Deer Today

Just came from the house to the office after lunch and saw a doe and fawn close to the pond. The fawn ran into the brush, but this doe stood there and looked at the truck. I took this photo from the truck. I try to carry my camera in the truck all of the time these days because we're seeing the deer fairly often on the road to the house.

Bill Scurlock

Mark Odle Fish Horn

Here's a flat horn I bought from Mark Odle many (15–20?) years ago. I usually carry this horn to the CLA show along with other interesting toys, just for show and tell. This one is probably picked up and examined more than anything else I take. I haven't seen Mark in years, and as far as I know, he's not making horns any more. But when he was, he was making some of the best.

Bill Scurlock

Hunting Lease Cooking

We were back at the hunting lease last weekend, planting food plots for the local herd. As Trey was cooking, Tom said, "That's just beautiful." So, I got my camera and snapped a few photos. Since we're cleaning out the freezers, also in preparation for the upcoming season, that's all deer meat on the grill. It was great, too!

Bill Scurlock

Another Old Compass

I picked up this compass a year or so ago. Just couldn't resist it.

Bill Scurlock

Original Compass

I bought this antique wooden compass case from Chris Gilgun about 20 years ago at the Eastern. It had the hand-tinted paper and glass inside, but was missing the needle. I sent it to the guy in New York state who used to make compasses (sorry, I don't remember his name right off), and he made a stylish needle for it. I've carried this compass on numerous hunts and treks over the years, and always enjoy using it, or just taking it out and admiring it.

Bill Scurlock

Jan Zender Silverwork

We've been friends with Jan Zender and his wife Rochelle for about 20 years. They have made trade silver items for as long as we've known them. I purchased the silver earrings shown here for Linda at least 15 years ago. They are basically everyday wear for her. I don't remember the details, but they are of Woodland Indian-inspired design.

The silver bracelet was just bought for Linda at this year's CLA Show. It has also become everyday wear. And its engraving designs are also Woodland Indian-inspired.

This was Jan's first CLA Show. He sold a number of items and also seemed to really enjoy himself with a lot of old friends. I missed seeing Rochelle with Jan, and I also missed the dawn coffee that Jan and I used to share almost every morning at the Eastern Primitive Rendezvous.

Bill Scurlock

Smart Deer

I came across this little nubbin buck last February in the pond between the office and the house. When I drove up the hill by the pond, there was the deer standing in the middle of the pond. As I stopped, grabbed the camera and started taking pictures, he ran off. That was interesting, but I couldn't figure out why he was standing in the pond.

As I got close to the office, I looked back through a hole in the brush and saw a deer standing in an opening at about 75 yards. It looked all bristled up. Grabbed the camera again and started shooting pictures. Some something else moving in that opening, but couldn't figure it out for a minute. It was a coyote that was facing off the deer.

After a few minutes they left that opening. They were heading back toward the pond, so I got out of the truck and took my camera and followed. As I was going down the trail toward the dam side of the pond, two coyotes streaked across the trail about 40 yards away. They had been on the dam, so I figured I see the deer back in the water. Sure enough, I climed the back side of the dam, and when I peeked over the top, the deer was staring at me. The best photo I got were taken at this time. They're not great, but there is the deer, standing in the water to get away from the coyotes. Though the deer could stand on that hign spot in the middle, the coyotes were forced to swim, so the deer had a great advantage.

See ya, Bill

Kinda Old Powder Horn

This powder horn was made in 1980 by David Wright. Yes, the same David Wright who does all of the great frontier paintings. David made this horn as part of his chapter on "The Crafts" that he wrote for the first Book of Buckskinning. He was kind enough to engrave our names on it "Oran SCURLOCK Bill" on it and giving it to us when he came down to work on the book.

You may not know it, but David came to Texarkana in 1980 and worked with us for a week in November putting that first book together. That week working with David on the layout was invaluable to me. It also helped us forge a friendship that continues to this day.

Anyway, Dad (Oran) recently brought this from his house to the office for display, and I thought you would like to see it.

Bill Scurlock

Jack's Battle Powder Is Entirely Safe

In the July/August issue, Mike Nesbitt wrote a review on Jacks Battle Powder sold by Angelo Piazza of Jacks Powder Keg. This is a powder that Angelo and his reenactor associates have been using for awhile, mainly for firing blank loads at reenactments. It is a less expensive powder, and Mike referred to it as blasting powder. That caused reader, Don Steiner, to jump to the conclusion that it was a sodium-based powder, and he penned a letter that warned against using this powder in muzzleloaders. We ran Don's letter in the Sept/Oct issue.

Well, it turns out that I owe a big apology to the readers and to Angelo for publishing Don's letter without checking into the background of this powder. Jacks Battle Powder is entirely safe to shoot in muzzleloading guns. This powder is a potassium-based black powder made by Goex in Doyline, Louisiana. It's made with the same ingredients as the Goex sporting powder we'll all used for years. The difference is in the grading of the milled powder and the fact that it's not coated with graphite. Because there are fewer steps in production, it's less expensive than sporting grade powder.

So, if you already own some, use it in good health. If you're interested in trying a less-expensive powder, see Mike's review in the July/August 2009 "Prime Possibles." Mike is also doing some testing with live rounds and will be reporting his results in a future issue. So far, he's been pleased with his shooting with Jacks Battle Powder.

Bill Scurlock

Fort Turner Iroquois Tomahawk

This new tomahawk was reviewed by Mike Nesbitt in the Sept/Oct issue. Hand-forged. Well made. Good size.

Bill Scurlock

David Crisalli Depth Gauge

From the Sept/Oct issue of MUZZLELOADER is this nice brass depth gauge from David Crisalli. This will come in very handy in the workshop. It is extremely well made and simple to use.

Bill Scurlock

Deborraha Burnett Haversack

Back from the long weekend. We're working on the Nov/Dec issue.

Since we print everything in MUZZLELOADER in black and white, I'm going to be posting color photos here of some of the images from the magazine. Backing up a little to the July/August issue, we ran a "Prime Possibles" on Deborraha Burnett's haversacks. In this photo you can see the color of the vintage fabric she used to line this haversack. It's a neat piece.

Bill Scurlock

Scott Summerville Razor

This is the 18th century style razor made by Scott Summerville that is in "Prime Possibles" in the September/October issue. Scott did a nice job on this, and as reported in the review, John Hayes, the owner of the razor, says it works great. And, by the way, John shaves with a straight razor every day. Scott is a talented bladesmith and makes a variety of period knives.

Have a great Labor Day weekend!

Bill Scurlock

British and American Sailor Clothing 1750-1820

We signed a new book contract with Larry Babits and Matt Brenckle on their book British and American Sailor Clothing 1750–1820. This is a fascinating book based on a shipwreck in the early 19th century. Seems that when the ship sank, the stores of tar flowed onto many items of clothing, protecting them from the ravages of the elements. When the wreck was found and excavated, many pieces clothing were preserved. While there are no whole garments left, there are enough pieces of garments left to accurately portray what the complete garment looked like. Virtually every item of clothing common to the sailor of that period is in this collection of preserved garments. In addition, the authors have gathered many pieces of period artwork to compliment their clothing presentation.

This will be a fun book to work on. I don't yet have an estimate of when the book will be ready to release, but we do have all of the materials to produce it in hand. Because of a couple of prior commitments to projects we're doing for others, I'm thinking that this Sailor Clothing book will be finished by next spring. I'll let you know as progress is made.

Bill Scurlock