Before we go extinct

[Ezra]

This has probably been suggested before, so let me be forgiven in advance by resident curmudgeons...

Like it or not, the average age of us builders is higher than I think most of us would like.  I was thinking that perhaps we could send some CARE packages to the boys (and girls) overseas with stuff they need as well as copies of old muzzloading magazines we may have laying around.  You never know, we may entertain some of them and ignite the passion of building at the same time.  Now I am not necessarily suggesting some sort of concerted effort by the board, per say, but more trying to put forth an idea for individuals to try on their own.  I know there are some here who ship CARE packages like my wife and I do.  Perhaps you already send these types of magazines too.  Anyway, just a thought.


Ez

[JCKelly]

I have old mags, would be glad to ship them.
I  personally lack knowledge of to whom/where to ship

[Gene Carrell]

When my youngest son was in Bagdad, I sent him stacks of Muzzle Blasts from the Assn's stock of overruns.  He  said they never went to waste. $9  or so for  all you could stuff in a USPS priority box.

[B Shipman]

That's how I got started. I was a dentist in the Army in the 70's. Some Colonel didn't show up for his appt. Found a Dixie GW catalog in the waiting room and that was thatBoth my boys are in Iraq at the moment . (And mightily bored they are). The older is on his 3rd deployment as a documentarian with the Green Berets. The coolest job in the army. The younger is a brand new Seal officer and siting in HQ looking at computers keeping track of enlisted guys doing the "fun" stuff. Basically Seals at this point are working for the Iraq's as SWAT teams. Not much going on.Anyway. If you can find the address of a deployed unit, address it to any soldier. My choice would be a National Guard unit from your state. These people are just as much at risk and just as essential.  Not used to being deployed and would love the appreciation.Story. Older son was called to do a story on a Nat. Guard unit ambushed a few years ago. A girl driver jumped out of her truck, threw grenades, jumped into a ditch with the ambushers, opened up with her M-16 and shot them down as they retreated. Silver Star. Unbelieveably another girl did something similar earlier ,though somewhat less spectacular, so this never got much attention. So think of the girls as well.

[Majorjoel]

A couple of years back I was sitting in the waiting room at my home town VA clinic. I noticed that all of the magazines in the rack were the standard "Time" "Forbes" "National Geographic" ...........and all of them were way out-dated. On my next visit I made it a point to restock their shelves with many of my old Muzzleblasts. I know that I was catering to the mostly older crowd, but hey, us old !@#$% need entertainment too!!

[Michigan Flinter]

My son was in the Marines during Desert Storm,commander of a L.A.V.now he is a civilian electriction in Afghanistan and I sent some packages to"    FIREBASE   ANNACONDA    APO  AE  09355   ANY SOLIDER "     they appreciate getting packages from the home land.

[Birddog6]

That is a nice thought.

However, my thoughts are to promote the sport & give away magazines to friends & neighbors kids, promote the sport right here in the USA. 

How many of you have went to a scout master & asked them if the boys would like a demonstration  of a Flintlock & the chance to shoot a flintlock ?

Do you realize how many Boy Scouts there are in the USA ?  And also churches with youth groups. 

There are hundreds or thousands of kids right here in the USA that are not reached that would just love a day at the range........ 

DO NOT throw your Muzzleblasts  Magazines away,  give them to some kid somewhere ........ Someone would like to have them..... 

 

[J Shingler]

"However, my thoughts are to promote the sport & give away magazines to friends & neighbors kids, promote the sport right here in the USA. "
I like the idea of also helping to pass some down time of our troops overseas. Get them interested and they will be coming home to the good ol USA too.

I used to do a range day for the scouts every year but lost my contact. Unfortunately it kind of fizzled. The most memorable "student" was a boy that his dad was just to busy to bring him out. His mom did not want him to miss the chance for this so she brought him out. Besides all the kids having a great time I think this young fellow especially enjoyed himself. We shot everything from cap to flint from pistol to flint 20 ga at clay birds out of a spring trap. The unexpected was I got the mom to participate and I truly think she surprised herself and enjoyed the day thoroughly. She kept coming back to the flint pistol. 

[Berks Liberty]

Every time I subscribe to a magazine or re-new a current one I also send a subscription to my cousins who are serving.  You would be amazed at the letters I've gotten over the years from different guys who are serving over there who like MuzzleBlast or Muzzle loading Mag.  I've even sent them a Track of the Wolf Catalog.   This last year I took my 9 year old son to Dixon's.  He loved it! He like looking at all of the firearms and the way everyone wanted to talk to him and show him how things are made.  I've tried to organize a scout trip down to Dixon's but it is hard to get everyone together for a long trip like that.  It would be a three hour drive down there but who knows maybe someday.  You have to keep the fire going!  It scares me to think where we will be in 10, 15, 20 years down the road.  It seems like kids today have no idea what happened in the past. 

[northwoodsdave]

J. Shingler's idea with the scouts is excellent.  As Berks pointed out, a lot of kids today have no idea about the past. 

I think getting things "hands-on" is key.  You can talk about the joys of muzzleloading and show how it works, but when you hand a rifle to a young person or adult who has never fired one and invite them to have a try, it makes a HUGE difference.

Dave

[ol vern]

You can allso check with your local libary. Mine was happy to have me  donate a
years subscription to Muzzel  Blast.
 
 

[J Shingler]

"You can also check with your local library. Mine was happy to have me  donate a
years subscription to Muzzle  Blast."

Now thats a good idea. I never thought of that.   
 

[Clark Badgett]

Older son was called to do a story on a Nat. Guard unit ambushed a few years ago. A girl driver jumped out of her truck, threw grenades, jumped into a ditch with the ambushers, opened up with her M-16 and shot them down as they retreated. Silver Star.

That was a Kentucky NG, MP unit. She was the first female to be issued the silver star since WW2.

[Tommy Bruce]

While I haven't shipped any magazines overseas yet I have started taking my 9 year old out to the rifle shop.  Yesterday he practiced inletting a piece of barrel scrap into an old piece of walnut.  My friend (who has the shop) also showed him how his metal lathe worked as well.  I was going to start on a rifle for him in a year or so but I think I'm going to continue to take him to the shop, let him get familiar with the tools and when he gets a bit older build the rifle together.  He's much closer to apprentice age than I was when I started.

[Larry Pletcher]

A few years ago I sent a box of MuzzleBlasts to an officer in Iraq.  We sent for a couple of months and was then advised that the NMLRA would continue.  The officer has home now so I have no way of knowing if that is continuing.  It could be that the NMLRA would step up again if that is not being done.

Regards,
Pletch

[Mike R]

Good idea.  I got my first MLer when I was in the army back ~ 1970.  I had little time to read anything while on duty and my unit worked 15-20 hr days 6-7 days a week, but I met a guy who was a gunsmith and he gave me old gun mags--in one I saw ads for the early TC Hawkens and H&A rifles.  I was hooked and bought a .36 H&A [couldn't afford better on a meager salary, wife and two kids], which my gunsmith friend helped me get started shooting....I guess my friend was more of an influence than the books, though, and I encourage all to be mentors to others to get them into traditional MLing.