1768 Charleville

[Doco overboard]

I always equate shooting flintlock rifles like instinctive archery, practice and familiarity builds confidence with repetition and doing everything the same way each time you load. I'd say you have good results without a doubt!

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[rescuerandy2]

Thanks. You are spot on as I was the most comfortable I have ever been shooting the flintlock. My loading, aiming, and firing just seemed to flow. Yes, I was in the zone.

After yesterday's success, my appreciation of the smoothbore has been greatly raised. However, I do appreciate that I am not on some godforsaken battlefield far from home with all hell breaking all around me. Randy

[butlersrangers]

Nice Charleville and shooting!

Now, you need a Spanish musket. (Spain was another Ally during the Revolution and spectacularly recaptured Florida from the British).

During the Bi-Centennial, I portrayed a 'green coated' British Loyalist. Paper Blank and Ball Cartridges were torn with the teeth to provide priming, prior to charging the bore.

For safety, we had a leather 'hammer stahl', that covered the frizzen (which was actually called the 'hammer' in the 18th century). When the order Load was given, the 'cock' was placed on 'half-cock', the frizzen (hammer) then was opened, a cartridge was drawn from the cartridge-box, torn with the teeth, and the pan primed. The frizzen (hammer) was closed, the butt was placed on the ground and the barrel was loaded. Then the musket was shouldered.

At the order 'Make Ready', the musket was brought across the body to waist height with barrel angled upward. The Cock was placed on Full Cock and the 'stahl' was removed from the frizzen (hammer). Then the orders Present (take aim) and Fire, were given. Then back to Load. We fired 4 shots per minute.

[butlersrangers]

I had a 'Navy Arms' (Japanese built) reproduction Charleville Musket. It fired well, once the frizzen-spring was replaced. (The factory spring broke after a few trial firings). Original French Arms seem to show a very high standard of workmanship.

I did prefer the greater 'drop' in the butt of my British made (Coach & Harness) 'Brown Bess'. The Charleville has a very high comb. During 'live fire' matches with 'ball', the stock comb would bruise my cheek. This made the second day of a match quite painful. (Talk about a flinch)!

From my observation, during the Napoleonic Era, the French muskets had the stock comb 'dished' to eliminate the 'high comb' problem.

As 'rescuerandy' has noted, you get more proficient in firing a musket with practice. Like 18th Century soldiers, we had a 'pick and wisk' (small brush), connected to our cartridge box strap by fine chains. This was utilized to clean the vent and pan.

Since our cartridges were loaded with 1F powder and this was used for priming and the barrel charge, we used good English Flints, and, wiped the Frizzen and edge of the Flint, with the thumb, prior to returning the leather 'stahl' on the Frizzen.

A linen rag was kept in the cartridge box, to clean the soot off the thumb and forefinger, as you reached for the next cartridge. A "Y" shaped screw-driver/tool was also kept in the cartridge box, to tighten the jaws of the Cock or knap the edge of the Flint, if your musket had failed to fire. (You came to do these things automatically and with great economy of motion).

(At the Henry Ford Museum - Greenfield Village - 1975).

Attachment 74789

[rescuerandy2]

I am jealous. At our County range, the rules state that I must load the musket at a table behind the shooting bench and charge then weapon at the shooting bench which is on the firing line. So, to be able to train to get off 3/4 rounds a minute is not doable at our range. However, I would love to give it a go.

Now, 4 rounds a minute is fantastic and more kudos when done in period uniforms. Who made your uniform and what did it cost? Must now decide between a Brown Bess or Continental's uniform.

Will give 75 yards a go on Sunday. Thanks, Randy.

[butlersrangers]

Back in the 1970s, most of us probably had around $1,000 tied up in our musket, accoutrements, and uniform. (But, then you could find an original Brown Bess bayonet for $25. A 'Navy Arms' Italian Brown Bess probably cost $350 assembled or $200 in kit form).

We made a lot of our own stuff, (shirts, britches, accoutrements and period tents). I got to camp on The Plains of Abraham, Crown Point, Ft. Niagara, and at Yorktown. A lot of 'knowhow' came from books like "Sketch Book 76", by Robert L. Klinger, and other references by Philip Katcher and others.

A lot of effort went into studying original items. I had a friend, who was a talented leather worker, that went on to 'Sturbridge Village'. He made shoes and helmets. Our uniform coats were made from an accurate pattern by talented ladies. We cast our own buttons and sewed them on our coats and waistcoats.

I was in a Loyalist unit that served in Detroit during the Revolution. In this day and age, I would give serious thought to a Spanish Soldier impression. They had a 'long reach' and served in some epic campaigns. One force came all the way from St. Louis (Mo.) and captured the little British outpost of St. Joseph (Niles, Michigan). "They (The Brits) didn't see that coming" !

[rescuerandy2]

As a kid who grew up on Long Island, my hometown was part of the spying operations depicted in "Turn". So, my uniform interest is with the NY Militia if I ever get to the point of a period uniform.

I have seen some folks online who custom sew period uniforms for what seems like reasonable costs for quality work. I would also have to admit that you do not want me anywhere near needles and scissors. However, I am good with 750 degree molten lead. Thanks, Randy.