expanded years

[Colonel Buckshot]

With the Wild Bunch Matches getting big should we not expand the years past the Victorian period to include the 1920s and 1930s

[River City John]

With the Wild Bunch Matches getting big should we not expand the years past the Victorian period to include the 1920s and 1930s

The time setting that inspired The Wild Bunch is 1913, so I think 20's or 30's is stretching things a bit.

I personally would not want us to expand beyond the well defined "Victorian Era" dates, very generous in that 1837-1901.

The idea of a 'Frontier' army fits well into those dates. Pretty much afterwards the frontier is vanishing.

RCJ

[Texas Lawdog]

The Army of the 20s and 30s was stripped of manpower and equipment, unfortunately till after WW2 started.

[Drydock]

No.  We are what we are.  One of the reasons we formed this outfit is because virtualy no one was using the military weapons of the victorian era for anything, and the history was being lost/ignored.  We do what no one else does, not what everyone else is doing.

[Hunter]

1913 would certainly cover the service period of the 1903 Springfield, with Krags drying up and becoming so collectable, the addition of the 1903 seems appropriate, particularly since 1911 pistols are able to be used in the Wild Bunch shoots/matches.


Respectfully,


Wesley J. Bodine
Member # 439
NRA Life Member I. D. # 001834062

[Pitspitr]

There are other venues for other time frames. I can see no reason to expand our time frame. We occaisionally add a wil bunch side match but i think it should stay just that, a side match.

[US Scout]

This is from our Uniform Policy.

6. Time Period. The Victorian-era, as defined for the GAF is between the years of 1860-1904, or as roughly equates to the black powder cartridge era.

a. Some leeway on the exact time period is permitted, depending on the member's individual interests but should not exceed that of the Crimean War (1854-1855) and the Pershing Expedition into Mexico (1916). Uniforms of the First World War are not authorized.

You will note that we do allow the time period of the "Wild Bunch."

US Scout
GAF, Commanding

[Ol Gabe]

FYI...
Although not in the GAF timeframe, the type of shooting you are looking for can be found at:
www.ZootShooters.com
This is the website for the American Zoot Shooters Association, it covers the 'Roaring Twenties' timeframe.
Best regards and good shoting!
'Ol Gabe

[Pitspitr]

Echo what Ol' Gabe said. "Tommy"  and I are looking forward to our first match.

[Texas Lawdog]

Jerry, I guess I need to start lookin' for a used violin case.

[Hunter]

My only reason for suggesting the 1903 Springfield is because of the cost and overall condition of the U.S. Krag rifles. Allowing the 1903 would benefit those who cannot afford a Krag or a $1,000 + reproduction Trapdoor. While 1903's are also becoming collectable, they are easier to find and are usually in better shooting condition. Pre 1898 Mausers are still relatively cheap to purchase, however, if a person wants to represent a U.S. soldier, the choices are getting quite slim in regards to bolt action rifles. I enjoyed shooting my Krag this weekend, but I certainly don't plan to using it on a continuous basis. The last time I had my Krag appraised, it was valued at $1,200, not a rifle I feel comfortable shooting all the time.  The pre SMLE Lee Metford rifles easily meet or exceed the value of a Krag in similar condition and I for one am not an excentric millionaire so those aren't an option for me. Regardless, I want to represent a U.S. soldier.  1903's were made until late 1942 just before the switch to the 1903-A3 configuration and as I mentioned previously, they can still be found in good condition. As far as cost, I see them under $700 regularly. Just my humble opinion fellas.


Respectfully,


Wesley J. Bodine
Member # 439
NRA Life Member I. D. # 001834062

[Texas Lawdog]

I don't have a 03 Springfield, but I do have a 1917 Eddystone Enfield. I got it at a good price, no where near $700.

[Hunter]

I don't have a 03 Springfield, but I do have a 1917 Eddystone Enfield. I got it at a good price, no where near $700.

1917's fall a smudge outside the age criteria I would think. 1903's were issued in 1903, so are within the outside limits (1904) of the age limit.

[Drydock]

No, there are other venues for those rifles.  If you do not want to shoot an original, there are plenty of reproduction single shots and repeaters from earlier in the era to use.  The adoption of the O3 Springfield marks the end of our era, and is not allowed.  The inclusion of the Mexican incursion period is to allow for "Wild Bunch" side matchs, but our main match weapons are from the Victorian Cartridge era.  US Civil war to the death of Queen Victoria in 1901. 

We cannnot be all things to all people, and no sport using firearms will ever be cheap. Though requiring only one rifle and one pistol at most, makes us cheaper than most any other CAS type sport.  Heck, I bought a sporterized Krag for $300, and spent $200 remilitarizing it.  So I now have a M1899 Carbine for the price of a Ruger Vaquero.  They're out there folks.  If its needed, shoot in the scout class while saving up for a Milspec weapon.

We have our Niche.  We are not cowboys, we are not Zoot shooters, we are not WW1 reinactors.  We have a simple class structure and simple rules.  Expansion will only make things more complex. 

[Hunter]

Dog gone it, shot down like a Jap Zero over Leyte Gulf 

[MUD MARINE]

IMHO, no!   :-)

[Hunter]

SGT says no, that's good enough for me 

[Captain Lee Bishop]

My $0.02...
This "expanded timeframe" lunacy within SASS has to be stopped somewhere, and I hope it's here. 
I'm a WW2 re-enactor and have been since the 1980s. If I wanna do the 20s and 30s, I only have to reach into my closet but still, I think the timeframe we're in is where we should stay.

[Hunter]

I never suggested reaching into the 30's for acceptable firearms, I too feel that is beyond the scope of what I take the organization to represent. Perhaps a quest to salvage every sporterized Krag is in order in addition to a humble request for Pedersoli to resume production of their repro Krags is in order, or better yet, prompt an American companny to start making repro Krags.

[Pitspitr]

As Lt. Col. Sgt. Drydock said there are plenty of repros out there. Spencers, Sharps, Trapdoors, and Rolling Blocks to name a few. I've seen repros of all these models shot at the grand muster.

None of us are made of money, but they can be bought if you want one bad enough. Myself, I save my Cabela's Bucks and pay for my CAS/FMAS guns that way. Yes, it takes longer. Yes they have a bigger price tag, but I'm paying for them with Cabela's Bucks not real greenbacks. I couldn't have justified walking in and writing a check for any of them, yet I have plenty of nice toys that I bought that way at Cabels's