The Newest Addition to the Gray Ghost Arsenal

Perc poppers are more fun than we should be allowed to have. Although never having owned an historical model, they are just plain fun. Mine was a .50 Thompson Center Arms, Hawken.

congrats!

Liberty Belle

Good name choice! I also like that your proposed name is "female". All of my "named" guns are female. My first gun (which I still have; 16 gauge single shot shotgun, a Stevens) was named "Old Betsey" by my daughter way back in the early 1980's.

Like I said in the article, holding this rifle is like holding "history" in your hand. I can't wait to shoot it.

But have you ever tried a flintlock? They are even more fun than percussion.

Schenectady, but it might be difficult to drop that one every time you refer to it.

Thanks for stopping by.

You are correct, "Schenectady" would be a mouthful.

I also notice that you have a site and I am coming by now.

Where I use to teach, there was an email discussion on whether the security guards should carry guns. One professor simply said that though he didn't know about the security guards, the history professors should be armed with muskets.

to allowing ANY concealed weapon permit carrier to go anywhere in the state (i.e., schools, churches, hospitals, etc.). I fully agree with this. I have yet to meet a concealed weapons permit carrier who wasn't a competent shooter and an honorable person.

I know you spoke in jest, but I would agree to any professor carrying a black powder shotgun. (Because a musket is really no more than a shotgun.) If the length of let's say a "Brown Bess" musket were shortened and the weapon were loaded with "buck and ball", it would make a dandy defensive weapon. Plus you only have one shot, you HAVE to make it count.

The "Trade Guns" sold to American Indians in the late 1700's thru the early 1800's were really no more than a single shot shotgun. (They were made in flintlock and percussion.)

My first gun was a single shot shotgun. This type of gun makes you learn to know your target and make that first shot count; because you might not get another shot. I have hunted everything from doves, rabbits, ducks, quail, squirrels, turkeys, and deer with it. "Old Betsey" will be handed down to one of my grand-children when I am gone.

Thanks for the info on muskets. I didn't know that.

Personally, I haven't shot since summer camp, back in the 60s, where we shot 22 rifles and did some skeet shooting-- I won a skeet shooting contest.

After 9-11, I thought about getting a gun but money and protests from the female contingent of the family kept me from doing that. I do have a bow though but I haven't shot it for a while.

Natty Bumpo, the Deerslayer......one of my favorite books....hey it's got to be amazing to hold that gun in your hands. congratulations Ghost....

A bow is a very effective weapon, accuate at moderate ranges and quiet. Those who can best attest to how really good a weapon a bow is aren't around any more; but some of their histories are, for example:

At the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 a small English army under King Henry V won an astounding victory over a French force at least three times as large. The composition of the English forces was 1,000 Men-at-Arms and 5,000 Archers divided into the traditional three "battles" with the archers in a wedge pattern flanking each "Battle". When the battle was over, between 7,000 and 10,000 French had been killed, mostly by the archers.

Shakespeare even wrote about them:

"And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day"

Natty Bumpo ("The Deerslayer"), James Fenimore Cooper's wonderful character in the Leatherstocking Tales, is a good name. However, it is a male name. I kinda wanted to stay with a female name to "flatter" my little rifle; who, although very old, appears to be just like most females (i.e., pretty and deadly).

I also wouldn't want to give the name "Deerslayer" or "Killdeer" to a rifle that I haven't already killed many deer with. That is a name that must be earned.

Thanks for the congrats, I am indeed a lucky man and surrounded by beautiful females.

The first name that popped into my mind was Old Betsy, but seeing as how you already have a gun with that name, here's some others:

Savannah (cause I think it's a good name)

Deborah (after the woman warrior judge named that in the book of Judges)

Nancy (after Nancy Reagan)

Jane, or Calamity Jane

Molly Brown

Oh, well, that's all I've got. Maybe you'll like one of them.

I like "Deborah"; however, Savannah is pretty good (savanna: Native American word describing "land which is without trees but with much grass") and this is a PLAINS rifle.

I know exactly what you mean when you explain the use of single shot shotguns. I used to hunt deer with my grandpa near Collinsville, Texas. He gave me a Savage .410 and I used slugs to kill two deer at once by lining them up and blowing their necks open. Grandpa said shells were too expensive to waste on a single kill.


Plain Jane, or, Sue.

Congrats.
Glenn Flowers

not only areal peice of history but you get a whole new appreciation of our founding fathers ordeal to forge a free nation!!a name? how about Liberty's stand?

I appreciate the congrats. God has truly blessed me in my family; and He has allowed me to own a piece of history.

It sounds like your grandfather grew up during "hard" times!

I couldn't use "Plain Jane", the little plains rifle is too pretty for that.

"Sue" or "Sweet Sue" have some possibilities.

"How about Liberty's Stand?"

Would that be a male or female name?

Congrats on the acquisition,truly a outstanding rifle. As for a name,I'm just no good at that. Looks as if the consensus is running toward Liberty Belle,or along those lines. Works for me!

Thanks for stopping by! (I am sure proud of my new addition.)

Wow. It's sure in great condition.

She's a beaut.

Names: Sarah Connor; Terminatrix; Bessie; Dominatrix (hmmm... sounds more like some sexual "professional"...); Maggie Thatcher; Annie (Oakley); Wilma (FLINTstone... get it?); Themis (blindfolded Goddess of Justice); Dianna (Goddess of the Hunt).

A few off the top of my head.

Fired a friends, but never had the pleasure of adoptig one into the family.

Yes, she is an original, manufactured in approximately 1830. (The West Louisiana family had records concerning the rifle back to about 1832.)

Thanks, she is pretty (the land to land measurement is .388", groove to groove .398" so she appears to be a true .40 caliber).

The name "Maggie" is a good one. I will put it on the list of possible names. My grandsons and I will make the final determination.

After we determine the name, we will shot it.

You should be able to find an excellent flintlock for $500.00 or less.

You should get one. (I can furnish some names and web sites if you are interested.)

comments required...

But that wouldn't be a "female" name.

Excuse my ignorance but does a flintlock use ball and powder. It's been over a dozen years but I used to work in a sporting goods store that sold black powder guns. Just curious.

I think in order for hunting to be truly "sporting" a hunter should only be allowed to use a spear, a bow and arrow, or a musket. Now THAT would be sporting. Unless you're going after Rhino or Lions then the biggest gun you can find is appropriate.

As for names I think Brian had a good one "Maggie". "Brigit" is the goddess of fire in Celtic if that's of any use to ya.

A flintlock is, in most cases, a "muzzleloader" using loose black powder and ball or shot. The difference with a percussion ignition is that you have a flash pan and a piece of flint for the ignition system.

I said "in most cases" because I own a replica of a Ferguson rifle. It is a breechloader; but it still uses a flintlock ignition. (Google the Ferguson to see how it works.)

The 1851 Sharps was a breechloader; but used a percussion ignition. (I also have one of them, also a replica.)

"Brigit", hmmmmm.

I certainly liked Brigit Bardo in her "hey day".

I'll have to look up some illustrations for those firing mechanisms. Wow, can you imagine trying to get some food or fight enemies with those weapons? It's like, "Hold on a minute, let me load this thang".

c'mon by for the new post when you get a chance.

most guns are called she-I'd say female.

Congrats on obtaining an important piece of Americana. It is a beauty. My vote is for Deborah the Judge...

"I'd say female."

I'll take your word for it (i.e., "Liberty Stand" is female).

It is now on the list of names to choose from.

Thanks for stopping by.

Deborah is now on the "short-list".

The name of the Acadian Heroine by the title name in the poem by Longfellow. Its a Louisiana Parish that I reckon would be fitting since she is from there.

I like that name (i.e., Evangeline). I am putting it on the short-list.