"A Popsicle gun"
Black powder is addicting. Not as addicting as some white powders I’ve heard of, but still.
I’ve built one flintlock rifle from a kit. I’ve got a Civil War-style revolver in the shop for timing adjustment and I think I’ve decided on my next project:
A Popsicle gun.
Actually it’s a "handgonne." See, the first handheld firearms were basically small cannons mounted on big sticks. Like Popsicles. These came into use around 1300, according to some accounts, and are still in use by some eccentric gonners who are just like that.
(That’s me).
I’m still shopping around, and it takes some doing. You don’t find them at your average hardware store. Instead, you go to www.handgonne.com (intuitively named, eh?) or www.handgonnes.com… or if you want video: www.handgonne.com/images/zeus_3.mpg.
Enough links. If you want more, go to my blog – jderrickstar.blogspot.com.
You really do have to go to the Internet to sustain this hobby. Let’s say I want some small flints for my flintlock. I haven’t found any locally. And if I drive an hour to the big sports store in Concord, they have them for a 500 percent markup over what they cost online.
More links to John’s favorite black powder suppliers on the blog….
On MuzzleloadingForum.com there’s currently a discussion about getting more folks into the hobby.
They’re also discussing "spontoon axes" and which sort of coonskin cap would be period correct for the spring of 1836. I dunno.
Personally I’ve given at least half a dozen folks their first time on a flintlock. I went out with it this past weekend with our Webmaster, Chad, and his girlfriend’s mom’s boyfriend, George.
Chad had already fired my flintlock and George had previously shot muzzleloaders, but this was his first time on my kit-built rifle. He liked it. And blew a massive hole in a deer target.
But what’s funny is the number of folks who don’t want to try your muzzleloader because they’re scared.
I’m at some range impressed by some other fellow’s slick deer rifle with a massive scope on it or some other guy’s collection of classic military weapons…. I ask the guy plinking away with his .22 if he wants to try mine and he doesn’t want to get anywhere near the flaming, smoking beast in action.
I’m just some newbie amateur and they must think I’m John Wayne!
So now I want to try my hand with an even earlier incarnation of the gun. I’ll keep you posted and keep putting vids and pics on my blog. If you haven’t checked out the one from last, time it’s a blast….
I’ve built one flintlock rifle from a kit. I’ve got a Civil War-style revolver in the shop for timing adjustment and I think I’ve decided on my next project:
A Popsicle gun.
Actually it’s a "handgonne." See, the first handheld firearms were basically small cannons mounted on big sticks. Like Popsicles. These came into use around 1300, according to some accounts, and are still in use by some eccentric gonners who are just like that.
(That’s me).
I’m still shopping around, and it takes some doing. You don’t find them at your average hardware store. Instead, you go to www.handgonne.com (intuitively named, eh?) or www.handgonnes.com… or if you want video: www.handgonne.com/images/zeus_3.mpg.
Enough links. If you want more, go to my blog – jderrickstar.blogspot.com.
You really do have to go to the Internet to sustain this hobby. Let’s say I want some small flints for my flintlock. I haven’t found any locally. And if I drive an hour to the big sports store in Concord, they have them for a 500 percent markup over what they cost online.
More links to John’s favorite black powder suppliers on the blog….
On MuzzleloadingForum.com there’s currently a discussion about getting more folks into the hobby.
They’re also discussing "spontoon axes" and which sort of coonskin cap would be period correct for the spring of 1836. I dunno.
Personally I’ve given at least half a dozen folks their first time on a flintlock. I went out with it this past weekend with our Webmaster, Chad, and his girlfriend’s mom’s boyfriend, George.
Chad had already fired my flintlock and George had previously shot muzzleloaders, but this was his first time on my kit-built rifle. He liked it. And blew a massive hole in a deer target.
But what’s funny is the number of folks who don’t want to try your muzzleloader because they’re scared.
I’m at some range impressed by some other fellow’s slick deer rifle with a massive scope on it or some other guy’s collection of classic military weapons…. I ask the guy plinking away with his .22 if he wants to try mine and he doesn’t want to get anywhere near the flaming, smoking beast in action.
I’m just some newbie amateur and they must think I’m John Wayne!
So now I want to try my hand with an even earlier incarnation of the gun. I’ll keep you posted and keep putting vids and pics on my blog. If you haven’t checked out the one from last, time it’s a blast….
posted by John Derrick | 2:34 PM
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