Carrying 3 banders in Confed. Impression

[IowaYank]

Hello, I am going to be starting to put together my confederate impression. I am planning on carrying my 3-band enfield for my impression. I believe that is something that isnt represented enough in confederate cavalry. One question is concerning carrying it. I will be slinging it over my back. From your expirence, which way works best, slung with the butt of the musket pointing down, or with the muzzle pointing down??? I have heard both methods. One questions though if you are carrying muzzle down, have you ever had trouble loosing your ramrod??

Thanks

[Mike Nickerson]

Re: Carrying 3 banders in Confed. Impression

Muzzle down will cause loss of a rammer. It may take 5 min., 5 hours, 5 events or 5 years, but either way it will come up missing! From my limited time in the hobby, I would say you are not going to keep it slung nearly as long as you are now thinking. Your back will win the fight with your arms, as to who is gonna carry what. IMHO

Mike Nickerson

[Iron Scout]

Re: Carrying 3 banders in Confed. Impression

Guys,

Opinions on method of carry vary from individual to individual, just as with real soldiers. I've always preferred butt down with my right hand balancing the piece on the comb while at a trot/canter/gallop. After a while it seems very natural. I've also carried an Enfield rifle, the shorter, light infantry version, and absolutely love that. Really though, experiment with both ways and see which one is best for you.

Regards,

Neill Rose
PLHA

[Jerry Ross]

Re: Carrying 3 banders in Confed. Impression

Hey Fellas,
I hold on to mine in one hand most of the time .I do rest the butt of the gun on my toe as it sticks out from the stirrup. I don't like to strap the gun to me as we ride through the woods too much for it to catch on something. I don't have a strap on the gun for that purpose. I do switch hands.I don't normally carry a sword or pistol when I carry the three bander.

[AZFarrier]

Re: Carrying 3 banders in Confed. Impression

When I first became Cavalry I used an Enfield. I chose to position mine, muzzle down, because the Enfield strap attaches to the rifle infront of the trigger and towards the end of the muzzle. I noticed that the rifle would sit off to one side more and thus thow me off balance. I'm not recommending another rifle to use, by all means an Enfield is very accurate (if your in that region). I mean They were not found out here in the southwest but I know that the TransMississippi forces used them to great extent.

After my Enfield I moved to a Mississippi, then to a Sharps, still wish I had the Mississippi. I some times used my M1855 Springfield due to the staps connecting closer together and more balanced.

Andy Miller
1st CAL Cav
Arizona Rangers

[Russell Huffman]

Re: Carrying 3 banders in Confed. Impression

I like to carry my enfield in the shoulder-arms position when im at a walk or stopped.when i get in a trot or canter with it i like to put it into the secure-arms type position to keep from hitting other people with it.


Russell Huffman

[paul9thky]

Re: Carrying 3 banders in Confed. Impression

I carry my 2-band slung arcoss my back muzzle-up with the butt to the left and the muzzle to the right to prevent it from getting hung in my bed roll when mounting. You'll probably want to spend one or two good days in a ridding pen trying out different methods to see which best suits you. For my method you'll need to adjust the sling right, you need to have enough tension to prevent it from flopping too much but loose enough so it isn't uncomfortable. It will feel VERY! Akward for the first one or two times you ride with it but don't let it diswade you once you get used to it you'll forget it's back their and you'll feel naked ridding without it. It also helps to wear a jacket and a vest (Cushioning).

PS. To carry a musket like this it always helps to have a horse with a smooth loap. It liked to killed my shoulder with my older bay (who was very stiff legged) til I came across my current horse who has a very comfortable loap. It makes all the difference, and it helps your gear last longer.

[Jerry Ross]

Re: Carrying 3 banders in Confed. Impression

This is being talked about again

[Ken Knopp]

Re: Carrying 3 banders in Confed. Impression

Thank you Jerry for finding and reviving this. Good, pertinent info being rehashed again in another thread. Hope it answers some questions.

The records show western CS cavalry had alot of two band Enfields, Austrian Lorenz and Miss's, etc. etc. in the ranks. Though not something talked alot about, the references I have seen in diaries, reminicences, etc., suggest the majority carried these ong arms slung across their backs. Actually, this only makes sense. Carrying them across the pommel ala' "fur Trader style" would appear to be very impractical and dangerous but it was likely done that way too. Slung on a carbine sling and/or attached to the saddle would also not be as practical as slung across the back though likely some were done that way also. However, I dont recall seeing any mentions of the long weapons carried in that manner. Carried "in hand", "point down" was perhaps another useful if tiresome method.
I also dont recall ever seeing or hearing of any orders issued for this activity. Maybe so. Perhaps it was left to individual commanders or even the private in the ranks to choose his methods (at least until an ugly incident). Obviously, unit discipline would have something to do with this. Unfortunately, this was not something we see mentioned very much, I suppose because it was a mundane activity taken for granted.

Something tells me there might be another thread on this subject somewhere. Search engine anyone?

Just my thoughts.

Ken R Knopp

[Mississippian]

Re: Carrying 3 banders in Confed. Impression

Gun Boots.

Will MacDonald

[Jimmayo]

Re: Carrying 3 banders in Confed. Impression

This P53 belonged to a CS Cav soldier from the Petersburg area. A hacksaw solved his long rifle problem.

[10thKyScout]

Re: Carrying 3 banders in Confed. Impression



Or get one smaller.
Jeff

[Tom Craig]

Re: Carrying 3 banders in Confed. Impression

Gun Boots.

Will MacDonald

Will, or anybody else...

Has anyone yet found any kind of difinitive info on what a "gun boot" looked like exactly?

Take care,
Tom Craig
1st Maine Cavalry

[ButtermilkRanger]

Re: Carrying 3 banders in Confed. Impression

I'd like the gun boot mystery solved as well. I'm inclined to think the gun boot was probably an interchangeable term with "thimble" and "bucket". Maybe Doug Kidd, David Carrico, or Stuart Lilie could offer some insight.

[forrestcav]

Re: Carrying 3 banders in Confed. Impression

I'll jump in on this thread since I have a little experience with two banders. I started to carry one since 1996. I usually carried it slung accross my back, muzzle up, left to right. In the past five years I have begun using a bucket, not to be confused with a thimblke like used with a sharps. The bucket is a leather piece about 4 inches long and about 2-3 inches across. The muzzle alone slips in and it has a long strap that loops through the pommel. There is also a secondary strap that goes around wrist and through the pommel and keeps it from falling over.