Barsoom Dig

Post by **Minimalist** » Wed May 17, 2006 6:55 am

Yeah, a British Brown Bess, .75 caliber flint lock. I have the bayonet for it kicking around too.

Goes along with my French Charlville musket, a couple of civil war rifled muskets and a couple of long rifles as well as a cap and ball revolver.

If I wasn't so lazy I could have been a re-enactor but I'll be damned if I am going to march around in Northern Virginia in July in a wool coat.

Frank Harrist · Post by **Frank Harrist** » Wed May 17, 2006 7:47 am

Minimalist wrote:Yeah, a British Brown Bess, .75 caliber flint lock. I have the bayonet for it kicking around too.

Goes along with my French Charlville musket, a couple of civil war rifled muskets and a couple of long rifles as well as a cap and ball revolver.

If I wasn't so lazy I could have been a re-enactor but I'll be damned if I am going to march around in Northern Virginia in July in a wool coat.

I was asked to do that too, but didn't want to spend the money it would take to get all the crap needed. I was just getting into archaeology and spent a lot of money on the crap I needed for that. I have friends who do it. You're right. It's too damn much work and too hot.

Beagle · Post by **Beagle** » Wed May 17, 2006 12:12 pm

Very nice gun. I guess I'm supposed to look at the name on the far left side of the post, huh?

Post by **Minimalist** » Wed May 17, 2006 1:03 pm

It makes an impressive hole, too.

3/4 of an inch going in and about 2 inches coming out.

Of course, accuracy was problematic at anything over 50 yards.

Der Lange · Post by **Der Lange** » Sun May 21, 2006 11:50 am

Frank Harrist wrote:Yeah, where the hell is Der Lange? He must be at sea doing something really cool. What does "Der Lange" mean? Is it a name or some phrase in some foreign language? I'm hoping he'll see this and answer. Derrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Where you at?

Jeez, guys, take a potty break and everyone goes bonkers!

Actually, I have been working a LOT lately on the archaeology report on a WWII war ship our survey team found a year ago. When it is finally released, you'll probably hear about it here on the news pages.

So, gosh, lots to address.

First, my screen name. It relates to a family name. "Der Lange" is a German nickname for a tall guy - or one who ... well, you can guess. And the answer, for those of you who care to ask, is YES.

I wish I had known that idiomatic usage when I lived in West Berlin in the '60's and wondered all the time about those college girls walking away tittering behind their hands after being introduced to me. I thought they thought my ears were funny (and they were).

Now to more serious stuff.

First, about the Brown Bess. This was the British Army musket for most of the latter half of the 1700's and even the early 1800's. It was mass-produced but using handmade parts by gunsmiths about the UK. It was a very sturdy and reliable gun for its time, but of course as an exposed-powder flintlock, completely useless on a damp or rainly day. The British actually came up with a rifled repeating rifle during the Revolutionary War, and equipped a squad (well, more guys than that) with it as sharpshooters - but they failed to follow through on what had been an important weapons design development. George Washington fell into the sights of the leader of that squad, but the British officer chose not to shoot, saying it was "ungentlemanly" of him to do so. Ooops.

A nice little tidbit about the Brown Bess: This gun was the weapon given most British Army recruits. A GREAT many of those lads discovered that they not only had an awful hangover the day after getting royally drunk at the pub, but also had bought that drink using the "King's shilling." The boys had been given money by a recruiting officer during a night out and the next day they awoke to find they were wed to Brown Bess.

Boys, we can bring her along on our dig if you want but I would much, much rather you toted in a Bushmaster version of the M-16. Less weight and more firepower.

OK, now about the Project Plan for the Barsoom Dig. I confess being quite far behind on the writing. Now that our report is out, maybe I can devote more time to getting this posted soon.

Post by **Minimalist** » Sun May 21, 2006 12:00 pm

We thought you left without us.

Der Lange · Post by **Der Lange** » Sun May 21, 2006 12:13 pm

Minimalist wrote:We thought you left without us.

SURELY YOU JEST.

I am one of the brains behind this operation. Damned straight someone else is gonna carry MY stuff.

Oh, BTW, Mini - I found more pics of that girl you want to hire as our guide. We can't do that. She can't guide us when she's flat on her back or otherwise barking like a dog.

Post by **Minimalist** » Sun May 21, 2006 12:17 pm

She could guide me.

Der Lange · Post by **Der Lange** » Sun May 21, 2006 12:23 pm

Minimalist wrote:She could guide me.

Ummm, yeah, I guess, but I thought by now you had learned that particular part of geography.

Post by **Minimalist** » Sun May 21, 2006 12:30 pm

You never heard of "refresher courses?"

Der Lange · Post by **Der Lange** » Sun May 21, 2006 12:50 pm

OH. You mean, "THE PAUSE THAT REFRESHES"

Post by **Minimalist** » Sun May 21, 2006 1:06 pm

Um....Paws that refreshes.

Der Lange · Post by **Der Lange** » Mon May 22, 2006 3:58 am

Minimalist wrote:Um....Paws that refreshes.

This is sick, man.

Guess that's what i deserve for slacking off. OK, we'll turn soon to the Project Plan so you have something to do in your all-too-abundant free time.

Beagle · Post by **Beagle** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 4:03 pm

This seems like a good place to talk off topic since it was science fiction in the first place.

It's getting pretty hard to post in here. I sometimes log in with an idea or thought to post and the thread is embroiled in the never ending argument between our atheists and our resident Pharisee.

I thought the Biblical Arch. thread and the Intelligent Design thread was set aside for that.

stan · Post by **stan** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 4:58 pm

You could try reviving some of the old threads with new information.
Don't feel bad. I posted a lot of new threads that went nowhere.
As for the battle between the immovable object and the irresistable force, I don't go there.
Sometimes people get tired of the board and lay out a while.
Before you came on board, there was quite a lull...about 2 months, maybe January and February, in which almost everything i posted was ignored in favor of the above mentioned cataclysmic contest.

I don't undestand what happend to Der Lange, though. everybody was ready to go to Barsoom!.