This is where you can send your questions to the staff of Armory Hill. We'll do our best to answer them
and get them on the Web. Send your questions to us at
staff@armoryhill.com.
Where can I find period clothes for my character?---E.L. in Fall River, MA
Check the links page here on the Web site for suppliers of period clothing. I've had good luck with both C&D Jarnagin and Jas. Townsend & Sons.---JBW
Is there a good publication for re-enactors and black powder shooters?---O.K. in Tombstone, AZ
Muzzleloader Magazine is a great resource. Published six times a year by Scurlock Publishing Company it features regular articles by such notables as Mark A. Baker and Beth Gilgun. There's plenty of good stuff for everyone. I have almost as much fun looking at the ads as I do reading the articles. Check our links page for their Web site.---JBW
Are there any good, well written books that I can use for ideas?---B.N. in Los Gatos, CA
For my money there aren't too many books better then the "Winning of America" series by Allan W. Eckert. This six volumn set tells the story of the opening of the American frontier from the mid-1700s through about 1830. Eckert writes in a marvelous expository style that makes his well researched histories read like action-adventure novels. All of the people and events are taken directly from the historical record. Not to be taken as scholarly treatises but certainly an excellent starting point. They are available in paperback. We will review these, and other books in the future on this site.---JBW
What's a good one-stop shop for living historians?---H.T. in Placerville, CA
If I had to (and I don't) pick a single place to do all the shoping for my period stuff it would almost surely be Dixie Gun Works. They are one of the oldest suppliers in the black powder and historical re-enactor arena having been in business since 1954. They have some of everything, from firelocks to frypans and from breechplugs to breeches. At $5.00 their catalog is one of the best values in mail order. Our links pages provides an easy way to get the low-down on one of the tip-top suttlers.---JBW
How can I find out what events are happening in my area?---A.C. in Golden, CO
Probably the three best places to look for events in your area and across the country are Muzzleloader Magazine; Muzzle Blasts, the publication of the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association and Smoke and Fire News. The first two are on our links page. You can reach Smoke and Fire News by sending email to editor@smoke-fire.com.---JBW