This article appeared first in Muzzle Blasts Volume 82, No3, November 2020. NMLRA Members can view the FULL Muzzle Blasts Archive. Join today
By John Curry
Seems like people just have a natural talent for doing stuff...making things. Things that aren’t merely functional, sturdy, more or less historically accurate and get the job done – things that look like somebody just ripped them out of 250/260 years ago and stuck ‘em right up in front of your face. Weapons, clothing, accouterments that grab you by your heart-strings and whisper; “Hey, you need to buy me – now”! My friend Chris Crosby is one of those supremely talented, tremendously motivated sort of craftsmen.
Like a great many of us, ‘ol Chris is a hard line, dyed-in-the-wool reenacter, an avid muzzle loading hunter, a knowledgeable frontier historian and a bit of a character. The kind of guy you’d like to share a trail with… A reincarnated, middle-eighteenth century longhunter… spending the lion's share of his free time skulking around the Big South Fork or else somewhere out there in the guts of the Daniel Boone National Forest – quite often along the Rockcastle or the upper Cumberland Rivers. Friendly, soft spoken but really understands what this game we love to play is all about. The kind of guy you always hope to run into and shoot the breeze with on the primitive range at Friendship. Nonetheless (and much
to our good fortune), a gent who has that most rare ability to accurately and faithfully reproduce an incredible variety of the basic, every-day, historically accurate equipment and accouterments which we all need and use so extensively when we’re out on our own historic forays… Capturing that spot-on, colonial backwoods look and feel, right down to its very essence.
Ya know, I could probably fill up half this magazine talking about how darned nice Chris Crosby’s work is, bein’ as I’ve had a chance to see a lot of it and check it out meself. Howsomever, it would doubtless play out a lot better if I just showed you. Donchathink? So… Take a gander at the following photographs Chris has been kind enough to send me… They pretty much speak for themselves.
Well now m’lads and lassies, here’s the deal. If you like what ya see, Chris Crosby can be very easily contacted on line at: ccrosby1969@live.com or you can simply give him a call at 765-481-4904. His prices are great; his workmanship is tougher than woodpecker lips. You can’t go wrong with Chris… Nevertheless, I’ve got to warn you; copious numbers of serious, far-western borderer type enthusiasts such as ourselves soon discover, Chris Crosby’s accouterments, primitive equipment, trail gear, etc. are indeed, quite pleasant to look at and contemplate. These poor, unsuspecting lads will on occasion, almost subcon-sciously/unintentionally relegate such wonderful pieces to the position of “cherished, historic artifacts” – not to be used but merely handled, admired and studied. So... You’ll have to try your best to avoid that pitfall. ‘Ol Chris likes his stuff to be taken out into the wild, used and used hard by those who truly appreciate the early frontier life-style – that’s essentially why he makes ‘em.
