So many suppliers have vanished

[BillinOregon]

I was going down a list of sponsors of another colonial/historical site I used to frequent, and about 70 percent of the links were dead. Makes me sad, but folks move on -- both in the avocations/addictions that interest them and in the suppliers -- often of hand-made goods. Gosh, there used to be a bunch of options for clothing alone.

 

[jdw276]

I was going down a list of sponsors of another colonial/historical site I used to frequent, and about 70 percent of the links were dead. Makes me sad, but folks move on -- both in the avocations/addictions that interest them and in the suppliers -- often of hand-made goods. Gosh, there used to be a bunch of options for clothing alone.

Talking to a clothing vendor at friendship, she indicated she cannot find seamstresses to sew for her. Inventory dropping quick. Lost art of course. Just as a maybe, the vendors are moving to other free platforms like facebook. Save a $100 a year and way easier upkeep than a website. Can do it yourself rather than a contract IT person as well. Just a small thought.

 

[ronaldrothb49]

Most were probably small mom and pop stores many didn't survive the pandemic. Many are getting older and the next generation have no interest in continuing the business. Sad to see so many that are no longer with us and those that are still trying have had to make considerable price increases just to keep going.

 

[BillinOregon]

There are a few on Facebook.
A vendor whose name I cannot recall quit the business a decade or more ago. He offered an "open before" hunting shirt about knee length, with cape but no fringe. I wish I had bought one as it was a handsome article even if it might have been problematic trying to tie it to a particular place or time. Pretty sure he advertised in some of the magazines.
The knee-length coat from Cobb Creek is vaguely reminiscent, but not nearly so plain.

 

[rich pierce]

We are back to the do it yourself days like way back when.

 

[ILoveMuzzleloading]

Couldn't agree more. From what I see, many of those small businesses or "post-retirement" businesses have aged out or closed their doors. There's a real opportunity there for the next generation, but I don't know if they are ready, or willing, or if the market is there to support it. Fingers crossed.

 

[Rifleratt]

Just an idea, but what if the folks that were aging or wanting to get out of the various businesses would advertise to a group or younger generation for the opportunity to continue the business instead of just leaving it to other people or family that would liquidate it.

Similar to new farmer trying to get started in farming, there are programs to keep it alive and growing.

The only way this hobby continues is if we give the younger gens the opportunity and pass it on. There are a lot of tooling and equipment, not to mention knowledge that ends up in garage sales, business auctions, or estate sales. It's hard enough to start a new venture with all the tooling and parts, but if a guy has to start from scratch to procure everything, it's almost impossible.

 

[rich pierce]

There’s not a lot of margin in making ML parts. Machinists can make more money doing other things. I can’t imagine the work in buying round stock, deep hole drilling, reaming, rifling, cutting breech threads, making and fitting a breechplug, and then precisely profiling the barrel, all to sell it for $300 while using $50,000 worth of equipment. Same with foundry work like lock castings. There has to be a passion for the work that surpasses reason.

Outside of muzzleloaders there’s no other gun thing like it. Yes a few outfits build custom modern guns but it’s nothing like the numbers in our hobby. And it’s hard to explain to the non-enthusiast why a pile of parts requiring a hundred hours to make into a finished custom gun should cost $1000, when they can buy a modern gun all ready to go for half that.

Get what parts you can, now.

 

[Juice Jaws]

People don't like it when I say it but muzzleloading in most places is fading away, just like the old car guys we are getting old and dying off.

 

[flconch53]

Many of us have retired. My former wife and I had an active clothing business for many years. I still make cleaning rods and jags etc at my leisure. Most of us that are semi retired are not on the web and sell at events. It is strictly a side gig. I do try to support events that have supported us in the past.

 

[Brokennock]

Just an idea, but what if the folks that were aging or wanting to get out of the various businesses would advertise to a group or younger generation for the opportunity to continue the business instead of just leaving it to other people or family that would liquidate it.

Similar to new farmer trying to get started in farming, there are programs to keep it alive and growing.

The only way this hobby continues is if we give the younger gens the opportunity and pass it on. There are a lot of tooling and equipment, not to mention knowledge that ends up in garage sales, business auctions, or estate sales. It's hard enough to start a new venture with all the tooling and parts, but if a guy has to start from scratch to procure everything, it's almost impossible.

I like the premise of your idea and it has precedent. Sort of a train your replacement thing that was found in other businesses to include farming as you mentioned and the types of shops we are talking about here. The younger person trains as an apprentice with the objective being that they can take over the shop, buying the owner out at a lower cost than it would sell for otherwise, when the owner retires.

Unfortunately while yours is a good idea it is negatively affected by the answer to this,

but I don't know if they are ready, or willing, or if the market is there to support it.

being, no, and no.
Obviously there are always exceptions, but they are getting fewer all the time, and will eventually dwindle to where there are so few that either prices will be astronomical or everything will be made by cheap foreign labor (like much of what a current popular vendor sells now).

 

[BillinOregon]

I specifically had clothing suppliers in mind, but the shrinking vendor numbers certainly apply to other aspects of our avocation.

 

[Brokennock]

I specifically had clothing suppliers in mind, but the shrinking vendor numbers certainly apply to other aspects of our avocation.

Yup. I was referring to a vendor that mostly sells clothing with my comment about overseas products. Most of them have items of clothing or clothing accessories that come from overseas, many of them are good about noting which products are imports,,, at least one though,,,, not so much.

Clothing is a tough one. It doesn't necessarily take thousands of dollars worth of equipment, machines and tools, but material isn't cheap and it does require patience and a skill set few seem to have interest in anymore. With a small resurgence in folks being interested in being more self reliant, maybe we will see more folks developing sewing and tailoring skills,,, and maybe some can be convinces to make some historical clothing...... maybe

 

[Brokentaileddog]

People don't like it when I say it but muzzleloading in most places is fading away, just like the old car guys we are getting old and dying off.

And the younger generation don't want to get involved I have a friend in his late 70s who's been active in muzzleloading since early 70 said their spring and fall camp numbers continue to drop every year no new blood and the sport is so so expensive my friend has thousands invested.

 

[Juice Jaws]

And the younger generation don't want to get involved I have a friend in his late 70s who's been active in muzzleloading since early 70 said their spring and fall camp numbers continue to drop every year no new blood and the sport is so so expensive my friend has thousands invested.

And most of the new blood don't care about the history part of the sport and they don't last long.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

The sky is falling, the sky is falling.
We the People are no longer in charge of the government.
So you get what they voted for.

 

[Brokennock]

Relevancy? ?

 

[BBGun]

People don't like it when I say it but muzzleloading in most places is fading away, just like the old car guys we are getting old and dying off.

Nothing wrong with saying the truth.

 

[BBGun]

And most of the new blood don't care about the history part of the sport and they don't last long.

Agree

 

[BBGun]

I specifically had clothing suppliers in mind, but the shrinking vendor numbers certainly apply to other aspects of our avocation.

Yes that's true, I had a lady sew me up a leather pair of moccasins and a leather shirt. She and her husband ran a mom and pop black powder shop in a small town west of me, they were the nicest people you'd ever want to meet, she really knew her stuff but unfortunately time got the best of them and sadly they are gone and the craft isn't far behind. I hate to say it but this old world is running out of time!