First National Smoothbore Team Match

[Eggman]

Off the top of your head does anyone remember which year/national the first smoothbore team match was held? Also the winner/winners?

[John Holland]

The first National Smoothbore Team Match was held at the 107th National, Spring 2003.

[Eggman]

Thanks John! Do you or does anyone remember the winner? Also how many teams that year. Yeah I know I ask a lot of questions.

[RaiderANV]

It was held on the pistol range and I think it was nearly full. I thought it was before 2003 though.

[Eggman]

Thanks Pat! Gittin there.

[John Holland]

Dig out those old Skirmish Line magazines and work backwards until there are no National Smoothbore Team Results and you will have it!

[Phil Spaugy, 3475V]

The first match was held during the 103rd Nationals. It was termed a demo and I believe the WR supplied the medals.

It was held on the Revolver range.I had the honor and pleasure of announcing the match.

There was some rumor of buck and ball being used during this match, but of this I have no knowledge.

As far as the first official match goes and in response to Eggman's request Linwood has been digging through his database and has stats on file back to the 107th.

[lmcmahon]

1st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry came in 1st place at the 107th. There was not any smoothbore listed in earlier national skirmishes, 106th back. There might have been a demo match prior, but I do not have that information. Best bet is to look at skirmish lines prior to 2003.

[John Holland]

The first "Official" N-SSA National Smoothbore Musket Team Match to pay out official N-SSA National Medals was at the 107th National. There were 45 Teams entered for said match.

OK, I'll come clean, I have a close relationship with a Deputy Statistics Officer who is providing the information!

JDH

[Eggman]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!! All these comments are great fodder for an article I'm working on targeting "American Rifleman." Came close a while back with "The Gun Metaphor and You." It all depends on how much humor the NRA can stand.

[RaiderANV]

That first match on the pistol range also saw the first flint lock Bess fired. The hat blew off the guy to the right of said Bess. He didn't hit anything the rest of the match.

[John Holland]

And that is the reason all flint lock arms fired in the N-SSA are required to have a flash guard around the pan!

[MR. GADGET]

And that is the reason all flint lock arms fired in the N-SSA are required to have a flash guard around the pan!

What does the flash guard look like on a Brown Bess? Is it an add on part?

[John Holland]

All flint lock pan flash guards are after market add-ones. You can find examples in the Dixie Gun Works catalogue, Track of the Wolf, etc.

[RaiderANV]

I hear ya John but pretty sure it wasn't required at that first shot. We live and learn. never really thought about it.
Whenever I've watch a period movie I never recalled seeing anyone's hat blown off.
That gun hasn't been used in a match since.

[Michael Bodner]

I suppose you wouldn't get much back-pressure through the touch-hole if the gun was firing blanks (as in the movies)...

[John Holland]

Flash guards are required at all re-enactment events, too.

[MR. GADGET]

I suppose you wouldn't get much back-pressure through the touch-hole if the gun was firing blanks (as in the movies)...

Thats what happens when you drill a 1/4" hole for a touch hole to make sure it goes off.

I guess that is the reason for the walls on the pistol range. It will keep you from getting blasted by COW.

[Eggman]

I suppose you wouldn't get much back-pressure through the touch-hole if the gun was firing blanks (as in the movies)...

Bootsie - dig out "The Mountainmen." Toward the end Charlton Heston and Brian Keith are forted up close together on an island. Heston cuts loose with his flinter, the vent blast getting Keith full in the side of the face - at about two feet. Appeared to be a whole bunch of back pressure.

[RaiderANV]

Eggs......are you saying Charlton Heston was shooting blanks?!?! I see him saying: "No lead balls no Chuck! "

[Eggman]

Good point. However I didn't see any holes in Stephen Macht until Heston's honey, what was she Crow, nonconformist Blackfoot, anyway not until she drilled him (Macht) after he took a bite out of Heston's arm. Those Blackfeet - Bug's Boys - had less respect for us muzzleloading folks than New Jersey Democrats.

[Jim Leinicke 7368V]

Yes, there was a "demo" smoothbore match the year prior to the first official match. Co. G, 114th Illinois Infantry (Western Region) purchased the medals. I don't recollect how many teams shot or who won, but I recall it was lots of fun.

Jim Leinicke
7368V