Fusil

[Flintlock Whiskey]

Guys, I was not serious.

 

[Flintlock Whiskey]

I enjoyed that movie, and I liked Charlton Heston - but it is just a movie.

Wasnt serious, rarely am.

 

[2 shots]

this is geeting boaring im goin out and shotin my flinchloc smoothiy front stufein holy black shotin roklok

 

[oldschoolhunter55]

People can argue over grammar and terminology all they please.

To me, shooting this deer with my flintlock and using him to feed over 50 people at my sons 1st birthday on the weekend is much more interesting and far more important than arguing over correct terminology.

I can't imagine folks living in the flintlock era would have been any different.

View attachment 255566

Brushfire u r so right.like seeing your hunt.

 

[Pete G]

I find it odd that this forum in particular uses that word so often. It means "gun", but no gun in particular.

…and you can take a hack saw to your fusil and create the dreaded Canoe Gun!

 

[DixieTexian]

"Judge John Hays, however, became so exasperated that he vowed he would have one shot at the red devils anyway. So, grabbing a gun, the judge jumped overboard---the water was not over three or four feet deep---and waded to the shore, where, gun in hand, he stood upon the beach anxiously waiting for a Comanche to come within range of his gun. But the Indians imagined the judge was a 'big medicine' or something of the sort, and so steered clear of the awful fate in store for him who should invite the judge's fire. Finally the earnest petitions of his friends on the boat availed and the judge returned to them. Now, upon examining the old 'fusee' which threatened so lately to consummate such slaughter, it was discovered that the piece was not loaded!"

from Reminiscences of Fifty Years in Texas by John J. Linn 1883

I've lately been under the impression that the term was a general term for a smooth bored gun, be it a trade gun or a shotgun. The use of the term in Texas may have come from the influence of the neighboring (formerly) French state of Louisiana.

 

[DixieTexian]

"XIII. And whereas there has been a good and laudable custom of allowing servants corn and cloaths for their present support, upon their freedom; but nothing in that nature ever made certain, Be it also enacted, by the authority aforesaid, and it is hereby enacted, That there shall be paid and allowed to every imported servant, not having yearly wages, at the time of service ended, by the master or owner of such servant, viz: To every male servant, ten bushels of indian corn, thirty shillings in money, or the value thereof, in goods, and one well fixed musket or fuzee, of the value of twenty shillings, at least: and to every woman servant, fifteen bushels of indian corn, and forty shillings in money, or the value thereof, in goods: Which, upon refusal, shall be ordered, with costs, upon petition to the county court, in manner as is herein before directed, for servants complaints to be heard."

-The Statutes at Large; Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia, from the First Session of the Legislature in the Year 1619

 

[DixieTexian]

"
The Corps used several types of firearms throughout the entire Expedition. It’s normally the rifles that get most of the attention, since they were more accurate, more reliable, and used on a daily basis.

However, William Clark, Toussaint Charbonneau, and possibly George Drouillard also brought additional personal weapons. Clark called one such firearm his “eligant fusee.” By “fusee” he meant fusil, which was the French term for a smoothbore musket. The word evolved from a Latin vernacular word, “focus,” meaning "fire." By the 17th century it came to denote a light musket.

From the 17th century on, French fur traders, and later the British, supplied their Indian clients with smoothbore muskets both as gifts and in trade for pelts. It wouldn’t take long for this style of gun to become the type the Indians came to prefer. Fusils were generally lighter, more slender than contemporary military muskets, and were of .60 caliber (24 gauge) or .625 caliber (20 gauge). Throughout the journals, the writers frequently mentioned the fusils they observed in the hands of Native peoples. Near Fort Pierre, South Dakota, on September 26, 1804, Clark noted that some of the Sioux were "badly armed with fuseis."

Why would Clark describe his gun as “eligant?” While the traded fusils were simple and inexpensive, some manufacturers made a higher-quality version which had brightly polished barrels, were decorated with engraved brass or silver fittings and inlays, and in general showed finer workmanship than military and trade muskets.

Fusils were usually English guns with overall lengths between 52 and 55 inches. Fittings might include a butt plate and side plate engraved with hunting or martial scenes, a trigger guard with acorn finial, an engraved thumb piece or escutcheon plate, and checkering on the wrists. They were indeed elegant."

https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/fusil-guns-on-the-lewis-and-clark-expedition.htm

 

[DixieTexian]

"
une 9, 1959
To: Mr. John Graham
From: Mary R. M. Goodwin
Re: Firearms in colonial Williamsburg.
In answer to your query concerning firearms in Williamsburg in the eighteenth century, I have gathered some notes on the types which were probably to be found in many Williamsburg homes. [These do not include the arms at the Magazine or in the Palace—except those that were personal property of a governor.]

In 1705 every white male between the ages of 16 and 60 had to serve in the foot troop or horse troop of the militia of his respective county (certain colonial officials, ministers, clerks, schoolmasters, constables, overseers, millers, etc. excepted). In 1723 the age limit was changed (21 to 60 years), and officials, professors, and students at the College of William and Mary were also exempt. There would, of course, have been many militia-men living in Williamsburg, who served in the militia of York or James City County until 1723, when—after Williamsburg was incorporated (1722) as a city—there was a Williamsburg Militia.

Each member of the horse troops (county or city) had to have available a "good serviceable horse, a good saddle, holsters, brest plate and crouper, a case of good pistolls, well fixed, sword and double cartouch box." He must also have at his "usual place of abode a well fixed carbine, with belt and swivle, two pounds of powder, and eight pounds of shott." Every foot-soldier must provide himself with "a firelock, muskett or fusee well fixed, a good sword and cartouch box, and six charges of powder, and appear constantly with the same at time and place appointed for muster." He must also have "at his place of abode two pounds of powder and eight pounds of shott." These requirements were continued, except for slight changes as to amount of powder and shot, etc.—the horse troops to have "a cutting sword or cutlace." [Hening, Statutes, III, 335-342; IV, 118-126. Acts regulating the Militia.]

Therefore, pistols, carbines, firelocks, muskets, fusees (and some rifles in the last quarter of the century), as well as swords, cartouch boxes, etc., would have been in many Williamsburg houses. For the most part the arms would have been English-made, or made by English-trained gunsmiths. There were several gunsmiths in Williamsburg. Fowling-pieces, for shooting birds, duck, etc., were also owned by many inhabitants.

Attached are brief definitions of various types of firearms in colonial Williamsburg, as well as excerpts from Williamsburg or Bruton Parish"

"inventories and wills in the York County Records; and references of Williamsburg interest from the Virginia Gazettes. These, listed in alphabetical order, include blunderbusses, carbines, firelocks or flintlocks, fowling-pieces, fusses, guns (a listing including several types of firearms), muskets, pistols, and rifles.

As noted, most seventeenth- and eighteenth-century firearms were imported from England; some were made in Virginia by English-trained gunsmiths in the eighteenth century. According to the Encyclopaedia Britanica (Vol. X, page 986) the London gunsmiths obtained a charter of incorporation in 1637; and the gunmaking industry in Birmingham, dating from 1603, soon rivalled that of London. European guns, of course, found their way into the Colony from time to time; and in 1775, after Great Britain issued a proclamation against exporting guns and gunpowder to America, it was stated in a London paper that the Americans would doubtless obtain all they wanted from Holland, France and Spain. [See under "Guns," 1775, in notes appended.]

Although a few examples of firing mechanisms earlier than the flint-lock may have survived into the eighteenth century, they would have been very rare in Williamsburg. Firelocks or flintlocks as well as matchlocks, were used at the time of the Jamestown settlement. Captain John Smith departed from Jamestown in October, 1609, it was recorded that for "490 and odde persons" there were at Jamestown "24 pieces of ordinances, 300 muskets, snaphances, and firelocks, shot, powder, and match sufficient…" [Virginia Magazine of History, Vol. VI (1899) page 219.] The reference to "match" indicated that some matchlock muskets were in use. A "snaphance" was an early form of flint-lock used in muskets and pistols." [Oxford English Dictionary, Vol. IX, page 306.] In the census taken in Virginia in 1624/5, there were, for some 1232 persons, 20 "Pieces of Ordinance"; 932 "Peeces fixt"; 49 "Snaphance Peeces"; 47 "Matchcocks or Match locks"; and 55 "Pistolls." [Ibid., Vol. VII, page 366.] In 1676, it was ordered that the British Master of Ordnance send to Virginia "four hundred Snaphance Muskets…two hundred Carabines…" [Ibid., Vol. XIV, page 271.] However, Snaphances were not mentioned as such in our eighteenth century sources cited in the notes appended. Nor do we find reference to matchlock and wheel-lock arms in these sources."

"There are a few references to fusees in the Virginia abstracts appended (1744-1775); they were used by British officers in the Revolution. As already noted each number of foot troops of county or city militia in Virginia had to have a "firelock, muskett, or fusee.""

V. FUSEES, FUZEES: (See also MUSKETS.)​

"Fusee, fuzee. 1. A light musket or firelock. [Examples cited from 1661-1813 …1661. Evelyn Mem. (1857) I App. 430. 'Horsemen well appointed with…carabines, musquetoons,* or fuzees.' …" [Oxford English Dictionary, Vol. IV, p. 622.]
York County Records:

1744: William Keith Inventory, June 18, 1744

"…2 Cases of Bottles 1 Fuzee 12 Knives & forks 1 Chair & Money Scales—[valued at]

[£] 3: 1: 6…"

[YCR Wills, Inventories, Book XIX, p. 291.]

1768-1771: Francis Fauquier (Lt. Gov.) Inventory at Palace

"…Sold Robert Carter Nicholas, Esq.
1 Fusee	1:11: 0
1 pair Pistols	2:17: 0"

[YCR Wills, Inventories, Book XXII, pp. 95-99.]

Virginia Gazette:

1775: "LOST in the Camp at Williamsburg…a small MUSKET, or FUSEE, fixed for a Bayonet, some Part of the Barrel inscribed 'Dinwiddie County,' and numbered on some Part of the Mounting, which is Brass, '7'…ROBERT SKIPWITH." [Dixon & Hunter, eds., Sept. 23, 1775.]

1775: [Account of American victory against the British at Great Bridge, Virginia, in December, 1775:]
"…Three officers fusees, with bayonets and cartouch boxes, fell into our hands, from which we judge that there were three commissioned officers killed.…" [Another account written to Edmund Pendleton]

"…We buried 12, besides the captain…and have prisoners lieutenant Batut, and 17 privates, all wounded; 35 stands of arms and accoutrements, 3 officers fusees, powder, ball, and cartridges, with sundry other things, have likewise fallen into our hands. This was a second Bunker's Hill affair, in miniature; with this difference, that we kept our post, and had only one man wounded, in the hand." [Purdie, ed., Dec. 15, 1775.]

https://research.colonialwilliamsbu...cfm?doc=ResearchReports\RR0079.xml&highlight=

 

[DixieTexian]

Most of the early references I've seen in my short search have been southern, so maybe it was a southern thing to refer to a light smoothbore or fowling piece as a fusil or fusee or any other spelling of it? As much as the english hated the french back in the day, they sure had an affinity for adopting their words into the english language.

 

[tenngun]

“If one is referring to a bag or sack to carry all the rest of one's little items, how about,,,, market wallet, split pouch, shoulder bag, snapsack,,,,, or maybe in this case "possibles bag" might apply,,,,, maybe.”
Go with “Haversack”

Well it’s chop slapping time…. Haversack is a food bag.
Oh I’m sorry, wait a sec. Haver is grain for your horse, it was only later guys started referring to rations as horse food
But, but, I have a canvas envelope bag made from plans in sketchbook 76 that I keep odd and ends in. Possibles you might say, I don’t have any food in it at all.
In fact I have a split pouch as my fire kit in it.
Oh my

 

[PathfinderNC]

"
une 9, 1959
To: Mr. John Graham
From: Mary R. M. Goodwin
Re: Firearms in colonial Williamsburg.
In answer to your query concerning firearms in Williamsburg in the eighteenth century, I have gathered some notes on the types which were probably to be found in many Williamsburg homes. [These do not include the arms at the Magazine or in the Palace—except those that were personal property of a governor.]

In 1705 every white male between the ages of 16 and 60 had to serve in the foot troop or horse troop of the militia of his respective county (certain colonial officials, ministers, clerks, schoolmasters, constables, overseers, millers, etc. excepted). In 1723 the age limit was changed (21 to 60 years), and officials, professors, and students at the College of William and Mary were also exempt. There would, of course, have been many militia-men living in Williamsburg, who served in the militia of York or James City County until 1723, when—after Williamsburg was incorporated (1722) as a city—there was a Williamsburg Militia.

Each member of the horse troops (county or city) had to have available a "good serviceable horse, a good saddle, holsters, brest plate and crouper, a case of good pistolls, well fixed, sword and double cartouch box." He must also have at his "usual place of abode a well fixed carbine, with belt and swivle, two pounds of powder, and eight pounds of shott." Every foot-soldier must provide himself with "a firelock, muskett or fusee well fixed, a good sword and cartouch box, and six charges of powder, and appear constantly with the same at time and place appointed for muster." He must also have "at his place of abode two pounds of powder and eight pounds of shott." These requirements were continued, except for slight changes as to amount of powder and shot, etc.—the horse troops to have "a cutting sword or cutlace." [Hening, Statutes, III, 335-342; IV, 118-126. Acts regulating the Militia.]

Therefore, pistols, carbines, firelocks, muskets, fusees (and some rifles in the last quarter of the century), as well as swords, cartouch boxes, etc., would have been in many Williamsburg houses. For the most part the arms would have been English-made, or made by English-trained gunsmiths. There were several gunsmiths in Williamsburg. Fowling-pieces, for shooting birds, duck, etc., were also owned by many inhabitants.

Attached are brief definitions of various types of firearms in colonial Williamsburg, as well as excerpts from Williamsburg or Bruton Parish"

"inventories and wills in the York County Records; and references of Williamsburg interest from the Virginia Gazettes. These, listed in alphabetical order, include blunderbusses, carbines, firelocks or flintlocks, fowling-pieces, fusses, guns (a listing including several types of firearms), muskets, pistols, and rifles.

As noted, most seventeenth- and eighteenth-century firearms were imported from England; some were made in Virginia by English-trained gunsmiths in the eighteenth century. According to the Encyclopaedia Britanica (Vol. X, page 986) the London gunsmiths obtained a charter of incorporation in 1637; and the gunmaking industry in Birmingham, dating from 1603, soon rivalled that of London. European guns, of course, found their way into the Colony from time to time; and in 1775, after Great Britain issued a proclamation against exporting guns and gunpowder to America, it was stated in a London paper that the Americans would doubtless obtain all they wanted from Holland, France and Spain. [See under "Guns," 1775, in notes appended.]

Although a few examples of firing mechanisms earlier than the flint-lock may have survived into the eighteenth century, they would have been very rare in Williamsburg. Firelocks or flintlocks as well as matchlocks, were used at the time of the Jamestown settlement. Captain John Smith departed from Jamestown in October, 1609, it was recorded that for "490 and odde persons" there were at Jamestown "24 pieces of ordinances, 300 muskets, snaphances, and firelocks, shot, powder, and match sufficient…" [Virginia Magazine of History, Vol. VI (1899) page 219.] The reference to "match" indicated that some matchlock muskets were in use. A "snaphance" was an early form of flint-lock used in muskets and pistols." [Oxford English Dictionary, Vol. IX, page 306.] In the census taken in Virginia in 1624/5, there were, for some 1232 persons, 20 "Pieces of Ordinance"; 932 "Peeces fixt"; 49 "Snaphance Peeces"; 47 "Matchcocks or Match locks"; and 55 "Pistolls." [Ibid., Vol. VII, page 366.] In 1676, it was ordered that the British Master of Ordnance send to Virginia "four hundred Snaphance Muskets…two hundred Carabines…" [Ibid., Vol. XIV, page 271.] However, Snaphances were not mentioned as such in our eighteenth century sources cited in the notes appended. Nor do we find reference to matchlock and wheel-lock arms in these sources."

"There are a few references to fusees in the Virginia abstracts appended (1744-1775); they were used by British officers in the Revolution. As already noted each number of foot troops of county or city militia in Virginia had to have a "firelock, muskett, or fusee.""

V. FUSEES, FUZEES: (See also MUSKETS.)​

"Fusee, fuzee. 1. A light musket or firelock. [Examples cited from 1661-1813 …1661. Evelyn Mem. (1857) I App. 430. 'Horsemen well appointed with…carabines, musquetoons,* or fuzees.' …" [Oxford English Dictionary, Vol. IV, p. 622.]
York County Records:



Virginia Gazette:






https://research.colonialwilliamsbu...cfm?doc=ResearchReports\RR0079.xml&highlight=

Fascinating read. Thank you.

 

[PathfinderNC]

Most of the early references I've seen in my short search have been southern, so maybe it was a southern thing to refer to a light smoothbore or fowling piece as a fusil or fusee or any other spelling of it? As much as the english hated the french back in the day, they sure had an affinity for adopting their words into the english language.

“There exists around 7,000 French words in the English language at present. Believe it or not, though, there were plenty more English words that came from French (and typically Latin) roots originally – around 10,000, to be exact.”
-Blog.bassu.com

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

 

[Artificer]

PathfinderNC said:
“If one is referring to a bag or sack to carry all the rest of one's little items, how about,,,, market wallet, split pouch, shoulder bag, snapsack,,,,, or maybe in this case "possibles bag" might apply,,,,, maybe.”
Go with “Haversack”

Well it’s chop slapping time…. Haversack is a food bag.
Oh I’m sorry, wait a sec. Haver is grain for your horse, it was only later guys started referring to rations as horse food
But, but, I have a canvas envelope bag made from plans in sketchbook 76 that I keep odd and ends in. Possibles you might say, I don’t have any food in it at all.
In fact I have a split pouch as my fire kit in it.
Oh my

In the 18th and 19th century to the end of the period of this forum, a Haversack was always a Military Issue cloth bag in which soldiers carried their issued rations or food. Most of the time the rations were cooked before placing them in the bag and there might be as many as three days cooked rations, as was common while on long marches.

Rations were not to be carried in the soldier's pack or blanket roll as they would stain or smell up his other gear and/or so some other gear like black or white ball (polishes for boots and other leather articles) did not spoil/poison the food.

Though soldiers were required to wash their haversacks often, they still wound up looking stained and even "diseased looking" in no time as they did not usually have enough of the proper soap nor bleach to really keep them well laundered. The British and British American policy was new haversacks were to be issued twice a year, because of this.

I've never found the word "haversack" to be used in original documentation for anything other than a Military Ration Bag in our period.

I'm not saying folks cannot use the word Haversack for something else, I just wanted to point out there doesn't seem to be any documentation for it.

Gus

 

[Flinter 2]

Well, after reading (loosely) six pages of 'much to do about nothing', I've reached the conclusion that I never could warm up to stitch counters.

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

Well, after reading (loosely) six pages of 'much to do about nothing', I've reached the conclusion that I never could warm up to stitch counters.

Probably because you can't make the grade or do the research. That's always the way it is when people disparage stitch counters.
.

 

[Flinter 2]

Probably because you can't make the grade or do the research. That's always the way it is when people disparage stitch counters.
.

Thanks for your reply, as it happens I've been into muzzle loading for well over 50 years, I've been a member of the LMNRA for 45 years, attended my first rendezvous in 1978 and every year since in New England until about five years ago, I was a member of a F&I war and Rev war militias for 25 years, much of that time I was involved in Period trekking in and about the north east, so I know all about the importance of being period correct and I've probably spent more time researching the 17th, 18th., and 19th. century than the time that you have been alive.
One thing I have also learned is that people have feeling, especially people new to the world of period reenacting and living history, 90% of those "new people" try hard to fit in, they just aren't educated in the life, ways, dress, and gear, most will in time unless some stitch counter comes along and embarrasses them openly, when that happens they see us all as a-holes and quit before they even get started, and eventually the activity of living history suffers for the loss.
I've all to often seen this play out when would be know it all's put their mouth in gear before engaging their minds. I have a saying you might want to give some thought to my friend, "life is too important to take it so seriously", try being nice to people, most times a helping hand is better than a bunch of criticism.

 

[Flinter 2]

Probably because you can't make the grade or do the research. That's always the way it is when people disparage stitch counters.
.

You Appear to assume allot based on one or two of my posts, and further, if you converse with some people the way you have been intentionally rude with me you will be missing the chance to make some new friends, but that I can accept, as a career LE officer I've been beat up verbally and at times physically by experts.
My suggestion is that before you attempt to insult someone it may be a prudent thing to get to know them first.
Have a great rest of the day my friend.

 

[tenngun]

Probably because you can't make the grade or do the research. That's always the way it is when people disparage stitch counters.
.

We all fall short at some level.
I try to get it right, but…..
My TFC has too short of a barrel and on maple.
My SMR as a German lock
My Lancaster smooth rifle lacks stock carving and brass engraving
My Dog lock is on teak
I’ve too much cotton and too little linen
None of my blankets are correct
None of my knifes are correct
My primary tinderbox is a German silver box with a burning glass, cr 1830 not 1750
I wear a beard
I have Vice grips in my gun care bag
I use jags
My horns are all too plain
And so on