Muwhahahaha! Soon now, very soon, I shall place the order and deposit for the Ranger Bess musket. I am so looking forward to acquiring this piece. I will also get a bag mold for it (so I can cast my own balls), a proper sling, and perhaps the bayonet to go with it (for completeness). I already have flinter's tools and a flash guard for it. Since this one has a bridle on it for mounting such (not particularly authentic but a safety requirement at events), I won't have to have it modified. I shall have to practice with a lot since smoothbores required a deal of practice to become reliably good with....my Hawken has an after market barrel that is smoothbore so I am not unskilled.
I have a couple of pairs of knee breeches; one fall front, one french fly style. The latter is by far the most convenient although the former can certainly flatter a lady who chooses to wear them. Both can, really, but the flat, smooth front flap of the former lends itself well. I am really not certain why knee breeches went away. I wear them betimes just for the hell of it as they are comfortable..and in Winter keep your legs quite warm...especially with leggings. Admittedly, they are rather harder to make than plain long pants, but they are quite elegant. They look really good on gentleman and not at all bad on ladies.
By the by, for folks who might wonder why women who fought or served did so in male clothing; for one thing, skirts in the forest just don't work. For another, advertising yourself as a woman could result in some seriously unwanted and unpleasant attention. Nothing much to do with hiding from their own, although sometimes that was part of it. No, it was mostly a practical matter.
I have full on ladies clothing, mind, but that is for camp or social doings. I am more comfortable in ranging kit and clothing by a long shot.
Other things I will make for the new piece; ball bag, shooting bag, and case.
Some things I would like to acquire or make down the line; proper cuffed boots, more moccasins, leggings of various materials, a bed jacket, proper stays, and perhaps someday a very nice gown. Not just in Colonial venues either; a lady of the Dunedain would do well to have appropriately feminine garments for activities not bound up in Rangering.
Such would be the conventions of course. The reality of it is that I am unlikely to have the lovely gowns meant for balls and whatnot. They are nice to dream about though...and in the Colonial period, they are absolutely gorgeous.
Eyes sharp, ears open.
Eledhwen
The Ranger-Harper of Minhiriath
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Pouches
One thing wearing the bread bag replica has brought home solidly is the usefulness in having the belt loops at the top of the pouch, rather than on the back. Why? Because it allows the pouch to hang below belt level. What difference does that make? Well, if you have to wear more than one item around the waist for some reason; a pack waist strap, an equipment belt, or perhaps a sword belt, the pouch is not in the way of the belt lying as it should..and as comfortably as it should. That all by itself recommends this method of hanging.
Having those belt loops able to button or lace shut, rather than being a solid loop, makes it easy to put the pouch on even if one is already dressed and belted. It also makes the addition of a shoulder strap, itself with rings or buttons on the ends, very easy indeed. In essence, all of this allows maximum flexibility of use.
I am reminded of the old WWII GI gear that used to hang from the eyelets in the web belt below the level of the belt itself...allowing the wearing of cartridge belts over the base, or what have you. Why we went to solid loops that place the piece directly on the belt I do not know, but I find it a backward movement at best.
I am even now working on mockups to change my current pouches into this better mounting method. New pouches are also under way utilizing this method of suspension; herbal medikit type pouch, cosmetics/necessaries pouch (yes lads, lady rangers do use cosmetics and certain toilet items and being able to carry the absolute minimum is a comfort and a good thing), and for other types of rangering, shooting bags and whatnot.
I am also working on integrating small knife sheaths into the pouches..and some quivers. Mostly for patch size knives, but also for some medium blades as well. It is no bad thing to have more than one blade about one's person. Simple hand forged 'kitchen' knives are available readily enough. Usually they are presented as Norse women's knives and have no fancy woodwork or anything else, being a blade with the tang drawn out and bent up and over to form a handle. These make excellent utility knives.
A sewing kit pouch with little pockets in it for the needle case, scissors of some kind, and perhaps some wooden spindle spools of thread is no bad thing. This sort of thing is best carried inside another pouch, but it is no bad thing to make the pouch specifically for such things. One can bead or embroider on them in such a way that they can be identified by touch without sight. A useful thing to do.
Just some stuff on pouches.
Eledhwen
Having those belt loops able to button or lace shut, rather than being a solid loop, makes it easy to put the pouch on even if one is already dressed and belted. It also makes the addition of a shoulder strap, itself with rings or buttons on the ends, very easy indeed. In essence, all of this allows maximum flexibility of use.
I am reminded of the old WWII GI gear that used to hang from the eyelets in the web belt below the level of the belt itself...allowing the wearing of cartridge belts over the base, or what have you. Why we went to solid loops that place the piece directly on the belt I do not know, but I find it a backward movement at best.
I am even now working on mockups to change my current pouches into this better mounting method. New pouches are also under way utilizing this method of suspension; herbal medikit type pouch, cosmetics/necessaries pouch (yes lads, lady rangers do use cosmetics and certain toilet items and being able to carry the absolute minimum is a comfort and a good thing), and for other types of rangering, shooting bags and whatnot.
I am also working on integrating small knife sheaths into the pouches..and some quivers. Mostly for patch size knives, but also for some medium blades as well. It is no bad thing to have more than one blade about one's person. Simple hand forged 'kitchen' knives are available readily enough. Usually they are presented as Norse women's knives and have no fancy woodwork or anything else, being a blade with the tang drawn out and bent up and over to form a handle. These make excellent utility knives.
A sewing kit pouch with little pockets in it for the needle case, scissors of some kind, and perhaps some wooden spindle spools of thread is no bad thing. This sort of thing is best carried inside another pouch, but it is no bad thing to make the pouch specifically for such things. One can bead or embroider on them in such a way that they can be identified by touch without sight. A useful thing to do.
Just some stuff on pouches.
Eledhwen
Friday, January 18, 2013
Rangering Across the Ages
This is to be my general Ranger blog; I 'range' across so much of time and space that having separate blogs is ridiculous when one can do. As a result, this one will cover my Dunedain Ranger work, my Colonial Ranger/Longhunter work, Paleo-'Ranger' work, and even a bit of my more modern 'Recon' Ranger work from time to time.
It seems I have Rangering in my blood. I discovered another of my grandsires served as a Ranger in one of the two Massachusetts Ranger Companies under the command of Robert Rogers...yes, that Rogers..during the Seven Years War (French & Indian). I knew he had served during that war, but not in what capacity. Imagine my delighted surprise to find that he was, indeed, a Ranger. :) Massachusetts actually provided the bulk of the early Ranger Companies during the 17th and early 18th centuries. That would surprise a lot of folk, especially some of those in the South who tend to think of us as anything but. LOL We provided companies of Sharpshooters for the Civil War and of course, Light Infantry for the American War of Independence.
But I digress.
I have my sights set on a lovely replica 'Ranger' Bess sold by a trader out of New Hampshire. Even more so now that I know my ancestor very probably used one like this; the 'cut down' Brown Bess was proven by excavations on Rogers' island camp where the barrel ends were found. A single extant musket with the bayonet lug relocated on the cut down barrel exists in a museum collection. The weapon is still four feet long and some, so 'cut down' is relative. They were modified from the Long Land Brown Bess, the standard British infantry musket at the time. Most Colonial militia would have had this kind of musket.
To go with that, green breeches, 'Indian' stockings (leggings), moccasins (Winter & Summer), shirt, hunting shirt, green hunting frock, and of course, hat (tricorn or round). Leather shooting bag, powder horn, musket (.75 caliber; essentially a 12 gauge in rifle form), tomahawk, and knife. With the haversack and blanket roll I should be good to go for pretty much any time of year or place. That is being a Ranger.
For the shooting bag I will like as not use a replica of a WWII German 'bread bag', which can be used with shoulder strap or hung from the belt. Done right it won't look any different from a historic pouch from the outside and in any case, I would use it more for general ranging about than for reenactment anyway. I reckon some antler or horn buttons in place of the stamped aluminum ones the original has, iron or brass rings in place of the enameled steel, and there we go. Oh, and leather rather than canvas.
Yes, I know, pictures. I do take them, I am just horrible about posting them. They will get here eventually.
Eledhwen
It seems I have Rangering in my blood. I discovered another of my grandsires served as a Ranger in one of the two Massachusetts Ranger Companies under the command of Robert Rogers...yes, that Rogers..during the Seven Years War (French & Indian). I knew he had served during that war, but not in what capacity. Imagine my delighted surprise to find that he was, indeed, a Ranger. :) Massachusetts actually provided the bulk of the early Ranger Companies during the 17th and early 18th centuries. That would surprise a lot of folk, especially some of those in the South who tend to think of us as anything but. LOL We provided companies of Sharpshooters for the Civil War and of course, Light Infantry for the American War of Independence.
But I digress.
I have my sights set on a lovely replica 'Ranger' Bess sold by a trader out of New Hampshire. Even more so now that I know my ancestor very probably used one like this; the 'cut down' Brown Bess was proven by excavations on Rogers' island camp where the barrel ends were found. A single extant musket with the bayonet lug relocated on the cut down barrel exists in a museum collection. The weapon is still four feet long and some, so 'cut down' is relative. They were modified from the Long Land Brown Bess, the standard British infantry musket at the time. Most Colonial militia would have had this kind of musket.
To go with that, green breeches, 'Indian' stockings (leggings), moccasins (Winter & Summer), shirt, hunting shirt, green hunting frock, and of course, hat (tricorn or round). Leather shooting bag, powder horn, musket (.75 caliber; essentially a 12 gauge in rifle form), tomahawk, and knife. With the haversack and blanket roll I should be good to go for pretty much any time of year or place. That is being a Ranger.
For the shooting bag I will like as not use a replica of a WWII German 'bread bag', which can be used with shoulder strap or hung from the belt. Done right it won't look any different from a historic pouch from the outside and in any case, I would use it more for general ranging about than for reenactment anyway. I reckon some antler or horn buttons in place of the stamped aluminum ones the original has, iron or brass rings in place of the enameled steel, and there we go. Oh, and leather rather than canvas.
Yes, I know, pictures. I do take them, I am just horrible about posting them. They will get here eventually.
Eledhwen
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