Primitive Bow and Arrows

[Branding Iron Bill]

A very good idea Major.  I hope the discovery channel people are reading this, doubtful though.  A mountain man reality show would be the show to watch.  There is so much there that could be covered.  The peta people would probably be up in arms over it though.

[will ghormley]

Hey Major &  Brandin' Iron Bill,

I've pitched a series, "How Did They Live?", where the host follows different lifestyles and careers that were once part of the American landscape:  Mountaineers, Trail Drive Cowboys, Riverboat Gamblers, Teamsters (the real kind that drove wagons), River Rats, First Nations peoples, Riverboat Captains, Prospectors, Miners, Town Sheriffs, the reality of Cat House Madams and their short lives, etc.  The premise bein', look into the day-to-day skills required to survive and do the job.  It would be kind'a like "The History Channel Meets Dirty Jobs", only there would be real survival information in it.  So far, nobody has shown any interest in it.  Oh well...

Will

[Mogorilla]

I have caught a couple of shows from England and Canada, the canadian one was recreating a journey along the northwest passage, hudsons bay area.  Crew on a boat, the episode when the black flies hit was painful.  Some of the English shows take and item (I have seen a chariot show and a battering ram show) and recreate it using ancient technology.  I thought it extremely cool, can't remember the name though.   Will, great photographic trek, enjoyed the article immensely.   Keep up the good fight!

[Major 2]

Some years ago maybe 25 or so... the BBC did a 10 part series 'Soldiers' " History of Man in Battle "

Karl Luthin and myself were contacted, about doing a Cavalry segment... We were hosting the Brandy Station event
to support The Brandy Station Historical Society & the Culpepper Cavalry Museum.
We invited them to film... and they accepted.

The 3th. episode "The Cavalry's"  featured , the Australian Light Horse (veterans) , British Household Guard (then current), Medieval Knight Reenacters and the 7th Ill. Cavalry, I'm proud to say   

[will ghormley]

Got it Buckskin!

When I was a kid, we would flesh our hides, work salt and alum into 'em. and sell 'em.  Now I know the rest of the story!

Thanks,
Will

[buckskin billy]

that will work on any hair on or fur on critter. a beaver may be a little harder to do though. they don't call them baby buffaloes fer nuthing you know.
i have done 2 beaver this way and they came out nice except for the face. beaver are so greasy that it is hard to work the "oils" in.
you can take dawn dish washing liguid and wash the skin side to cut some of the grease. thinning the hide or sanding as you said will help alot.
  you could actually  start softening the hide right out of the alum and just skip the brain tanning part, but i have found that the brain tanning after makes life a little easier.

would love to see some kind of frontier reality show. maybe i would have a reason to watch tv then

[GunClick Rick]

Even a series that is sort of like"Little House on the Prarie,but real stuff,that show started out ok then Landon took over andblinded it,beat it,cryed all over it,then killed it We are real lucky to know of guys like Will,Buckskin Billy and the friend i have here,they have great patience in thier crafts..