From: owner-hist_text-digest@lists.xmission.com (hist_text-digest) To: hist_text-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: hist_text-digest V1 #212 Reply-To: hist_text Sender: owner-hist_text-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-hist_text-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk hist_text-digest Wednesday, January 6 1999 Volume 01 : Number 212 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1999 22:15:57 -0600 From: "Lisa Radwan Clark, DVM" Subject: MtMan-List: Mtn. man list RE:Handforged traps & trapmakers This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_0004_01BE38F8.F81F5380 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Does anyone have information on blacksmiths that made traps for use in the fur trade? I'm particularly interested in information on the makers = Standish, (worked for AFC at Michilamackinac) Peavey,(Maine) early work of Sewell = Newhouse (Onieda Community NY) Watkins, or any other maker that stamped=20 there name on there work. I'd also like to hear from anyone who may have traps from these makers. Since these items were such an extremely = important part of the mountain mans outfit, i'd like to hear what anyone has to = say on the subject. From the northwoods, where its plenty cold rite = now, Tony Clark - ------=_NextPart_000_0004_01BE38F8.F81F5380 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Does anyone have information on blacksmiths that = made traps=20 for use in

the fur trade? I'm particularly interested in = information on=20 the makers Standish,

(worked for AFC at Michilamackinac) Peavey,(Maine) = early work=20 of Sewell Newhouse (Onieda Community NY) Watkins, or any other maker = that=20 stamped

there name on there work. I'd also like to hear from = anyone=20 who may have

traps from these makers. Since these items were such = an=20 extremely important

part of the mountain mans outfit, i'd like to hear = what anyone=20 has to say on the

subject.

&nbs= p; = ; = = From the northwoods,

&nbs= p; = ; = =20 where its plenty cold rite now,

&nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; =20 Tony Clark

- ------=_NextPart_000_0004_01BE38F8.F81F5380-- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 05 Jan 1999 22:10:33 -0700 From: Dean Rudy Subject: MtMan-List: Fwd: Fort Hall Replica Website >Date: Sun, 3 Jan 1999 19:48:05 -0700 (MST) >X-Template: /home/users/d/drudy/public_html/mail.txt >To: >From: "Jacquelyn J. Alvord" >Subject: Fort Hall Replica Website > >Hi, > >I have just recently put a webpage on line that might be of interest to you. It is the Official Fort Hall Replica Website. >It contains information about the Replica, history of Fort Hall and the region, Quotes from mountain men,missionaries,pioneers and persons of note about Fort Hall, articles related to Fort Hall,the Replica, mountain men, Native Americans,and southeast Idaho. There are also some recipes for food of the era. It is the first website to address the history surrounding Fort Hall in depth. I hope you have time to go by and take a look. It is in the process of development and requires much more work, but you will get a feeling for the overall plan. Will reduce the load time as we refine each of the pages. Thanks, > >Jacquee Alvord >Chairman, Fort Hall Replica Commission >Pocatello, Idaho > >Fort Hall Replica Site >http://poky.interspeed.net/forthall > >-- >This e-mail was generated from the world-wide web; the e-mail address > "Jacquelyn J. Alvord " >may be incorrect. > - --------------------------------------------------------------------- Dean Rudy AMM#1530 Email: drudy@xmission.com Park City, Utah WWW: http://www.mtmen.org ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1999 23:30:20 -0600 From: "Beau Stiles" Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Fwd: Fort Hall Replica Website This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_0009_01BE3903.5C395960 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable I am thoroughly thrilled to see a site on the replica Fort Hall. I was = born and raised near there, and have visited many times in the past 20 = years. It is also refreshing to see, being that I now reside in Texas, = and only have the opportunity to visit that region for 1 week a year. = Anyone that hasn't visited should do so. It is very interesting, and in = one of the most beautiful parts of the country! Beau Stiles -----Original Message----- From: Dean Rudy To: hist_text@xmission.com Date: Tuesday, January 05, 1999 11:11 PM Subject: MtMan-List: Fwd: Fort Hall Replica Website =20 =20 >Date: Sun, 3 Jan 1999 19:48:05 -0700 (MST) >X-Template: /home/users/d/drudy/public_html/mail.txt >To: >From: "Jacquelyn J. Alvord" >Subject: Fort Hall Replica Website > >Hi, > >I have just recently put a webpage on line that might be of = interest to you. It is the Official Fort Hall Replica Website. >It contains information about the Replica, history of Fort Hall and = the region, Quotes from mountain men,missionaries,pioneers and persons = of note about Fort Hall, articles related to Fort Hall,the Replica, mountain = men, Native Americans,and southeast Idaho. There are also some recipes = for food of the era. It is the first website to address the history = surrounding Fort Hall in depth. I hope you have time to go by and take a look. It is = in the process of development and requires much more work, but you will get = a feeling for the overall plan. Will reduce the load time as we refine = each of the pages. Thanks, > >Jacquee Alvord >Chairman, Fort Hall Replica Commission >Pocatello, Idaho > >Fort Hall Replica Site >http://poky.interspeed.net/forthall > >-- >This e-mail was generated from the world-wide web; the e-mail = address > "Jacquelyn J. Alvord " >may be incorrect. >=20 = - --------------------------------------------------------------------- Dean Rudy AMM#1530 Email: drudy@xmission.com Park City, Utah WWW: http://www.mtmen.org =20 - ------=_NextPart_000_0009_01BE3903.5C395960 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

I am thoroughly thrilled to see a site on the = replica=20 Fort Hall. I was born and raised near there, and have visited many times = in the=20 past 20 years. It is also refreshing to see, being that I now reside in = Texas,=20 and only have the opportunity to visit that region for 1 week a year. = Anyone=20 that hasn't visited should do so. It is very interesting, and in one of = the most=20 beautiful parts of the country!

Beau Stiles

-----Original = Message-----
From:=20 Dean Rudy <drudy@xmission.com>
To: = hist_text@xmission.com = <hist_text@xmission.com>
= Date:=20 Tuesday, January 05, 1999 11:11 PM
Subject: = MtMan-List: Fwd:=20 Fort Hall Replica Website

>Date: Sun, 3 Jan = 1999=20 19:48:05 -0700 (MST)
>X-Template:=20 /home/users/d/drudy/public_html/mail.txt
>To: <drudy@mail.xmission.com>>From:=20 "Jacquelyn J. Alvord" <jacdau2@aol.com>
>Subject: = Fort=20 Hall Replica Website
>
>Hi,
>
>I have just = recently=20 put a webpage on line that might be of interest to
you. It is the = Official Fort Hall Replica Website.
>It contains information = about the=20 Replica, history of Fort Hall and the
region, Quotes from = mountain=20 men,missionaries,pioneers and persons of note
about Fort Hall, = articles=20 related to Fort Hall,the Replica, mountain men,
Native = Americans,and=20 southeast Idaho. There are also some recipes for food
of the era. = It is=20 the first website to address the history surrounding Fort
Hall in = depth.=20 I hope you have time to go by and take a look. It is in = the
process of=20 development and requires much more work, but you will get = a
feeling for=20 the overall plan. Will reduce the load time as we refine each
of = the=20 pages. Thanks,
>
>Jacquee Alvord
>Chairman, = Fort=20 Hall Replica Commission
>Pocatello, Idaho
>
>Fort = Hall=20 Replica Site
>http://poky.interspeed.net/f= orthall
>
>--
>This=20 e-mail was generated from the world-wide web; the e-mail=20 address
>    "Jacquelyn J. Alvord <jacdau2@aol.com>"
>may = be=20 incorrect.
>=20 =
---------------------------------------------------------------------=
Dean=20 Rudy   AMM#1530     Email: drudy@xmission.com
Park = City,=20 Utah          WWW: http://www.mtmen.org

- ------=_NextPart_000_0009_01BE3903.5C395960-- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 00:38:31 EST From: MdntRdr1@aol.com Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Fwd: Fort Hall Replica Website I love the site from what I've seen so far. I had the chance to visit the trading post right off the freeway a year ago when I went to Blackfoot on business. I wished I could have stayed longer, just like when I was back home this past summer in Oklahoma. Even though I was interested in history as a kid, the interest is not even close as what it is now. Visiting places like this gives me a feeling of wanting to go back in time when history we read about today was being made. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 06:40:09 +1300 From: "The Brooks" Subject: MtMan-List: Fw: hot rocks guernseys and water stills. This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_0060_01BE393F.67814300 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit - -----Original Message----- From: The Brooks To: hist_text @lists. xmission.com > > Date: Wednesday, 6 January 1999 06:26 Subject: hot rocks guernseys and water stills. > >As a new comer to this group I am enjoying the various discussions. come >from Marlborough county in New Zealand. There is very little in the way of >mountain men in NZ but there are a few of us that like that style of life. >in fact a lot of people here still grow there own veggies,preserve their own >fruit and make their own cloths etc.We still heat our hot water with good >old firewood and we still have a well that we can get water from although >we are hooked up to the town supply. We don't have any mountains close by . >all our hills only range between maybe 6000 and 10,000 feet so we dont >really qualify. However for what it is worth re rocks exploding. The >indigenous population of NZ is the Maori people and for 900 years or so >their traditional method of cooking was by hot rocks . First dig a pit sa 2 >to 3 feet deep fill it with wood etc pile up a of rocks around it and get >them real hot. Sometimes this is done in or out of the pit. When fire has >died down scrape out the bigger logs left cover rocks in pit with dirt and >pile food on top of this suitably wrapped in leaves and such. Cover the >whole lot with dirt and wait till cooked. The point being that their rocks >don't explode as they are specially selected. And the trick according to >Maori elders is to select your rocks in the moonlight at night and only >select the lighter rocks that stand out from the dark ones. Not sure if >American rocks are the same but maybe the same principle may apply. By the >way we are talking about dry riverbed rocks. Re the Guernsey jerseys NZ >settled about 1830 has no real fur bearing animals so from day one we had a >high dependency on wool.In my area it don't get that cold. Maybe 5 or 6 >frosts a year at maybe 1 to 2 degrees cent. varies year to year. However my >wife tells me that some she has several knitting patterns for Guernsey style >jerseys(frocks). if anyone is interested e-mail me with their snail mail >address and I will post them copies if she can find them. Re water >purification. I once journied with a guy who had made up a little copper >still that he carried with him. I always thought it a good idea but was >never very keen on the copper part of it and thought I would use stainless >steel. Not correct but very safe.His basic idea was a 7 inch high kettle >about 5 inch in diameter with a filling/pouring spout that he used a cork to >block when distilling the water. The lid was a screw lid and in the middle >was a tube maybe 3/8th.s The coil part, maybe 10 coils at about 4inchs was >bent at right angles at one end and made to slide over the tube in the lid >although I felt that I would use a peened over or crox tooled joint and hold >in place with a screw type nut. When he first made camp he would dig a >shoebox shape and size hole in the soil, sit his still over it at on end >leaving two little dog ears for draught. He would start a fire in here with >little twigs etc. He would first boil it and make a pot of tea and then he >would refill and keep it going as long as he could. He could boil an amazing >amount of water away with some very small fuel. The other end went through >another cork with a very loose fit hole and into his canteen which was half >buried in the ground along side but a distance away. The coil assembly was >supported during all this by 2 cut tree Y supports and a good sapling >threaded through the middle. It also had a handle opposite the spout.The >coil and corks and other supplies were stored inside the kettle when >travelling. Make sure it don't run out of water(make the receptacle smaller >than the kettle) This gets rid of all lurgies and metals etc.I have no idea >how much his throuput was but his canteen always seemed to be full. Hope >that these ramblings prove interesting. Now a couple of points to throw into >the hat. Would a NZ MM dressed in the style of a NZ MM of 1830..1840 be >welcome at an AMM vous even though it would not be AMM documented authentic >or are AMM so rabid about their pastime that nothing but AMM rules count. >and lastly can any one out there tell me what the breed is of the brightly >coloured water snake that lives in the little water spring that is about >half way around the walking track at the KINGS MOUNTAIN battlefield site in >South Carolina. Also any clues to what type the big black snake that I trod >on (about 4 foot long) at the same site while I was trying to get a good >look at the coloured one? We don' t have snakes here in NZ> Also good to >see that KeeWee(Kiwi) shoe polish tins are still doing good service for char >cloth tins... >Cheers >Big Bear(NZ) > - ------=_NextPart_000_0060_01BE393F.67814300 Content-Type: text/x-vcard; name="Cynthia and Graham Brooks.vcf" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="Cynthia and Graham Brooks.vcf" BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:2.1 N:Brooks;Cynthia and Graham FN:Cynthia and Graham Brooks ORG:Maidstone Publications TEL;WORK;VOICE:(03) 572 8565 TEL;WORK;FAX:(03) 572 8085 ADR;WORK;ENCODING=3DQUOTED-PRINTABLE:;;P O Box = 30=3D0D=3D0A;Renwick;Marlborough LABEL;WORK;ENCODING=3DQUOTED-PRINTABLE:P O Box = 30=3D0D=3D0A=3D0D=3D0ARenwick, Marlborough EMAIL;PREF;INTERNET:ghbphoto@voyager.co.nz REV:19990105T172640Z END:VCARD - ------=_NextPart_000_0060_01BE393F.67814300-- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 03:31:45 EST From: NaugaMok@aol.com Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Documentation Question In a message dated 99-01-05 21:37:00 EST, you write: << Take your fresh meat and fry it well done, then you can use glass cake pans (even tin one's), 1) cover the bottom of the container with warmed lard (available at the store in one pound blocks). {etc.} >> This also works with fresh eggs. Remember about a year ago when I was trying to document pickled eggs? This method came to light then, & it works. Of course, the fresher the eggs, the better when you "seal" 'em up. I checked with Dad, & he remembered doing this & said eggs would keep several months this way. Don't remember who came up with the period reference for this type of food preservation. NM ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 07:20:22 +1300 From: "The Brooks" Subject: Fw: MtMan-List: Fw: hot rocks guernseys and water stills. This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_0078_01BE3945.05C9F200 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit - -----Original Message----- From: The Brooks To: hist_text@xmission.com Date: Wednesday, 6 January 1999 18:41 Subject: MtMan-List: Fw: hot rocks guernseys and water stills. > >-----Original Message----- >From: The Brooks >To: hist_text @lists. xmission.com > > >Date: Wednesday, 6 January 1999 06:26 >Subject: hot rocks guernseys and water stills. > > >> >>As a new comer to this group I am enjoying the various discussions. come >>from Marlborough county in New Zealand. There is very little in the way of >>mountain men in NZ but there are a few of us that like that style of life. >>in fact a lot of people here still grow there own veggies,preserve their >own >>fruit and make their own cloths etc.We still heat our hot water with good >>old firewood and we still have a well that we can get water from although >>we are hooked up to the town supply. We don't have any mountains close by . >>all our hills only range between maybe 6000 and 10,000 feet so we dont >>really qualify. However for what it is worth re rocks exploding. The >>indigenous population of NZ is the Maori people and for 900 years or so >>their traditional method of cooking was by hot rocks . First dig a pit sa 2 >>to 3 feet deep fill it with wood etc pile up a of rocks around it and get >>them real hot. Sometimes this is done in or out of the pit. When fire has >>died down scrape out the bigger logs left cover rocks in pit with dirt and >>pile food on top of this suitably wrapped in leaves and such. Cover the >>whole lot with dirt and wait till cooked. The point being that their rocks >>don't explode as they are specially selected. And the trick according to >>Maori elders is to select your rocks in the moonlight at night and only >>select the lighter rocks that stand out from the dark ones. Not sure if >>American rocks are the same but maybe the same principle may apply. By the >>way we are talking about dry riverbed rocks. Re the Guernsey jerseys NZ >>settled about 1830 has no real fur bearing animals so from day one we had a >>high dependency on wool.In my area it don't get that cold. Maybe 5 or 6 >>frosts a year at maybe 1 to 2 degrees cent. varies year to year. However my >>wife tells me that some she has several knitting patterns for Guernsey >style >>jerseys(frocks). if anyone is interested e-mail me with their snail mail >>address and I will post them copies if she can find them. Re water >>purification. I once journied with a guy who had made up a little copper >>still that he carried with him. I always thought it a good idea but was >>never very keen on the copper part of it and thought I would use stainless >>steel. Not correct but very safe.His basic idea was a 7 inch high kettle >>about 5 inch in diameter with a filling/pouring spout that he used a cork >to >>block when distilling the water. The lid was a screw lid and in the >middle >>was a tube maybe 3/8th.s The coil part, maybe 10 coils at about 4inchs was >>bent at right angles at one end and made to slide over the tube in the lid >>although I felt that I would use a peened over or crox tooled joint and >hold >>in place with a screw type nut. When he first made camp he would dig a >>shoebox shape and size hole in the soil, sit his still over it at on end >>leaving two little dog ears for draught. He would start a fire in here with >>little twigs etc. He would first boil it and make a pot of tea and then he >>would refill and keep it going as long as he could. He could boil an >amazing >>amount of water away with some very small fuel. The other end went through >>another cork with a very loose fit hole and into his canteen which was half >>buried in the ground along side but a distance away. The coil assembly was >>supported during all this by 2 cut tree Y supports and a good sapling >>threaded through the middle. It also had a handle opposite the spout.The >>coil and corks and other supplies were stored inside the kettle when >>travelling. Make sure it don't run out of water(make the receptacle smaller >>than the kettle) This gets rid of all lurgies and metals etc.I have no idea >>how much his throuput was but his canteen always seemed to be full. Hope >>that these ramblings prove interesting. Now a couple of points to throw >into >>the hat. Would a NZ MM dressed in the style of a NZ MM of 1830..1840 be >>welcome at an AMM vous even though it would not be AMM documented authentic >>or are AMM so rabid about their pastime that nothing but AMM rules count. >>and lastly can any one out there tell me what the breed is of the brightly >>coloured water snake that lives in the little water spring that is about >>half way around the walking track at the KINGS MOUNTAIN battlefield site in >>South Carolina. Also any clues to what type the big black snake that I trod >>on (about 4 foot long) at the same site while I was trying to get a good >>look at the coloured one? We don' t have snakes here in NZ> Also good to >>see that KeeWee(Kiwi) shoe polish tins are still doing good service for >char >>cloth tins... >>Cheers >>Big Bear(NZ) >> > - ------=_NextPart_000_0078_01BE3945.05C9F200 Content-Type: text/x-vcard; name="Cynthia and Graham Brooks.vcf" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="Cynthia and Graham Brooks.vcf" BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:2.1 N:Brooks;Cynthia and Graham FN:Cynthia and Graham Brooks ORG:Maidstone Publications TEL;WORK;VOICE:(03) 572 8565 TEL;WORK;FAX:(03) 572 8085 ADR;WORK;ENCODING=3DQUOTED-PRINTABLE:;;P O Box = 30=3D0D=3D0A;Renwick;Marlborough LABEL;WORK;ENCODING=3DQUOTED-PRINTABLE:P O Box = 30=3D0D=3D0A=3D0D=3D0ARenwick, Marlborough EMAIL;PREF;INTERNET:ghbphoto@voyager.co.nz REV:19990105T172640Z END:VCARD - ------=_NextPart_000_0078_01BE3945.05C9F200-- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 06 Jan 1999 10:05:37 -0600 From: Don Neighbors Subject: Re: MtMan-List: single women Linda, Thanks for answering my letter it is nice to know you. Maybe I will get a chance to meet you at a rendezvoo. I love bead work. Once again Thank you. I know that this is note a dating service list but it is not intended to be just wondering. Nice to know that there is still hope. Don Neighbors ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 13:18:56 EST From: Rkleinx2@aol.com Subject: MtMan-List: Birthday Today is Jedediah Smith's 200th birthday. May this great American always be remembered. Dick ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 10:30:56 -0800 From: "G. Pedro Kinner" Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Birthday Wasn't he with James Clyman away back discovering South Pass amongst other things. How many things do you think we can come up with in a day. Happy New Years. Pedro in Lake Tahoe ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 13:38:03 -0700 From: jbrandl@wyoming.com (Joe Brandl) Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Going Public I'm not sure we have any fungus or good punk around here, will trade for some Joe Absaroka Western Designs and Tannery Call us about our professional home tanning kit-307-455-2440 Write for custom tanning prices We produce rawhide lampshades and carry a large selection of leather and hair on robes Fine lodgepole furniture, pillows, Indian reproductions, paintings, baskets check out our new web site: http://www.onpages.com/absaroka ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 06 Jan 1999 13:48:55 +0100 From: Allen Chronister Subject: MtMan-List: tinder I join with others who would buy or trade or whatever to get some punk, fungus or similar natural material that can be used for char. All the stuff I've tried up here (Mont.) either chars but doesn't take a spark or turns to dust when you open the char can. Any takers/suppliers? Allen Chronister ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 16:04:31 EST From: TetonTod@aol.com Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Birthday As a BIG Jedediah Smith fan, let me too say Happy 200th Jed! and may we always remember him for his great exploits in spite of those who would try to denigrate his accomplishments. Todd Glover ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 16:20:51 EST From: TetonTod@aol.com Subject: Re: MtMan-List: tinder The recent messages offering to trade for fungus or punk to use as tinder since it doesn't seem to be available in the Rockies begs the question, if it wasn't available to the mountaineers 170 some odd years ago, then what did they use? We certainly won't see tree fungus listed on any trade records. Last year we had a lively discussion on this topic about number of fires needed to be struck daily, weekly , monthly etc. A point well taken was that they probably didn't need to strike a fire multiple times each day. Some argue vehemently that char cloth wasn't used simply because fabric was so costly and valuable. I wonder about that. When a shirt or scarf or pantaloons was completely wore out and beyond repair, it certainly wasn't thown away, but likely could have been converted into char cloth a little at a time as need arose. Even one worn out shirt or pair of trousers would produce quite a pile of char. I have however used rotted Box Elder wood with success. Todd Glover ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 06 Jan 1999 13:37:27 -0800 From: Roger Lahti Subject: Re: MtMan-List: tinder Allen, Did you see my post on what I use for natural char material? I have some 6" birch logs that have stood out back long enough that the wood inside has finally turned to punk, in that it will fall out of the tub formed by the unrotted bark quit easily. That is the kind of punk wood that I have found to work. I have tried conifer punk wood and it doesn't seem to do the job. Have you tried aspen or alder? Maybe even cottonwood. I would be glad to send you some birch punk to try if you like. I doubt I have enough to be a serious supplier. Let me know. I remain...... YMOS Capt. Lahti' Allen Chronister wrote: > I join with others who would buy or trade or > whatever to get some punk, ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 06 Jan 1999 15:33:55 +0100 From: Allen Chronister Subject: MtMan-List: tinder Maybe the problem is not in the material (punk) (punk is punk, right?) but in the processing of it into something that will catch sparks and can be used to start fires. Any special treatment required that cloth does not get? Whether a fungus or something was available in "my area" in 1830 doesn't mean I wouldn't like to try it to see what all the excitement is about. When I was a boy scout in the early post-plesticine (sp.) era, our favorite char was old cotton t-shirt. Hang it on the end of a stick and set it on fire--when it gets consumed by flame stomp it out, and whatever is left is your char. We didn't know any better but it catches spark like a bastard. Thanks for continued insight. Allen Chronister ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 17:49:57 -0500 From: deforge1@wesnet.com (Dennis Miles) Subject: Re: MtMan-List: tinder You know, Gents.. I believe this form of char was available in the mountains...ANY shelf mushroom is usable..I prefer those from Maple, sycamore is nice, but I have used all types.. All worked, some require more work to catch a spark is all. And punk wood is pretty much the same, In my opinion...But I HAVE been known to be REAL wrong.. So hell, let's quit jawin on it, go out find somwe "jacks" and try 'em.. Isn't that what it is about?? Dennis Miles AMM 1622 Hiveranno "Abair ach beagan is abair gu math e" DOUBLE EDGE FORGE Period Knives & Iron Accouterments http://www.wesnet.com/deforge1 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 06 Jan 1999 16:04:09 +0100 From: Allen Chronister Subject: MtMan-List: tinder On the subject of the tender materials available in a given area of the country, I just recently read Sir. George Simpson's journal of his inspection trip in 1823-4 of HBC operations. He was out to set a land speed record for the day, traveling from York factory on Hudson Bay allthe way across the continent to Ft. Vancouver and back almost literally without spending more than one night in the same spot. Anyhow, at one entry he refers to their punk in a fire-starting context. Where did that punk come from? The shore of Hundson Bay? Lake Winnipeg? somewhere on the Saskatchewan? crest of the Rockies? you get the point. Simpson, and his punk, moved around quite a bit. Please, I'm not advocating that we all use some exotic plant material available only in south Florida. Allen Chronister ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 06 Jan 1999 16:51:00 +0100 From: Allen Chronister Subject: MtMan-List: tinder last message of the day on this--just looked at the 1828 Webster's dictionary site that someone posted on this list a few months back. "Punk" was a whore, but tinder led to sponge which led to: "Pyrotechnical spunge, is made of mushrooms or fungi, growing on old oaks, ash, fir, & c. which are boiled in water, dried and beaten, then put in a strong lye prepared with saltpeter, and again dried in an oven. This makes the black match or tender brought from Germany." I'm not sure what to make of all this, but it appears that ca. 1828 fungi tender was highly processed and was "brought from Germany." Whose area is that? Were folks using imported punk/tinder? Allen Chronister ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 06 Jan 1999 16:06:35 -0800 From: Roger Lahti Subject: Re: MtMan-List: tinder Allen Chronister wrote: > last message of the day on this-- > I'm not sure what to make of all this, but it > appears that ca. 1828 fungi tender was highly > processed and was "brought from Germany." Whose > area is that? Were folks using imported > punk/tinder? > Allen Chronister Allen, Maybe the truth lies in the middle of all this discussion. There was, as you point out, a "commercial" source of punk. If you left home to explore, travel, etc. you took some with you if you had it. If you ran out or started without, then it is reasonable to suppose that the small amount needed for a relatively long period of time in the wilderness could be supplied by the judicious use of scrap cloth/clothing. If that source is no longer or was never available, there are many natural sources to make functional punk from. Let's not make this more complicated than it needs to be, or was back then. I feel it is quit proper to make char from any material you might reasonably be expected to have had at hand. If you've got german punk, you use it. If you got cloth scraps to spare, you use them. If you know what to look for you can get your char from nature and you use it. No absolutes, just no magnesium sticks or steel wool please. I remain...... YMOS Capt. Lahti' ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 18:19:43 -0600 From: "Lanney Ratcliff" Subject: Re: MtMan-List: tinder Capt. Cottonwood works like a big dog!! Pine, too, but not nearly as good. Lanney Ratcliff - -----Original Message----- From: Roger Lahti To: hist_text@lists.xmission.com Date: Wednesday, January 06, 1999 3:44 PM Subject: Re: MtMan-List: tinder >Allen, > >Did you see my post on what I use for natural char material? I have = some >6" birch logs that have stood out back long enough that the wood inside >has finally turned to punk, in that it will fall out of the tub formed >by the unrotted bark quit easily. That is the kind of punk wood that I >have found to work. I have tried conifer punk wood and it doesn't seem >to do the job. Have you tried aspen or alder? Maybe even cottonwood. I >would be glad to send you some birch punk to try if you like. I doubt I >have enough to be a serious supplier. Let me know. I remain...... > >YMOS >Capt. Lahti' > >Allen Chronister wrote: > >> I join with others who would buy or trade or >> whatever to get some punk, > > > ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 18:43:20 +0000 From: randybublitz@juno.com (RANDAL J BUBLITZ) Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Birthday "Having been so long absent from the business of trapping and so much perplexed and harassed by the folly of the men in power, I returned again to the woods, the river, the prarie, the camp, and the game with a feeling somewhat like that of a prisoner escaped from his dungeon and his chains." Jedediah Strong Smith Happy birthday Jedediah........... Hardtack ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. 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