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View Full Version : I Got Recruited By VA. Militia-really



LampLighter
04-21-2009, 05:53 AM
We spent 4 days in Williamsburg, VA while the forum was down. We stayed in one of the Colonial houses- Brick House to be specific. I got recruited by the VA Militia in the street after Benedict Arnold rode in. They gave me a musket and we had to march down to the court to greet General Lafayette. It was a blast.
I am going to post some pics soon- keep checking back. There was a Gunsmith shop, and I learned some. Did yall know that Muskets such as Brown Bess were not measured by caliber. Bores were classified by " how many balls to the pound." Interesting.

There was a working barrel rifling cutter for later flint muzzleloaders. It was hand operated and had a wooden twist that made it work. I have a good pic of it too. Keep checking. I have to put them on photoshop then here.

We went to a restaurant in Yorktown on the York river. The Salmon was ok. It needed some lemon and Tony's ;)

The entire trip was extremely interesting. I highly recommend it, except for young kids. They won't get it.

ncboman
04-21-2009, 08:12 AM
Colonial Williamsburg is a very worthwhile venture. Our school class went there in the 8th grade. Most educational. :)

ncboman

Bill Gunn
04-21-2009, 08:26 AM
I think that "Balls to the pound" is also the measurement for "Gauge" as in shotgun bore size. 12 balls to the pound = 12 gauge.

Some very good friends of ours were married in the big church right in the center of Williamsburg. It was really a neat wedding. I liked walking around there too.

kjjm4
04-21-2009, 11:41 AM
You're right about the gauge thing Bill. A 12 gauge is 12 balls to a pound.

captchee
04-24-2009, 07:56 AM
yep thats how they used to do it with English gage .
rifling was also don the same way for well into the 19century . in fact some of us still do it that way .
Did you get to watch them forge a barrel ? If not , that’s something in and of itself

Twanger
04-24-2009, 09:32 AM
We live about 2 hours away from Williamsburg, and very much like to visit.
The armory is amazing. I'd love to bring an armload of long-guns back home with me.

LampLighter
04-24-2009, 11:45 AM
You talking bout the spiral staircase one ???

Man I was that close to Poole's Store and didn't know it ? :D