Capt. Bo of the WTF co.

If ever I am wealthy enough to afford a custom built gun, I have wanted one of these Spanish Escopeta guns for years. I have posted some pictures to show the Catalan stock design The escopeta, a light, smoothbore, muzzle-loading musket or carbine was a popular weapon of the 18th century soldado de cuera. Made with a Spanish or miguelet lock and a Catalan stock, this sturdy and dependable weapon saw use for nearly 200 years on the northern frontier. There were many variations in barrel length, and stock design, but the miguelet lock was commonly used. In 1786, escopetas purchased for frontier use cost the Crown 6 pesos, 5 reales, 9 grains. The Model illustrated was made by Antonio Guisasola of Eibar, Spain, about 1800. It is caliber .75 with a Catalan stock and a 33 1/2-inch barrel. The quality of the piece indicates that it was carried by a gentleman or officer. Enjoy... ***I noticed that I had badly mis-spelled "Spanish" so I came back to correct that!*** Bo

I had considered making a boucaneer butcher knife carriage from aligator skin, but had no references to do so. I opted for cow hide instead but the project is on hold as are a dozen others until after may 7th... GRADUATION DAY!!! Bo

Send me your adress and I'll mail you some. I should be able to come up with a half dozen thick ones from the batch I got. Bo

Sweeeet! do you want a couple of my antique huge French amber musket flints to finish 'er off with? I won't be needing all that I bought I'm sure. If interested pm me with your addy and I'll send a few of the bigguns, along with a couple of English ones too. Theyre from the british armory in Nepal, supposed to be at least a couple-hundred years old. Bo

That's the year that U.S. ships were torpedoed by Germany and gave the push that turned America in favor of entering WWI. It was a bad year for the Navy both U.S. and Britain lost some major sea power, the Invincible for England and the Memphis for the U.S. The Battle of Verdun was fought, and Einsteins theory of relativity was introduced. These are the things I can remember without looking in a book. Bo

There has been a recent influx of 200+ year old flints from the British armory in Nepal. I have several I bought from a friend of mine and they are still turning up on different gun forums. These are huge musket flints. I bought some English black flints and a few French amber ones too. They are too big for even my L&R trade gun lock. At any rate, these are available still if you look around some, and will fit the lock you have I'd bet. Nice lock too. Those Spanish Escopeta guns stocked in Catalan style are way cool, I've wanted one for years but never had the bucks to put up for one. Bo

I try to always go in some kind of period garb, whether it is colonial or more toward the 1850's. Spring Turkey season is best because we don't have to wear blaze orange so it doesnnt look as funky!I just got back from getting soaked all morning. Started raining about 7:00 a.m. after I had been there since before daylight. I stuck it out until I was soaked clear through my shotjacket. I did have four deer come within 50 yards of me on the edge of a big field while I was watching the only gobbler I've seen this season. He was a quarter mile across the plain and wouldn't acknowledge the calls at all. I did the three-mile tour below and then atop the bluff, but by the time I got back to the truck the rain had picked up pretty good, and my priming got wet so I had to clean out the pan and re-prime but it did go off. As if all this isn't bad enough, as I am driving up the road to my house, there under our east bedroom window is a fat hen turkey foraging in the yard!!! As I pull in the driveway she makes a quick exit around behind the chicken pen. I will be watching out the windows the rest of the day! Jas. Hook- we have a three horse mower with a donkey attachment, but they are too picky about where and what they eat! Bo

Here's somethin' ya don't see everyday: My wife snuck around the corner of my workshop and got me. This was yesterday after returning my failed turkey hunt. I got rain, high winds, lightning, and hail while I was in the woods. I sprinted for the truck and got there just before it got really bad. My flinter went off even though it had gotten pretty wet on the way. I emptied into a stump near the truck. Anyhow, after a couple of hours it cleared up enough and the wind blew the grass dry enough that we could mow. Didn't have much better luck today, it rained allmost through the entire shooting hours, and has been rainingpretty much since sunset tonight. I hope to get out in my primitives in the morning and flintlock me a turkey bird! Bo

If you show up at Ft. DeChartres the first weekend in June the Mercury Crewe will be there. Also, the St. Louis Area contingency of landlocked pyrates will be there. The St. Louis Pyrate festival is sometime in September I think. There's a few in the KCMO area. I don't know about crewes in the Rolla area though. Bo

I'm going to build a rowing scow to go along with it. Period correct all the way back to 17th century, the design hasn't changed muck, and more useable for me here on the lakes and small rivers. Plans are here: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.thecheappages.com/short/sci_am/scow03.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.thecheappages.com/short/sci_am/scow_1876.html&usg=__AK1mN4Eac9d4HWW6xOBVwM_cYnw=&h=205&w=237&sz=9&hl=en&start=54&zoom=1&itbs=1&tbnid=Ei150KgehWNHgM:&tbnh=94&tbnw=109&prev=/images%3Fq%3D18th%2Bscow%2Bboats%26start%3D42%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D21%26biw%3D1575%26bih%3D980%26tbm%3Disch&ei=hrC0TfTAG8PZ0QHv2PStCQ

I thought I would post a photo of what the flatboat LaFarb will look like when we get it done: Tis is what we are going to try and accomplish. It will be on a pontoon base so we can trailer it easily. Bo

Looks like a good start to me. I used the insert image function in the reply window to see if it would work for me. Bo

Aromatic cedar is plentiful around here and we always have plenty of hiking/walking/bludgeoning stock available! Bo

I carried a Russel Green River Camp Blade for the first few years in the hobby. I wish I would have kept it because as you say, it resembles many other common blade types spanning more than one period. I gave it away to someone I thought would appreciate it. My main blade that goes everywhere with me, in fact is on me now, is my litlle Green River "Ripper" blade modified into a swaged coffin handle. I use it everyday multiple times for multiple uses. I like them too but I know they're not period. I will still continue to carry my little Ripper though. Bo

Yeah! This 1771, Boston TeaParty, (out of period I know)but I always wanted to recreates the guy in this picture, the seaman with the sailors kilt (?)/ slops (?) and the bludgeon! I love this picture even though it is a brutal scene. Basic garb right there for the period though. ...another version of this : Bo

Yeah! This 1771, Boston TeaParty, (out of period I know)but I always wanted to recreates the guy in this picture, the seaman with the sailors kilt (?)/ slops (?) and the bludgeon! I love this picture even though it is a brutal scene. Basic garb right there for the period though. Bo

Kind of like the recipe for roast duck: 1 duck, 1 bottle of wine, two potatoes, four carrots, six large mushrooms, two stalks of celery and an onion. Cut up the potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, celery and onion into a roasting pan and cover with water. Add some salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, then simmer for an hour. Throw the nasty duck in the garbage, drink the wine and enjoy the veggie soup. Bo

Agreed. Knives are an obsession with me. I don't even know how many I have anymore. The first thing in my hand when I get out of bed is my pocket knife, goes in my pocket as soon as I pull on my breeches. It is a rare occaision that I am without a blade of some sort on my person, no matter how I'm dressed. Bo

He is already three weeks behind in spring orders,FYI; just saw his post on the FF forum. Bo

I put his info up here last year too. Yes, Rich's flints are the right stuff, made from Missouri chert, these things throw some serious spark and I highly recommend his wares. I have been using the same flint in my musket since before deer season last November and it is still plenty sharp and throws sparks well. I have been shooting often and just patterned for turkey hunting tomorrow morning, same flint, the first one of his I put in there. He sent me enough to last a lifetime I think at this rate. Bo

I love Revolution with Al Pacino, Donald Sutherland (my favorite actor of all-time), and Natassja Kinsky (1985) but "critics" bashed it pretty badly. It is not a Mel Gibson action movie, but a more realistic interpretation of what the American War for Independence was like for the people that weren't famous or wealthy enough to be remebered by history. It is the tale of the common folks that fought the battles and treid to live life in the midst of war. For its time the costuming is excellet, except for the stereotypical native american portraylas. Graham Greene makes a brief appearance too. This movie is one of my all time favorites. People still complain that it is too dry and even boring, but I think it is the most accurate Hollywood version of the AWI ever made. Bo

Saw this on the Frontier Folk site: http://www.continentalartillery.org/1st_Continental_Artillery_Regiment/For_Sale.html Just incase anyone is looking. Bo

That'll make someone bleed badly! Nice work! Now, about the scabbard.... Bo

I tried the search function to look at the many images that have been posted here over the years but had no luck. It seems that there were many early guns that were put together without sideplates, using large headed screws or ferules intead. Does anyone know where or how I can find any images of GAoP firearms that have no sideplates? Thanks for any help/advice Bo