’Twas a fine Yule celebration here at the Clan Cornelius homestead. We have a set of Christmas traditions that we cleave to: tamales and tortilla soup on Christmas Eve; a roast beast for Christmas dinner. An easy ramble on Christmas Day afternoon. Ice skating on Christmas night. We are not extravagant in the gifting, and tend toward the … [Read more...] about Stuff That Works — Yuletide Plunder

Archival researchers have located what appears to be an authentic photograph from the 1757 siege at Fort William Henry at the foot of Lake George.* The photograph is the only known likeness of a particularly dangerous French and Indian War-era coureur du bois known to the English as The Dog Man (L’Homme Chien). He can clearly be seen at third from … [Read more...] about Dangerous Coureur Du Bois Spotted In 1757 Photograph

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

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

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

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

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

“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

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

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