BEST TIP for prospective NCOWS, or CAS, novices.

[River City John]

This posted in another Forum, but I feel worth repeating here.:

"Before I get myself all worked up to start posting material in here, let me offer my own simple philosophy.

Regardless of the shooting organization, all take their inspiration from the love of the history of the 19th century. Different organizations have different guidelines as to how strict they are in (Now don't you all jump all over poor little 'ole me, . . . .but let me use, this ONE time, the term,. . . .'COSTUMING').

In a nutshell, if you do your study and keep your eye attuned for the look based on the history of the period, and select your purchases accordingly, you will find this will prove to be the greatest economy,- for the closer you are to achieving the true 19th cent. look based on documented images and catalog references, then you'll find that standard of(Oh God!, here he says again. . .) 'costuming' to be acceptable to ALL the shooting organizations.

In other words, the closer you are to the HISTORY and you'll automatically fit into all the organizations.
This frees you from having to buy different wardrobes to compete in those different organizations Delmonico mentioned in his original post. BIG HINT here, if you select your firearms based on that philosophy, too, then you won't ever have to worry whether your guns are NCOWS-approved, GAF-approved, or SASS-approved.  

RCJ"

[Sacramento Johnson]

Howdy Pard!
I understand what you're saying, but after being in SASS for about 15 years, I can tell you honestly that the vast majority of current SASS shooters couldn't care less about historical accuracy, in attire or guns.  (Just perusing the pictures of shooters/matches in SASS "Chronicle" will confirm this.)  90%+ aren't interested in making sure their guns/gear would pass muster in other groups as they aren't looking to join any other groups. I wish there was more interest in forming an NCOWS posse here in S. Nevada; I recently posted on a local wire for all SASS clubs here and two club presidents said they'd accomodate such an NCOWS posse if there was interest, but only 2 shooters expressed interest.
I'm from an earlier SASS era that did take period correct more serious as concerns guns and gear (I'm already pretty much at what you call level 2), but we are dwindling away in SASS and are now just a tiny minority.

[Will Ketchum]

Howdy Pard!
I understand what you're saying, but after being in SASS for about 15 years, I can tell you honestly that the vast majority of current SASS shooters couldn't care less about historical accuracy, in attire or guns.  (Just perusing the pictures of shooters/matches in SASS "Chronicle" will confirm this.)  90%+ aren't interested in making sure their guns/gear would pass muster in other groups as they aren't looking to join any other groups. I wish there was more interest in forming an NCOWS posse here in S. Nevada; I recently posted on a local wire for all SASS clubs here and two club presidents said they'd accomodate such an NCOWS posse if there was interest, but only 2 shooters expressed interest.
I'm from an earlier SASS era that did take period correct more serious as concerns guns and gear (I'm already pretty much at what you call level 2), but we are dwindling away in SASS and are now just a tiny minority.

I don't know if your are a NCOWS member pard but I sure wish you would consider joining.  You are just the kind of person we want.  heck we have members all over the country (heck even over seas) that don't have home posses but are members for the camaraderie and the magazine is worth the price of admission.

Will Ketchum

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[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Heh! Sacramento.   You can become an Alone Ranger, like I am.  I shoot in Canada, mostly to SASS rules, but try to be true to NCOWS, and have received a gratifying amount of respect for my efforts.  Getting an NCOWS posse going won't happen soon as our clubs are generally small, but tolerant and supportive of historical accuracy.

I've noted that a number of Cascity members have dual membership.  Probably expensive, but it reflects two things;
1. practicality, if there are only SASS clubs nearby, and
2. affirmation of an interest in historical accuracy.

For me, the 19th Century was the Golden Age of the human race.  Now we are headed towards self-destruction if we're not careful!

[Dr. Bob]

Sir Charles the Profit!!

[Cole Bluesteele]

SJ,

I do not think they are dwindling away, but rather they are adapting to SASS and accept the shift away from the Old West or they just plain quit.  Either way the appearence is they are dwindling away.  At our club, which is SASS affiliated, we also became an NCOWS Posse.  Guess what!?  The attendance at the NCOWS match is on par with our SASS matches and it is growing faster than our SASS attendance.  Maybe it's a case of "If you offer it they will attend."  Our experience is that the interest is still there.  We have shooters who shoot SASS as you described it, with race guns and minimal historic attire on one weekend and shoot teh NCOWS format on the next.  We have shooters who won't go near the NCOWS match and shooters who have no use for SASS. 

Since starting our NCOWS matches we have signed up more new members to our club who shoot only theNCOWS matches.  I am not saying that the interest is SASS is dwindling, but that the interest in historically accurate attire and firearms is still there.  With the overwhelming majority of CAS clubs being SASS clubs, the NCOWS option is not available to shooters like those now joining our club.  I would suggest you do what I did.  Talk to your fellow shooters and see if the interest is there.  If so have your club become an NCOWS posse as well as manitaining its SASS affiliation. 

It's a win win deal.  The shooters have options and the club's revenue will grow with new members and new match attendance.  That's our experience and we're enjoying it!

Cole

[Sacramento Johnson]

Howdy!

Thank you Wil for the kind words! I once was an NCOWS member out here for about a year; may have to give it some thought about rejoining. 

Cole, I did talk with other SASS shooters here about NCOWS; got exactly 2 nibbles...

[Cole Bluesteele]

Sacramento Johnson,

I'm sorry to hear that you got such a poor response from the SASS shooters there. Things sure were different here in north Texas.  One thing I've noticed is that several of our new NCOWS match participants are reenactors.  maybe you could see if there is any interest from that segment out your way.  Another thing we did was put club flyers with the NCOWS ad on one side and the SASS ad on the other.  Hope you can get soem like minded folks to join up with you.  Its worth the effort and if you can put it together I know you and they will be glad you did.

If you ever get this way hope you join us for one of our matches.

Keep the faith,
Cole