What gear would an 1860 Californio carry with him?

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Mogorilla,

I have always felt that it is far cheaper to buy the very best that can be had ... I have done otherwise in times past, and by the time that I paid for the postage to send the product back for repair and paid for said repair, I could have bought the original ... as it was, all I had was the 'fixed' cheap product and the manufacturers 'word' that it would never happen again....

Reminds me of a quote from the astronaut Alan Shephard ... "It's a very sobering feeling to be up in space and realize that one's safety factor was determined by the lowest bidder on a government contract." ...


Kind of the same idea ....

Get the best. If you can't afford it, wait and save until you can.

[Major 2]

Major 2,

I did not take your post lightly, and respect your studies.

In fact, with all the many fine books that have been suggested to me, I have started a WORD document listing all the titles and authors so that I can start reading them .....

And from all the work that I have been able to lightly scratch up, i.e. Wickipedia on 1851 Colts, it appears that they were first in production in 1850, and were a factor (in 1851-52) if not the primary weapon that they became during the later Gold Rush....

  What I meant was...In the book there are references to California Shippments..

However here you will find an orginial document...
 http://www.prices4antiques.com/autographs/documents-signed/DS-Colt-Elisha-for-Samuel-Colt-Gold-Rush-Firearms-Shipment-1851-B181582.htm

 

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Another person sent me the same post on the 'When did the 1851 Colt begin to reach California' thread ... so now I can look recieved weapons using the San Francisco Agent's name ...

Thanks!

[Major 2]

Can't imagion who that other person was 

your welcome

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Okay,

The 1851 Navy Colt has arrived ... just waiting for something to put it in ...

The jacket, pants, shirt, holster and gunbelt are all on order; supposed to arrive about Friday 2 October.

The sash, and hat will be bought when the jacket arrives.

The Calzoneras is on Chuck Burrows 'dance list' just waiting for the influx of 'fun tickets" to seal the deal...

And when I get all but the Botas, I hope to go back to Fat City (where the pic in my profile was taken; the bar and barback are over 150 years old), and get another pic... which will end up on my profile at that time ...

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Just got word that the Vaqueor jacket has arrived and is at Sacramento Dry Goods

I found some matching calaveras pants at Hamilton Dry Goods, but when they arrived they were much too long. So Sacramento dygoods is removing the placquet with the button holes , shortening the pants, and then splitting the seam higher and sewing  the placquet back on ... I will lose a button, but Hamilton Dry Goods is snding me extra buttons (For free; great people!) so it will work out.

Got the 1851 Colt, the holster, Belduque and sheath. Chuck Burrows had an old belt that was never paid for, and he is shortening it to fit my waist (at a 44" waist I never thought I would be able to say something was being shortned for me ...LOL).

I bought a 'Gamblers Shirt' from Hamilton Dry Goods that has the full collar (as opposed to banded collar) that a Californio would wear ... and it has ruffled cuffs that will 'shoot'out of the Vaquero jacket much in the original fashon. It is pumpin colored and matches the pants and jacket ... ought to give it a bit of a 'dandy' looke ....

So now all I have to get to be in personna is a red sash and a really wide brimmed straw hat ... both available at Sacramento Dry Goods...

And to repeat I will send a pic whehn I finally have everything all together...

[WaddWatsonEllis]

As of this date:

I have the Vaquero Jacket, the calaveras (pants) with blood red sash, pumpkin colored Gambler's Shirt
I now have the 1851 Colt and Slim Jim holster, got a square trigger for it, have found a jewerlry shop who will silver plate the trigger guard and backstrap ...

Waiting on a pistol belt from Chuck Burrows as well as a pair of Botas De Alas ...

Sacramento Dry good turned me onto a Mexican Dance Supply company in San Antonio that had a red bowtie to match the sash.

Their website is:

http://www.larosadancesupply.com/Home_Mariachi.html

Again, once I get the whole outfit together I will add a pic ....

[kflach]

After waiting all this time I want more than just a picture. You got any friends with a cell phone who can shoot videos of you doing one of them Mexican Dances (as in the movie "Zorro" starring Catherine Zeta Jones, Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta Jones, Antonio Bandaras and Catherine Zeta Jones)? I'm guessing they might have 'How-To' videos at that Mexican Dance Supply Company in San Antonio.

You could get promoted from "WaddWatsonEllis" to "WaddWatsonEllis - The Dancing Docent"

<grin>

[WaddWatsonEllis]

KFlach,

After all this time I want more than pictures, too!

But you have obviously never seen me walk, 'cause after a cross country ski injury left me with bone-on-bone on my right knee, penguins have a more graceful gait ... but I am really good at doing an impression of Dennis waver as Chester in Gunsmoke .... "Mr. Dillon, Mr Dillon; wait up Mr Dillon!"

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Help ...

I have come down to the point in becoming a docent that I have to find a person who actually existed  .....

Due the time I have chosen, I think it would be very possigle to find a Californio who might have already lost his land, and has turned to the only thing he knows, i.e. ranching.

I am guessing tht there should be several people who, after they lost their own haciendas, went to work as a foreman for another Califonio ... or maybe even a Yanqui

If I could find such a fellow, he would be in a place where he has seen the best and worst of the change from the old California to the Gold Rush Era ....

Has anyone run accross such a person in their own research?