Bill continues his 4 bore rifle build this week as he finished up the rivets on the barrel rib and bedded the barrel into the stock.
Bill notes that the bedding of the barrel to the stock diverges from the historical accuracy of the rifle, but the amount of recoil this gun will put off really warrants the modern bedding.
Watch the next episode today!
We're back for another year of muzzleloader hunting with the 2020 Longhunter Society Photo Contest! Share your muzzleloader hunting photos with us using #NMLRALonghunter2020 for your chance to win an NMLRA prize pack!
Last fall, Eli Froedge and Jason Jacobs struck out for a trek on the Wabash river with their homemade dugout canoe. Seeking to replicate a trip down the Wabash that generations of long hunters have made before, the pair spent several days on the river camping and hunting. We met up with the pair at the Feast of the Hunters’ Moon in 2019 and listened to the adventure.
With summer coming to a close here in Indiana, the spirit of adventure returned to Eli and Jason. This year they would finish their trip down the entire Wabash River and drop into the Ohio River. This year the pair will have some more friends to join in on the adventure. Keith and Jen Syers of “Ramshackle Homestead and Survival” would join them in a period homemade bateau, and Heath Hoffmann & son who joined in on part of the trip last year will be joining Eli and Jason once again.
As of writing, the group is on its 3rd day of the 2020 expedition. Below you’ll find some of the journal entries published by Jason to his Facebook group “Historic Pathways 1750-1820”. We’ll be sharing updates as we see them and are looking forward to bringing you another interview with Eli and Jason should they desire to return to the world, haha!
We are less than a week away from striking out on the second half of our dugout canoe trip.
For those who followed along, last Fall, you know Eli and I put in on the Wabash, at Terre Haute, Indiana, and took out at Mt Carmel, IL About 115 river miles.
We are putting in at Mt Carmel, IL and the plan is to finish the Wabash, turn right into the Ohio and take out about 10-15 miles down the Ohio.
Anticipation and apprehension have been less, this year, however, we still have a rough stretch to negotiate near New Harmony and plenty of big water past that, but we have cut our food supplies and gear back, substantially and the weather is promising to be far more hospitable, than last year.
This year, we should be joined, on the first leg of our journey by Tim and
Heath Hoffman , the father and son team that paddled the last leg with us, last year, plus we are going to be joined by KeithandJen Syers for the entirety of the journey.
We should have lots of great pictures and much video footage, this trip.
I feel so very fortunate to have friends with like interests, who are willing to put in the hard work, time, and expenses that a trip like this takes. Again, we are planning to be on the water for a week. Stay tuned for what's around the next river bend, friends.
Now off to finish up a bit of kit for our travels...
Well, we are at our starting point. The water coming in on the right is the White River, left is the Wabash.
Calling for a high of 71 degrees today. 47 degrees for an overnight low.
Little excitement early in the paddle.
Our buddy Keith, KeithandJen Syers was repositioning in his bateau, about a mile and a half into the trip and his heel went through the bottom. Water rushing in like he made it out of a screen door.
Luckily, Eli and I were fairly close by in the dugout and Tim Deonna Hoffman was right next to him in his canoe. Eli and I couldn't turn the dugout around quick enough, so we paddled up the river in reverse. Lol
We saved everything but Keith's seat and of course the bateau. I did stand on the deck of the HMS Divorce and play Taps as she went under.
We made it around 14 miles to our night camp and have set camp, gathered firewood and got a fire going to cook some supper.
We made around 20-1/2 miles, today. We are camped just south of New Harmony.
Just above the old dam.
We will get a good night's sleep and tackle that obstacle in the morning.
We saw a few beaver today, three deer, lots more ducks, turtles and too many eagles to count.
No boats lost today. Only sore muscles and stiff backs.
George Washington Hatfield made distinctive rifles in soud1ern Indiana from about 183 I until after the Civil War; his work shows the influences of his early training in Fentress County, Tennessee. Despite substantial infom1ation surviving 011 Hatfield himself; only a handful of his rifles were known. This two-part article will re-examine the work of Hatfield in light of two recent discoveries.
NMLRA Vendor Abe’s General Store is hosting a FUN and FREE family event for muzzleloading enthusiasts of all levels. The event will have muzzleloading supplies for sale, as well as a series of targets from 15 to 50 yards for anyone to try out a muzzleloader!
Despite substantial information surviving on George Washington Hatfield himself, only a handfitl of his rifles were known until recently. This two part article reexamines the work of Indiana’s “Wash" Hatfield in light of two recent discoveries. In Part I we took a look at the two newest Hatfield Finds, in Part II we will take a look back at the other known Hatfield rifles to get a better understanding of the scope of his rifle building skills and his place among Indiana rifle makers.
On September 14, 2020 at 11:00am, the NMLRA Board of Directors convened and held an election of officers. The results are as follows:
President: Jeff Cunningham
Vice President: Jerry Von Dielingen
Secretary: Art Fleener
Treasurer: Mike Yazel
