Author Topic: Apparently very few mortar/cannon shooters in New Mexico (Read 720 times)

Blaster · « **on:** October 06, 2004, 04:37:52 AM »

Had two tables at the Albuquerque NM Gun Show last weekend (Oct 2&3) and got rid of a lot of my surplus "stuff". Posted a large sign that indicated that I wanted to buy blackpowder Mortars/Cannon. Did NOT have one person even stopping by to talk blackpowder stuff. A few shows ago, also at Albuquerque, had five or six folks indicating that they had a mortar/cannon but hadn't shot it in a long time so they may just sell it. None of those folks showed up again. Perhaps it was just talk or wishful thinking that they had one. I had thought for sure that the Land of Enchantment (NM) would produce many big bore shooters but was sadly disappointed. Oh well, the Wannamacher Tulsa Gun Show will be coming up on October 23rd and 24th and that one produces a lot of "big" gun shooters. I'll post the results of the happens at my table down there. Took a couple down to Tulsa for display a couple years ago and had loads of folks stopping by to talk cannon stuff. Blaster (Bob in CO)

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #1 on:** October 06, 2004, 01:34:36 PM »

Blaster -
There are mortar shooters, but they don't necessarily come to gun shows, not in quantity anyway.

I've introduced the sport to many folks in the area here. Some have taken it up seriously and have built their own, and influenced still others.

Sometimes you have to take the leader's role and make things happen and build your own team over the years. Go for it!

CrufflerSteve · « **Reply #2 on:** October 19, 2004, 05:18:56 AM »

Check out: http://www.nm.blm.gov/sfo/fort_craig/living_history/ft_craig_battle_2004/

They're out there. Go to the shoots, not the gun shows. A few years ago I was helping at an 1812 Overture concert in denver and met a few people from NM. I believe they had a full size mountian howitzer and something else.

Steve

JMinNM · « **Reply #3 on:** October 19, 2004, 08:15:26 AM »

blaster, Im from Las Cruces and just getting started in BP cannons. My partner and I built two Model 1841 Mountain Howitzers from copies of original drawings. It took the better part of a year. First shot ( a blank) was July 4. The one big divergence from the drawings is we left the bore at 3.5 inches instead of 4.6. Im working on projectiles at the present. Had fair results with 3.25 inch ore crushing balls and oak sabot, lead nosed projo lag bolted to oak rear and lead nosed projo formed to can with
grout filler.
JMinNM

Blaster · « **Reply #4 on:** October 28, 2004, 06:08:37 AM »

JMinNM.....Recently sent you a private message but got no response. Perhaps got lost in cyberspace. After you indicated that you had built two Model 1841 Mountain Howitzers, I had inquired to see if you may know a good friend of mine. His first name is Lindsey and he has a pecan ranch/farm down there in Las Cruces.. Know him???Blaster (Bob in CO)

JMinNM · « **Reply #5 on:** October 28, 2004, 11:13:32 AM »

Blaster yes I know Lindsey. We both worked at the NASA test facility for a lot of years. Sorry about the lost email didn't see it. Come down and visit Lindsey I... and bring your cannon and we can go out and do some shooting. Our gun club is having a cowboy match Saturday and I plan on shooting my howitzer a few times before the match starts.
JM

Blaster · « **Reply #6 on:** October 28, 2004, 12:43:46 PM »

JM....I had a hunch that you were the same chap. Lindsey has mentioned you numerous times and he has been accompanying me to the Albuq. big gun show for a few years now. Lucky for me, he helps watch my tables and wares while I scout for blackpowder cannon/mortar. He and Carol are very nice folks. Carol's 1st cousin is my sister-in-law and we get together at her house for the Spring and Fall NMGCA shows. If I ever get down to Cruces, I'll certainly bring a couple/few along so that we can have a good/noisey shootout. He had hoped to introduce you and I but I guess you were not attending the same shows as we were. I currently have several cannon/mortars but none as large as your recent build. Just last weekend, I picked up one of the new Winchester 10 gauge blank cannons at the Tulsa, OK show. It's the Naval model with the brass barrel. Have yet to try it but am told they are quite loud. Finally, I asked Lindsey to keep on the lookout for some of the iron ore crusher balls for my projectiles too. Blaster (Bob in CO)