New Look vs. Old Look

[Razor]

Interesting thread fellas,  it made me think...(insert headache smilie here)
I have to agree with most everyone here..
Honest use ..  a new piece or two with some WELL used pieces would seem likely.
Seems to me folks woulda  probably been proud as heck over a new rifle, or shirt or... an took real good care of it.

[Rickd]

I think it looks better for an item to have a natural age look to it..

[NW Wildman]

If your a fur trapper 200 year ago, and your at a voo you will have traded your furs for new things (guns,bags,hats) and theyed be new. your at a voo everything is new, you dont trade old furs for old trade goods. If the 30/06 came out in 1820 the mountain men would have gotten one because it better then there flit lock, and if there was cell phones they have them too.  man trys to have the newest and the best. just my 2 cents

[Hanshi]

Being a bit OCD, anyway, I take as good care of my guns as possible.  A minor scratch can cost me a nights sleep.  Thus I like my guns to look as new as I can keep them with the exception of allowing the brass & GS to tarnish.  Otherwise, how someone else's gun looks is pretty irrelevant to me as this is a personal decision and I respect such.

I don't mind at all FW&T honestly acquired from genuine use.  I have CF (short & long) guns that have seen extensive use over decades that look new or nearly so.  My wife calls it "attention to detail" - though she still says it's OCD and that I am getting better - and assigns me tasks where extreme attention is demanded.     

[voyageur1688]

 Take care of your things n they will last for years, neglect em n ya might as well throw your money in the fire.
Voy

[markinmi]

Ok I'm l'm playin the devils advocate here.One of my personas is a French trapper post Rev war.My long arm is a 1717 Infantry musket sent from France to help out near the end of the war.It's now 60 years after the war and the gun(now over a hundred years old) has been in battle,sold off as surplus,toted to the west,through all sorts of weather and dust ups with the property owners,been the center of attention during long artistic winter nights as a canvas(prettying her up,you know).
Now in the bore and all her internals are well oiled and clean,But this gun represents 60 years of hard use.

[Red Badger]

Ok I'm l'm playin the devils advocate here.One of my personas is a French trapper post Rev war.My long arm is a 1717 Infantry musket sent from France to help out near the end of the war.It's now 60 years after the war and the gun(now over a hundred years old) has been in battle,sold off as surplus,toted to the west,through all sorts of weather and dust ups with the property owners,been the center of attention during long artistic winter nights as a canvas(prettying her up,you know).
Now in the bore and all her internals are well oiled and clean,But this gun represents 60 years of hard use.

Again all well and good... your musket has a history of that time frame and is not brand new... I think what we are saying is that some of our gear should look brand new and some should show the use it has been through.   My Tennessee rifle has some nicks and gouges it has acquired though my travels but "Patience" is still new so she shines... maybe in 25 years or so when I get ready to hang up the Vous she will look like the aged lady she will be but until then i will keep her as pretty as I can....

[markinmi]

I "stressed" the French musket(Did a little stressing on the Ketland Fowler from them too ) as that was my purpose when I bought it from Middlesex Village as I viewed it as a kit and something I could fool around with.Now my LLP Bess was a well made repop that I really had to sacrifice to get and that one ain't gettin beat on or beaded or tacked,It's taken on a natural patina and Ive shuddered any time it's fallen over or bumped against a tree

[zippy7]

New Look vs. Old Look: I'll have to ask my wife ;)

[bull frog]

I try to keep all my firearms and gear in good, like new condition.  It's impossible cause I am clumsy and accident prone. If it is at all possable, it will happen to me.  I am the king of impossible, freak accidents.  So it don't take long for my gear to look well used.  However, I somehow manage to keep gear forever.  I prefer well used looking gear but don't hesitate to get new items cause they will not look that way for long.  Your gear will take on a used look even in storage....brass and copper oxidize, steel will rust or age, bone will yellow and I will not even mention what beetles will do to horn.  I got one little priming horn that must be as old as I am.....must have 20+ repaired holes in it.  I just repaired about 6 this last weekend.  It would be easier to make a new one but I just am too attached to that old one.  I say, let it age naturally!

[beowulf]

I figure it should look well used , if`n your portraying a man whos been in the mountains for a while . not beat all to hell ,or worn out , but used and well cared for ! military weapons ,unless they were bought as surplus and carried into the hills should be well cared for and the barrels should be bright . now if an indian or mountain mans been using a bess or other musket for a few years then the metal should be darker , depends on who or what you are ! just my opinion ! oh yeah ,and there`s nothing wrong with a knife with a stained or dark blade , dont take long for a carbon steel blade to darken up , cutting up taters or onions will do it rather quickly !

[gordy]

         I think I'd have to agree with the majority here . The look most of us are seeking falls in-between the "pin-up pilgrim" to the "slob".  I think the majority of the firearms would have the look of USED but not ABUSED . The same with knives and bilt axes and tommhawks . the knife blades would be dark and blotchy from many hours of use cutting and skinning , basically the same for the axes and hawks . Shooting /possibles bags could run from "well" used to brand "new" .  As for clothing , it too would be a combination .
        The one thjing I noticed (and liked) about  this board iwas the lack of "expert" making comments to "newbies" About their gear not being  proper to the "experts " taste .  I was raised durring the last years of the depression and seldom got anew item  (store bought) I thought getting my older brothes was great . It seems that there was alwas one pants knee that got a hole wore in it , my mother used to always neatly patch both legs so it looked to be a intended idea . I'm certain that "neat" patches were common 200 years ago . Most all the mothers took pride in their needle work . I'm pretty sure that the Native Amerycan wives took pride in theeir skills also . 
        I have hanging in the rack the first shotgun I bought new 60 years ago . It has many nicks and bruises but overall  is in great shape and I'm sure that one of the grand kids will carry , and use it as I have . For the most part I hiink that there would have been more older model weapons being used then the "experts" try to lead us to believe !

        A little common sense  would show that 

[Watauga]

Looking in the copy's of Trading post manifests and ledgers in Mark Bakers Sons of a Trackless Forrest it is clear the Long hunters bought new clothing, accoutrement and lead and powder on a fairly regular basis.
Trading forts were built further west following the hunters.
The Hunting Frock being one of the more expensive items.
Followed buy shirts, breeches, Moccasins, etc...
Plus large amounts of Rum and Wine for some of the hunters.
No listing for Flintlocks but that would be acquired from a Gunsmith?!
Hunters in the river traveling groups were resupplying on a 3 week to monthly basis.
And the amount of supplies and the various items available is amazing!
The best Long hunters were Wealthy by the standard of the day.
Making more money in a fall-winter than a Good farmer could manage in a year.
and many of the Long hunters farmed in the off season spring summer to add to their fortune.
(Or to buy all the supplies they would need for the next Long Hunt and for their Family to live on till they returned in the spring)

[Watauga]

By the Way markinmi I think your 1717 Infantry musket is Beautiful!
It has a timeless look that would work right up to the 1830s for some persona's!
And is far less common than a Bess or trade gun.

[markinmi]

Thanks I really do take good care of the guns. They get oiled at least once a month wheather they've been used or not.