When evaluating historic sketches and artwork, it is imperative that even the greatest artist fails to portray every leaf on the tree. The description of a garment can never with image or word detail sweat wear or feeling or the hidden mending of clothing that may have been one of very few possessions and as such shown care. We live in a disposable world of items and a cobbler and shoe repair shop is a rare sight today. The first new footwear I ever had was issued to me in boot camp, brand new and I still have them because they are a part of those moments, a frozen piece of time and a physical link. When you suffer loss and must box up the belongings of the dead, it is their smell in the sweater and wear from use that remains. To others it may appear a ragged old coat not worth much, but to you because it was grandpa's it is priceless. Some things are just things and other things are much more because they contain an unseen soul that can only be viewed with the eyes of love and memory.

These videos have been such an inspiration for me to further research and hone in my own kit. I go to events as a mid-1600s New Mexican fur trader/militiaman.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Wonderful! That's why I do them!

To Me the adventure of researching the old journals and actual experiences from them is the best way to learn. Keep up Your good work.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Phillip!

Outstanding video! You always explain everything in a language I believe everyone can understand. I appreciate the effort you put in and the job you do! Thank you for sharing and giving us the update!

@miketell8182

Жыл бұрын

I watch all your videos it is like going back in time and you explain everything so well .

Your Trekking kit just gets better and better Ethan! You know I would love to get with a bunch of "woodsy lads" like us and go on an extended Trek! Please keep doing videos on this topic!!!

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

I'd love that. There was some discussion at Friendship this past weekend of getting some folks around for something like this. Maybe it can happen!

I made/used one such wallet 30 years ago. I found it didn't fit the requirements in the field, but was ideal for walking around a trader's row or as the equivalent of a lunch sack around camp. I am not convinced that the recent fashion for them is entirely accurate as a universal use item. Good video.

Hey Ethan! One of the neatest things about this hobby is that the gear, equipment, and clothing that we start out with, CAN evolve depending on our research and desires. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and letting us "take a peek behind the curtains"!

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much Martin!

Not sure if these made it into the 18thc but European cutlers made knife sets which were carried in one sheath, some sheaths having a leather cap to seal the sheath from weather or damage to the handle. These usually comprised of a main large knife 1 small knife, a spike awl and 2 pronged forks in some cases. Another variation was a main knife in which the handle housed same items but more miniature. Simply by unsrewing the pommel cap one could access the tools. I don't think they made it to the 18thc.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Very cool!

Ethan, It sounds like you need to lean on Cresswell and Peter Kalm's works.

Thank you for making these videos

In my book you are a artist when you build muzzleloaders . But you are a historian and a good one we are always improving it .

Good job Ethan. I’m impressed

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Barry!

Good afternoon from Syracuse NY brother and everybody thank you for sharing your adventures and information

1770 to 1820 wisconsin fur trapper/hunter is what im trying to do. So about the same as you.

Great job!

Nice kit!

Great video.

Hi Ethan, Great video. I enjoy and respect your research and study of how they may have lived. It seems the era you are re enacting was probably more prepared and civilized than what I've read and studied regarding the Rocky Mountain Fur Trade era. Keep doing what you are doing. I'm a fan of these videos. Thanks for posting and sharing.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Lots of differences between the east and west it seems, and even in the kinds of people that existed.

Great video thanks for sharing 👍👌🔥

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching

Look at the "Draper journals". Also....don't get caught up with just what was worn in a single date. If your time period is, say 1780, anything OLDER will work fine.

Another video well done! Keep them coming. I like the change you made to your clothing. Sometimes you see someone and things just don’t look right or out of place but this outfit looks good and doesn’t look out of place on you. You look comfortable. Your canteen is fine and the fact that it came from your dad is even better. My suggestion would be to cover it with some wool and don’t worry about it. It’s good to see a younger person getting this involved!

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!!

interesting to follow along

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Jeff!

Ethan, Though this is not something I am going to participate in I still find your presentations interesting, informative and honest. Great video.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much!

Awsome presentation, as I'm readying to introduce my cousins and his son to 18th century patriot lifestyle, my cuz is an Inapolis grad and and a marine hello pilot and wants his son to experience early AMERICAN lifestyle, up here in the northern Catskills NY, he will be happy to watch this video with his son,as a prelude to the physical experience ,well done Ethan

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Lou! Glad to hear you are sharing your passion!

Dude this was awesome you got a sub from me My friend 😊

Love the videos that you do. What size tarp is it and how many clothes do you take to an rendezvous. Thank you . Please keep up the great work.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

11 ай бұрын

I beleive this is an 8x8 or 10x10 tarp. I'll try to measure it the next time I get it out.

Reseach is the key to proper interpretation

Hi enjoyed the video and your gear. I am certain their where many variations to what was documented or not. I know backwoods folk made much of their own gear, clothing even shoes and had a style of their own. I found one reference to a hunter/backwoodsman wearing knee high moccasins. Though, this was early 1820s in the Illinois country. Certainly, knee high moccs here and there even at an earlier period. Smith and Doddridge did not see or meet everyone that lived in the backwoods.

Cool man cool

U should look at the lewis and Clark expedition

@ILoveMuzzleloading

8 ай бұрын

One of my favorite pieces of history

The draper manuscripts and Westward into Kentucky the journal of Daniel Trabue. Great sources for documentation especially for 1770s and 1780s. Cresswell also has good stuff. Haversacks are military and specifically used to carry food stuff. I would stay away from them for a civilian interpretation. Keep up the good work. Cheers Ron

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much Ron!

Ethan did you make your leggings or purchase them? Those are exactly what I am looking for. If you made them which pattern did you use. If you purchased them, from where? Great job on your updated kit, I am going through the same thing right now. It is not easy being a beginner sometimes. Your videos are great! keep it up.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! These are homemade, I think it’s really the best way to go. When you make them yourself they truly fit your legs. There are a few tutorials out there, but generally you measure around your mid-thigh, your knee, and the. Your ankle and use those lengths to create a kind of trapezoid. I was told then to staple (using an office stapler) the fabric around my leg to get the tightness and then sew along the staples. It feels daunting but makes for a good weekend project

Did you say that the canteen that some people said wasn't. Correct because it's copper or because of the kidney shape. If it's the shape just wrap it in burlap no one will know that it's copper. Just a suggestion.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

I've read and been told it's "Not correct" for the era because it's copper. The shape is fine. I think I will make a cover for it! Thank you!

Can you go into the difference between the linen and cotton? I must admit that I am ignorant to the difference.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

I'm certainly not an authority on it, but I can work to provide some simple explanations.

@aarondarling6653

Жыл бұрын

@@ILoveMuzzleloading That would be awesome!

I have a question (for you or any one else on here), more related to the last video, that I’m super curious about regarding fire starting. So many times people use char cloth with their flint and steel. So I’ve learned from early eastern Canadian history that cloth was pretty valuable. Even little scraps were used for quilts, or traded with natives, etc…. So wouldn’t they actually have used charred punk wood to catch a spark? It was free, and readily available to replace. Especially when out on the land.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Great observation, in listening to Nathanial Kobuck, he references the use of "chaga" instead of char cloth, the dried mushroom works great. I think charred punk wood, or even some charcoal from a previous fire makes a lot of sense.

@jimf1964

Жыл бұрын

@@ILoveMuzzleloading A lot of people talk about chaga, but have you ever found it? It’s not common enough, though there are other mushrooms that work too. That’s a good point about charcoal too. I believe it would take a spark well. They were anything but wasteful back then

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

@@jimf1964 Totally agreed. I'll try to grab some other fungus in the woods this year and try it.

@jimf1964

Жыл бұрын

@@ILoveMuzzleloading I know there are certain ones that are supposed to be better than others. I just don’t remember which. You could always experiment. ….actually that would make a good little project for me this summer too. Some you just need to dry, some rough up the surface, but once there is an ember, they burn a long time.

i am very interested of your frock. i am also a newbie, but got hold of some linen cloth. do you have some pattern for me to try to make (screw up my fabrik) B.R Panu aka Pierre Le Parisien the furhunter of the north

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

I don't personally have a pattern, but you want to look up a hunting frock or rifleman's coat. Check out this series by @thedeerskindiary for a great tutorial : kzread.info/dash/bejne/X56bsNqmYt2dg8o.html

Ethan, could that market wallet be made of pillow ticking?

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Absolutely, though it won't be "period correct", so it's all about what your goals are.

What is the size of your market wallet? I do have a snap sack. Would like to have a fairly accurate market wallet.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

According to my research there were all sizes. This was meant to be a medium-large wallet. It's full length is about 36", but I've read of them being 48" long

🙂

There is one thing in my opinion that makes a reenactor authentic is how physically heavy they are. There we very few people on the frontier who were fat. Keep your weight down !

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Lift weights, eat steaks as they say

Belt or sash.

I need some help to find some leggings if you can send me an email to where I can get a hold of some leggings