A few items

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