[LoneCoon]

My wife is a history buff, having both her degrees in history. She volunteers at a local history park, and one of the interpreters is a war of 1812 Reenactor.

She wants me to get a period appropriate reproduction and learn to shoot it so I can teach her, and potentially volunteer at this park.

So I guess the question is what do I look for and where do I even start?

[Jim Watson]

I am not a historian or reenactor, but a quick look at Dixie Gun Works found a new made reproduction of the 1795 Springfield flintlock musket that would certainly be period correct.
http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=9503&osCsid=3f7cb7ff7e0ad3528221fd7d2cb3eeb0

Probably a lot of 1777 Charleville and Brown Bess muskets in use at the time, too.

Those military weapons would be good if you plan to appear as a uniformed regular, but you could go as an irregular with about any flintlock fusil or a Pennsylvania - Kentucky rifle.

[sundance44s]

Dixie Gun Works is a great place to see whats out there in period correct rifles .....Something for thought on the Muskets .....They are heavy ..too heavy for most women to shoot well ....If you want period correct and have a lighter weight rifle your wife would really enjoy shooting ....you might think about a KY or TN rifle ...these rifles are slim and not near as heavy and can be had is smaller caliber also .

[Tommygunn]

This is really odd.
Most wives seem to NOT want their husbands to buy guns........:rolleyes::confused:

[BunnyPuncher]

And some wives taught their husbands to shoot. :) She taught me how to use the Beretta 92 and an AR-15.

Seriously, she did, now she's pissed I'm better than her with the pistols :neener: But I take it more seriously (sport shooting).

Women come in all sorts, just like men. There are a lot of good pro RKBA women out there. Heck I'd say most of the ladies in the military fit that mold and own guns of their own when they get out. Not to mention all the country girls.

Congrats on your wife. History dork and wants to shoot a musket. Thats a keeper! You have good taste and good fortune.

Encourage women to shoot. They improve the atmosphere at the range/club. I would suggest (to the masses, not the OP) that when you a see a lady who looks proficient with the gun, don't just wander over and start spouting advice cuz "she's a gurl". If she looks clueless, intervene for safety reasons :) (and do the same with the 20 something male badass wannabes too... ugh...)

[Iggy]

You get one muzzle loader and you will be sucked down a long expensive path. First there are the accessories, then the period clothes and...............


Have fun!!!!

[BHP FAN]

''You have good taste and good fortune...''

amen to that.Check out Fall Creek Suttlery.They usually beat Dixie's prices by a country mile.

[BHP FAN]

Dixie has the Zouve on sale right now at $575.00[!],and Fall Creek has the Enfield for $535.00.Both are pretty darn good deals.

[Jim Watson]

But neither is a War of 1812 piece, they would be anachronistic for the OP.

Twarn't many women in the Army in them days, less'n you believe the legend of Lucy Brewer, alias George Baker, the female Marine on the USS Constitution.

So Miz Coon could dress as a boy and tote a musket, or keep her apern and bonnet and shoot a handy little 20 bore fusil or fowling piece to defend the homeplace. Most Penn rifles are rather heavy due to a small bore in an octagon barrel.

[Mike OTDP]

For the War of 1812, the 1795 musket, Brown Bess, or Charleville would be appropriate. Or a flintlock long rifle or smoothbore fusil.

American troops can have the 1795 or Charleville (the French provided them for the Revolutionary War). Add Brown Bess muskets and the civilian types for militia or civilian impressions.

British troops will have Brown Bess muskets, with a scattering of Baker rifles.

[arcticap]

Middlesex Village Trading Company offers many good quality guns that are made in India.
Their wood stocks may be softer than the more expensive brands but their steel is high quality and they have a reputation for making a mountain of sparks.
Check out all of their muskets and the F.A.Q. page.
Many reinactors buy from them with confidence. :)

http://www.middlesexvillagetrading.com/

[Loyalist Dave]

Yes they do and so does Loyalist Arms Canada, but If you are out in the Ohio territory, I'd suggest older models, not the newest of Government guns. The top regular troops were armed with the 1795's and the "common rifle", and they would've been mostly in NYC, Philly, and Charleston SC. On the frontier, the supplies would've been from state arsenals or county militias, meaning older stuff left over from the revolution. So an F&I Bess or a 1777 Charlie is your best bet (imho). A French fusil de chasse in 20 ga or 28 ga is also a good choice in Ohio, with the heavy French contact there.

LD

[Mobyduck]

I would be very careful about teaching my wife to shoot a gun -

[bigbadgun]

Man oh man I wish I could get my wife to shoot then maybe AND I MEAN MAYBE she wouldnt get so upset when I buy a new gun.

[LoneCoon]

Mobyduck: My wife shoots better then I do. It's kind of sad really. Besides, she's already confiscated my .22 pistol as her own.

Thanks for the advice! Keep it coming!

[sundance44s]

Kind of works both ways getting your wife into shooting .....My wife loves it ...it`s OUR hobby now ...the best part is , I can buy new guns anytime ....the bad part is she wants one too ..she doesn`t like to share one ...so I`ve ended up with 2 of every thing .

[Macmac]

The hardest thing is Who will you be? I do F&I as does my wife who also shoots.

You guys that have wives who don't know one end of a gun from the other are lucky. I can't bring home and new to me gun of any kind and not get the 'look', but she wants to know if the gun is going to be HERS!

If she shoots it well and likes it, like she did my K-98 8mm and I took the precaution to load 8mm Turk for the more than notable recoil, for my efforts all she did was grin a little more...

[CAMPBELL49T]

I have a zouave musket 58cal new in the box unfired. Go to rifles for sale. It is now $500 0bo take a look, thanks

[alemonkey]

Lucky man...this morning I was trying to convince my wife that I need an Enfield or Springfield. She wasn't buying it.

That Zouave sounds mighty tempting...if I had the cash laying around I'd do it regardless of the consequences.

My dad was talking to my sister's husband and I one day and gave us some great advice. "Sometimes you just have to do what you want and let them yell."

[CAMPBELL49T]

Do you have anything as far as weapons. Looking for 9mm or a 380
both auto. I have a 3 band enfield and another zouave both 58 ca.
I belong to a muzzle club. The zouave is one of my shooters. I
bought it used. It shoots good but the stock has nicks and such.
And around the nipple the wood is burned. From firing the top hat
musket cap. I don't think i want to get rid of my three band
make offer on zouave and then i'll use the new one for a shooter,
maybe. got some bp revolvers that have never been fired. so i
don't know if i will.

[007BondJamesBond007]

I use a Brown Bess don't overload the pan.