Southern Cross Free Trappers

Buffalo River Longhunter (Glen Mitchell with his Bess) Drawing by Linda Hynes

Okay, summer is over and cooler days are with us. Time for some hooting and whooping and lots of shootin’!

Firstly, a big cheer for Glen who shares with us the prized drawing above by skilled artist Linda Hynes. At 26, Glen certainly cut a dashing figure as a Longhunter, holding that cherished smoothbore Bess that he describes to us in our feature story this edition.

Secondly – Easter is almost upon us and it’s our first primitive camp for 2010. That is followed closely by Anzac day weekend stretched to a three day-er if you can make it.

Are you ready for some shooting fun? Ready to Rondyvoo? Come to Bernard’s Cache!

Events – Coming Very, Very Soon

April 2nd – 5th. An Easter bunny and egg hunt at magical Bernard’s Cache, Caveat.
April 24th – 26th. ANZAC day weekend – look for more rabbit pie at Bernard’s Cache.

Other Events later this year

June 12th – 14th. Queen’s Birthday weekend – Winter Quarters at Bernard’s Cache.
Our 5th Anniversary of Primitive Rendezvous camping in the central Highlands area.
A chance to re-live those fantastic first winter camps all so enthusiastically embraced.

September 17th – 20th. Spring Rendezvous with friends at Beaver Creek, Whorouly.
An extended single weekend – Friday 17th through to Monday 20th.

November 6th & 7th. Melbourne Medieval Fayre and Tourney (MMFAT) at Berwick.

Bessie and Me

Our feature story by Glen Mitchell
Thirty years ago, when I was but a full grown lad, my lovely wife bought a wonderful birthday present for me. A second wife? Well, no! It was only a muzzleloader, but it was the start of a new long-lasting love affair. Being a wannabe woodsman, I already knew about mahogany (monogamy) but didn’t take long before my eyes started to wander again.

You might think two wives would be enough, but I had come across a possible “mail order bride” advertised as residing in Sydney town. She was tall and slender and possessing a somewhat darker complexion – sort of a walnut shade, but not yet glowing. So, with wife number one’s blessing, I sent off for another new bride.

I can still remember the day she arrived at the train station and boy, was I ever excited! Leaving her resting in my car, I scampered into the staff room at the Tech in search of Bill and Charlie, insisting they come immediately to my vehicle for introductions to Bess. To me she was “Bess” right from day one. After a lot of drooling and general silliness with these two envious mates I headed home to show off Bessie to Wife No.1.

Afterwards, with a grin from ear to ear I picked up Bess and headed out to the office, closed the door behind me so as to not be disturbed, and gently laid Bess on the work bench. For quite some time I just stared at her – I knew she was meant for me. Then with a sort of eagerness I stripped her down – took everything off! She looked different, but in a familiar sort of way. I was excited! I took my time! I polished all the bits that needed polishing. Then I polished them all some more.

Next I started to oil her up and she seemed to like it, so I oiled and rubbed some more. This oiling went on for several days until my arm ached from all the rubbing, but her timber had taken on a beautiful glow with that well-oiled look. I couldn’t wipe the grin from my face. Then I carefully replaced all the furnishings that I’d removed and she was complete again. She now looked just how I thought a fine Bess should look.

Bess, or Bessie, the name depended on my mood at any given time, but by either name we had a lot of good times together. She was a 3rd model Brown Bess musket and I was just 26 years old and they were untroubled days. Many years later, through a combination of politics (gun laws) and hard times we parted company. Today I am sad that this happened and that goes for many of the guns I once owned.

But Bessie was more special! Whether it was all the loving work I put in polishing the brass and hand rubbing the oil finish to the stock, or what I can’t say, she was just special. I’d kinda like to know where, and with whom, she spends her time these days. Hopefully she receives the same fond affection as I still feel for her. Glen Mitchell.

The Phoenix

Those of us who have never experienced first hand the devastation of raging bushfires cannot possibly imagine the sense of total loss many people suffered in February2009. John Morland contributes to our series about how we give a pet name to our firearms -

“It took a crowbar and a lot of physical effort to open the twisted wreckage of my burnt-out gun safe. Once achieved, one glance at the contents would cause many a grown man to weep. There were lots of pieces of burned metal such as barrels, locks and receivers (Oh yeah, I lost some modern stuff as well). There were numerous bits of melted brass. Of the timber stocks there was nothing left at all. No maple or walnut could survive that heat! I was just one pissed-off Trapper, standing there in the ashes.

Time passed, and then came word from a certain Free Trapper who often gets his wagon bogged. Any bits I may have recovered were needed by a certain Western Districts Trapper, and don’t ask any questions!

Enter No.3 in a trilogy of fine rifles recently built by Ian Convey, each of them different but with stocks beautifully hand crafted from the same tree.

A fine Kentucky long rifle she be. With a poured pewter for-end tip, browned patch box with silver heart inlay, another inlay in the but-plate strap. Browned furniture and barrel with the Southern Cross inlaid in the nearside of the butt. From the charred ashes to this – truly amazing!

The Phoenix

Next I acquired a mould and run some ball, the patch and ball size is well known to me, for this barrel and I have travelled many trails and entered many off-hand matches, but will it be the same. Alas, no, not to be! This fine rifle has risen from the ashes with a completely new character, putting me and the “Phoenix” on a whole new learning curve. And I still can’t get this smile off my face.

Sometimes a simple thank-you seems totally inappropriate for all the hard work, time, and skill that were required to rebuild this rifle, a gift which means a lot to me.
To you Ian, I say – THANK YOU!” John Morland

Convalescing

It was a full month after the event when we received word that Judy Harley, our lady host at Bernard’s Cache, had been in a nasty accident early in January. The tractor Judy was driving along the road got out of control on a steep incline, forcing Judy to take to the trees rather than crush the much smaller tractor being driven by Bernie.

A broken collar bone and several busted ribs along with deep cuts to head and knee will keep Judy out of action for several months. The Club has forwarded a card with get well messages and we here again reiterate our very best wishes to Judy for full recovery in the speediest possible manner.

Hitting the Mark – Line of Sight meets Point of Impact.

“One went wide and one went low; where the hell did the other one go…….?”

Dave Doran’s Lonesome Louie cartoons first appeared in the pages of Muzzleloader magazine.

Getting a new muzzleloader to hit the mark, one need not experience the embarrassment or frustration of Fast Freddy if he only follows a few simple guidelines. If the sights are not aligned correctly, then the sights should be adjusted to bring the line of sight to meet the point of impact.

This usually involves firing a number of shots from some sort of sturdy and very stable rest. Three shots should be a minimum guide; five is nearly twice the fun.

The idea is to establish a “group”, and then the sights are adjusted to move the line of sight closer to the group. Further three (or five) shot groups should be made each time the sights are adjusted, until the sights are correctly aligned. It’s all part of the joy of shooting.

Wikipedia, the free online encyclopaedia gives these detailed instructions for adjusting sights:

• To move the line of sight DOWN (the shots hit BELOW the point of aim) the REAR sight is RAISED or the FRONT sight is LOWERED.
• To move the line of sight UP (the shots hit ABOVE the point of aim) the REAR sight is LOWERED or the FRONT sight is RAISED.
• To move the line of sight LEFT (the shots hit LEFT of the point of aim) the REAR sight is moved RIGHT or the FRONT sight is moved LEFT.
• To move the line of sight RIGHT (the shots hit RIGHT of the point of aim) the REAR sight is moved LEFT or the FRONT sight is moved RIGHT.

Tattler

Next time you’re having a cold’un with Blind Fox ask about his you-beaut 4WD auto fridge and battery discharger. Luckily an observant Grey Wolf with one spare dollar and a good lead got the jump on Kevin and likely earned himself another cold beer. Just ask Richard!

Letters to the editor

Hi Chook, I enjoyed the latest online newsletter with the lead article on undertaking of other aspects of Living History. Just a cautionary note on soap making – When using caustic soda it is best to do the mixing up of the soap ingredients in a glass or terracotta bowl and then ladling it into a wooden mould as caustic soda will eat thru anything metal. I have had several buckets destroyed due to leaving the ash sitting in the bucket too long after cleaning out my fireplace. An aluminium vessel I once used for soap making was completely eaten away by the caustic. Jenny Baker.

Hi Chook, Thanks for the newsletter online, it’s always a good read. Getting to the Easter camp could be a problem but the ANZAC weekend looks good. Keith Hendry.

“I do wish he’d train the dog to do his fetching!”
Our tongue-in-cheek caption for this attractive picture of Susan Schwer.
Dick and Susan are regular visitors from South Australia. Photo by Kevin

Chook on christening Muzzleloaders.

Well, to be truthful, I’d never referred to any rifle or smoothbore I’ve owned other than by using the make & model e.g. Pedersoli Mortimer. But, after Ian refurbished my Remington barrel I had a problem – to continue calling it “The Remington” seemed totally wrong as it certainly wasn’t that anymore. (See my story in Vol 21) But then it never was the authentic replica as touted in the sales pitch. Some forums suggest Remington had their “custom shop” commemoratives made by the Hatfield Company, but the Remington spokespeople are rather coy on this – wonder why?

So, if it wasn’t a faithful copy of a Remington, and the Hatfield connection is rumour, a sudden thought inspired its new pet name. The Hatfield Company’s heritage links back to the feuding Hatfield’s & McCoy’s. Ian used that Remington branded barrel, mated with a Davis lock and the Convey craftsmanship of a hand carved stock with hand-made trigger and all iron furniture, to come up with a dinkum custom made rifle. – It’s the real McCoy. It is time “McCoy” and I went for a walk in the bush!

Two Centuries of Growth and Decline 1810 – 2010.

The U.S. Federal census of 1810 lists around 200 gun powder mills across America. One of the earliest known advertisements for powder featured in the Pittsburgh Gazette some 10 years earlier:-

POWDER. The subscriber has for sale, the best RIFLE POWDER – he can supply Merchants and others, at reasonable prices, at his Powder Mill on Peter’s Creek. Jacob Ferree (owner), Alleghany County, Mifflin Township, September 13, 1799.

Sadly, that large number of powder makers gradually dwindled, until we seem to have only two sources of black powder available to our dealers in Australia today, and if I am correct, only three or four in the USA. Wano, a German brand, and the very expensive Swiss Schuetzen seem to be the only current choice here, while our US mates have these two, plus Elephant brand and their own home-grown Goex to choose.

Free Trappers requiring powder will find all their needs met by contacting Roger Mowbray at Northern Shooter’s Supplies division of Stock, Lock Antique Arms – see our Trading Post ads.

Murray the Club Treasurer – holds centre

Members Please Note: Club Annual Subscriptions due!
All subs for 2010-2011 fall due on 31st March. We are able to maintain our very low fee of only $20 per adult member. i.e. $20 Singles; $40 Couples; Children -18 free!

All members will be aware that three quarters of this fee goes towards paying our Public Liability insurance premiums. Your prompt payment of subs helps us to maintain the low rates. Please forward your cheque or money order direct to our Treasurer – Murray Convey, 2806 Colac / Ballarat Road, Dereel 3352.

Kevin enjoys a cup of hospitality inside Richard & Lorraine’s tent.

Greetings friends, welcome again to Around the Traps. Did anyone notice that we turned 21 with our Christmas volume? Kinda special achieving that 21st and thanks to all members we certainly hold the key to Primitive Rendezvous re-enactment Down Under. Congratulations to everyone who took part in our events, and particularly those who forwarded articles or photos, and especially to those on who we tattled. It’s all about having fun!

SCFT also thanks Bill and Beryl Wilson of Bundaberg, Bob Seip of Ferntree Gully, Bob Timms of Narre Warren and Noel & Estelle Collinson of Kew, who all generously supported our Primitive Rendezvous movement throughout 2009.

2010 promises to be our biggest, brightest year since formation as committee and members continually strive to improve camps, our personas, while refining shooting challenges for both greenhorn beginner and seasoned Hivernant. And remember, Around the Traps is your newsletter, so keep those articles and your favourite photographs coming.

Alternative Camp Life (or Not Quite the Minimalist)

Ian’s article in Vol. 21 drew a few comments about doing it so tough. Not everyone desires to portray the hardy, lonesome north-west Trapper at our rendezvous re-enactments. Bob Ellis loves his role as wagon master fetching (grog?) supplies to the trappers, but when travelling with his lovely squaw he manages to hide a super comfy double bed plus a small table complete with candelabra inside the 22 foot tipi. Really!

Robyn pushes a cartload of comforts

Kevin and Robyn’s trading post is perhaps the most eye-catching camp set-up we see. However, the casual eye may overlook homely comforts and interior decorating. Some of our women folk prefer a persona partnering an Eastern Longhunter or Trader.

And there is nothing wrong with hauling along furnishing for the basic pioneer life of a settler in search of suitable land to set down roots, build a cabin of one or two rooms, grow some vegetables and sow some crops.

The dining table inside the Trading Post

One must remember that while intrepid mountain men were exploring the beaver streams the flatlanders back east were not twiddling their thumbs. There was always a push to explore and settle in green pastures. Our pictures illustrate just how cosy and comfortable greener pastures could be achieved – a cabin with a warm feet stove, a shuttered window, buffalo robe mats, a table made of boards and even a kitchen sink bench.

Including the kitchen sink

Events 2010

February, 19th – 21st. We hold a static display at Seymour Alternative Farming Expo.

April 2nd – 5th. An Easter bunny and egg hunt at Bernard’s Cache, Caveat.
April 24th – 26th. Anzac day weekend – leftover rabbit pie at Bernard’s Cache.

June 12th – 14th. Queen’s Birthday weekend – Winter Quarters at Bernard’s Cache.

September 17th – 20th. Spring Rendezvous with friends at Beaver Creek, Whorouly.
An extended single weekend – Friday 17th through to Monday 20th.

November 6th & 7th. Melbourne Medieval Fayre and Tourney (MMFAT) at Berwick.

Seymour Alternative Farming Expo, 19th – 21st. February 2010

Glen Mitchell, Paul Sly and Jim Walker assisted at Bob Ellis’ tent exhibition at this event last year, displaying lots of Trapper paraphernalia. It was a successful trial to show the general public something of what we do usually so far away from public eye.

There is huge interest in our hobby and this is a grand opportunity to recruit new chums to black powder and rendezvous camping. We hold a Populous Place Permit from Firearms Licensing to allow members with appropriate license endorsement to attend with their muzzleloader and accoutrements for our display purposes.

Bob Ellis can provide free entry tickets for members prepared to dress in period costume and spend some time manning our presentation. Are you able to assist for half a day, a full day, or perhaps all 3 days? Contact Bob on 03 5796 2753 A.H.

SCFT display at the 2009 Seymour Alternative Farming Expo

Hunting for Exercise

by Paul Sly, aka Le Reynard
Morning dawned fine and clear, and as my two young boys were soundly asleep in bed, I thought it was time to follow the doctor’s advice and get some exercise. I donned the appropriate clothes and gear and headed off with the “Old Girl” and her fixin’s (aka Kentucky rifle and hunting pouch) in hand. I was hunting along the dry winding creek bed at the back of my house hoping to bag a rabbit or two for the pot.

After moving-off a few reluctant roo’s, there was nothing else stirring until I came around a bend in the creek. There was one half-dozing rabbit catching a few morning rays just before retiring to its burrow. With not much cover I was able to get to within 40 yards, it was now or never, with a flash and boom the .440” ball was on its way to its destiny – that being one of completely by-passing the rabbit and hitting the dirt in front of its toes. Needless to say that rabbit did not wait to see how fast I could re-load for a second shot. So on I went, continuing my exercise routine. Ho, hum!

It was not too long after that, as I neared a fence line, I spooked a sitting rabbit which decided to run only about 10-15 yards, before stopping to have a look at what had disturbed its morning bliss. Fatal mistake! Having brought that Kentucky flinter to my shoulder and settled the sights on the rabbit’s shoulder I gently touched off the shot.

The “Old Girl” always seems to do better the second shot after a clean barrel and this time was no exception. When the smoke had cleared there was one nice plump rabbit to put in the game bag. By now it was time to head back to the house for some well earned breakfast and a nice hot cuppa to finish off my “rigorous” exercise programme.

Regular exercise can be such good sport.

After feeding the inner man, and with help from one young apprentice (now awake) I dressed out the carcass, fed the scraps to the dogs, and stowed that rabbit in the freezer. It would be the makings of a delicious simmering casserole at a later date. I’m happy taking my doctor’s advice about exercise. See you round the traps, Le Reynard.

What’s in a Name, eh?

by Ian Convey
In the era we choose to re-enact it seemingly was a fairly common practise to refer to one’s firearm, be it rifle or smoothbore, by a pet name. Possibly this was because many a frontiersman had only one such arm, often for life, and, of necessity it was his constant companion, providing both sustenance and defence from animals and hostiles alike.

This practise of naming one’s firearm appears to have diminished with the advent of the breechloader and the taming of the frontiers lessening the need for constant protection. The more affluent in settlements might also have several firearms but now used only for casual sporting purposes to provide additional table fare.

Fear not, for we modern day muzzleloader shooters being anxious to re-live the olden ways are reviving the tradition of naming our favourite smoke-poles. Or in some cases the not-so-favourite piece that might bruise or injure at both ends. Ian thought to entertain readers we should run a short series sharing member’s fond names for certain guns and just how they decided on that moniker.

For example, Peter Jepson from the Council of Muzzleloaders has a much altered 45/70 Martini Henry (hmm – very futuristic) which he calls “Mr Ugly” just because that’s what it is. But it is spoken with a certain fondness for it shoots just where Peter wants.

June Howard, secretary of the Council of Muzzleloaders, has a .58 cal 3 Band Enfield that she christened “Goose-beater”. No, she does not thump domestic fowls with the butt! There was just this one occasion when June won a hard fought event in a shoot-off against the Western Districts club president Mr “Goose” Sheppard. Incidentally, Goose’s own .58 cal Three Bander is called “The Destroyer” as it has that effect on most targets. You can believe it!

Now our Jim Walker recently acquired a .50 cal T.C. flinter which he has christened “Hopeful”. I can’t help wondering if it will get a name change after one or two hunts or competitions. We do hear that Jim has been blitzing the shotgun field at Seymour Black Powder Club with his whopping big 8 bore muzzleloader.

John Morland very aptly named his .45 cal long rifle “The Phoenix” after I had rebuilt it for him. John’s home and the rifle had been quite destroyed in the 2009 “Black Saturday” bush fires. “The Phoenix” was built from salvaged parts found in the ashes.

Personally, I have owned three “christened” firearms over the years. One, a single shot 12 bore B/L was called “Deadly Earnest” or just “Deadly” for short. It was named by some mates who cast dispersions on its looks and performance. My second gun that had a moniker was a .45 cal caplock long rifle that I built in 1972. It was named “Game-getter” after proving itself on several hunts. The third gun is my 20g Trade gun which I called “Porky” because it brought home plenty of bacon.

We will follow up with more “christening” stories from Chook and Glen Mitchell in future editions. But we would also like to feature your favourite gun and the reason for its pet name or just how you arrived at such a name. Please forward your story to me for collaboration and on forwarding to our editor. Introduce your gun formally to your friends through our Newsletter.

Ian Convey, president.

Flint Hint:-When priming the pan, be sure not to overfill so much as to cover the vent.

Soap

Not the crap dished up on TV, but home-made suds for personal hygiene, laundering yer duds and cleaning dishes. My personal camping choice had always been Wright’s Coal Tar soap; that Kiwi brand that smells of a blend of dog wash and sheep dip and one sniff of it has all germs curling their toes I’m sure. Then along came Glen with his home-made soap offerings in eye-catching wraps all laid out on a trade blanket.

I’ll admit it was the “Pine Ridge Soap” labelled wrapper that grabbed my immediate attention. Glen was cleverly marketing his product featuring an attractive sportswoman in period costume with bonnet, a muzzleloader and the slogan “To aide in the genteel art of Bathing”. I guessed the label was printed in the traditional silk screen method of bygone days. Silk screen! Silk? You know – “Made out of worms!”

So I bought several cakes of Pine Ridge Soap. Presents for my two sisters and one for self as I was due for a bath come summer. Glen’s labelling listed all ingredients and there are no nasty perfumes, in fact no perfume at all, ideal for hunters hiding human scent and perfect for sensitive skins troubled by dubious additives in modern soaps.

I’m here to tell you readers that Pine Ridge Soap is a great product. It suds up nicely and cakes are longer lasting than modern store bought soaps. I’m sure Glen will have more soap available on his future trade blankets but for those of you wanting to have a go at making your own – here is one old recipe you might like to try.

Household Soap: Ingredients – 5 lbs fat, 6 quarts water, 1 lb lye, ½ lb resin, ½ lb borax.
Method – Melt the fat in 5 quarts of boiling water, dissolve the lye (caustic soda) in 1 quart then add to mix, and then add the resin and borax. Let it simmer from 2 to 3 hours. Pour into a suitable vessel and allow it to set firmly before cutting into cakes.

Caution – Be sure to use a large vessel and exercise great care as soon as the mixture comes to boiling point. Note: The above recipe is supplied with all care and no responsibility.

Old timers from early 20th C used a kerosene tin, cut lengthwise, in which to pour the mixture for setting. Note: Most recipes call for 5 – 6 lbs of fat (tallow) but a reduced percentage of all ingredients might well be much easier for your first batch.

Tattler

Saw a few lovely pictures of Mountain Man style Christmas / New Year greetings being forwarded via the internet. Great stuff and Tattler really appreciated the efforts you guys went to. But did you know that the first printed Christmas cards were not invented until the year 1843? More on this later in the year!

Our requests to hear your stories of pet names for smoke poles received small initial response, so El Presidente thought we should be more persuasive. He’s sure that Jeff, or maybe Murray, would refer to their charcoal burners in fondest terms such as “Big Bertha” or “Ol’ Stinky” or perhaps something with Indian flavour like “Goes-Better-With-Dry-Powder”. So what about it? You’re Free Trappers; you can name it anything you like. Send brief details to Ian for sharing in future editions.

Those members having Email facilities will remember back in mid-December when Chook forwarded a photo of Ronnie Davis taken at MMFAT (mid November), announcing he had won the President’s award for our “Best Santa look-alike” competition. Of course this was merely all in jest, for no such competition was held.

What Tattler has since learned is that while at MMFAT Ron had to pass by a horde of Viking re-enactors during Happy Hour. As Ron was walking past, those warriors and wenches suddenly ceased their lusty song to start up a jolly Christmas carol. The same thing happened again on Ron’s return passing of their camp. Ronnie never twigged those Norsemen were teasing him as his red voyager hat capped off his Santa-like white beard. The penny finally dropped a month later when we declared him that competition winner. Ronnie took it with fine spirits! Most likely good scotch whiskey!

Quick Quiz – What is Le Reynard’s pet name for his .45”cal Kentucky flinter?

Alternative camp life – a comfortable bed!

6th & 7th November. Melbourne Medieval Fayre and Tourney (MMFAT) at Berwick.

View Larger Map

17th – 20th September. Spring Rendezvous with friends at Beaver Creek, Whorouly. An extended single weekend – Friday 17th through to Monday 20th.

2010 12th –14th June. Queen’s Birthday long weekend – Winter Quarters at Bernard’s Cache.

2010 24th – 26th April. Anzac w/end – serving seconds of rabbit pie at Bernard’s Cache.