MaineMilitia.com

Rest assured Capt, this is for a very specific scenario. Also, I have handled guns before and been taught safety by my husband who is a collector and avid hunter.
thanks
for the info
Miss Deb

To the business on hand. The 1862 pocket police is a very nice little gun. It is very well balanced and easy to conceal. I used to carry one when working with a private investigator. (talk about young and stupid!) Later I carried a variety of more modern colts. The Pocket Police comes in a brass or steel frame. Steel is always the better because it holds up better where the brass eventually will wear down. These revolvers, as are the smaller ones are only chambered for five rounds where the Navy has six.

Miss Deb, trust me when I say it isn't personal. We (29th GVI) do not allow the soldiers in the ranks to carry pistols nor as an officer do I carry one a large majority of the time. This is ironic, since I have a large collection of pistols. I understand the urges and desires to carry one. Proper handling and training helps a little with safety but it isn't accident proof. Things do happen in the flash of a moment and can have long-term devastating effects especially if spectators are close by. The perfect example was the newspaper headlines yesterday morning. Accidents do and will happen.

Gender has nothing to do with the issue. My wife shoots and I have known many women shooters who can handle firearms better than their spouses can, so my statements and comments should not be slanted to be view as sexist. If your Captain/Board of Directors feels that you are able to handle the firearm and the scenario is safe then all may be well.
More accidents happen in unscripted scenarios. The element of surprise is always present when handling firearms but increases when you mix it without script. I can only assume that you want this for the train robberies.

Train robberies are nothing new. For several seasons, we helped rob the Belfast Moosehead railroad. No less than 6 accidents that could have resulted in lawsuits and criminal pursuits occurred. Somehow, we all pulled through without much incident. One self-inflicted incident was a great eye opener. (Remember these were the early days of using wonder wads, whereas nowadays they are not used.) Our fearless leader discharged his weapon into the ground, only the ground was blocked by his foot. The wadding traveled through the thick leather of his brogan and lodged in his foot. We could see the wad in his foot jus under skin level. Now a days we only use grits or cream of wheat to wad the cylinder though I know of some who use bore butter or even peanut butter (creamy I hope). The later two do travel further and make a mess, either could injure if fired too close. I, myself, seldom load my pistols usually just use just the caps. I seldom fire in public situations. The more serious of the accidents happened when one of the train engineers broke the script and attempted to run off with the cash box. He ended up with a nasty leg wound after being shot by one of the less experienced re-enactors. We ended our association with the group putting on the events after that. The group involved were replaced the next season by more of a “Howdy Doody” type of robber.

Enough of stories. I’ve been around long enough to know that I can not prevent folks from doing what they want to do. I can only offer advice on minimizing dangers and personal liabilities, plus relate the experiences I have gained by having been there or researching incidents. I have given instruction on personal safety for reenactors in the past and am thankful that the classes appear to have paid off. Only one accident in the five years I have given them. The accident was unexpected and a first but it was preventable if we had followed through fully with the safety inspection.

I also have most of the pistols we are mentioning. If interested you can stop by and try some of them out before purchasing. (this includes firing them if you would like.) We have a State Championship May 23-24. The 23rd will be a walker fast draw shoot off. Winner will walk off with a pound of powder. Fee is $5. We will supply holster, the
Walker and rounds.

Will

Howdy,
I'd have posted before now but can't from the webtv I'm inflicted with. My computer is down and I'm forced to post on my boss' dime.

As a Medical Officer I'm allowed a side arm by regulation, but have chosen not to carry one. I do however have a Philadelphia Derringer (the gun that killed lincoln) in my field desk at all times. I never keep it loaded (or even capped) but simply use it as a prop. I have had cause to draw it on a couple of occasions when the field hospital was in jepardy...good times...
I bought it because it was cheap, I liked the look and feel of it and it was very popular during the war and immediatly after. My favorite quote about it's 2" barrel is "It was completely useless at any significant distance but across a card table it was deadly accurate". Mine is from CVA and was bought in kit form about 10 years ago for about $40. The spring is weak and I've never bothered to order another to replace it with as I never really intended to fire it. As it works now the hammer will only fire a cap if it hits it more than once...hmmmm, a muzzleloader version of russian roulette...:)

Ok, maybe that's more like 4 cents...

Cheers,
Keep taking your blue mass!!
Asst. Surg. SD Scroggins

As one of the only members of the 29th to recieve "gunshot" wounds on the battlefield, please be careful. I still carry the tattoo marks from black powder on and in my right hand. I was loading my rifle when the round hit an ember in the barrel and "cooked off". Luckily I only recieved powder burns and flesh wounds,(insert "Monty Python/Holy Grail" Black Knight lines here). Only my training allowed my to keep my fingers as they were not over the muzzel. Remember accidents do happen. Just my two cents.

Do I get my "Purple Heart" now Will?

Dick