Frontier Partisans

The Adventurers, Rangers and Scouts Who Fought the Battles of Empire

Scavengeology

October 9, 2019, by JimC

If you haven’t scouted out Scavenology yet, git ye moccasins on and head off into the West Virginia hinterlands. This labor of love of attorney John Bryan and his family consistently turns up artifacts and history that make the Frontier Partisans heart pump hard and fast… What is “Scavenology”? Let Bryan explain: We are fortunate to live in the … [Read more...] about Scavengeology

Filed Under: The War Chest

Blue Gun Blues

September 10, 2019, by JimC

Season 4 of Outlander featured an eye-catching detail. One of the Cherokee warriors encountered by the Frasers in the North Carolina backcountry is depicted carrying a blue-painted trade musket. This is a nice, authentic touch — some of the cheap, lightweight muskets manufactured for the Carolina deerskin trade were, in fact, painted blue. … [Read more...] about Blue Gun Blues

Filed Under: The War Chest

Karamojo Bell Rigby

July 5, 2019, by JimC

Oh, the glory… My hand and heart yearn for this piece, which is entirely out of my league. Ah, well. I am glad it exists. Here is the Karamojo Bell tribute Rigby Highland Stalker, presented beautifully. Class of the field. From John Rigby & Co. The African big game hunter is celebrated worldwide as an advocate for accurate shot placement … [Read more...] about Karamojo Bell Rigby

Filed Under: The War Chest

Sarah’s Going Hunting — With A Rhino

May 28, 2019, by JimC

Ever since 1984, I’ve been telling folks that The Terminator is not science fiction — it’s historical fiction from the future. The rise of AI is, of course, proving me right. Shoulda listened to Sarah Connor. Looks like we’ll get another chance. Linda Hamilton is reprising her iconic role in the new Terminator: Dark … [Read more...] about Sarah’s Going Hunting — With A Rhino

Filed Under: The War Chest

King Of California

April 19, 2019, by JimC

Dave Alvin is a hero to me. He’s a genuine modern-day troubadour, a road warrior and a fellow history buff. I’ve learned so much from him — about songwriting, about performance, about making the most of a limited but compelling baritone voice. He’s been a part of the family for decades. When my now-20-year-old daughter was a colicy infant, … [Read more...] about King Of California

Filed Under: The War Chest

Stuff That Works — I Got Me A Kephart Knife

April 16, 2019, by JimC

“It was made by a country blacksmith, and is one of the homeliest things I ever saw; but it has outlived in my affections the score of other knives that I have used in competition with it, and has done more work than all of them put together.” — Horace Kephart This was bound to happen. Marilyn and Ceili and I went to a huge tattoo expo at … [Read more...] about Stuff That Works — I Got Me A Kephart Knife

Filed Under: The War Chest

Preston Thompson Has Gone Up The Trail

April 11, 2019, by JimC

A remarkable craftsman has gone on up the trail. A block down Main Avenue from my newspaper office, Preston Thompson Guitars produces some of the most highly regarded guitars in the world, recreating the sound of golden age Martin Guitars. After nearly a year of battling serious illness and severe complications from a major surgery, Preston … [Read more...] about Preston Thompson Has Gone Up The Trail

Filed Under: The War Chest

Yes, We Have No Bananas

April 1, 2019, by JimC

This is going to make me feel like an old coot grousing that things ain’t as good as they were back in my day. That’s because I am an old coot grousing that things ain’t as good as they were back in my day. Last weekend, Ceili and I did a quick recon at Banana Republic. Stylewise, she considers BR her wheelhouse and she is scheming to raid it … [Read more...] about Yes, We Have No Bananas

Filed Under: The War Chest

Spontoon

March 18, 2019, by JimC

As my moccasins pound down the warpath in the Mohawk Valley c. 1775-1882, I continually cut sign of a medieval implement that remained an effective weapon through the era of the muzzleloading musket and rifle. Talking about the Spontoon. That’s a fancy term for a military spear. Officially, it’s a half-pike. The pike — a spear ranging anywhere … [Read more...] about Spontoon

Filed Under: The War Chest

Getting A Kick Out Of An 18th Century Rifle

March 8, 2019, by JimC

A few days back, John H. Bryan, Attorney at Law, posted on Facebook some wonderful pictures of a rare surviving mid-18th Century flintlock rifle of the Virginia school. Without getting too pedantic about it, Pennsylvania rifles tended to have a little more Germanic cast to them, while the Virginia rifles looked a little bit more like English … [Read more...] about Getting A Kick Out Of An 18th Century Rifle

Filed Under: Chapters, The War Chest

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