does anyone know how to make or where to purchase authentic looking blank cartridges for civil war rifles muskets and the big smoothbores?
authentic looking blank cartridges
does anyone know how to make or where to purchase authentic looking blank cartridges for civil war rifles muskets and the big smoothbores?
“We may be annihilated, but we cannot be conquered.”
General Albert Sidney Johnston, CSA, in accepting his command rank, August, 1861.
http://www.lazyjackmess.com/cartrdge.htm Link to article on how to make your own authentic blanks, or you can purchase them from Mike Watson at CARTRIDGES UNLIMITED
Mike Watson, Sutler
4656 Newport
St. Louis, Mo 63116
314-352-0871
Ross L. Lamoreaux
Tampa Bay History Center
www.tampabayhistorycenter.org
"The simplest things, done well, can carry a huge impact" - Karin Timour, 2012
My sincere apologies for leaving you off the earlier list I posted - I can personally vouch for the quality of Brett's tubes, particularly for the Enfield rifleOriginally Posted by Brett
Ross Lamoreaux
Moderator and Sewer of Historical Clothing and Tall Tales
"But our opportunity to learn and grow, to communicate the richness of the lives that have gone before us, that does not change. We do not outgrow it. It does not tatter and fall apart in our hands..." -Mrs. Terre Lawson, 2010
No tubes for you!
Just kidding. No problem, Russ!
And FYI, to anyone interested, I recently bought an M1842 (off this forum) and I've been trying to figure out how to make an accurate 69-caliber authentic blank cartridge that isn't too labor-intensive. I was hoping to get a batch done for folks who wanted some for Maryland My Maryland but it didn't happen. I think I've finally got it down, and should have them available next week.
Brett does really good import tubes for your Enfield.
Andrew Grim
Monte Mounted Rifles, Monte Boys
Mess of Myself
Occasional 7%er
"Los Angeles at the close of the Rebellion was the most vindictive, uncompromising community in the United States" Horace Bell
i thank yall for the info. i am from finacial restrictions a mainstream reenactor at the moment. but i am all ways trying to improve my impression even if it is just one piece at a time and i figured that rolling authentic looking rounds may be a small but good step in the right direction.
“We may be annihilated, but we cannot be conquered.”
General Albert Sidney Johnston, CSA, in accepting his command rank, August, 1861.
If saving money is your thing, making your own using the directions from the Lazy Jacks link will help. The cost of a roll of 3M painter's paper, correct string, a dowel rod, etc. is fairly inexpensive and will last for awhile
Ross L. Lamoreaux
Tampa Bay History Center
www.tampabayhistorycenter.org
"The simplest things, done well, can carry a huge impact" - Karin Timour, 2012
I think any reenactor that goes to the effort to make and use authentic ammo has already broken out of the "mainstream" category. If you make the rounds yourself, authentic ammo will dramatically improve your impression for practically free, minus your time, of course. But once you get good at it, you can knock out forty rounds an hour.
For more than you ever wanted to know about making authentic ammo for reenactors, check out my essay on the subject: http://www.cartridgetubes.com/Authentic_Cartridges.html
The Lazy Jacks instructions are adequate for reenactor 69-cal cartridges, but the instructions given for the 58-caliber cartridges are historically inaccurate. A proper 58-cal cartridge with a powder cylinder uses three pieces of paper, including a stiff piece of "rocket paper" (similar to construction paper). While Lazy Jacks specifies using a powder cylinder in the 69-cal cartridge, which it did not historically have, I've found that for reenacting it is pretty much essential. Without the powder cylinder, the gunpowder will trickle into the tissue or cotton ball used to simulate the historical bullet, get stuck there, and you could end up discarding 10 or 20 grains of powder with each cartridge used in the field.
That said, a 58-cal cartridge made to the Lazy Jacks specification will still look awesome and authentic, and you will be using more authentic ammo than at least 90% of the "mainstream" reenactors.
There are many small ways to improve your impression without spending a lot of money, and accurate cartridges and arsenal packs are a fun way to say to yourself "I'm doing it right." Back when I owned by 1842, I used to make "buck & ball" rounds by tying them with the proper look (see From Round Ball to Rim Fire vol. 1 for photos of buck n ball ammo). A wooden jig will help you to make accurate arsenal packs, and a skein of linen twine will give them the right outer look. Be sure to include a tube of caps (12 per pack). Nick Sekela sells rolled tubes for caps:
http://www.njsekela.com/OSCommerce/c...a37cuapqsiat22
Bill Cross
Treasurer, The Rowdy Pards
'In the end, it's the history, stupid. If you can't document it, forget about it. And no amount of tomfoolery can explain away anything that makes history (and living historians) look stupid and wrong."
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