I started hunting with a flintlock rifle because of my admiration of the mountain men. Jeremiah Johnson is one of my favorite movies. I wish there was more written and movies about the original west, the Ohio valley and Kentucky. Another great video, thanks
There's something about the scent of burning black powder and the roar of a muzzleloader . It takes me back to the days of the orignal colonists , the fights at Lexington Green , Concord , Swamp Fox Marion ambushing the redcaots along the Pee Dee river . If that don't stir the blood of a Patriot , I don't what else to say.
I enjoy that you showed the lead cylinders which held (and kept waterproof) the powder. The cylinders were opened, the powder poured out and the lead was melted and poured into bullet molds. The amounts of black powder and lead were calculated so that there was a full powder charge for every bullet manufactured. Lewis and Clark had these when they began their expedition. Smart packaging indeed!
Here in Idaho, it was a huge mountain man environment. Fun times for sure. I laughed at your pleasant words on the Arizona heat. Here in Idaho we have the same thing as you however, its in the winter. Snow turns to ice in December and finally starts to melt off in March. Weather much more conducive to mountain men. Thanks again for another informative episode.
One of my favorite movie quotes, "I'm Bear Claw Chris Lapp, blood kin to the Grizz that bit Jim Bridger's ass". I also find it ironic that you did this video because I've been looking at Hawken rifles. Maybe you should do a video on Hawken rifles.
I have a Thompson Center.Hawken replica ( shooting replica ) in .54 caliber , percussion fired , wooden furniture with brass fittin's . Not as nice as a truly handmade smokepole , but she'll do .
I too have a Thompson Center Hawken replica, in .50 cal. It is a pretty good firearm, although I think the Traditions rifles are more accurate representations. Just my thoughts.
@@RhettyforHistory Not too weird actually. Oklahoma would be a central location close to the mountains of New Mexico, where trappers and corporate reps could meet and have exchanges. There was also a large population of Natives in the Oklahoma/Indian Territory.
Thanks again Santee & Co. ! I've always been partial to the Mountain Man topic . I live in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina . Have you ever heard of the series of books titled Foxfire? This series of books numbers about 24 or so , written about the lives and skills of the people of the Southern Appilachian mountains in Northern Georgia , and Western N.C. Literally hundreds of topics from moonshining , hunting , faith healing , old school doctoring , cabin building , hog butchering , planting by the signs , fireplace building , etcetera . And do you know there was a US Navy Escort Aircraft Carrier named USS Santee that fought in World War 2? Well , See Y'all down the trail !
Mountain Man (Charlton Heston, Brian Keith), one of my all time favorite movies. Now I gotta try to find it, and watch it TODAY, Thanks 😊 have a Great Weekend. 🤙🏼🇺🇸❤️🤠
Where did my CDs of The Mountain Men , Jeremiah Johnson , and The Revenant get to ? Maybe the same scoundrel that keeps stealing Santee"s whiskey took them .
Another great episode Santee! I especially loved this episode because I have always been fascinated by the Mountain Man era and have read a lot of books on them. I've also been to the Green River Rendezvous and Museum Of The Mountain Men in Pindale, Wy , as well as Fort Bidger in Bridger, WY. Both are well worth the time to go and see. Great video. Thanks for sharing. JT
Santee , I think you'd really like the Green River Rendezvous. They put on all kinds of Mountain Men demonstrations. They also sell a lot of Mountain Men trade goods. We had a slide-in truck camper. We stayed at a campground in Boulder , Wyoming and drove back and forth to the Rendezvous. It was nice to park our truck with the camper on it in a regular parking space and go check out the rendezvous , then go back to the truck to rest and make lunch etc. There is dry camping on public land closer to the rendezvous if you prefer that. JT
That's a cool map of the West at the beginning. Lots of interesting information. Having lived in Chico, Northern California for many years, I always wondered why no one thought to go just a bit north of the Donner Pass route and scout out what would become Beckwourth Pass, at least until he did. It's much lower and less snowier than Donner.
Great idea from another bored Confederate. I have been reenacting for almost 40 years. I was with the 1st NC Volunteers/11th Regiment NC Troops. Currently I am in the Artillery with Adam's Battery near Wilmington NC. I have also been Chief Cavalry Scout and Guerrilla.
You mentioned Dixie Gun Works, I happen to live in the next town over from them, and get to treat myself to a visit at their store, as well as their antique car museum. I go in and drool over the guns on display. Once years ago, when the original owner was still living, I got to hold in my quivering hand an original first generation peace maker.
Thank you Sir for the well done video , as you have hundreds of subjects of the wild West and I'm enjoying every bit of it , I consider myself to be a fanatic and crazy to know more about wild west .So I'm a lucky guy and happy to view all your videos. Thanks again. From Salisbury Park.
My ancestors were the Proto-Mountain Men, Early French Canadians who traveled rivers so mighty and mountains so huge, through the swampy marshes and under the noses of some of the hostile tribes to hunt and trade with our friend tribes. Le Voyageurs Rendezvous
Point of interest about mountain man firearms. The flintlock was used by fur trappers long after the invention of the caplock. One could always find a chuck of rock that could make a spark, but caps needed to be factory-made. They MIGHT have been available at some of the later rendezvous, but it wasn't certain that the traders would have them. Caps contained fulminate of mercury, which is a rather touchy explosive. The caplock didn't come into general usage until after the mountain man era "Lostrifle" Mike Grossberg
I was at a 1816' era military post as a renactor for about 6 years (?). The one s that could afford it would get the Hudson Bay coats that the traders wore in the winters. One of the renactor shown us his coat once and then the modern Hudson Bay label inside. He said , " I haven't seen anyone yet that was brave enough to remove that label. " Hudson Bay has been around for about 300 years or more. 😁
Another excellent addition. I've heard that the mountain men used to dress their squaw's up in the very finest jewelry and clothes to show off at the rendezvous. Sounds like a good time was had by all.
Thank you, as someone whose local black powder shooting club focuses on pre 1840 stuff from this era, this was pretty interesting. Nice to see folk shooting those Hawkens!
Hi Santee sounds like i need some of these mountain men clothes, after 30+years I still don't own winter appropriate clothes lol,.what a cool contest to,. I lobs your sense of your humor its brilliant
Thank you so much for these videos. Im about to run a western style RPG, and all the real research I've had to do consisted of wikipedia and your channel. I've probably watched 80% of your videos, and each one has helped me get a general, and also more specific, understanding of the old west. Thanks so much.
Well I got the weaponry down: A Kentucky long rifle which I built from a kit An actual blacksmith Forged tomahawk Now the knifes I have (and are my favorite) are Bowie knives but can these be qualify as a mountain man’s knife?
@@ArizonaGhostriders Santee I disagree with you there. I'm into woodcraft (aka bushcraft). While a Bowie knife is an intimidating knife in a fight. It is way too large and clumsy for efficient use as a tool. It is not well suited for use in woodcarving, skinning, and butchering. Instead of a Bowie knife, I recommend a jackknife in a pocket, butcher knife on the belt and the tomahawk on the belt. Later add a hunter variety axe which would be a 15"-18" handle length Scandi grind axe strap to a haversack. Some accounts tell of bushcrafters with just their rifle, large axe and a jackknife. One account tells of one hunter who broke the stock of his rifle and he used an axe to cut the wood from a tree and then used his jackknife to carve a new stock.
Look into getting any of the following . A Russell ' Green River ' knife , a clasp knife , a ' scalping ' knife , a ' roach belly ' a big butcher . I have an A.G. Russell Green River and a couple of Old Hickory Butcher knives that I've modified and made sheaths for . The Russells come in skinner , Dadley , and Buffalo Hunter blade styles . The very curved knife shown in the video is a Buffalo Hunter style . You can buy the knives with factory handles , or without them and make your own . Sheaths are usually purchased seperately , but available on the same website . Dixie and Crazy Crow are the largest sellers of these products . Back in the day , makers would sell knives by the case to Mountain Men and Native Americans as trade items . Those knives were almost exclusively blades without handles and sheaths , the end users would finish them as they saw fit . Wood was the usual handle material , but elk antler and buffalo horn weren't unheard of . Sheaths could be plain leather or rawhide , but some liked to have beadwork done on them . I hope this helps . Keep your powder dry , Pilgrim !
@@ArizonaGhostriders This is a huge stretch I'm taking, but it's worth a shot, because the outcome could be epic. Look up Lindybeige on RU-vid. He's a fellow reenacter, and he is as British as a British man can be. If you two could somehow collaborate, it would be fantastic. A very VERY English Englishman, and a very VERY American American, both extremely passionate about living history. Just a thought, sorry to be a bother, I'm just an excited fanboy of you both
@@ArizonaGhostriders A video narrative about/from an actual location of historical significance. Preferably a seldom discussed site. AGR will use any, or all, submissions as needed. It should be a place seldom encountered, often mentioned in history, and worthy of archiving for posterity. Or, mebbe the best John Escapule tattoo.
Pandemic or not, my wife and I made reservations for Tombstone in September. Which has been a dream of mine forever. We might even drive to Colorado on the way home so I can see Doc Holliday’s tombstone.
Arizona Ghostriders I wish I could be there for that, hopefully next year. Either way I’ll be walking the streets of Tombstone next month dressed as John Henry Holliday ❤️❤️
A new a mountain man by the name of "Hatchet Jack", a crazier fellow you ever did see, he once spent 2 years bunking with a mountain Lion in it's den, it didn't end well.... The big cat never got use to him
Every year, except this year due to the pandemic, we go to the Fort Bridger Rendezvous in Fort Bridger, Wyoming and its always a fantastic event to go to and dress in era clothing. If anyone ever has the chance they really should attend.
I've already made my entry. Two of the most prominent fur trading companies here in the northwest were The Hudson Bay company and the PNW (Pacific Northwest) companies.
@Deplorable Whiteman fort Umpqua days are coming labor day weekend. I am a member of the fort Umpqua muzzleloaders. Until then I bid you adoo good sir.
I didn't think they still had those types of rendezvous but that's really cool that they do. Almost like a western type of swap meet kind of thing. But that's cool. 🤠🤠🤠🤠🌵🌵
Thanks for the video Santee, brilliant job!! . didnt mountain men exist in Arizona back then and did these guys all have a good relationship with native Americans ? and also apart from the obvious like Jeremia Johson, Calamity Jane and Wild bill Hitchcock where there other famous or well known mountain people?. once again cheers and sorry for the questions.
thanks Santee and i dont know why but all of a sudden after reading your reply i sort of got an image of the movie a ''Man called Horse'' in my head. Once more thanks and have a good day, after noon or evening as i dot know the time difference between where you are and Spain.
Hi santee hope all is well with you and your family another interesting upload sorry I’m late but it’s so hard getting around to my RU-vid family but I’m here now for my true friend now full view 👍
One of my Uncles saw the movie "Sourdough" and became infatuated with "The Mountain Man." He went out and bought a ridiculously expensive set of buckskins and a Hawken rifle. People started referring to his outfit as "Sunday, go to meetin' buckskins" and he was just too light to handle that mule-kick from the rifle if it's really loaded for bear. He also bought a $300 Bowie knife which he ended up using in the kitchen... He started many a lively conversation though.
I've been to these rendevouz they have them twice a year here in Kentucky. You can get some pretty cool handmade knives and items made of horn Etc. At these rendevouz people always wear handmade period clothing.
the Astor family fortune was made due to the fur trade, and there’s still a company in existence that all but monopolized the trade until the US overtook them: Hudson’s Bay Company, now a department store chain in Canada
Hey Santee Can you make a video about the Irish in the Old West? Famous outlaws or laymen and the like. Even reading this is much appreciated hello from a fan from Ireland. M Curran
Yes l have a kit gun of the 50 cal. HAWKINS rifle, percussion type that my late brother and l built when we were teenagers, l also have a fur cap, buffalo fur coat, Hudson Bay blanket, the proper shirt, and pants. My shoes are moccasins and l also have 3 horses, traps, knife and a medicine bag. My pipe is an elaborate tomahawk pipe with beads and fur lining. In Alaska our annual Mountian Men Event cancelled due to the pandemic. One of my favorite movies is titled Mountain Men starring Brian Keith and Charston Heston, currently in my large movie collection. A great movie with a good story line and great views.
Reminds me of the show "Grizzly Adams",I used to watch back in the 1970s! I wanted to have my own pet bear when I was a kid and live up in the mountains.☺️
@@ArizonaGhostriders A long, long time ago, a magazine called Buckskin Reports printed an article someone wrote about that show He concluded that the reason the Adams character had to flee the flatlands, and never seemed to hunt any of the animals he was always "befriending" for food was because he was a CANNIBAL
Mountain Men, Buckskinners, Gold Panners, Boucaniers, and Pirates. Men (and sometimes women) who typically didn't fit in, or even care for societal "norms". They would cross all jobs and trades in an effort to live a relatively free life, and many is the tale of a man who had done all of the above and more. They were those who got bored easily. A most interesting part being that many of the men were not far off of the descriptive song "I was born under a wanderin' star" from Paint Your Wagon. Man - "His arm is pretty badly broken" Ben Rumson - "You a doctor?" Man - "Horse Doctor, but bones is bones. Also a blacksmith!" Tradeskills were important, and these men typically had them in a wide variety of trades. In the movie Yellowstone Kelly; actor Clint Walker (Kelly) tells his young tenderfoot Anse that in hard times he can cut firewood and leave it with a pouch down on the river. Riverboat captains would leave him gold for the firewood. Giving credence to the idea that a clever man could make it by knowing such skills and "little" things. Thank you Santee, great video as always! Places to check out for clothing, costuming, and information (as stated but also including) Crazy Crow, Dixie Gunworks, Track of the Wolf, Townsends(Jas. Townsend & Son Inc), and many more!
Santee...you mentioned the weather in Arizona being too hot for "Mountain Man" dress. I've come to accept that dressing in the "Old West" style daily...I'm going to sweat...A LOT. I even sweat in the winter...it's just what it is. Does everyone else also go through this?
Mountain men I'm sure had warmer weather clothes for when or if they came down into a hot area. But, yeah. Wool is hot. Linen is better. They had both.
GHOSTRIDERS - Just wanted to say how much I enjoy your videos. Moved to AZ about six years ago and as a history geek, I immediately started looking into the regional...history. Fort Whipple, Whiskey Row, the Earps, Doc Holiday & Big Nose Kate, all right here in Prescott! AZ Ghostriders offer solid history plus those obscure bits of information that make it come alive. I've watched about 30 or so of your installments, all good stuff! Thanks! - Doc Frederickson PS - Have you done a piece on Bloody Basin or Horsethief Canyon up here in Yavapai Cty?
Doc, thanks much. I've mentioned their names driving through the area. I call the area "Stagecoach Holdup Central" because in a ten year period about 100 holdups occured in that stretch to Prescott.
