tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59742211450375166442024-03-05T13:46:49.776-08:00Advice on the PrairieBill Armstronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772671672763876552noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5974221145037516644.post-67014075950023432152013-02-10T18:15:00.001-08:002013-02-10T18:20:37.942-08:00Ears, Horns, & Peaks; The curios paintings of Alfred Jacob Miller- Part 1<br />
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Hello, it’s great to be back. I have been sitting on the
back-burner, on my arse for a while, keeping busy with real life, building a
living history program at work, and orienting myself with the history of my new
home for nearly 2 years now. Colorado is quite different from “Oregon Country,”
Hudson’s Bay history, and the “end of the trail,” and I have had to do a lot of
re-reading of late on the Fur Trade here. Here, I live within 25 mile radius of 4 major fur fort sites, major historic trails (South Platte, Trappers
Trail, and the Goodnight–Loving) and the hunting grounds of the Ute, Arapaho,
Cheyenne, and Sioux. It’s great to live
in a place so steeped in history and it is even better awakening visitors to
this reality, which is largely forgotten by the general public.</div>
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One thing that has always bothered me and I have fallen
willfully into myself is “reenactor fads.” The idea that someone else’s
research establishes authenticity has always bothered me as a historic
interpreter, museum professional, and reenactor. Somehow these popular ideas, being
“cool,” and nifty looking accessories catch hold and then suddenly, we have an
army of people in walnut shirts stomping around in places they never were and
miss-quoting history “ad nauseum.” This
really gets to me when this is done before the public programs. <o:p></o:p></div>
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BEFORE I GO ANY FARTHER, I am not looking down my nose at
anyone here. If you like what you have use it. After all, this is a hobby for
most (an addiction for me). No skin off my head! For me, I attempt to portray
what is typical not the unusual or out of unique about historic people. My
training in “history school” made me look at the subject of documentation with
scrutiny and intensity, where as many enthusiasts, stop short of its correct
application, which leads to erroneous conclusions about historical material
culture. I was taught long ago, that true historic research demands corroboration by two or more sources
when possible and the sources need to be pure as you can find.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I watch pals strain themselves seeking and delving into
“primary sources.” Like a quest for the Holy Grail, we all want to find that
one reaffirming piece of historic data that seals the historic deal,
absolutely. These should be the pictures
or accounts of those who lived a historical era/experience that occurred to
them in the very recent tense and recorded soon after. They are only primary because they wrote the
account down or recorded history as it happened. This can also be a painting,
drawing, photo, or other media that accurately captures the occurrence.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Secondary,” indicates it was either relayed to the person
recording the information second hand close to the time of occurrence, or the
person lived it at a previous date and recorded or rendered it from
recollection. As far as tertiary goes,
it has very little weight in my research but can still be valid. Basically,
these would be summation of others research synthesized into major themes. That
being said, don’t take my word here either, as this too you would be considered
“tertiary.” In other words, just because you read someone’s book, doesn’t mean
it was interpreted authentically. <o:p></o:p></div>
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For a long time now, I have wondered about the hooded hats
and pointy head coverings depicted by Alfred Jacob Miller in his field
paintings. While I have no doubt they
existed, I would wonder why very few artists depicted them on anyone but native
people besides Miller. Where are the artifact equivalents in the dusty
collections of museums? How is it that
the brigade of trappers newly headed to the summer rendezvous need to make hats
when they recently left Missouri resupplied? <o:p></o:p></div>
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I keep hearing from fellow enthusiast the reasoning behind
the lack of artifact evidence; “they dissolved in the field “or “who would want
dirty old clothes?” In my time as a museum
staffer, I have handled two circa 1840 buckskin coats, one from the northern
plains and the other of unknown provenance but attributed to overland pioneers.
These two garments came to light after reading articles by well-respected
historians saying “no frontier clothing has survived.” To assume something doesn't exist because it is not prominently displayed is a flawed assumption. Most
artifacts of even a small museum collection, NEVER get displayed, and many
museums have antiquated or undocumented donations. So why no wolf-eared caps? I pondered this for
some time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Recently the question of “eared hoods” was brought up on
other blogs concerning the eastern fur trade in Wisconsin (http://frenchinwisconsin.yolasite.com/)
and another dealing with the Middle -ground hunter <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">(<span style="background-color: white;">buffalotrace</span><span style="background-color: white;">1765.blogspot.com</span></span><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #009933;">)</span></b></span>,
brought this discussion once again to mind. Their thorough research brought to
light for me the long native tradition of hooded and animal like hoods for
hunting and winter use among native people of North America. Thanks to Ike
and Nathan for great posts!<o:p></o:p></div>
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With the well-established native traditions across the
continent of hooded headwear, what I have been suspicious of is the frequency
and upon WHOM these hats resided during Miller’s 1837 trip. Are they on Metis?
Are they on Yankees? Creoles? Miller’s
own words are helpful here:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>“The <b>hunter’s</b> form for themselves a peculiar
kind of cap:-it has two ears with flaps reaching to its shoulders…the peculiar
caps on their heads are made by themselves, to replace felt hats, long since
worn out or lost. “ </i>AJ Miller 1837<o:p></o:p></div>
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Here is who
we know is wearing them:<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->Auguste: Metis/Creole – Designated Hunter<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->Moses “Black” Harris: Mulatto-Dispatch
rider/Trapper<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->LaJeneusse: Metis/Creole – Designated Hunter<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->Louis: Metis/Creole-Trapper<o:p></o:p></div>
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It is not only necessary to discover why they were worn, but
also the frequency of wear to try and better understand their place in the
trapper’s kit. By far, Miller is the primary source of the depictions of these
on white trappers. Other artists related to the fur trade are largely discounted
because they did not travel to the field and strangely these hats do not
replicate in their art on white trappers.
Both Karl Bodmer and W.T. Ranney witnessed the fur trade. Bodmer in his trip up the Missouri in 1834
and Ranney as a young artist with trappers involved in Texas independence who
had returned from the frontier, depict nothing like AJ Miller on their non-Indian subjects.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Using Miller works solely as a documentarian source is
flawed, UNLESS your use the correct pictures. Miller wasn't painting with the intent
of being the only documentarian to witness the western fur trade; so much as he
was doing so to make his boss’s adventures seem heroic and romantic for his
reputation back home in Scotland. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The problem with this, is one must check the dates of the pictures
as he generated works from this trip for the next 20 years! For this purpose, I would only utilize his
works from no later than, you guessed it: 1837! Many of his most romantically
captivating pictures have multiple versions of the same subjects, some
numbering into the hundreds. Many still have no dates, or dates of reproduction
as late as 1858-1860 or even 1867! <o:p></o:p></div>
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The more I looked at the images with TRUE 1837 PROVENANCE,
the fewer of these “peculiar caps” I saw represented. In order for this to be genuine primary
documentation, the pictures would have to be field renderings to be considered
as valid as “Photographs.” One of the
best sources for this is, the book; <i>The
West of Alfred Jacob Miller</i> by Marvin C Ross. Composed only of 1837 sketches and
watercolors rendered in the field, one can get a true, yet incomplete sampling
of the material culture of the mountain men and the 1837 caravan to the summer
rendezvous.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>So here are the pictures in which the “wolf-eared caps”
appear that I could find from the 2 books on Miller I own:</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">1.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Trappers starting for the beaver hunt</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">2.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Preparing for the buffalo hunt</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">3.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Auguste and his horse</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">4.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Trapper’s Bride</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">5.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Trappers</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">6.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The Grizzly Bear</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">7.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Roasting the Hump Rib</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">8.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Caravan en route</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">9.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Breakfast at Sunrise</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">10.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Shoshone Indian and his pet</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">11.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Escape from Blackfeet</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">12.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Storm: waiting for the caravan</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">13.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Approaching Buffalo</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">14.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The greeting</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">15.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Indian toilet</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">16.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The Scalplock</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">17.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Trappers and Indians communicating by sign</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">18.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Trapper in his solitary camp</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">19.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Louis Rocky Mountain Trapper</span><!--[if !supportLists]--><o:p></o:p></div>
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Mind you, there are approximately 100 plus field works by
Miler. The vast majority of depictions with “wolf-ears” have no more than 2
individuals and mostly a singular individual among a group, wearing such
hats. Two of the pictures are of native people. </div>
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The OVERWHELMING hat preference in the field works is slouched hats of
pale complexion. They are seen in numerous states of wear and cocked in many
different rakish ways. Some apparently have the brims cut down or have worn to
a more narrow and haggard shape. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Other artists lack such hats. Both Ranney and Bodmer depict
hoods/hats of fur. Bodmer on an Assiniboine hunter in winter wearing a badgers
skin hood and Ranney with simple “pill” style hats of what could be interpreted
as beaver on his trapper subjects. In the journal of Isaac P. Rose, the hats of
this nature are used for stalking buffalo. This man while recounting his
exploits in the late 1870s hung out with Bridger, Carson, Wyeth, and Russell in
the field from 1834-38 and while he is a secondary resource, was in the
mountains during Miller’s appearance there. He also mentions these “caps” being made from
wolf skin specifically. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Here is the corresponding journal entry from Miller’s 1837 journal
from the hunting scene “approaching the buffalo:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>“The <b>hunters </b>form for themselves a peculiar
kind of cap—it has two ears with a flap reaching to the shoulders. This is worn
with a double object in view, one of which is to deceive the buffalo in
approaching—under such a guise, the hunter is mistaken for the animal as a
wolf, and is suffered to approach quite near…” </i>AJ Miller 1837<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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So what can we take away from this whole discussion? Firstly,
is there are only about 14 guys out of 100 pictures with this head-wear I don’t
believe the trappers relished wearing these hats. The vast majority of the group
is portrayed wearing them as make-do head coverings some of blanket or cloth
some of apparently buckskin.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It may also be quite possible that these are part of the
hunting attire for just that specific task as 4 of the 17 images revolve around
actual hunting. Miller quotes reflect the word “hunter” and “trapper,” each
with singular significance in respect to duty. However, Antoine a fine hunter himself
is depicted in a tan slouch a hat with broad brim. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5fgwgYnD6n-I7XaXCSnkmCzCdL7kDcPNKqCm5TCMXFK6D7SJZYflm1kRQAVoBiQkMOWakZDZx4xNoTGgiJzGihp0dn-GxdxxSg6uw7VTZMW1k9HyoY4oqh08jh5jx2Vis2hyphenhyphen0a3vd5pj/s1600/Sioux+Sisseton+or+Wahpeton+men+with+hoods,+c.1868-78,+Ft.+Abercrombie,+N.D..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5fgwgYnD6n-I7XaXCSnkmCzCdL7kDcPNKqCm5TCMXFK6D7SJZYflm1kRQAVoBiQkMOWakZDZx4xNoTGgiJzGihp0dn-GxdxxSg6uw7VTZMW1k9HyoY4oqh08jh5jx2Vis2hyphenhyphen0a3vd5pj/s1600/Sioux+Sisseton+or+Wahpeton+men+with+hoods,+c.1868-78,+Ft.+Abercrombie,+N.D..jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><i>1868 photo of Dakota Sioux hunters</i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For me personally, portraying the typical trapper, I find
this hat very “non-typical.” However, this hat has a seemingly specific
application among the native inhabitants and among the 1837 brigade as well….Which
I will discuss next time……<o:p></o:p></div>
Bill Armstronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772671672763876552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5974221145037516644.post-54093386026144963942013-01-27T18:53:00.000-08:002013-01-27T18:53:10.294-08:00After a long absence and stimulating weekend of historical discussion among friends, I have decided to restart my blog. Stay tuned for more interesting posts in the coming days, concerning Colorado's frontier history, the fur trade, and the period of westward expansion. Also the blog will soon get a face lift.<br />
Cheers- Bill<br />
<br />Bill Armstronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772671672763876552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5974221145037516644.post-89158914396273009572011-01-01T15:18:00.000-08:002011-01-01T22:12:10.887-08:00RIFLES: TYPICALLY, NON-TYPICAL PART 1<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><strong><em>Non-typical Rifles from Beyond 1840 (Top to Bottom):</em></strong></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span><state><place><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Illinois</span></place></state><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> or </span><state><place><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Ohio</span></place></state><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> built mountain rifle circa 1850, English percussion “Indian Gift” rifle circa1840, Lehman attributed circa 1845 longrifle</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrjm1YIynQKq2eAhs09T6zUDVYHGePyQk7WcAONpMHc3rrYY_tlwluzoOVscty7VXOXj1hGHuRsrvhkJBe9hTc3B6TLQJtXxViUHwdKxp511rlnTdNquwzNYfjOZ3Pswli_WWyXPFrpbn/s1600/nontypicalguns+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrjm1YIynQKq2eAhs09T6zUDVYHGePyQk7WcAONpMHc3rrYY_tlwluzoOVscty7VXOXj1hGHuRsrvhkJBe9hTc3B6TLQJtXxViUHwdKxp511rlnTdNquwzNYfjOZ3Pswli_WWyXPFrpbn/s400/nontypicalguns+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">J.</span>J. Henry, H.E. Lehman, and J.S. Hawken…All of these names as we think about them, flash an image of a classic fur trade era firearm across our mind's eye. Images of the half stock, heavy barrel of the Hawken rifle, the large English scroll trigger-guard of the J.J. Henry, the heavily tacked Lehman Indian trade rifle, all have become “branded” on our brains as classic guns associated with the fur trapper. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">I</span> will say that I am not a “gun expert,” but know enough to look at the traits of historic firearms and see the nuances in the different examples out there. My argument here is that a good fur trade rifle can easily be assembled to resemble the hundreds of “non-typical” examples out there form parts at dealers like “track of the wolf” or “the rifle shop.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With careful attention to details on DOCUMENTABLE examples, you can easily make up an authentic and accurate rifle that surpasses many of those sold “off the rack” today that is just as historic as any custom gun builder can make for you. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">A</span> classic Rocky Mountain fur trade rifle (1820-40) should have a straight barrel or maybe even swamped. A resilient 19<sup>th</sup> century flintlock, a full stock is more prevalent for a classic, but as the era beyond 1840 progressed, half stock weapons gained favor with some. Furniture would be sparse and often of brass or a mixture of iron and brass. Patch and cap boxes began to be used interchangeably but, may have had none at all. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Older “colonial” features like wooden patch box covers, octagonal to round barrels, and heavy curvilinear carving would have been abandoned. Yet, as sure as I write this, one could find examples with beautiful carving and engraving work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is important is the style of the renderings.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">I </span>approach my hobby from my museum background. I guess that is a shortcoming to some, but I think it forces me to look outside the historical box when looking at artifacts. Having the privilege of handling and examining many real fur trade era guns, something struck me early on when viewing the collections. What struck me is that there were many non-typical fur trade associated weapons than those that fit the classic lines or at least that is what I am seeing in my work. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">W</span>hether field altered or cobbled together from parts to fill orders for fur posts and outfitters at "jumping off points," the artifacts I have seen so far seem to lack the classic compositions and components which we all aspire to carry. Don’t get me wrong, the classic are out there but they don’t seem to be reflected en masse in collections or exist in altered states of condition.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">O</span>ne exception to this which isn’t a rifle, is the pattern of the Barnett trade gun and its’ many copies. I have seen many altered specimens and classic percussion retro-fits. The traditional pattern demanded by indigenous clientele and made by several firms, doesn’t change much throughout the Fur Trade era and even beyond. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">W</span>hat I hope to look at here are examples from collections and some I have looked at available from brokers and auctions, that don’t jive with our perceptions of fur trade rifles. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all strive to buy the best gun we can afford, just as the original frontiersmen did. But as the frontier opened up in the mid-1830’s the demand for firearms increased and made it possible for the market to be flooded with guns that don’t fit the classic “perception” of the fur trade. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The pieces that are examined here are examples of those rifles that don’t fit the “classic” lines of their production (pictured above)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">T</span>he <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Illinois or Ohio built “mountain rifle” circa 1850</i>, first in the line-up, is very similar to my original from the same area but from a decade earlier and mimics the classic “mountain rifle” of the Hawken clan. It seems pretty clear that in the “civilized” markets that the evolution in firearms technology contrasts the tastes and preferences of the traditional fur trader, who preferred flint weapons until much later. These percussion guns were more readily used in the east prior to 1840, while the trappers preferred the familiarity of the flintlock ignition system. There are many arguable reasons for this, but it is clear that in the east these guns were being produced in greater numbers by the mid-1830s and seeping onto the frontier. Similar rifles were still in production beyond 1860.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">T</span>he very rugged and little known <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">English “Indian Gift” percussion rifle circa 1840, </i>was sold by the Canadian government and likely the HBc. from the 1840’s on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joe Meek, <state><place>Oregon</place></state>’s famous Mountain Man and Territorial Marshall carried one he received reportedly, at <place><placetype>Fort</placetype> <placename>Vancouver</placename></place>. He even named it! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is fascinating is that these are altered specimens of the famous Baker Rifle, which have been shortened and fitted with new stocks, with military features removed and back-action locks. These were finished with sporting furniture and details.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5974221145037516644#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[i]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1842 these were listed as “rifles chiefs” and distributed throughout <country-region><place>Canada</place></country-region> and as “Indian Presents” along with hats, coats and ribbons.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5974221145037516644#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[ii]</span></span></span></span></a> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">F</span>inally, H.E. Lehman apparently produced many guns for the trade under government contract<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5974221145037516644#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[iii]</span></span></span></span></a> that didn’t fit what we imagine as the classic “Indian rifle” style. I have been shopping for an original Lehman rifle to add to my own collection and there appears to be many variations in furniture and caliber. The specimens currently for sale range in odd calibers from .35-.42. The one pictured above has a “Henry” style patch box. I have seen 3 now without any toe, butt, or side plates as well as lacking nose caps. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Some rifle have no concrete provenance. Many of these working rifles have been converted from flintlock to percussion. Among these examples are converions from flintlocks to percussion which seems common as the rifles changed hands over time. One example I have looked at recently is marked <a href="http://www.gundersonmilitaria.com/riflekentuckysmoothketlandeaglebox.html">“Barnett”</a> and is clearly a retrofit from the original lock with remnants of the pan and the round faced trade gun lockplate with a new percussion hammer. Another is an example with a “<a href="http://www.gundersonmilitaria.com/riflekentckyfullstockplainunhingedbox.html">Goulcher” lock</a>. You can clearly see the old flintlock oriented touch hole and new lock placement. Both weapons have a drum and nipple inserted into the original flintlock touch hole.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5974221145037516644#_edn4" name="_ednref4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[iv]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
</div><div style="mso-element: endnote-list;"></div><div style="mso-element: endnote-list;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">So it would seem once again, that historic reality is stranger than fiction. The rifles that are out there for collecting and in the dark vaults of museums, often don’t reflect the classic designs that we all aspire to own as reeanctors. My opinion is that many simple rifles like these were wielded expertly on the American Frontier for a long period of time and changed hands and ignition systems as they survived or traded hands with various owners. Just as significant, is that many of the "famous" rifle types which have been immortalized mostly by popular culture, are not typical of the working trapper but of the truly famous and affluent. I think of the various <a href="http://www.museumofthemountainman.com/exhibits/home.htm">Jim Bridger</a> and <a href="http://www.scottishrite.org/ee.php?/journal/pastarticles/legend_of_the_wild_west_celebrating_the_200th_anniversary_of_bro_christophe/">Kit Carson</a> attributed rifles and guns, which exemplifiy their later careers beyond the rocky mountain fur trade era. The reality <em>maybe</em> that many more "non-typical" rifles were out there than are given credit for.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Next time, I will look at “guns” that are often overlooked in place of their more accepted styles. I will eventually look at examples in paintings, ledgers, and art from famous depictions of trappers, including some odd looking depictions of pistols. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Happy New Year to all far and wide!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><br />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /><div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;"><div class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5974221145037516644#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[i]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Egles, Ross,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>Gifts for Indians Percussion Guns and Rifles Before 1842</u></i></span></div></div><div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;"><div class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5974221145037516644#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[ii]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> ibid.</span></div></div><div id="edn3" style="mso-element: endnote;"><div class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5974221145037516644#_ednref3" name="_edn3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[iii]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Russell Carl P.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>Firearms traps and tools of the Mountain Men</u>. </i>U of <state><place>New Mexico</place></state> P. 1967. 2: 72-73.</span></div></div><div id="edn4" style="mso-element: endnote;"><div class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5974221145037516644#_ednref4" name="_edn4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[iv]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rifles featured at John Gunderson Antique Militaria; <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><cite><u><span style="color: #767676;">www.<b>gundersonmilitaria</b>.com/longarm.html</span></u></cite></span><span class="f1"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #767676;"> </span></span></span></div></div></div>Bill Armstronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772671672763876552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5974221145037516644.post-87603100717103869422010-12-19T11:29:00.000-08:002010-12-19T11:37:00.985-08:00Yet Another Mountainy Man Blog?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span>hy another “mountain man blog?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well first, you won’t find a rehash of history here in the terms of chronological data. Nor, do I intend to write solely about what is in my pack, where I got my rifle, etc. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, I may do just that, but this primarily is my attempt to open the minds of many out there to the reality, that the Rocky Mountain Fur Trade and the people associated with it, simply didn’t vanish at the end of the last renedezvous on Horse Creek in July, of 1840.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Where I live in the <place>Pacific Northwest</place>, there remained plenty of work for these men. People new to the region, willing to exploit their talents, hired them to fill numerous frontier jobs which often expanded their roles in pioneer communities. By the mid-1830s the “Trade” itself was shifting east and towards the <place>Upper Missouri</place> buffalo robe trade, and the overland trail was becoming more traveled as people trickled and then flooded into <state><place>Oregon</place></state> territory and eventually, into <state><place>California</place></state>. Many forget that within our own nation’s borders the British Hudson’s Bay Company, was still thriving in the west for another 20 years!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The reenacting hobby which I and many others embrace has done many disservices in the name of establishing “authenticity guidelines” for “historic” events, many with good intentions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These in a innocent way, rob history of its’ full story and have been assumed to be indicative of the period.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The idea that in 1840 the mountaineers simply packed up their stuff and went home is a complete fallacy. As a professional historian this, for me, violates the holistic nature of research. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I have observed that most enthusiasts only seem to focus on one kind of gun, rifle, trap, buckskin clothing, etc. as defined by popular research or even what their buddy has been using.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Work in the museum field long enough and you come to realize there are many “non-typical” artifacts in collections all over the world. While artwork of the time defines many choices for clothing and equipment, the artifact record shows there were many more choices and variables than the average reenactor pays attention to.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I am not trying to get anyone’s “pantaloons in a wad.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To the contrary, I enjoy my fellow reenactor’s efforts thoroughly. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all love this hobby for what it gives back to us in camaraderie and hours of fun and enthrallment. Neither am I trying to justify the use of a revolver in my kit or other items too “cowboy” for the hobby prior to 1840.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are plenty of years between this and the rise of “cowboy culture,” and colt’s revolver to justify doing so for me. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Therefore, rather than subscribe solely to the guidelines of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Rondyvoo culture” I will investigate the material culture of the “mountain men” as the era of the western fur trade’s closure, which started to show signs of diminishing returns in the 1830s, through the opening of the west in 1860. This is simply a benchmark date range, which I may violate as necessary. Some will say “But Bill, that ain’t classic mountain man stuff.” Yet, I whole-heartedly disagree. Besides there are plenty of folk writing about A.J. Miller paintings and ledger books. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Until the end of the 1850’s the mountain man was very much clinging to his way of life. Many remained in the wilderness or became citizens of frontier communities or made a living by leading others overland to them. There is much knowledge tied into the art and artifact that can be gleaned from the period of the post rendezvous era. All one need do is read emigrant accounts of trappers and realize these guys kept going with what they new best or some semblance of it. Yet, they also diversified into other pursuits in order to adapt and survive.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Hopefully you will see that the reality is much more fascinating than the popular depictions of bearded, pelt clad codgers climbing mountains in search of pelts and living alone in the wilderness. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For the real “mountaineer” was much more than a hero of the west. He was an “average Joe” in his own mind, trying to make a living in what could be likened to the first “gold rush.” His way of life had become mythologized back home and abroad. But make no mistake; the average trapper was just that, average. He wanted to make a living and find or go “home” once he made enough cash, wherever he determined “home” to be. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was the job of resilient men with at least some sense of industry, who were not hunkered up with rheumatism but, were in good physical shape and relatively young.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">There was little romance to being a trapper. The job was dirty, cold, and often involved taxing labor and constant vigilance. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Few in numbers as they were (perhaps a couple of thousand during the hwole period), it is with little effort that one can see why those who truly succeeded became famous. Trapping on the shoulder seasons of winter, wading into frozen water to check traps and then across the snow back to camp, all the while adapting to the environment, evading tribes hostile to their presence, and competing with wild animals makes it abundantly obvious. No one would do this job if it didn’t at least have the <u>potential to pay well and possibly gain greater fortune. </u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">So what will you find here? I intend to write posts about my ramblings through research and the mountains themselves. This site is for educational purposes and if I find new art, information, or artifacts associated to the period, I will post them here. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I may also write about my fictitious persona I use in first-person Living History work for museums and interpretive centers. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s an “average Joe” who hails from “Missourah,” and is my alter-ego in this period. Like so many of his kin, a workaday “plainsman” who has joined the <place><placename>Rocky</placename> <placetype>Mountain</placetype></place> fur trade a tad too late. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Thanks for reading and enjoy the posts. Hopefully, I can shed some new light on an era still shrouded in mythology. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAbQIJCUgz8lTPZiCvOBF-KsXV4wnkp7RCgRtuij46vGWZHuxTd3H-Zg3avD6ZsXfet0vuns_7stwYXjmw-pLb9KFrcF7ymWyC3X4xvyfMjfsBWkLX37TKUqbpWJAhlBE53F8dlvZVrxJ/s1600/untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAbQIJCUgz8lTPZiCvOBF-KsXV4wnkp7RCgRtuij46vGWZHuxTd3H-Zg3avD6ZsXfet0vuns_7stwYXjmw-pLb9KFrcF7ymWyC3X4xvyfMjfsBWkLX37TKUqbpWJAhlBE53F8dlvZVrxJ/s320/untitled.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail of William Tylee Ranney's <em>"Advice on the Prairie" 1853,</em> for which this blog is named.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Bill Armstronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772671672763876552noreply@blogger.com0