I am going to add a new section to the http://www.buckskinning.org/ about some of the different buckskinning groups we belong to.

I’d like to get a paragraph or two from someone involved in each group with general information about the group, their philosophy, events, and contact information for folks who are interested in learning more. This can be an email or phone number. I know some of these are ‘invite-only’ groups and in that instance I can just use a website.

The content doesn’t have to be really polished – I can work with you to rewrite or edit and will have full approval from each group prior to going on the site. I am not going to include any negative information and the content should be seen as a way to get new or younger folks into the hobby and not “this group is no good and mine is good,” “my dad can beat-up your dad,” “this group wears a corset on their events,” etc. 🙂

Also, if there is a picture of the group, a few members, or a picture from an event – that would be great. If not, I can search around and grab something that would likely work.

Please feel free to forward this message onto other groups and pass on my email address.

Also, if you don’t want your group mentioned, that’s fine, too. Just let me know. I am building out some new content on the site and thought this would be a great way to expose folks to some of the different buckskinning/living history groups that operate in our area.

I hope all is well with everyone and look forward to seeing you in the Fall.

– Many Rifles

Ok – so buckskinners aren’t exactly “reenactors” per se, but there sure is a fine line between the two hobbies. We both have a passion for history. We both love to dress-up in funny clothes.

Jonah Begone is the nom de plume of a Civil War reenactor who first published Seven Annoying Reenacting Types back in 1993. A sequel was written by Jeff Hendershott later that added even more personas to this list of annoying folks we see from time to time at our camps.

We all know some of these folks and have even been one from time to time. Not everything fits exactly into our version of living history, but I thought this one was great:

The Authenticity Guru
This is the type who writes very well-researched, very detailed and horribly unreadable articles about minor historical issues. His (or her – can’t let the women off on this one!) interest ranges from “Color, Type and Efficacy of Seam Threads Used in Federal Issue Trowsers of the Trans Mississippi from May 1862 – August 1863” to the somewhat more gut-wrenching “Nineteenth Century Midwifery of the Moosehead River Valley.” Discussions about muskets and edged weapons seem to bring out the most crazed of this type. No matter how boring, however, the Guru’s articles are inexplicably praised to the hilt and almost always introduced in gushing prose by editors who recommend a reading because it will “…help us serious Living Historians perfect our impressions so that we may better educate the public.” Some Gurus have become celebrated for their arcane knowledge, but my interrogation of other reenactors has revealed that as a practical matter they skip the article entirely once they read the author’s name!

Surely we’ve never been guilty of that have we? 🙂

While browsing around the ‘net, I found this great site that gives advice for folks on choosing a persona for the buckskinning hobby.

Here are some highlights:

One of the most popular characters in the U.S. is the American Mountain Man or ‘buckskinner’. Such a look is characterized by a complete wardrobe made from buckskin, usually in an Indian style—war shirt, breech-clout, leggings, moccasins, etc., with a fur hat and lots of quillwork or beadwork.

This look tends to be what people can drift into when they first get into living history, especially since we get much our information from the States.

There is nothing wrong with depicting a mountain man. Just remember that mountain men were American free trappers, (not traders, part of the reason the Indians hated them so much), and they date to the 1830’s. Any mountain man who successfully evaded the Blackfoot and their allies and made it as far north as Rocky Mountain House or Fort Augustus with his load of furs would doubtless become a major celebrity — as far as I know, none of them even tried.

In general, traders in the Northwest did not ‘go native’ or even wear native dress, as this quotation from the Mandan journal of Mr. Charles McKenzie (July, 1806) illustrates :

‘I heard my name called at the door of the lodge by a voice which was familiar, and enquiring if I was within. I hastened to the door, dressed as I was in the Indian costume, and was much surprised at seeing Mr. Charles Chabollez, [Jr.], Mr. Alexander Henry [the younger], and Mr. Allen Macdonel [sic], accompanied by three men. Their first salutation was a reproach at my dress…’ (cited in Henry, 346)

Now granted, this site is geared towards Canadian reenactors, but what a great resource.

Check it out

A lot has happened since I first decided to put this blog together. To be honest, it’s really been sitting unused for a few months while I decided which direction to go. Do I write about hard-core tips and tricks and our trials and tribulations in the woods? Do I talk about events, what happened, who was there?

There are all kinds of folks who get into the buckskinning hobby. Some folks are really into the history. Some get into it because they love to shoot blackpowder rifles and pistols. Everyone needs a place to drink beer and some folks are there because it was either this or the bowling league. 🙂

Some folks do treks and pack-in their gear, some wouldn’t do it without the ability to drive-in and drop off their equipment. Whether you are a hard-core purist or are happy to wear a borrowed shirt and some off-the-shelf mocs, buckskinning is a hobby that you can take as far as you want. It is really about the individual. There are groups to meet everyone’s particular interests and needs.

The most important thing to remember about buckskinning is to get out there and do it. You can only learn so much about yourself from the quiet of your living room or library. The smell of woodsmoke is contagious and the fun you’ll have can’t be matched anywhere else.

So I’ll be here in our little camp in the far corner of the Internet. This won’t be a blog about problems with groups or any sort of organizational rants – Lord knows there are enough of those out there already. I have a group of folks who will be writing with me and this will be our take on what is happening with the world of buckskinning – online and in the wilds.

If you like the direction this blog is going, write me and let me know. If you don’t like it, let me know that, too. And if you have a lot of opinions and suggestions on a lot of things, let’s talk about getting you added into the blog team as a writer.

So to all the buckskinners out there who never wanted to take it to the next level, to all of you who wear your yellow chrome-tanned buckskins with pride, to those who don’t understand why you should take the modern, adjustable sight off of your Cabela’s Hawken rifle for the shooting contest, for those who are in this hobby to blow off steam on the weekends and get away from house and job – this post is for you.

Thanks for coming out to the events and having a good time. 🙂

– Many Rifles