What gear would an 1860 Californio carry with him?

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Russ:

I understand entirely ...

But back to the main subject ... I know there are several historians here that have Californio background .... does any name ring a bell (Californio jefe/foreman circa 1852-3)?

[Mad River Frank]

To Wadd Watson Ellis,

Well it sounds like you put it all together quite nicely.  I've often wondered how one markets oneself as a docent or period correct actor at one of California's historical sites, e.g. Columbia or Sutter's Fort.  I've certainly got the rig and the clothing.  All I need now is the health.

Mad River Frank

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Mad River Frank,

I think that with the downturn of the economy, EVERYONE values volunteers .... all I have talked to are looking ... for instance, I am sure that Sutter's Fort has had to lay off paid staff and must fill the ranks to keep things going with volunteers or close .... and even with health problems, they would value anyone who could work a couple of days a week ....

[sharps1859]

Might want to look for someone that started off in the Bear Flag Republic days for your persona.

I did the 150th anniversary of the flag raising in Sonoma back in 1996 wearing a pair of Colt Patersons in slim jim holsters, a silver mounted knife and a small rifleman's pouch that had an attached flask.  One of the best events I ever attended - and I came all the way from Virginia to be a part of it.

Have walked through old Sacramento many times and spent many hours in Sutter's Fort.

If somebody made replicas of "phoenix buttons" - I'd have these placed on your jacket as they would definitely be appropriate for an old time californian.

Doug Wicklund
The Californian #14701 in SASS

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Sharps,

I am not having much success breaking through the barrier between 'real' historians and their public. If I was given a name to work with, I think I know how to research and put 'flesh' on the history of a man ... but the few times I have attempted to contact someone who is extremely familiar with the period (especially pertaining to Sacramento in the early 1850s, I feel like the voice crying in the wilderness.

I have litterally had more help through this thread than I have getting face to face with someone.

[kflach]

WaddWatsonEllis,

After you get all this together are you going to pull the documentation together to become a member of the "Originals Class?"

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Kflach,

No se ... what is this 'Originals Class'?  Does that let me shoot double crossdraw in Gunfighter?

[Dr. Bob]

Nope!  It's an NCOWS class that shoots 1 revolver and one rifle.  Creates a persona [Life history] and documents all of his outfit to a year and his equipment to the year.  I am an Original.

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Well, my 1980s Pietta 1851 is definitely going to be a holster queen ... If I do any black powder, I have a pair of Ruger Old Armys whose metallurgys I trust ....


But other than that, I would have a single black powder pistol, but do not have an 1852-3 rifle or shotgun. I don't think that I would be able to find a non-muzzleloading, non-single shot rifle or shotgun from the 1852-53 era.  My '73 Winchester and my '87 Winchester shotgun would definitely fit the bill ... they were just dreams in the inventor's id at the time I am working on ....

But it is a fun idea .... However, I don't think I belong to that club ....*S*

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Wadd;  Isn't your docent character close to an "original"?  I thought your date was 1860?  Just bump it a couple of years and a Henry or Spencer would do.

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Sir Charles,

Actually, I have slid 'back' to 1852-3 ... it seems that the Californios were not ready for the influx of 'Americanism' most spoke only Spanish, and were pretty much gone from the landscape by 1855.  Between lawyers with relaxed ethics, a Land Commission that demanded written documents (IN ENGLISH) showing proof of ownership, the Californios lost most of their land, power, and say in government very quickly.  Only a few of the very powerful men, Mariano Vallejo and Pio Pico come to mind, were left with anything at all ....

So again I am back to cap and ball days ... and I don't even think Colt had a revolving rifle yet in 1852-3... and I am just too lazy to muzzleload .... especially on a timed event.

[Dr. Bob]

The NCOWS time period is 1865 to 1899.

Colt made their first revolving rifle 1837-1838 according to Flayderman's Guide!

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Dr Bob,

This sounds interesting ... does anyone make a Cap and Ball Colt revolving rifle reproduction  ... and in a perfect world, .44 cal. ?

[Mogorilla]

Dixie still carries the Root Revolving Rifle, I think Palmetto made it, but they may be out of business.   

[WaddWatsonEllis]

As a way of bumping this page back to the mainstream, I thought I might give an update.

I now own matching Calaveras and a Vaquero Jacket, a kinda pumpkin colored 'river gambler' linen ruffled shirt in keeping with the Californio tradition, red silk charro style tie (again, applicable to 1851-52) and a dark red waist sash. Chuck Burrows has cut down an old blackpowder pistol belt, and is making me a pair of Botas de Alas (Californio/Mexican leather leggings they used like chaps). Josh Dabney is making me a 8 1/2" bladed Damascene Belduque that will tuck in the Botas Californio style. I have found an old use Pietta 1851 in .44 cal. (I know, the original 1851s were .36, but I just feel that shooting a .36 calliber is like firing a Beretta .380 at some one ... more apt to make them more angry than stop them). I was able to get an Oklahoma Leather 'Slim Jim' holster until I can afford to have a floral 'Winchester & Main' floral style Slim Jim and matching cartridge belt bag made for me .... I mean, I already have $1400 in a outfit for a non-paying docent position ... gotta stop, catch my breath and get every one paid before I order any more ....

As far as personas, I am still drawing up a blank ... thought I had the perfect one, but he was bushwacked (dead) a year before my period ... thought I might become Jared Sheldon', a yanqui who married into an old Mexican Family, converted to Catholicism and became a Mexican citizen in the 1830s ... I was thinking, 'Oh yeah, anglo Californio with a land grant (Now part of Elk Grove CA: for you locals, Sheldon Road is named after him) ... married into a old Californio Family ... perfect ... but then I found that he had put a dam on a local creek in accordance with an agreement with local miners.

Well the miners thought better about it ... and even tho' most did not even have legal permission to use the land, they killed Jared and several of his friends at the dam in 1851 ...

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Maybe Jared had a brother; - Like Curley?

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Sir Charles,

Thanks; I'll check to see if he had any brothers ... I know that at least two of his closest friends were bushwacked at the same time by the same group of miners ...

I do think that there were some more anglos in the family who stuck around the area ... I'll have to access the Elk Grove
Historical Society ....

[kflach]

WaddWatsonEllis,

I just want to let you know how much I've enjoyed keeping with your progress. I'm going about this quite the opposite. It's interesting (and sometimes quite enlightening) to see what you've done and compare it with my own journey.

I'm still looking forward to that final picture you post, when you've got everything together and are wearing it!

Hang in there!

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Kflach,

I go in for a formal 'interview' on February 2nd ... but since I have met the woman and attended meetings, I think it is more of a formality ...

And I have two four hour classes starting the second week in February  .... so I will get to meet more new docents then.

It turns out I have to put $30.00 into some kind of insurance if I am to wear a firearm ... and the lady has the forms, so I will pick one up on the day of the interview ...

I still have a few things to do or pick up

I need to get some Mexican/non ASPCA approved spurs (i.e. the ones with the big cruel rowels)

I have a little (3 oz) powder flask that came with a tiny powder measure and machine style threads. I need to get a 45 gr measure and get the flask redrilled (fortunately larger) and rethreadded to fit the larger powder measure.

I will eventually get a cartridge bag that will hold the mini-flask, six extra balls in a leather bag, and a half dozen wads in another bag. I have a picture of the bag and the replacement holster below.

Still waiting for the February start date to begin work on the Belduque and Botas.

But the waiting is kinda making it more fun ... kinda *S*.

Well, I am helping the friend of a friend who is chairborne right now, and have to jump into the shower so that I can be there on time.

Best wishes to you all!

[Grogan]

Dr Bob,

This sounds interesting ... does anyone make a Cap and Ball Colt revolving rifle reproduction  ... and in a perfect world, .44 cal. ?

Prolly equally as unreliable and DANGEROUS today as they were when they were originally made!

During the Civil War, when Berdan was forming up his U.S. Sharpshooters Regt. (USSS), he promised his men they'd be supplied with "Special" Sharps Breechloading (Paper Ctg.) Rifles (that were equipped with different Bayonets and Double Set Triggers).

When Sharps couldn't supply the rifles in time, Berdan sought to equip his men with Colt's Revolving Rifles instead, which he did.

While in camp and still training, Berdan's unit of experienced target shooters almost mutinied on him unless he supplied them with the promised Sharps rifles.

Berdan's men KNEW a good and workable rifle when they saw it.

Colt's Revolving Rifles weren't it!