Welcome new member, Vernon Dearduff

Tsalagidave · November 15, 2013, 04:42:02 PM

Here's a welcome to our newest member Vernon Dearduff.

He got his start in CAS back in '96 or '97. He was one of the founding members of the GLF&MC, the first NCOWS Posse in Indiana. That Posse was also involved in reenactment and staged gunfights and train robberies. He was also a member of the SMVS (Scarlet Mask Vigilance Society), another NCOWS Posse. He's also done a bit of Rev War reenacting and some trekking.

-Dae

Caleb Hobbs · November 15, 2013, 05:57:34 PM

Welcome to the group, Vernon.

Vernon/IN · November 15, 2013, 10:07:34 PM

Hello the camp.

Thanks for the warm welcome.

At this time, I'm considering an 1842 (give or take a couple years) persona. I'm considering either building a new rifle or converting one of my flintlocks, I do not currently own a caplock.

The candidate for conversion is my .50 DGW Tennessee Mountain Rifle. If I decide to convert this rifle. I'll rework the lock from flint to percussion and add a drum and nipple. I'll remove the frizzen and frizzen spring, and make an attempt to rework the cock. If the attempt fails, I'll replace the cock with a percussion hammer.

I'll shoot some photos throughout the conversion and post a description of what I do.

Thanks again for the warm welcome, and watch yer back trail.

Caleb Hobbs · November 16, 2013, 03:16:10 PM

A converted flintlock would certainly fit the period. I'll look forward to seeing the photos. Do you have a certain character/career you're wanting to portray?

Vernon/IN · November 18, 2013, 07:17:18 PM

Quote from: Caleb Hobbs on November 16, 2013, 03:16:10 PM
A converted flintlock would certainly fit the period. I'll look forward to seeing the photos. Do you have a certain character/career you're wanting to portray?

Nothing solid at this time. I have a couple ideas, but I need to do a bit of research first. Once I have something fleshed out a bit, I'll post it here in another thread.

I may decide to use this rifle instead of the DGW I mentioned above. If I do, it will not be converted to caplock.

Niederlander · November 19, 2013, 05:20:51 AM

It would be a crime to convert that one! Besides, according to Hanson's book "The Plains Rifle", flintlocks were preferred by people who were WAY out in the weeds because you weren't dependent on percussion caps. It's the same reasoning I use in thinking percussion revolvers hung on way longer than most people think in really remote areas. By that time you could find powder and caps anywhere, and cast your own bullets, but those newfangled cartridges may have been difficult to find.

Tsalagidave · November 20, 2013, 11:42:24 AM

I agree. Among my 1850s homestead kit, I still carry a 20ga Southern Fowler. It's got a fast ignition and has never let me down.
Keep that gun as it is. It's perfect for what we're doing here. What cal. is it?

Here's a shot of one of my firelocks that I like to carry in a later impression. It's laid out with the rest of my plains guns.

-Dave

Vernon/IN · November 20, 2013, 04:26:29 PM

The rifle pictuerd above is .50 caliber. It has a 44 inch Colerain swamped barrel, an L&R Early Classic lock, and a maple stock with a bit of figure.

Those are a couple of fine looking Longrifles and a good assortment of plunder to go with them.

Ineed to shoot a few photos of some of the items I'll be using with my TAPS persona. I'll probably make another powder horn, my F&I period map horn would probably be a bit out of place.