Winter, 1781. Samuel gripped the reins of his sturdy packhorse, the chill January wind biting through his homespun wool coat as he urged the animal southward along the muddy trails of the Carolina backcountry. At seventeen, he was tall for his age, with the lean build of a boy who'd spent his days trapping beaver in the shadowed hollows of the Appalachian foothills.

Born in a log cabin, Samuel had learned the ways of the frontier from his father, a veteran of Indian skirmishes who taught him to track deer and load a rifle before he could shave. But the war had pulled him from that life. Whispers of British atrocities in the South, Charleston fallen, Camden a slaughter, had reached even their remote valley. When riders brought word of General Daniel Morgan rallying militia to strike back, Samuel knew he couldn't stay behind.

His rifle, a prized possession bartered from a traveling gunsmith the previous summer, bounced lightly against his back in its fringed leather scabbard. Featuring a curly maple stock that gleamed with a hand-rubbed aqua fortis finish, its grain swirling like river eddies.

The octagonal barrel, forty-four inches of iron in .50 caliber, tapered gracefully for balance, making it lighter than the cumbersome muskets carried by regular troops. The round-faced English lock, with its robust frizzen and pan, sparked reliably even in damp weather, a far cry from the unreliable trade guns he'd seen fail hunters in the woods. Loaded with black powder and a patched lead ball, it could drop a buck at a hundred yards. Now, it would serve a different purpose.

He'd set out alone three days prior, slipping away at dawn with a hurried goodbye to his mother, who pressed a sack of cornmeal and jerky into his hands. The journey to catch Morgan's force meant navigating the rugged terrain, where winter rains turned paths into quagmires and swollen creeks barred the way. Samuel forded a river on his horse, the icy water rising to his thighs, numbing his legs as he clung to the mane.

On the far bank, he dismounted to dry his powder horn, a carved cow horn sealed with beeswax, ensuring the fine grains stayed dry. He traveled light: a bedroll, tomahawk at his belt, and a few patched round balls in his hunting pouch, each pre-measured for quick reloads. The trail wound through dense pine forests as wildlife stirred. Deer bounding away at his approach, owls hooting warnings in the twilight. Samuel camped sparingly, building small fires to avoid Loyalist patrols rumored to roam these parts.

By the fourth day, murmurs of distant drums reached him. He crested a ridge overlooking a foggy meadow in western South Carolina, the date January 16, 1781. Below, campfires dotted the landscape like stars, illuminating clusters of ragged militiamen sharpening bayonets and drilling in loose formations. Daniel Morgan's army, Continentals in faded blue coats mingled with backwoods riflemen like himself.

Samuel's heart raced as he descended, hailing a sentry who waved him through. As night set in, Samuel tethered his horse and joined a circle around a fire, where talk buzzed of the impending clash. Samuel checked his rifle one last time, priming the pan with powder, the frizzen clicking shut.

Dawn would bring the enemy. When morning broke on January 17, the fog lifted slowly, revealing the British across the field. Redcoats in precise ranks, bayonets glinting, Tarleton's green-jacketed dragoons flanking them on horseback. Samuel stood among the militia, rifle at the ready, the weight of history pressing down as the drums rolled.

Present Day: The booming sound of black powder being ignited, the smell of the smoke in the air, the period-specific uniforms are bright against the backdrop of the field, the transportation into a different time and place amongst history’s most discussed periods. Just like Samuel standing shoulder to shoulder with his militiamen, you too can join your unit, load your flintlock, and engage in the very same battle he fought for American Independence.  

The World of Historical Reenactment

Historical reenactment is a time-honored tradition that can span multiple generations of families. There is a love and passion for history being brought to life right in front of your eyes. Whether taking part in the reenactment or standing by as an observer, the event is a spectacle unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.

When you attend your first reenactment, it engages the full spectrum of your sensory perceptions, with the smoke, the booming black powder, the commands being yelled across time. There isn’t a better way to immerse yourself in the pursuit of history than attending one of these events. You and your children will develop a deep connection to the events taking place right in front of your eyes.

Kiblers Longrifles crafts muzzleloading rifles that are found in the hands of many reenactors who appreciate the authenticity and feel of their rifles. These Kiblers Kits are purposely designed to take the best elements of these historical rifles to build something that will surely be passed down through the generations. Not just for reenactments, a Kiblers Rifle Kit will give your family an artfully built muzzleloader that is ready for the hunting fields or the battlefields during your reenactments.

Kiblers commitment to every detail will ensure your muzzleloader performs more reliably than had you been in the militia line next to Samuel, giving that second volley towards the British lines.

Preparing for Your First Reenactment

Experienced reenactors know that preparation is key for a successful day of living history. Proper maintenance of your gear, from the boots to the rifle, and everything in between, is absolutely necessary to fully enjoy the day’s events.

Your choice of clothing should be checked to ensure it is period specific and correct for the specified event. The wool coat, breeches, and tricorn hat should fit properly and as comfortably as possible for the amount of movement you’ll be undertaking. Wear and tear is perfectly fine, as nobody had a pristine uniform throughout the duration of these historical events, safe for maybe a prissy General like Charles Lee or Benedict Arnold.

Check Equipment and Load Preparations

When performing checks on your most critical piece of equipment, your Kiblers Woodsrunner Rifle, special attention should be made. Make sure your assembly points are fastened correctly. Swab your barrel to remove any excess oil that may remain so that your powder will ignite correctly. Test the lock for a proper spark during dry fire so you know your Woodsrunner Rifle has a reliable ignition system.

Once you have confirmed your rifle is in good working order, it is time to prepare your blank loads. Fill your cartridge box with rolled paper cartridges with 50 grains of 3Fg black powder, twisting the ends of the paper to seal the powder inside and make for an easier tear when loading.

Test your powder loads before you get to the reenactment so you know how much fouling is taking place in your barrel and what the volume of the report is. You don’t want to be the only one with a rifle that sounds like a cannon on the firing line. The more experienced reenactors may not appreciate the overly excessive noise for the duration of the event.

What you’re looking for is a sharp crack without the smoke plumes becoming too excessive, otherwise the spectators lose focus of the main event, the history behind the spectacle. Whether meeting for a historical military reenactment or simply a period-specific rendezvous with fellow reenactors, your safety measures should be the same for both.

Drilling, Inspection, and Safety

When you join a reenactment unit, there will always be days for drilling, just like our National Guard does to this day. You will learn the commands of the line, practice loading your Woodsrunner Rifle utilizing 18th century techniques, and conduct these tasks while keeping in a neat formation. For those not participating in a battle reenactment, but are gathering for a rendezvous, safety is still paramount and all precautionary measures must be considered.

When the day of the event arrives, you will go through a thorough inspection. Your kit will be checked to ensure that nobody has any ball to load, just powder. Your group will conduct thorough safety briefs before the event starts.

Most likely, your ramrod will be left at the starting point to minimize the chance of any accidents while the event is taking place. When the event is over, you must thoroughly clean your Woodsrunner Rifle, as blank firing can cause heavy fouling. Since black powder is highly corrosive, your rifle needs to be properly cleaned to avoid any damage to your muzzleloader. 

If your unit requires flashguards to prevent injury to those next to you, you can find them at https://www.trackofthewolf.com that are specific for Kiblers Kits.

Key safety practices include:

• Leave all ball ammunition and ramrods off the field to prevent negligent discharges.
• Carry all blank ammunition in either a cartridge box or a haversack pouch with a covered flap to prevent accidental ignition.
• Always inspect your rifle and ensure half-cock engages. Make sure your rifle bore is clear of any obstructions.
• Load powder first, then prime to reduce any possible chance of a misfire.
• Rely on designated safety officers before, during, and after the reenactment or rendezvous.  

Why Kibler Kits Are Ideal for Historical Reenactors

A Kiblers Rifle like the Woodsrunner Rifle Kit is a perfect choice for a reenactment, especially in the southern states where this type of muzzleloader would have been more common. Because of the location where the edges of the Carolinas and Virginia abutted squarely against the known frontier at the time, these Rifle Kits will find themselves authentic enough in a battle reenactment setting. The highly durable steel and solid wood stock construction give a Kiblers Rifle Kit the strength to withstand repeated blank firing for a full day of living history. The precision crafted rifles will guarantee that your first time as a reenactor is spent marveling over the immersive history around you and not spending any time fumbling with your rifle or gear.

Final Thoughts: Bringing History to Life with Kiblers Longrifles

Just like Samuel joining the fight against the British on that cold January morning in 1781, you too can join the ranks of your unit, knowing your Kiblers Rifle Kit will endure the strain of battle flawlessly. Reenactment is a long-standing tradition that has spanned for generations, and your Kiblers muzzleloader will do the same for you. Honoring the past with craftsmanship and attention to detail, a Kiblers Rifle Kit will begin your journey to connecting with our Nation’s past in a way that cannot be described, only felt through the smoke of the powder and crack of the rifle. Join the Cause and visit https://kiblerslongrifles.com/ to take your first steps into the past.