In desperate need of help!

[kpetschulat]

Do you guys actually use authentic weaponry for Napoleonic reenacting? Swords, I could understand, but muskets... I can't get the image of shooting a musket and it exploding in your hands due to age out of my head.

[zac]

Yes , all authentic, actually used my Bess for hunting once, didnt hit anything

[Duuring]

Here... hard to say. Majority uses replicas, but originals sure aren't uncommon.

[zac]

*****Ye all replicas here, a few originals but there rare and Frowned upon

[Duuring]

Frowned upon you mean? 

Why?

[zac]

for muskets, well, its obvious, they are just not trusted

[Duuring]

It's obvious? Really? Not to us.

[DeoVindice61]

Same to ACW, Original rifles are not trusted and warned very highly.   I still use all Original 1861 Springfield, thing shoots like a beauty but man, everytime i say it, someone go "YOUR NOT SUPPOSE TO USE THAT YOU B******************************, YOU NEARLY KILLED YOUR COMPANY, I OUTGHA SPRAY YOU DOWN WITH MP40 YOU ****************(***************"   ._.

[Millander]

In the late 80's when reenacting took of there were nearly entire companies with original uniforms. People quickly learned however it wasent a good idea to wear out and destroy all these original artifacts.

[Duuring]

'artifacts' lol

At Leipzig, I actually walked around with a original brown bess that was so worn down it couldn't be fired anymore  I believe the owner is going to repair it so that, while it will remain non-firing, it will serve as a dummy. It was nice to hold, still.

[DeoVindice61]

Its also pretty funny that some ww2 originals are like better made than repros.  Currently replacing the buttons of my tunic and been told to get original zeltbahn and gas mask canister. 

[Duuring]

I happen to know that the family factory who makes shako plates for re-enactors now, also made shako plates for Napoleons army two centuries ago. They use the same casts as well.

That's something.

[DeoVindice61]

That's pretty cool in fact. 

We have a Wool company called Woolrich, they made blankets for Union Army and still operating today.