Winter Projects

[wtilenw]

I havnt been here (The Forum) too long but it seems that the conversations are changing. Our hunting seasons have been over, here in Idaho for some time now. Seems like some of You have just said goodbye to the last of Yours. I guess we all have to give way, reluctantly, to winter and the cold season. This is when we all do our "Winter Projects" You know, the stuff we all put off because, for now we can hunt or shoot instead. How many of You actually welcome the time to do these projects and how many of us just have used it as an excuse all fall to put stuff off? I personally cant wait until it is warm enough outside to go shooting and wear a tee shirt. The part of winter that has no hunting seasons left is hard for me to get through anymore. Seems like it just complicates work and everyday life. At the last of the Fall season though, we all have been caught praying for " Weather". I am excited about this years possibilities for hunting and cant wait until April 15th. Opening day of Turkey season here in Idaho. I want to use my new (to me) Blackpowder shotgun!! My winter project will be to brave the weather and work up loads for my new Blackpowder Shotgun. What's Your "Winter Project"?
Idaho PRB :hmm:

 

[BrownBear]

Our ptarmigan season runs through April and the snowshoe hare season never closes. If the weather's good I'll be out in the hills. If the weather's bad, I'll be home. But since the weather's bad, it will be mostly inside chores.

Sure would like to build a ML, but I don't want to start one till my schedule clears up a bit so I can stick to it for as long as it takes. Been thinking about making a possible bag. Saw a really nice pair of holsters or "buckets" for ML pistols at Williamsburg recently that had bear hide flaps to shed water. Now THAT would be a heck of an idea for a possibles bag! Functional and good looking.

 

[shmrck1]

IdahoPRB,
i spend a lot more time reading in the winter,
on B/P subjects as much as possible. then there is always this forum to take up time and of course there's
the dreaded work!!!!
snake-eyes eace: :thumbsup:

 

[Rocky Johnson]

Winter projects:: Rain or a real bad snow storm is the only thing that keeps me inside,I have a beagle and some black power shot guns and I love to ice fish for bluegills. I did build a cedar bench an an ice shelter while it was raining and the ice was gone. :winking: Rocky

 

Well, my "Winter project" is going to be self centered and self absorbed to the max. My winter project is going to be me. I am going to reshape my body and mind to the greatest extent that I can (for a 54 year old guy). I need to loose 40 more pounds and get back as much of my former interest in reading and self directed studying as I possibly can. I also am going to change my entire weight lifting scheme to lighter weights and more reps and add some more walking miles to maybe kick it up to 20 a week from the 15 it is now. I am going to read some John Steinbeck, Pearl Buck, Walt Witman, Thorton Wilder, John LeCarie, Thomas Mann and ofcourse everything I can get my hands on that was written by Robert Ruark. I am not going to look at a wood plane, touch a screw driver or pick up a saw. If a pipe breaks -- I am calling a plumber.

 

[roundball]

Well, my "Winter project" is going to be self centered and self absorbed to the max. My winter project is going to be me. I am going to reshape my body and mind to the greatest extent that I can (for a 54 year old guy). I need to loose 40 more pounds and get back as much of my former interest in reading and self directed studying as I possibly can. I also am going to change my entire weight lifting scheme to lighter weights and more reps and add some more walking miles to maybe kick it up to 20 a week from the 15 it is now. I am going to read some John Steinbeck, Pearl Buck, Walt Witman, Thorton Wilder, John LeCarie, Thomas Mann and ofcourse everything I can get my hands on that was written by Robert Ruark. I am not going to look at a wood plane, touch a screw driver or pick up a saw. If a pipe breaks -- I am calling a plumber.

Refinish a spare .54cal TC Hawken Flintlock stock;

Continue selling off extra TC Hawken percussion items, centerfire rifles, and handguns I no longer use;

Catch up on house & auto chores;

Shoot flintlocks every weekend;

Try turkey's in April;

eace:

 

[RussB]

roundball seez; "Shoot flintlocks every weekend; Try turkey's in April;"

And old Russ is going to do his best to emulate this very same thing.
You reach a point in life where you need , a plumber, a mechanic, a painter, and the kid up the street.

There is also that point where life takes on some very serious priorities and, the house and truck, along with the wifes car, are just not included.

Russ

 

[2172]

My hunting partner and I hunt once a week, his work schedule, until our final season closes, the end of Feb., then we switch to hiking the same area once a week....indoors, I've been renewing interest in an old, 1974 CVA Mountain rifle that I reworked a few years ago..am thinking about a new possible bag, making a horn for a friend, a couple of knife sheaths...am having real problems with arthritis for the first time in my life, and am more limited than I like..Hank

 

[bob1961]

i think it's going to be a horn, possibles bag, .54 rifle i need to build and all that good junk that goes with it....also going to start buiding some furniture like dressers for the size we need with deep drawers and so on and so on............bob

 

[vradin]

All that talk about Possible Bags and leather got me thinking I need to get back to making some leather goods again- it's been too long since I made anything other than the Scout-kit mocs.

Since most of my BP shooting is at camp during the summer, and we have 4 instructors and 4 or 5 volunteers all seriously into MLing, looks like a dozen or so possibles, a few with sheaths for matching patch knife, ball block, and short starter. Might even make a few extra patch knifes if I can find enough of the old blade blanks under the shop mess.

Then there's the rifle rests- I need to make a pair of fancy display-grade rests, and 10 utility-grade.

For relaxation I'll lathe some more of those tompion barrel-plug gizmos, some bowls, a new crop of mushrooms, mortar & pestle sets, and maybe a couple of tool handles.

That should keep me busy, off the streets, and outtta the wife's line of sight for the better part of the cold weather... if she can't see me, I won't get {cue sound efx}THE LIST!!! :crackup:.

vic

 

[16gauge]

Predator, rabbit, and squirrel season are open until March....crow opens next month. I have a new trade musket that I need to make some accoutrements for (ball bag, possibles bag, ect). I also have a couple of knives I have been working on off and on (more off than on) for a couple of years now....want to get those finished. Come spring, I want to get out and practice with the trade musket (both ball and shot) as well as get some fishing done.

 

[KyFlintlock]

My winter project is to figure out THE BEST load for turkey out of my 12ga flinter...instead of just accepting what I am currently shooting.

GOOD LUCK on YOUR projects!!
Wess

 

finish the shelves in the shop.
finish pouring the bolster on the new knife.
finish working on that piece of $*&# L&R lock.
finish the Lehigh Vally rifle
finish the sights on the .58 Lancaster

:hmm: :hmm:

do we see a pattern forming here???

 

[Stumpkiller]

finish the Lehigh Vally rifle

Stumpy's ears perked up at that one!

I've already been hit with THE ADMIRAL's "Honey Do" list. When I return the living room to safely inhabitable I hope to get busy on sewing up and/or assembling a good set of 1790's era clothes. (Wool, linen & onsaburg, I ain't a 'skinner.)

All that talk about Possible Bags and leather got me thinking I need to get back to making some leather goods again- it's been too long since I made anything other than the Scout-kit mocs.

I miss having a Tandy Leather down the road. Ours was managed by a trekking muzzleloader and he always knew the right stuff to order & stock. I need to handle a piece of leather to know if I want it for any given project. I can't afford to buy a bunch of hides or large pieces for raw materials, and my horded supply is about gone.

 

[irishjim]

In the process of restocking one of my older .50 cal Hawkens to a fancier curly maple stock during the cold winter nights.

Trying to call in coyotes to the new TC Omega on the weekends. Son-in-law and I have gotten two since the end of Ohio's late muzzleloader season. Shot one over the gut pile from his doe the day after the season ended.

 

[BLAHMAN]

Going back to school at this moment, what am I takin'? Time and space right now....actually studying real estate. Making a career change, putting in a sump in the basement, finish off a couple of rental units (get them rented fast as possible) got some houses to sell, work on a cherry stocked rifle for sale, work on my daughters gun, finish up a few things around the house, get my smooth bore ready for turkey, visit some friends in PA; I got lots on my plate.

 

[Hota]

I am big into hiking with my family. Will be doing a lot of that. I spend a lot of time teaching my kids outdoor lore, tracking, knots, fire building etc. I always like getting out in the cold for a good long hike. Really clears the lungs. I like to explore new places (new to our family anyway). Will be doing a lot of reading as well. I am also making my son a capote from our aging HB blanket. Just finished an oak bannister project that completed my household duties for the winter. Good luck all!

 

[bioprof]

This is somewhat off topic, but am just following up on the above thread. I am starting to build a Vincent Ohio Rifle from TOW parts. I got a copy of "Recreating the American Longrifle" by Buchele. It has been a godsend. I am finding it extremely useful and interesting to learn how to solve some of the more difficult aspects of building a rifle from parts. It even shows you how to make some of the tools that are helpful in building. It is a must-have for those who want to build a rifle for the first time. I got a copy for free through interlibrary loan. I am in awe of gunsmiths who can carve a stock from a blank. I probably wouldn't even try if pre-carved stocks weren't available. So far I have gotten the barrel 95% inletted and haven't screwed up too badly.

 

[Bill Bounds]

Hey All:
I've hid the Honey Do list.
I got an idea to make a turkey hunting vest like in the catalogs with the fold down seat and all. I can operate a sewing machine but it ain't pretty. I'm taking the kid up to the Bass Pro shop for a day away from home. we'll take a look at one.
I've promised a guy or two that I would make them a turkey call. I need some wood for that, I need to make a trip to a Mennonite lumber yard where the hot tip is that you can get wood cheaper. See if they have a few curly looking planks laying around.
I'm hacking out a lock, The plan is to build a flintlock all except the barrel. supprising enough it's starting to look as if it will work. Thats a one year plan tho.
Bill

 

[Pasquinel]

My major winter project is to continue getting back into
some semblance of human form!! Three years ago I hit the
breaking point 370 pounds. This weight caused me many hardships in my life the major one being my inability to
hike into the hunting grounds I use to visit. The last
hunting seasons were wasted for minimal effort put into the
hunting and fishing,and this had to end. I'm currently using[url] ediets.com[/url] for my Atkins diet helper and have currently lost 40 pounds over the past 12 weeks. I realize
I still have a long journey ahead of me but I now feel up to
the task. I should be somewhere close to 200 pounds by October 1, 2005. Diet, walking and weight training!!! I'm
56 years old and hope to have at least 20 more good hunting
seasons ahead of me, but also realize that if I donnnnnnn't reach my goal, that time may end up being only 20 months.

Also plan to spend alot of days at the range working up loads for my favorite flinter. So much to do and so little
time to do it. :curse: