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Re-Enactments - Guns: If you need to be
armed, your gun will probably be one of the most expensive items you purchase, and
if not, it will probably be second in cost only to your lodge.
There are a wide variety of guns which would be acceptable at most
rendezvous, depending on who and when you are.
To learn more about period firearms go to the section on guns.
The lowest cost approach may be the purchase of factory
manufactured guns such as those produced by Lyman. Some of these are
very authentic, but be careful about the details of the gun you are
purchasing as some come equipped with non-period furnishings such as
plastic butte plates, adjustable sites, etc. Also be aware that factory guns have a
sameness about them that make them stand out. An intermediate cost approach to obtaining a gun is probably
constructing a kit. There are some extremely good kits available in
an almost unlimited number of smoothbore and rifle types. Depending on the
level of the kit, some kits will require extensive shaping and finishing, others
will
only require assembly. The
most costly firearms will generally be those custom and semi-custom guns
produced individually by craftsman. A
search of the internet will turn up numerous producers of custom and
semi-custom guns. Many of the
semi-custom gun makers produce kits for half the price of the finished
gun. Used
muzzle-loaders are often available at rendezvous, or can also be found at
pawn shops. If you are
considering the low cost approach, I do recommend that you carefully
observe firearms being used at any rendezvous you might attend and compare
to what you are considering to ensure that you will be happy with
what you get over the long run. Even
a
low cost rifle is not cheap, especially so if you
decide its unacceptable after attending your first couple of events.
Also, whether you are a hunter or not, be aware that at some time you will be tempted with the prospect of making meat with the muzzle-loader. So in considering the appropriate firearm, it should be of sufficient caliber to take down any large game available in your area, even if you have no intention of ever actually hunting with it. However,
if you are absolutely certain you will not be using your gun for hunting, there are
some very distinct advantages to a small caliber guns. With a small projectile weight and powder
charge a person can shoot all
day without being fatigued. Also, a small caliber gun will only use a fraction
of the powder and lead that a large caliber gun will consume.
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