I will agree that some modern gadgets could be useful in a "lost" situation, but long term, no, I don't think so. Fuel stoves for instance, even home made so called "hobo stoves" that burn wood. How much do these weigh? How much room to they take up in your pack? Do you seriously think that these are a priority? Is there nothing else that you would rather be carrying in there place?
If they are only carrying modern firearms, how long do you think the ammunition will last if it is used for defence & hunting? How much ammo can they carry to make it worthwhile? What if the firearm malfunctions? How many spare parts are they going to carry for their compound bows? What if they drop & break their ferocerium rods? By using & carrying all these gadgets, what primitive skills have they learnt ready for the time when this modern gear starts to break down?
Battery powered torches for letting raiders know where you are! Solar panels for recharging heavy batteries, radios, hiking boots, compound bows. I wish I could remember now all the gadgets that have been recommended on various forums, but I dare say you can think of more yourself.
So when they get to where you are going in the wilderness with these various gadgets, what do you think they will be doing? What daily chores will they have? Water collection, collecting firewood, checking the trap line, hunting, ranging for security, on watch duty for security, cooking meals, boiling water for purification, dehairing animal hides, brain tanning animal skins, making clothing, making moccasins, fishing, foraging for food & tinder plants, smoking animal skins, digging toilet holes, preparing & tending gardens, perhaps constructing shelters or defenses, collecting Goonagurra for making matting & arrow shafts, making reed mats, bow making, arrow making, attending militia drill, can you think of more?
So tell me, where do these gadgets come into helping with these chores? How do they make life more comfortable? How do they help you survive? And whilst we are at it, are they sustainable? How long will they last?
Anyway, just something for people to think about.
Advantages of A Flintlock
Muzzle-loader.
1)
Ammo is less expensive than a modern equivalent caliber firearm.
2) The smoothbore is very versatile, being able
to digest round ball, bird shot, & buckshot, or any combination of two of
these (can also use minies).
3) The fusil is lighter to carry than a modern
equivalent sized gun.
4) You can vary the load if needs be.
5) The smoothbore will digest other projectiles
besides lead.
6) Lead can be retrieved from downed game &
remoulded with a simple mould & lead ladle. This means that you can carry
less lead, & more of the lighter gunpowder.
7) You can make your own gunpowder.
8) You can use the lock to make fire without the
need for gunpowder.
9) You can use gunpowder for gunpowder tinder
fire lighting if needs be.
10)
IF the lock should malfunction
(these are very robust & it is not likely) you can easily repair it if you
are carrying a few spare springs & a few simple tools.
11) If you do not have any spare parts & the
lock malfunctions, you can easily convert it to a tinderlock or matchlock &
continue using it.
12)
You do not need a reloader, brass shells, caps, or primers. The latter
have been known to break down in damp conditions or if they are stored for too
long.
13)
Wadding for ball or shot is
available from natural plant materials or homemade leather or rawhide.
14)
Less chance of being affected by future ammunition control legislation.
15)
Gunpowder is easily obtainable providing you have a muzzle-loader
registered in your name regardless of caliber (only NSW is looking at this
legislation at present).
16)
A .32 caliber flintlock rifle is more powerful than a .22 rimfire, less
expensive to feed, more accurate over a greater distance, able to take small
& medium sized game, & other than not being able to use shot (unless it
is smoothbore), it has all the attributes of the other flintlocks.
17)
Damage from a .62 caliber-.75 caliber pistol or long arm is in the
extreme. Wounded prey is unlikely to escape.
18)
By using buck & ball you are
unlikely to miss your target. This load is capable of taking out more than one
target.
19)
There is less kick-back to a
muzzle-loading gun.
20)
Antique Flintlock muzzle-loading
guns do not require a license, registration, or a permit to purchase in NSW
Australia.
Woodsrunner’s
Skills.
New England
Colonial Living History Group 1680-1760.
This is a list of basic skills in which we expect an
18th century woodsman or woods-woman to have some experience with in
our group. There is no time limit set, learn in your own time & if we can
help just ask.
Keith.
Keith.
·
Flint &
steel fire lighting
·
Wet weather fire
lighting
·
Fire-bow fire
lighting
·
Flintlock fire
lighting
·
Flintlock use,
service & repair
·
Marksmanship
with either gun or bow.
·
Field dressing &
butchering game
·
Blade sharpening
·
Tomahawk
throwing
·
Making rawhide
·
Brain tanning
·
Primitive
shelter construction
·
How to stay warm
in winter with only one blanket
·
Cordage
manufacture
·
Moccasin
construction and repair
·
Sewing
·
Axe and tomahawk
helve making
·
Fishing
·
Hunting
·
Evasion
·
Tracking
·
Reading sign
·
Woods lore
·
Navigation
·
Primitive trap
construction & trapping
·
Open fire
cooking
·
Fireplace
construction
·
Clothing manufacture
·
Drying meat
& other foods
·
Knowledge of
plant tinders & preparation
·
Knowledge of
native foods & preparation
·
Knowledge of
native plants in the area and their uses for other than tinder and food.
·
Scouting/Ranging.
·
Basic first aid.
·
Finding and treating
water.
·
General leather
work.
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