing "right" in it is that I am not naked and the dulcimer looks good."

:rotf: :rotf: :rotf:

 

[zimmerstutzen]

The first thing I made was a ball starter. Tacky by any standards, Some chemical reaction in the stain turned it purplish blue. (With a brass half moon inlet on it.)

I have probably made a few dozen ball starters over the years. Plastic, wood, horn, antler, etc. Some are better than others, some may look good to others yet I see only the errors and flaws in them. Some are actually pretty good. Each was a learning chapter. In sanding, buffing, inletting, polishing, mounting tips etc. Each time I progressed in technique and knowledge, I could carry that over to other items and my other projects got better.

 

[OldJoe212]

Well said Bill... Live and learn... As folks learn more about MLing, they'll change. I'm new to this forum but I squeezed off my first BP charge in 1975. At the time, I thought my CVA Kentucky looked pretty good. I still keep it in the corner to remind my just how far I came.
What I always tell newbees is to pick up a Dixie catalog. They won't know what most of that stuff is, but Turner's comments and tips go a long way. Also, get a copy of Foxfire 5. A lot of good rifle building knowledge. I build most of my rifles in the Hershal House manner. And thirdly, rent or buy a DVD of "The Gunsmiths of Williamsburg". Watching an artist is pure pleasure.
Most of us started off the same. It would have been nice back then if someone was there to point us in the right direction. Be that "someone".

Merry Christmas to all.

 

[hobowonkanobe]

I've got 20 years of sewin' and a swearin' behind me. And in that time, my knowledge, experience and thirst for facts (having only had a cple people laugh at my claims of historical accuracy will sting longer than any wld wish) and more and yet more research.
That being said, I am periodically broadsided by another random epiphony; Just because I have the ability, does not equivalate w the desire. In short, no amount of coffee will get me off my duff sometimes. That and sometimes especially seeing as many companies are coming out w more and more accurate representations of historical kit, their advertised warranty has more of a pleasant ring than the periodical note of satisfaction of having dome it "M'se'ff!" as the former means if it is messed up or what have you, you can in most cases get a new one of a refund. If you are the craftsman,... well, all you can do is yell at the mirror.
I'm still stichin and a bit... never mind, but not nearly as much as the early years. It just depends on what it is. I am apparently off the beaten path that I have been surprised at just how many things I want or wld like to use just are not made by anyone, or if they are, they are psychotically priced.
SO, yeah, merit in both it wld seem, for me as well.

 

[Blizzard of '93]

this is a very good thread.
IMO until a BP enthusiast casts the balls/slugs he needs for his firearms plus makes his own knife he will not feel complete.
myself I own a TC 'patriot' combo and 2 cva .50 cappers and a cva hawken capper pistol I reamed and honed out to smoothy .54. this is my 'trekking gun' as I shoot #5 shot plus prb. the shot loads have provided me many meals of small game/birds on a trek. and the prb is for protection if needed.

 

[Ken Cormier]

Wow that was just how I got started in l978 as a kid now just another old gray beard lol .Had to make all my gear could not afford to buy anything just barley pay camping fees and gas man that wasfun

 

[coloradoclyde]

I think fear prevents more people from making their own stuff than a lack of skill, talent, or knowledge.

I don’t recall who said it,( but I think it is someone’s signature on this forum )“happiness is eating jerky you made yourself from a deer you shot with a round ball you cast shot from a gun you made”
A quote like that is worthy of being inscribed into stone. :thumbsup:

 

[Wes/Tex]

You know Bill, I still think we need to hunt up our oldest muzzleloading outfit pictures and see who looked the most like they'd go unnoticed in 1969 San Francisco! I remember some pretty "far out" outfits being made back then! If it was fringy and not too green and orange..."I's a mountainy man, by god!" Jeepers, Batman, that'd be a 'rogues gallery' for sure!! :rotf: Where'd the fun go? :idunno: :wink: