lock, stock & iron

As a youth, the memory that sparked my interest and cultivated my appreciation for historic guns and practical skills was when my Dad's friend Art Armer handed me 36 half-stock, percussion,muzzle loader made by Phil Quaglino of Vermont and was asked "You like that rifle?".
I replied "Yes sir, I do .".
he replied "Well you better , cause it's yours".

This was my first gun.

It was that kind of hands on that taught me respect for old things and that there a lot to be learned from more than just books.
I have learned a lot of useful knowledge from Scout Leaders and old timers that lived in and around upstate New York .

Learning flint and steel, bow and drill and blacksmithing was a lot of trial and error on my own.
My Scout leader Ed Theilman shared a lot of information on foraging edible and medicinal plants .
Boy Scouts was an invaluable source of learning for me. I got into forging iron watching my first Scout master, Nick Schaper with his forge at a scouting function. He made a profound impression on me.
Not only as a Scout master, but that he could make anything he needed for his small farm. From a door hinge or a knife or various tools he needed for woodworking. Most everything he did was with hand tools, nothing electric or modern....something I emulate today.

I learned to set and sharpen cross cut saws from my Dad, with whom I spent a lot of time on the other end of one. My Dad also taught my brother and I how to run our first trap lines.

Most of the work done restoring my 1780's home and barn I'd rather feel the handsaw or axe bite through the wood. It's slower and more backbreaking...but for me as with my Dad and Nick Schaper, the easy way isn't always the best.

It's important for me to pass on skills I've learned, as times change and knowledge that isn't a part of every day dissipates and dies away with the old timers. I have read many books on forgotten arts but there is nothing like hands on learning.

I do most of my demonstrations at Scouting events; flint and steel fire making, trapping, black powder shooting, blacksmithing and edible plants. I also try to attend most small local Civil War reenactments with the Confederate Iron Brigade.
We haul in forges and set up displays of our hand made knives, hatchets and cooking utensils as well as period rifles and shotguns.
I go as much to teach as well as learn from the people I meet.~ Richard Lanne jr.