August is the month for “inspiring great admiration; displaying great dignity and grandeur.” I would like to add one more thought, “It is the time for greatness to gather at the place where greatness is shared amongst friends in Friendship!”

Everyone who has ventured across state lines has felt that special something that is visceral (gut wrenching) and wondered why? The answer is beyond the new normal, it is the message that we have survived! But more than that, we have kept the dream alive. And what dream is that? It is the dream in all of our hearts that there is more to this life than survival. It is that heartfelt dream that we can all celebrate and honor of living the promise of our heritage.
And that heritage is celebrated in our muzzleloading culture. Moreover, it is time to get out and have some fun by getting ready for fun, family and friendship . . . and making plans for the annual late summer pilgrimage to Friendship. Tom Schiffer helps us do just that with his “Recipe for Having Fun at the NMLRA Shoots.”

Have you ever looked up into an August thunderhead and marveled at the power of static electricity? If you are like most, we both loved the light show of lightning but are also mindful of its power. On a much-reduced scale, we have taught kids about the precautions necessary to keep when sliding our moccasins across a polyester carpet and touching a metal doorknob. But how much disinformation have we heard when it comes to static electricity and black powder safety? The Bevel Brothers once again rise to the occasion and present the fact vs.
fiction of static electricity in easily understood sage research!

Don Kettelkamp is a “Muzzle-Loading Hunter, Emeritus” according to Bob Woodfill; he is in my book too. While few of us will ever get the chance to tote muzzleloading rifles to an African safari; many of us have wondered if we had the “right stuff” to challenge dangerous game that weighs as much or more than a
Ford truck! Woodfill writes, “Don has accomplished what other hunters dream of—taking Africa’s Big Five with a muzzle-loading rifle. I will describe this accomplishment and the muzzleloading rifles that he used.
His guide commented, “Finally an American who can shoot!”

Apparently there are many of you have built new muzzleloading rifles, pistols, shotguns, and accouterments during the cruel pandemic quarantine. I have answered many phone calls and emails (I prefer the email please) asking about engraving. Who knew? But it made sense to me that when you have a great gun, powder horn or accoutrement, you want to personalize it in a lasting way, and that is where the engraver’s art is timeless. Well, pilgrims, you are in lucky August Muzzle Blasts country. We have two pieces to whet your knives and chisels, one from Ike Bay on engraving powder horns, and the other
from Gary Horne on schools to get your skills going in the right direction.

And finally, if you want to enjoy August’s great admiration amongst friends, think food! Check out
Linda Fulmer’s column: “Cooking Up A Taste of Rendezvous” for a sure-fire pork loin recipe that is sure
to bring smiles to faces of children and large numbers of curious to ask “what is that great aroma.”

Dave Ehrig

Muzzle Blasts Editor