costum weapon help!

[GoodOlBoy]

Say fer instance yer gonna play the game as a feller what joined the rebs as a dog robber/forager as a early teenager. BUT yer playing it from now around the 1890s (IE he survived the war)

What could you see as his gear/guns?

I already can see a foragers belt and most likely a hawk. still up in the air (so to speak) about the rest.

GoodOlBoy

[Mad Reloader]

Hmmm--

"Great minds think alike." :D

My cowboy "persona" is turning out along those lines, sort of.

I too am doing a "War Between The States" leftover, ca. mid/late 1860's-1870's -- depending on the event either a Union irregular
(handle is "Jurgen the Jayhawker")
or one of the survivors bf Quantrill's group (no idea for variant handle yet)

For The Mad One, revolvers are, natch, cartridge converted Remmys or open-topped Colts. Still need to get a carbine...

Now, you're doing later than I am--so you have a bit more room to work with.

Let us examine the historical Old West outlaw outfit that comes closest to what both you and I are doing:

The James-Younger gang.

Early on (when the ineffably charming Bloody Bill Anderson was still the lieutenant in charge of the "platoon") equipment and gear were pretty much typical for the Trans-Mississippi & Far Western theatres of operation--a precious few articles of issue equipment, some captured Union gear (NOTE: Rebs wore the US buckle upside-down when captured waistbelts were made use of!) but mostly clothing and gear was what 19th C. military historians called "private purchase".

Holster style tended to be of the "Slim Jim" variety or mil pattern.

In the late 1860's, a James Gang member would often have a captured Union greatcoat worn in lieu of a duster.

OK--now we fast forward to the 1890's

Odds are, clothing would have updated to the epoch, though a coat or brimmed hat of Civil War vintage might have survived 20 odd years (I've got a 3" brim gray fedora that I have owned and worn from about 1984-on, so a hat COULD perchance last that long on an outlaw...) Pants tended to blow out after months in the field, but "Pony Soldier" trousers could have been picked up as replacements...

Armament: Hmmm. By the 1890's my guy Jurgen--if he'd lived that long--or your character would have in all likelihood obtained a more current rifle than a Henry or Spencer (I have it narrowed down to TWO possiblities!)

Revolvers: Bill Hickock and Wes Hardin used cap-&-balls long after most folks had gone over to Colt SAA's, so a cartridge conversion type MAY have still been in use by an outlaw type ca. 1885-1899. Let us not forget that .44 Colt Revolver remained in production to 1940, and that was used almost entirely in Open Tops, 1869 conversion New Model Armies and would chamber in the early run of 1875 Remingtons used by Tribal Police in Arizona (where it was referred to as .44 Remington)

S&W American Model was Jesse James' revolver of choice, another holdout from the mid/late1860's.

The thing to keep in mind is you REALLY want to have both carbine rifle and belt revolver(s) in identical chamberings! I kid you not! Makes life MUCH simpler when you're shooting.
I speak from experience

Also, straight-sided cases such as .45 Schofield, .45 "Long" Colt, .44 Russian, .44 Spl, .38 Spl and .38 Long Colt are much more pleasant to deal with at the loading bench after you're done and are getting ready for the next event.

.44-40 or .38-40 are more "authentic", but the thin case walls at the neck aren't conducive to repeated reloads, and sizing is more of a problem...

IMHO, since you're doing late Old West--let your revolver preference dictate your carbine choice and keep the calibres dead on identical.

My guy's about 20 years earlier, so I'm either getting a Henry, or a Spencer in .45 Colt or .45 Schofield (Somebody makes one!)

Food for thought, amigo! ;)

[GoodOlBoy]

Sweet thanks for the extra info there buddy. What about a palce to come up with hats, I tend to were durn close to an 8 and it is darned hard to find one in my size. . . .

GoodOlBoy

[indianahick]

Did you ever find any hand guns? I have two Rugar Vagaro's, drop belt that should fit someone from about a 36 to 40 inch waist, second belt (not drop down), holsters, biggest part of 5 boxes of shells, Brass, bullets, primer, dies, for reloading.

[GoodOlBoy]

Actually the project has been put off indefinantly.

I will holla at you if that changes anytime in the near to distant future.

GoodOlBoy

[Mad Reloader]

Sorry to hear about that, GOB!

(Yes, I am posting for the first time in about...9 months. The rumors of my demise have been GREATLY exaggerated!)

Conversely--I may be on the verge of being able to, for the first time in MANY months, be able to start doing Old West

Handle is now Zachariah (Kvaternik)

Details to follow as the new group here in AZ gets organized

(Hope to God I don't get nominated for Commanding Officer, I'm already Chief Cook & Bottle Washer for the 100th Austrian Regiment WW1 re-enactors, and XO/Liason Officer India Units for the 2/8th Battalion 20th Lancashire Regiment {Far Eastern Theater WW2 re-enacting} Have TOO MUCH on my plate as it is!)

Now, I really MUST make a call to one of my re-enactor cronies for this new Old West group (it will be a joint effort Pioneer Village museum and We Make History re-enactors, both of which I am affiliated with....)

Back...soon I hope!

:D

[GoodOlBoy]

Wow! Welcome back good buddy, how was the. . . . . vacation. . . . . :p

GoodOlBoy

[Mad Reloader]

More like life getting in the way, icing on the cake was spending 5 months on a 3rd shift field lab project which I just came off of this past Monday.

Having to miss an event this weekend (Battle of Picacho Peak) due to the fact that the alternator on my truck died Tuesday Morning and that needs to get fixed before I can do ANYTHING.

Other ongoing hassle is a problem that I've ended up being in about the middle of, with the local Former Yugoslavian exile community that's going to take a little while to straighten out.

Hardly any time to get in hunting, shooting, and barely any Historical events....

Hopefully this is changing.

(my PM box is still full I need to clean that)....

[Jack]

WOW ! MR!
Glad to see ya back, buddy