• This community needs YOUR help today. We rely 100% on Supporting Memberships to fund our efforts. With the ever increasing fees of everything, we need help. We need more Supporting Members, today. Please invest back into this community. I will ship a few decals too in addition to all the account perks you get.



    Sign up here: https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/account/upgrades

Books of Buckskinning worth getting?

Muzzleloading Forum

Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Joined
Mar 9, 2007
Messages
1,154
Reaction score
529
I've never seen any of the Book of Buckskinning series. The local library and used book stores never have them. Are they worth getting even if only for information, not doing the projects? If so I'll start ordering used copies as funds become available.

These days I'm reading more about history, BP weapons, how things were done in 'olden days' like fishing, weaving, gardening, journals about living on frontiers, etc.

Thanks for any opinions.

Jeff
 
I no longer have any but I'd say they are worthwhile. Some were written years ago when later research might have changed the pc aspect of a few things but overall, well worthwhile.
 
I have several and as Crockett noted we have more information available today. Still they are a fun read with good information and insight into our sport 30 to 40 years ago. There is an emphasis on the fur trade era in many.
 
I gave my set away, but feel the money and time reading them was well spent. The first one or two came out before most folks had any inkling of what "historically correct" investigation could possibly lead to, so there were a lot of folks in Indian war bonnets, chrome-tanned gold deer hide clothes and photo-sensitive glasses stumbling around not knowing what they were doing. Still some wheat among this chaff. If you can, find a source that lists the contents of each volume, then try a couple that have chapters that suit your focus.
 
I built my first muzzleloading kit(a CVA,Jukar flintlock rifle) in about 1975. At that time there was very little information on historically correct stuff for someone living in a small rural town in Nebraska. The NMLRA provided some if you were a member. I spent a lot of time researching information, but remember the internet was a long way off in the future. It was about that time and a few years earlier the Buckskinning books began to be published. I didn't know anyone that shot muzzleloaders and the guy at the gunshop who sold me the kit told me you couldn't put too much powder in the barrel. At least he made sure I only used black powder. I exercised care and still have all my fingers and eyes.
 
I have the whole set, now they cost a lot more. I found them to be good information on buckskining and shooting BP. Some stuff might be out dated but it is all good. Also the old Fox Fire books have lots of information on how things where done in the " olden days "
 
They are very useful and informative. As some said, new knowledge has changed our outlook on a few things. But, if you can find them do get. I may have a duplicate of one of them. If so, I'll contact you.
 
BullRunBear,

Try and see if you can get them via interlibrary loan. I've gotten several over the years that way, so at least some are in circulation.

I'd try to get a copy to read prior to actually buying one, particularly if buying new. Some have some information that I've found very useful over the years, while others, while fun to read, aren't worth the money folks want for them, IMHO. It depends on what you are interested in and what level of research you are looking for, I think.
 
BullRunBear said:
Book of Buckskinning series. Are they worth getting even if only for information, not doing the projects?

Yes and no.

They contain some good information (much of which may be out of date) and some information that only really applies to the 1970's Buckskinner crowd. On the whole, I'd save my money and buy other books.

I just happened to find 6-7 of the series on sale for cheap and bought them years ago. Haven't gotten much use out of them...
 
even though some is dated,there is alot of gold in thdre too,I got number 1 when it first came out and need to replace it
 
I have 2 copies of Volume 1 and looking for Volume 2. I lent out my Volume 2 and it never came back...
 
I'd say that the first two volumes, and maybe parts of the third are pretty dated. Volumes IV through VIII are pretty good even after all these years.
 
I’ve got the first five. I like them. Yes some of the stuff is dated but I have Ned Roberts, San Falada and Russels ”˜Firearms traps and tools also.
One is a little more bushcraft then hard info and servers as a beginners intro. Beyoud that they do some hard core work, and some less then hard core. Get them, enjoy them and don’t accept them as gospel and they will be worth the cost.
 
You can get new copies of "The Book of Buckskinning" Volumes 3,4 and 7 from the publisher, Muzzleloading Magazine Page 5 . I have the full set and I liked 2 and 3 the best of the series. Used copies through Amazon have gotten quite expensive.
 
Guys, Thanks for all the opinions. I didn't know the Amazon descriptions included the articles in each volume. Looks like the later volumes are of more interest for me. I think I'll get a used copy of one to try and see how it goes. No particular hurry since I have approximately 3,000 years of reading in my 'to be read' pile(s). :grin:

If these are the same quality as Muzzleloader Magazine, they should be pretty good even if dated. Muzzleloader is one of my favorite magazines along with Backwoodsman (sometimes useful and always fun) and Early American Life.

Jeff
 
Rifleman1776 said:
They are very useful and informative. As some said, new knowledge has changed our outlook on a few things. But, if you can find them do get. I may have a duplicate of one of them. If so, I'll contact you.

No duplicates. I found only volumes 2 and 6. Most can be found on Amazon at prices ranging from about $15 to Omygosh! :shocked2: I also found my Sketch Books. Have duplicate of the Distaff one.
 
Rifleman1776, Thanks for looking for an extra copy. I'll find some eventually, especially going with used copies. But I'm glad you found some of your sketch books. They are always fun to look through.

Jeff
 
Yes, absolutely they are worth getting. I only have three or four of them, but they stay on the shelf as a reference,when needed. Just keep in mind that as the others have stated, some of the articles go back to the early 70s. The writers many not even be with us, anymore. That is fine, because their knowledge is being passed to us and it will not have been in vain. As a side note, get as many of the Mark Baker "Pilgrim's Journey" books as you can. They are also hard to come by in a brick and mortar store, but can still be bought on line pretty easily. I used to pick one up each time we would stop by the Kings Mountain museum bookstore, but they have not carried any for a while now.
 
Good recommendation on Baker's "Pilgrim's Journey" books. I have both. They are part of a group of books, and a few DVDs, that I return to for both pleasure and reference. Another one is "Tidings From The Eighteenth Century" by Beth Gilgun. I met her some years ago, a charming and knowledgeable lady. I had enjoyed her columns in Muzzleloader magazine and wish she had written more books.

Jeff
 

Latest posts

Back
Top