Who you portray

[Captain Midnight]

Not yet, unfortunately. Hopefully this Spring I'll get some new ones made. 

[castnblast]

I portray Jeremiah Johnson.

[pathfinder]

I would say I attempt a market hunter supplying the forts in upper Mi.@ 1790-1810. need to get along with everyone inside and outside the fort,so I'm a combo of all who I encounter

[old salt]

I would like say some thing about stating your persona. For those of you who are just starting.

   Take some time to figure out the time period your persona would have lived in, and the location that person lived in.
   Now start to research just what equipment that person would have available to them, because when you go to some of the stricter encampments  you have to have all you equipment correct or they will not let you participate.
   This will save you time and MONEY. As I have stated earlier in this topic my persona is that of a person on the fringe of society, so with some minor adjustments to the equipment and clothing I can go from about 1750 to1860 and fit in, but I have been fortuned to have the funds to do this. It has taken about 15 years and over $10,000 to do this at to days prices to do this.
   This is the reason for the research. Don't be afraid to ask the Historians or any one on this forum. A lot of us are members of the been there done that group and some of us may have what you are looking for, and would be willing to sell or trade.

Good Luck

[twobirds]

In response to Old Salt's comments, I'd like to throw in my two cents worth...  I mean this with NO disrespect or offense...just another viewpoint.

I would encourage newcomers to this sport/hobby/lifestyle to jump in and get started.  Learning on the fly is half of the fun.  Yes, some encampments are very strict on their rules - and they have the right to choose to do so.  But other encampments are more welcoming of those who are there to learn.

I'm in about year 10 of what I've concluded will be lifelong research into the life and times of a soldado de cuera on the Spanish frontier, and am just now confident enough to start putting gear together.  But I've had a blast with mountain man and longhunter personas in the past.  And I can always trade off gear that no longer suits my needs.

Personally, if I had to pony up $10K and 15 years before I was a "player", I'd of taken up golf instead.

twobirds

[old salt]

Twobirds
   While it may have come off that way I didn't mean that you had to have your persona and equipment all done before getting into the game. What I was trying to say was before you get serious about a persona you want to portray do the research.
   For all of that I do not know of any place that says you have to have a persona, a very good friend and club member shows up in his bib overalls and smoke poll at most of the rendezvous in our area and know one says any thing about it.
   Believe me if I thought it had to be done before I could have gone to a rendezvous  I would still be sitting on a creek bank with a poll in my hand.
   What I was trying to say and still trying to say before you invest in a piece of equipment To find  out what you need. go to the roundys and ask questions. 90% of the folks there will be more than glad to help you. A round here if you just mention that you would like to shoot a muzzleloader you more than likely have 2 or 3 handed to you and people willing to show you how.
   Hope this lets you know what I am trying say.

[twobirds]

...before you get serious about a persona you want to portray do the research...before you invest in a piece of equipment To find  out what you need.

Okay, I understand where you're coming from and am in FULL agreement.  I think I misinterpreted your intent.  I would hate to see anyone feel that they would not be welcomed if they didn't have their gear "just right"...my comments were meant to reassure newcomers, as were your comments above.  Thanks for pitching back in with clarification.

twobirds

[old salt]

Twobirds
  I am glad you posted what you did and when you did, as it made me go back and reread what I had posted. I can see where it could be miss leading.
Thank You 
  I appreciate your questioning or any one else doing the same on any thing I post like this.
  I 62 year old and I know what I want to say, but sometimes when I try to put it on paper it does not come the way I meant it to say So at any time you all don't agree or understand pull my chain and I will try to make it clear or stand corrected
The Old Salt

[kit_carson]

lol,,,,,,,,,mine is of the 1840's-1860's western fur trade, spicifically john johnston, also known as liver eatin johnson, or the crow killer

[twobirds]

I appreciate your questioning or any one else doing the same on any thing I post like this... I am 62 year old and I know what I want to say, but sometimes when I try to put it on paper it does not come the way I meant it to say

Thanks for not taking my comments personally...I find that quite honorable and refreshing...and I also find your response quite eloquent.  Please continue your excellent posts on this forum! 

twobirds

[KHickam]

My name is Dan'l Hickham, I was born in 1729 in Belfast, Ulster Co, Ireland to Jacob Hickham and Sarah Keith - I am a Scot - Da left the Highlands early and settled in Ireland, why I don't know but the clan I belonged to was Jacobite.

We landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Colony in 1742. I grew up and learned to ride a horse and hunt, in the woods after Da moved us to North Carolina colony in 1744, I worked the farm, and hunted to bring meat, deer and I trapped some too. I joined up as a hunter/wagonner on Braddocks trek to Ft Duquense - I was shocked at the way the French routed us - but I managed to keep my head and returned with the baggage not to worse for the wear. I worked/hunted and scouted around Ft Loudon throughout the rest of the war. I did so until 1763 and for the last 7 yrs I have made my living as a scout/hunter/and I own a small 88 acre farm where I care for and clean up after horses and other animals.

[heatherhistorian]

Awesome information.  I love how you told us your story.

[CandleSnuffer]

I protray a period in history, (the Rendezvous of 1825 - 1840).  I may hit the hay in 1840 and wake up the next morning in 1825.  I am Candle Snuffer, so given the name in camp for snuffing 25 candles in a row one night at a
candle shoot.  My friends call me, Snuffer...

[heatherhistorian]

Glad to hear from/about u candlesnuffer.

[Red Badger]

OK, here goes nothin'

I am very new to this and after readin the entire thread, talkin to Old salt at the Museum rondy, and a little family history.  I have decided to model myself after a Great, Great, Great, Great-grandfather who actually left the Wisconsin area to make something of himself and disappeared in the Rocky's after attending the first 2 Green River Rendezvous's... Unfortunately other than a story or two my grandmother used to share not much else is known about what grandad Effram Dewert did or were he travelled to.  All we know for sure is that his wife had died in childbirth and he left his newborn son in the care of his sister and her husband....

there was a story that he travelled with a young Jim Bridger - but there is no documentation. 

I want to portray a free trapper in the 1810-1830's time frame just as the Rondy's were starting