Punch Bowl

Editor: Mary Lynn Brown

Excerpts from the March/April 2014 Issue

ABPA PARTICIPATES IN THE RED DEER SPORTSMAN AND OUTDOOR SHOW

Recently Ken & I spent time manning a booth at the Red Deer Sportsman and Outdoor Show in which we were promoting Alberta Black Powder Association. During that time we talked to many people who have shot black powder. One of the disappointing things was the number of adult shooters who have had a bad experience. This was because grandpa thought that they needed to shoot what they called a black powder elephant gun and grandpa spent the time rolling on the ground laughing as the boy was knocked back and broke his collar bone. Stories like this remind us that if you want to have someone enjoy the sport you are trying to introduce them to then it is your responsibility to give them a good introduction. One of the positive things was the number of young teenagers who had shot black powder and were very knowledgeable. Many of them receive their black powder knowledge through the hunter education, conservation classes or at a youth camp. We were also surprised to meet young teenagers who were able to explain to their parents clearly about back powder loading and shooting. We had many children stop and pet our fox pelt and many even petted the skunk pelt. If they petted the skunk pelt we told them and tell Mom or Grandma & Grandpa they had petted a skunk today. Some of the children were very timid and weren’t sure about touching it, well others like to go nose to nose  and eye to eye with our fox pelt. Allowing the children to touch our pelts did cause one of the taxidermy companies to give thought to having a display next year that the children can touch. Lots of people are interested in Black Powder and you always get questions you don’t know or have even thought about.  One question I got asked was do they go and retrieve the cannon balls? With the size of some of the cannon balls it is something to ponder.  Overall it is always fun, interesting and informative to present Alberta Black Powder Association to the public. The result of which, we have several new members.

We will, for the first time, have a booth at the AACA Gun Show in Calgary on Friday and Saturday of Easter Weekend.  Hope to see you there.

In the last newsletter we had information about the Cascade Mountain Men Annual Gun Show in Monroe Washington in March. We have been fortunate enough to be able to attend this show and found it very enjoyable. Have you ever seen or done the manual process of rifling a barrel? This is a retirement project for Alan and Bob, retired engineers from Boeing. The rifle barrels that were rifled at the show (with help from passersby) will be cut in half and made into rifles for children. The pictures show the manual rifling in progress and second picture shows Alan, one of the designers and builders. There were a number of demonstrations going on including blacksmithing and choker making. I don’t think I have seen that many beads before and variety, including from Africa and some very old beads.  Of course there is every conceivable product with bead work.  If you are looking for a pattern or fabric there was lots to offer. Including comfortable corsets and undergarments to give your outfit the proper silhouette; bustles anyone? There was a large selection of guns including some small cannons, knives, tomahawks, bows and arrows, and even atlatls.