Author Topic: Leather Hunting Coat  (Read 11969 times)

Offline Shreckmeister

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Leather Hunting Coat
« on: January 05, 2011, 05:25:26 PM »
Leather Hunting Shirt  worn in the Gunsmith of Williamsburg made by the Williamsburg Boot and Leather Shop in 1963 for young Wallace Gusler
« Last Edit: May 11, 2020, 12:24:48 AM by Ky-Flinter »
Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.

Bill

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Re: Leather Hunting Coat
« Reply #1 on: January 06, 2011, 04:50:25 AM »
On page 15 of the January 2010 "American Traditions" magazine, there is a photograph of a young Mr. Gusler loading his rifle, it certainly appears that the coat he's wearing is the one in your photo. It is a great photo of the jacket, pouch and horn. A really nice looking pouch and horn set too, by the way.

Trkdriver99

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Re: Leather Hunting Coat
« Reply #2 on: January 06, 2011, 06:10:59 AM »
I really like that. I have been practicing my leather skills and hope to make one of those coats one day.... ;D.....sooner better than later.

Ronnie

Offline Artificer

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Re: Leather Hunting Coat
« Reply #3 on: January 06, 2011, 09:23:45 PM »
I don't mean to be uppity or snotty, but I always wondered where Colonial Williamsburg got the inspiration for the styling of that coat back then. 

Gus

Offline Shreckmeister

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Re: Leather Hunting Coat
« Reply #4 on: January 06, 2011, 09:55:46 PM »
Good question.  I wonder if Wallace knows the answer.  I'd like to see
an actual period original leather hunting coat if anyone can post one.
Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.

Offline alex e.

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Re: Leather Hunting Coat
« Reply #5 on: January 06, 2011, 10:04:07 PM »
Leather hunting coat? Maybe..the styling looks wrong,It would have reflected the common styles of the period.If you were from WB in the period there were better things to make a coat from.Anyone ever wore wet leather[any kind] for a while?

just my thoughts.
Uva uvam videndo varia fit

Offline James Rogers

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Re: Leather Hunting Coat
« Reply #6 on: January 06, 2011, 10:21:28 PM »
I don't think it is anything we would call representative of historical 18th century today. There is quite a bit of difference of the information we have today as opposed to 1960.  The pouch and horn look to be of a later manufacture date than the 1962 coat.

That said it's a great piece of modern contemporary muzzleloading history. I still like to watch that old movie every now and then. The narrator reminds of all those old documentary films from grade school. Probably the same guy. ;D

Offline dave gross

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Re: Leather Hunting Coat
« Reply #7 on: January 06, 2011, 10:48:13 PM »
Can't pass judgement on the authenticity of the coat pattern but unless my ears deceive me the narrator of the Williamsburg riflemaking video was none other than David Brinkley, NBC nightly news anchorman for years and years.

Dave Gross

Offline Dale Campbell

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Re: Leather Hunting Coat
« Reply #8 on: January 06, 2011, 10:49:35 PM »
I think William Devane was the voice of Wallace Gusler.
« Last Edit: January 06, 2011, 10:49:53 PM by Dale C »
Best regards,
Dale

Offline T.C.Albert

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Re: Leather Hunting Coat
« Reply #9 on: January 07, 2011, 05:51:53 AM »
De-ja-vu....I have the feeling Ive seen this picture some where else too? Maybe not..
TC
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Contact at : huntingpouch@gmail.com

Offline Artificer

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Re: Leather Hunting Coat
« Reply #10 on: January 07, 2011, 08:41:35 AM »
Yes, I've worn buckskins in drenching rain and it is not fun at all.  

The style of this coat reminds me of the "almost kind of, sort of close" representation on period buckskins that were common in the era, especially to any of us who grew up watching Fess Parker in either Davy Crockett or Daniel Boone.

Gus
« Last Edit: January 07, 2011, 08:43:23 AM by Artificer »

Offline Artificer

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Re: Leather Hunting Coat
« Reply #11 on: January 07, 2011, 08:51:18 AM »
Good question.  I wonder if Wallace knows the answer.  I'd like to see
an actual period original leather hunting coat if anyone can post one.

Original period leather hunting coats prior to the Revolutionary War and during are almost non existant.  I remember seeing George Rogers Clark's original leather coat from the Revolutionary War on display in a museum in Indianapolis back in the late 70's.  It was almost an exact duplicate of a military regimental coat and was obviously done by a professional tailor - so that would have been unusual at the time. 

If the bucksins had been made by native americans, it would have looked like the way they made them.  If a colonist made a leather coat for himself, I would suggest they would have used a period common or work coat or shirt in style then or commonly worn as the basic pattern for construction of the coat.

Gus


Offline Shreckmeister

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Re: Leather Hunting Coat
« Reply #12 on: January 07, 2011, 06:37:07 PM »
The Wallace Gusler hunting shirt reflects early shop history.  It
is the only thing from the "Gunsmith of Williamsburg" that is not in the Williamsburg Collection.  There are pictures of Wallace wearing it
hunting in Glenvar Hollow on Gary Brumfields site FLINTRIFLESMITH.
To our knowledge, at least 4 orignals are shown in 18th century artwork
which would give an accurate representation of the period.
Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.

Offline G-Man

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Re: Leather Hunting Coat
« Reply #13 on: January 07, 2011, 09:58:53 PM »
I like it - it's just cool. :)

Although there are now videos with detailed instructions for the contemporary builder, I still think there has never been a better concise overview of how flintlock rifles were made, than that Gunsmith of Williamsburg film.  And you are correct - Brinkley narrated, and William Devane did the dialogue track.  I recommend it to anyone before they start trying to build a rifle - it is a good jumping off point that gives an overview of how everything fits and works together and I think it gets people pretty enthused too.

Nice bag and horn too - the bag looks like a Frank Tyler bag.  Is it?

Guy

Offline Shreckmeister

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Re: Leather Hunting Coat
« Reply #14 on: January 07, 2011, 10:50:48 PM »
Horn and Bag made for Gordon Barlow by Steve Boyleston.
Are copies of "Gunsmith of Williamsburg" available and where?
« Last Edit: January 07, 2011, 10:52:55 PM by suzkat »
Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.

Offline Dale Campbell

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Re: Leather Hunting Coat
« Reply #15 on: January 07, 2011, 11:27:23 PM »
I got mine off the shelf at the Visitor's Center at Colonial Williamsburg.  It is not listed in their on line publications, but the phone # is on their website under shopping.  I bet you can call and order over the phone.

Ebay is a maybe.
« Last Edit: January 07, 2011, 11:27:59 PM by Dale C »
Best regards,
Dale


Offline Ky-Flinter

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Re: Leather Hunting Coat
« Reply #17 on: January 08, 2011, 01:05:18 AM »
There's an ad for the DVD version of the Gunsmith of Williamsburg on page 47 of this month's MuzzleBlasts.

-Ron
Ron Winfield

Life is too short to hunt with an ugly gun. -Nate McKenzie

Offline Shreckmeister

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Re: Leather Hunting Coat
« Reply #18 on: January 09, 2011, 05:39:26 AM »
Thank you.  I ordered a copy from Williamsburg yesterday.  Can't wait to
see it.
Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.

Offline t.caster

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Re: Leather Hunting Coat
« Reply #19 on: January 10, 2011, 08:55:55 PM »
Yes, I've worn buckskins in drenching rain and it is not fun at all.  

The style of this coat reminds me of the "almost kind of, sort of close" representation on period buckskins that were common in the era, especially to any of us who grew up watching Fess Parker in either Davy Crockett or Daniel Boone.

Gus
[/quote

Huh? I must be still growing up after all these years :o
The local Cracker Barrel eatery had all these old movies for sale recently, and lo and behold, they had the whole Davy Crocket series on one DVD! WOW, first time Ive seen it in COLOR and hi definition I reckon! Man, I felt like a kid again watching it. Fess Parker was perfect for the role!
Give em what fer, Davy!
Tom C.