Gotta say it man, I like your style!

LMAO. <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Did the uptight guy ever say anything else to you?

No, and sadly the gunstore clerks no longer do either. The store closed under pressure from increasing L.A. regulations. At least that was the lamented excuse. Firearms are probably one of the most polarizing subjects in American society. We need to stop the shopworn rhetoric, flagwaving, meaningless statistics and demonising. As NRA life member and writer Edward Abbey said," I support the right to bear arms, and the right not to bear arms."

In what context was the statement made? I certainly don't think prople should be required to bear arms. I think laws, such as the one in Kennessaw,GA, that require the head-of-household to have a firearm are a little overboard. But in turn, thay have no right to tell me that I cannot have a firearm.

If I remember my US history correctly, during colonial times, all males between the ages of 15 and 50 with at least two front teeth were require to bears arms and serve in the militia. Pete

I believe the "two front teeth" requirement only came into play when they started using paper cartridges with the powder wrapped in the paper which was used as wadding for the ball wrapped in the same paper.

Bountyhunter <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> : <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

That is correct. Pete

Sorry to be a bit slow, but what has having front teeth got to o with paper cartridges?? <img src="images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I know some of you here are involved with historical reenacting so please feel free to correct me and/or add your comments. When loading a musket, members of the militia had a paper cartage consisting of the ball, powder with the paper acted as wading. To load the musket the individual would tear open the cartridge with their front teeth, prime the pan, pour the powder down the barrel, then add the ball with the paper wadding and ram everything down. Pete

Liz:

In the early days of black powder, the powder was in a flask, the ball was in a bag or pocket, and the wadding that gave the ball a tight fit in the barrel was in another bag, pocket, or simply hung from the garment and was cut off as needed.

Someone (I don't know if the idea was French, American, or British.) came up with the idea of wrapping the ball in greased paper or cloth, tying it off, and then wrapping the powder in the remaining paper or cloth which was still attached to the ball and tying it off. That way the entire requirement for one shot could be retrieved in a faster manner. You tear open that part of the paper that holds the powder, pour a little of the powder in the frizzen pan, pour the rest of the powder into the barrel, put the wrapped ball in the muzzle with the remaining paper attached, and ram it into the barrel on top of the powder, and you are ready to shoot.

Bountyhunter