New comer and Persona question

[One-eyed Jack]

I am in the process of joining NCOWS and am a current SASS member with an alias of One-eyed Jim.

My question is about the adopted persona for NCOWS? I know it can be a fictional character but can it be one just from my imagination or does it have to have an actual existence in history or past fiction?

thanks,
b

[Pancho Peacemaker]

Most NCOWS members have historically based fictional personas.  Many are very well researched and have faux documentation, firearms, and clothing to support their persona's timeline.  

I do know two members (there are probably more) who have developed a persona based on a documented individual from the Old West.  One member utilized one of his ancestors as his persona.


This is a guide written by Marlon Ingram:  http://www.ncows.org/outfit1.html

Edit:   Many folks come to NCOWS after shooting SASS for a while.  To make the transition easy:  look at what "cowboy" guns you alread have.  Are they NCOWS legal?  If so, look at the period those guns came from.  Once you pick an "era", make sure your leather & garb fits that period.  Then start to build your story.   I like 1890's guns (S&W New Model No. 3's, Colt Lightning & Burgess rifles, etc...) so I'm building my persona around an 1890's character. 

Important to use the active tense of that verb "building".  I think everyone involved in NCOWS is always "working" on their persona.

[St. George]

Maybe this'll help.

******

St. George's Notes XIII - The Impression(2.0)...
« on: February 02, 2005, 10:06:13 am »     

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Creating your persona is important to an accurate portrayal of the times and a good way to honor those in your family who went before.

It also allows you to concentrate and learn about specifics, and can save you some money as you put your Impression together properly - leaving frivolous purchases for later on.

I was lucky in having some interesting ancestors to draw from, as my forebears actually were soldiers, gamblers, gunfighters and lawmen - with nary a storekeeper in the lot.

My GG Grandfather rode with the 2d Iowa Volunteer Cavalry as a Corporal.
My GG Uncle rode with DeBray's 5th Independent Texas Cavalry as a Captain.
My G Uncle rode with G Troop - 1st Volunteer Cavalry (yeah - 'that' G Troop - TR's).

My own career has been spent in Combat Arms units - Airborne and Special Ops mostly - I commanded a Cavalry Squadron for The First Team, after I commanded an Infantry Battalion in The Big Red One - having first started out as a Rifleman and later - a Hard-Stripe E6 in a Paratroop outfit about 35 years ago.
I was retiring out of SOCOM when recalled...

Here's a thumbnail sketch - from the top of my head - and it hits the high points - allowing you to build upon it - fleshing out the Posts and the towns nearby - even the Saloons and the Dry Goods and Saddlers.

Why?

Because to make it more authentic - some of your equipment is going to have come from them.

For example - my saddle-shaped watch fob is from J.H.Haney & Company - a noted saddler from Omaha and first active in 1888, while my cigar case and a pocket knife both come from Union Stock Yards Company/South Omaha - that started in 1884.
These were places I'd have done business with or known men who did.

Retired, long-serving Cavalry Officer...
Served since the Civil War, when I rode with the 2d Iowa Volunteer Cavalry as a Trooper, in Sheridan's Cavalry Corps, from 1863 on.
Rode under Grierson, cutting telegraph and railroad lines near Vicksburg.
Brevetted to Major.
Chased Forrest, helped repel Hood in Tennessee.
Stayed in after the War and went West (with a company-grade rank) and fought throughout the Indian Wars - Apache, Comanche, Cheyenne, Ute and Nez Perce' Campaigns - rode with and later commanded a squadron in the 5th Cavalry.
Entered the Retired List out of the Headquarters for the Department of the Platte, at Omaha Barracks, where I served on Departmental Staff - in 1896 as Lieutenant Colonel, Cavalry.

Now, that's 'my' Impression.

Yours may vary widely - especially if you don't have a Military background and have picked another type of character to portray.

For example:

Let's say that you pick a Working Cowboy...

What you'd have in your pockets or in your vest would depend upon what your character would have and his station in life.

You may have to decide how educated you might be - you may not be able to read, write, or do sums.
If you can - you might want to carry a pencil and maybe a Tally Book, so you can keep track of stock and such for the Brand you're riding for this season.

The pencil would not have an eraser - you'd 'erase' with a knife blade - or cross through.

No pen, though, as the technology hadn't quite made it to that stage.
Pen and ink were found in desks.

You'd probably want some education though, and might have a McGuffy's Primer in your saddlebags - that you've gotten from the new Schoolmarm...

If you've been paid, some 'hard' cash - coinage in the form of both American and most likely Mexican would be in your pockets - paper wasn't quite as trusted back then, but greenbacks and shinplasters were also common, as was Army Scrip.
You may not have much money - since your pay goes to keeping up you - your outfit, and once in awhile - paying off your bunkhouse poker debts.

There might be a Bill of Sale for your horse - stuck inside your billfold (a simple fold-over thin leather case - similar in construction to a modern checkbook cover).

You wouldn't need a Pocket Watch - since you could tell time fairly accurately by the Sun.
Anyway - maybe the Ramrod would have one - maybe not - but if he did, it'd be a solid one - most likely a Turnip" - because they were pretty strongly-built -the more expensive having the closable "Hunter Case" and the less expensive the open face.
But then, not every man would own one - they could be pricey for a working cowboy and weren't as tough as needed, and besides, there was usually the one that the Ramrod had.

If you're using a pocket watch, then there were watch fobs and charms as well as watch chains - the fobs being anything from an Elk's Tooth to an advertising fob from a harness maker to a spent Minie' bullet that glanced off your cartridge box at Shiloh, and you kept for Good Luck
If you carried such a thing - a Watch Fob from a local business on a strap would be appropriate.

A carbon-steel-bladed pocket knife might be in order - wood or bone handles being quite common and any of the good English makers (some German as well) were common - I*XL being well thought of.
It would probably be a single-bladed knife, though two-bladed pen knives were quite common and they got that name because they were small enough to cut quills for writing.
A hoof knife was a large knife - it being the Multiplier of the day, so it would be found in the saddlebags

Let's say you were good at your job...

You'd want to show that fact off a bit - so your spurs would be top-notch as would your saddle.
Maybe a pair of Buermann's Gal-Leg spurs - or later on,  McChesneys - or - of you're in the Southwest - a good pair of Mexican-made ones from the big Trade Fairs in Chihuahua - with jingle-bobs, so the 'town folk' would know you're comin', with your straps let out to the 'town hole' to add to the music.
The saddle - well - that's going to take some money - but once you've got a good one - it'll advertise to one and all that they're looking at a "Top Hand"...

You'll carry Tobacco - in one or more of its many forms - as most men of the time used it.
If that's the case - you'll want a Match Safe for your "Strike-Anywhere" Lucifers and your little bag of makin's - Bull Durham - or some of that black Mexican tobacco -  and some papers(non-adhesive) or cut and scraped corn shucks - so's you could roll a smoke.
They didn't call 'em "quirlys" for nothing.
Maybe a plug of chaw will be in a vest pocket as well - or cigars.
Perhaps a pipe as well - because tobacco could still be smoked if no papers or cornshucks were available
Snuff came loose back then and was carried in small horn boxes with lids - some silver-mounted and engraved.

And - if you're just a Button - maybe a couple of Peppermints, since you're not quite used to smoking, yet.
And even if you're not a Button - you'd still have a sweet tooth... and might have a pair of reading glasses inside your vest

There may even be a small flask inside a vest pocket - especially for a gambler - or a 'sport' - and even a deck of pasteboards.

You can see how the creation of an historically accurate Impression can involve a bit of thought - but once given - and with some access to decent references - it's easy to create what you're after.

The list goes on - again depending on your character - and quality varies.

A working cowboy never had much money, but when he could, he'd buy what would give the most value for his dollar, and that thing may not be the prettiest in the hardware or drygoods store - just the most durable.
A townsman would have more opportunity to buy "the latest thing" and so on.
A big part of the overall enjoyment of NCOWS is the peripheral history


Good Luck.

Scouts Out!

[Tjackstephens]

I have taken my family history. I am a young boy of 16 that serves with his Uncle Dave Beaty of the TN Independent Scouts during the War Between The States. A lot is true history of my family. Then moves west to Texas where he is a cowhand,Texas Ranger, lawman, and  ranch owner. Two of my relatives, brothers founded Stephensville, TX. This takes him to and past the turn of the century. I have the outline for a book that someday I hope to finish. So I can be at any of that time period. It's just how I want to dress and the type weapons I choose to use. Lots of FUN!!   Whatever you choose, I wish you the best and welcome to NCOWS. Tj

[Cash Creek]

I think I will make my persona on Marty McFly from the movie Back To The Future II and I have his time machine and go back to 1880 and have a gun fight with Biff ( Mad Dog ) Tanner..and I will be Clint Eastwood..   CC

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Howdy, PlunkettPhoto;

Welcome!

To answer your question directly, no - you do NOT have to have a "real" persona, based on an actual person.  You can make up the entire idea.  All you have to do is keep your "idea" true to the times.

Just to attend a monthly or larger shoot, you don't have do do much more than a one or two sentence biography, and actually, you don't have to make up a story at all.  You just have to base your clothes, weapons, and any gear you may bring as a "prop" on what was available "back in the day."  No one has EVER asked me (in what might be termed as an official status) about my persona ... which, by the way, is based on my own life and experiences, but 150 years ago.  In addition, I've never asked a  new member to relate their history and define their own persona.  However, when you get a group of us together you'll hear a lot of stories regarding our character's history and experiences.  It grows on you - the longer you stay in the organization, the more your "history" will grow and gain details.  


BUT ... making up your history or doing your persona based on a family member or real-life person is a LOT of fun for most of us.  Also, if you DO "get into" NCOWS more than just enough to come & shoot as well as socialize and then decide to up your "authenticity factor" enough to join "The Originals," then you'll need to do research and plan a whole persona.  Some folks have written them out and take a page or two to explain, others have written small books, diaries complete with maps, family history, timelines, etc.  All things of this nature are required to be written and turned in to a small group of other Originals, and they then judge you and your story/weapons/clothing/leather.  It's a labor of love, actually.

It's ALL fun and we're glad to have you ask about these things here.  

Jeff - "Steel Horse Bailey"

[One-eyed Jack]

Thanks to everyone.  I know how to proceed now.  I actually have a bank robber in my family's past so I've got the idea.

thanks again,
one-eyed Jim  (bill)

[Yuma Kid]

plukett,
All this applies if you choose to have a persona.  NCOWS does not require you have one, you simple need to meet Level 1 requirements of having all you firearms, clothing and gear be replicas of or originals to what was available between 1866 & 1899.
Yuma

[Steel Horse Bailey]

I think I will make my persona on Marty McFly from the movie Back To The Future II and I have his time machine and go back to 1880 and have a gun fight with Biff ( Mad Dog ) Tanner..and I will be Clint Eastwood..   CC

Bro CC, I like your idea!  Can I have a ride?  I've never been in a Delorean "Snow"mobile.

     

[Frenchie]

Thanks to everyone.  I know how to proceed now.  I actually have a bank robber in my family's past so I've got the idea.

NCOWS pards who portray lawmen and Pinkerton detectives have just perked up their ears. 

[Montana Slim]

plukett,
All this applies if you choose to have a persona.  NCOWS does not require you have one, you simple need to meet Level 1 requirements of having all you firearms, clothing and gear be replicas of or originals to what was available between 1866 & 1899.
Yuma

Yuma Kid makes a great point....this was one of the major differences between SASS & NCOWS I saw at the time I chose to join NCOWS....NCOWS does not require you to register an alias or adopt a persona.

I know your holding your breath in anticipation, so I'll share two more: 1) NCOWS clothing requirements are a bit more realistic at depicting the 1800s and 2) the allowed use of genuine, authentic NON-Single-Action-Shooting-Sticks (NSASS).

Slim

[One-eyed Jack]

I'm getting all my "ducks in a row" now and have filed the on-line application for NCOWS membership and used PayPal to pay the dues.  My only problem seems to be hearing back from the application process.  I haven't rec'd any confirmation/acknowledgement of the application and payment.  Is this the normal process - to just not hear anything via email and then receive the membership packet in the mail.  Just wondering if something went wrong with the application.

Thanks everyone, Ya'll are a really helpful bunch.  By the way, I will be a member of the Texas Peacemakers Posse.

thanks again,
One-eyed Jim

[Yuma Kid]

plunkettphoto,
You often don't hear anything from us until you get you membership packet in the mail.  Both the Banker and the Secretary are of course involved.  Often the application and check are mailed in together, I don't think we ever sent anything out to confirm payment other that the membership packet.  So when we started accepting PayPal, we pretty much did it the same way.  Of course over the years it has been handled differently depending on who the current Banker and/or Secretary were.  As officers change, each does it their own way.  I used to send back an email when I got a PayPal notification and had gotten out the habit of it.  I guess I will try to resurrect that tradition.
Yuma

[One-eyed Jack]

Thanks for letting me know that most likely everything's ok.  I'll just wait anxiously for the packet. 

thanks again,

[Irish Dave]

Well, let me be the first to welcome you to the outfit.

[Pancho Peacemaker]

Thanks for letting me know that most likely everything's ok.  I'll just wait anxiously for the packet. 

thanks again,

The Berger Sharpshooters and the NCOWS members at the Peacemakers are looking at doing a joint NCOWS Christmas Party.  The plans are still in the works, but it looks like it will be Dec 17 somewhere near Terrell.  I"ll let you know when plans firm up.

Try to join us.


Pancho