Capt. Bo of the WTF co.

Thanks to all. I broke away from my sabbatical and went hunting with my Virginia longrifle, dressed in 18th century period attire. Scared the hell outta three deer but didn't get a shot as the cedars were just too thick there. Still, a bad day in the woods beats a good day anywhere else. Bo

Many thanks to my "secret Santa" for the Alaskan sampler package. I still get chuckles reading the Duke Cannon soap-box, (and it does smell like naval supremacy)! We have not yet tried the Kelp marmalade, but will soon. I plan to fill the beer glass this afternoon to celebrate making it through another year, (having buried two more of my circle this year). Thanks again for the nice package! Bo

Good to see Silas Thatcher out at the November woodswalk. I was there but decided not to go out on the woodswalk. Too danged stiff and sore in that cold damp air. Sciatic nerve damage sucks, and life after 50 sucks in general. Maybe I'll see some more of you all in the future, never know where or when I'll turn-up. Bo

Ahoy fellow December clubbers, best of annum to ye all. Bo

Don't feel too bad Patrick. I got my BSE and Teaching Cert., but I'm working at a nursing home surrounded by death, dementia, and incompetence of alarming proportions, doing maintenance and housekeeping duties. Bo

I have not seen one of these coats, but I have had several articles of clothing from them and I can say with all confidence that their clothing is built to last. It may not pass muster at the more scrutinized juried events, but it will be a solid garment that will last you for a long time. I still have my favorite waistcoat (1750's style in nat. linen) made by them, going on 12 years and worn a lot, not just at events but hunting and woods-walking/trekking as well. Never even had to replace a button so far. They make great stuff at good prices, and are a joy to do business with. Bo

My 18th century friends are all pretty upset with me for bailing out too, and I did attend the Chez le Canses fete at Fort Osage last month just to visit and show off the Wheel lock. Got way too drunk at the Tavern Friday night, (mixed dark ale and rum), and spent Saturday sprawled out on a bunk in one of the barracks hung-over baaaad! The first Captain of the WTF co., (the founder), has enticed me to give it one last go at the Fort de Chartres winter woods-walk first weekend in November. We are all that's left of the outfit. I'll see how it goes but so far the magic just ain't there anymore. I'll try and post pictures though. Good to see that some are still putting out great effort with their kits. Kudos to those who have posted recently. Good work. This is why I keep coming back here, to see who is still around and who is new. Tried to put in a picture of me in my Yankee suit, but won't work. Bo

Now that I have two canoes and a kayak in my fleet, should I be addressed as Commodore? Last Battle for me this weekend at Glasgow, MO. I gotta be a damn yankee for the first time ever. Our Company is the host unit so we gotta go blue for the event. What a sorry way to end a reenacting "career" huh. Embarrassing to say the least. Wish I had kept my pyrate gear so I coulda showed-up with my wheel lock and gone rogue! Bo

"Those who write on bathroom walls roll their $#!+ in little balls. Those who read their words of wit, eat those little balls of $#!+" or another classic: "Here I sit all broken hearted, tried to $#!+ but only farted." ...then replied to thus: "Dear Broken Hearted- Do not feel so down at heart, as one day you'll $#!+ when you thought you'd fart!" OK, back to the farm. Bo

I'm in, PM to follow. Bo

"Captain Klock" continues to amaze and entertain wherever I take it. I took it out this morning for to hunt stupid turkeys, but alas, only some intelligent ones could be heard as they moved off toward a distant ridge at sunrise. It was a wet morning after a rain overnight and heavy dew with fog in the creek channel. The priming absorbed moisture and the charge failed to go off, took some cleaning and some patient coercion to get it cleared. Gonna be a dry-weather only gun it seems. Bo

Might be the two volume set I have at home, but dangitt my memory fails me for the title. They were published in the early 20th century, ca. 1910-20. I will try to get back with you on the title, and I have the two volume set in paperback with a cardboard sleeve I got cheap at a local flea market. Might be willing to trade as I never use them anymore. I had another two volume set on costume for early historical periods that I gifted to one of my college instructors also, but cannot remember the title of those either, but they are out there. Bo

"The Conqueror's" by Allen Eckert (for the third time). I started the "Frontiersmen" series again this summer, this is the third book. I bought these when I was in the U.S. Navy back in 1984-87. Still holding up well for paperbacks. This one is set during the final days of the Seven Years' War/French & Indian wars and Pontiac's rebellion. Bo

Canvas in good shape should be fairly water resistant as-is as long as you don't touch it while wet. However, if you are sure you want to do this (not historically correct but); Thompsons water seal is the most economical. Use a garden sprayer, stretch the canvas fairly taught, and spray the entire area coating it well. Of course do this only outside in a well ventilated area. It will take a few days for it to dry well enough to fold and pack. Hope this is some help. Bo

Was the original topic lost when the forum changed hands and remodeled at the time Stynky took over from the original site owners? I can't remember their names, maybe Bloody Buckets or something like that? Anyhow, I remember the site being in adifferent format and such before Stynky took over, perhaps that is where the discussion I remember could be found. Bo

I was part of that thread, it was on the forum. I recall that a "twill" was the pyrate/SCA reenactor genre term for stitch-counter, and thus the term was used to identify this forum with academic based discussion when this site was put in action. This came from a discussion when I first joined when someone else posed the same question back then. 99. 44/100% sure of this. Bo

The ignition is amazingly fast! Quicker than any flintlock I have ever fired. It does spit hot flash from the pan back across the index finger, so I'll have to wear a glove for repeated firing. Nothing to do with the quality of the lock or gun maker, just part of the design as the wheel cuts through the priming pan leaving the bottom open along the backside. I can deal with it though. The natural cherry will eventually darken to a walnut color, so for now I'll have to hide myself really well when hunting with it. Trying to decide on a name, so far "Captain Klok" or "Spitfire" are in the hat. Capt. Klok is an off-hand reference to the movie Blackrobe. Bo

The target photo is the very first shot fired at 70ft. off-hand with 55g. of 2f goex, and a.570 roundball(no patch) cast from my worn-out old Dixie gun Works brass bag mold. It doesn't cast very good and has had thousands of ball cast for demo over the last 15 years. I can't wait to get some good Hornady bullets through it. my fourth shot was in the center about 1/4" from being dead-on. The photo in the chair is shot with my new Early Virginia rifle kit I have been working on. Well,I'll tryto get a better post when I can get moretime. Bo

OK,here goes; trying this from my wife's laptop so don't know how this is gonna work: Well I goofed and hit the quote tab and can't shut it off, so anyway I hope these show up. Bo

That last one of the breech-loading swivels-imaginary drawing? There is no way the cartridges and shot would be left open on the ground like that in reality is there? I would think the life expectancy of one of the gunners would be one-shot! Bo

Tomorrow is the arrival date. If I can figure out the newfangled Canon we bought I will try and get photos up this weekend if I can. I am supposed to be off this weekend so I will be working on the house and the new toys back-and-forth. Bo

The whizzer is complete. I will be sending final payment on August 2nd, and the gun will ship to me as soon as that is received. I will do my best to try and post photos of it. I was not expecting to see this before the first of next year, so I ordered an Early Virginia rifle "in the white" that I have been working on so to have a good gun to hunt with this fall. I am sighting it in today as I finished tuning the lock last night. Now I will have to flip a coin to see which gun goes to the woods this deer season! Decisions decisions.... Bo

Yes. I have two CVA Mountain Stalkers in caplock, one wood and one plastic, so I know just what you have to work with. If this is something you just wanna do then go for it, but it will never be "period" to 1690 no matter what you do to it, just the way it is. It will be what you want it to be, an "old-time-looking" gun to use at events. Good luck with it and have fun, I am finishing an Early Va. rifle now. Bo

As far as making a modern Traditions gun into a 17th century pattern, not much about these guns are even close to the time period at all. You can get close with an early 19th century Hawken type though. I have searched the image bases for 17th century specimens for my Wheelock project and have not found any that have full-length octagon barrels or carbine length barrels in full octagon, which is what the modern barrel length would be considered in the 17th century. A full or half-stock Hawken type is your best best for something close to a historical time period/accurate weapon. Bo

Just received word that the barrel and ramrod channel are done and the lock is to fitted soon. I was not expecting this so soon as I was under the impression that the barrel was on backorder til about September/October. Dang, I guess I better get busy building accoutrements! Bo