Happy New Year

Sunday Sermon

I found this photo quite evocative on more than one level. It was posted on the Shiloh forum by rmulhern who titled his post "Good Companions." He referred his readers to "Luke 22:36." As I read it, the particular scripture is Jesus telling his apostles that if they have a purse and, presumably something to put in it, they should also buy a sword in order to keep it. If you happen to have a copy of the Old Book laying around the house, you can look it up yourself and let me know what you think. If you don't have a copy, my bet is that you still find the photo evocative but maybe in a different way.

Global Warming 2

Evidence is accumulating supporting the fact of global warming. I have posted on the subject before and I hope that I have reached a receptive audience. It is well known that H4227, H108, and all of the black powders are particular offenders in regards to creating high amounts of greenhouse gases when ignited. Many of you who read this blog will undoubtedly remain unrepentant and will shamelessly persist in your assault on Nature and the Environment. Others may wish to continue their pursuits that have cost so much time and effort but would not wish any harm to posterity. For those who care, I have decided to consider selling "offsets" to balance your ecological sins. This is such an admirable program, that I have also decided to extend it to those who offend good marksmanship. This program we will call "re-entry." Checks can be made out to "Cash" and I will take care of the rest. Prices negotiable. Sleep well.

2008 Match Schedules

I have posted the schedules for ASSRA, ISSA, and the Grand Junction folks here. As I get them, I will put others up such as the matches at Promontory, the Cody WY matches, and, of course, the popular and prestigious matches at the Crow Seeps Cattle Co. With careful planning, I am sure that you can make them all. Tentatively, our matches will be the second Saturday of the month but we may want to work around some of the others.

Old Shatterhand

A couple of the most famous rifles in Germany were the arms carried by a German adventurer known only as "Old Shatterhand" and his frequent companion, Winnetou, an Apache chief. These gentlemen were the embodiment of the cardinal virtues. They were strong, courageous, kind and just. The rifle in the picture was reportedly made by the finest gunsmith in St. Louis and carried the name "Silberbuechse" or Silver Rifle. The other was a Henry repeating rifle that, in this case, was famous for its accuracy and number of rounds carried in its magazine. The adventures of these men were recorded by Karl May (1842-1912) and published in Germany. They were wildly popular and May earned a fortune from his writings. Only later did May confess that he himself was Old Shatterhand and possessed the rifles and many artifacts of the Old West at his home near Dresden. You can see them today along with many other things at his former home, now a museum.

Of course, his success brought out the disparagers, the skeptics, and those of limited "willing suspension of disbelief." May persisted in his assertions but the fact-checkers eventually found that he had never been in the West and had obtained his guns and artifacts clandestinely. Nevertheless he remained immensely popular in Europe and had fans as diverse as Albert Einstein and Adolf Hitler. His books are reported to have sold over 2oo million copies, are still in print today, and have been translated into thirty languages including your own. His stories have been made into sixteen or so movies starring the likes of Stewart Granger and Lex Barker.

So, Western fans, why haven't you ever heard of him? I first became aware of May at a bookstore in Germany where his tales were displayed along side of those by Zane Grey and Louis L'Amour. Apparently they are difficult to translate with any degree of justice to his writing. It has been tried, however. A couple of years ago I read "The Treasure of Silver Lake" part of which takes place here in Utah. It is an episodic tale that brings our heroes across the West and into fortune. I see that another translator, a woman from Tasmania, is publishing more of them in English and they are available at Amazon. I would also hope that someone, one day, will also translate his other works besides the adventure stories as May was not your ordinary guy.

Eye Test

Honor Targets

Honor targets are mementos of an occasion that are peculiar to shooters, particularly schuetzen shooters. The tradition goes back hundreds of years in Germany. The collection in Schwaebisch Hall dates from 1727 only because a fire in the city burned all of the "old" ones. The subjects commemorated vary from club matches, births and birthdays, weddings, individuals, historic events, to whatever catches the fancy of whoever is paying the bill. Portrayed on the targets are the honorees, landscapes, historical events or persons, game animals, Freudian naughtiness, and again, whatever moves the artist or the person donating the target. It seems strange to honor an individual or a wedding couple by shooting at their portraits, especially if you remember the fuss made a few years ago when Bill and Hillary were so honored. I saw a target once illustrating the visit to a town by one A. Hitler. Considering how sensitive he was to criticism, one can see that there was a completely different point-of-view.

Targets are generally round from about a foot to three feet in diameter and are painted on wood. Keep in mind that there is no law governing or limiting the imagination of the artist. Around the outer circumference is often found the club name, the date, the occasion, the winner, who donated the target, and sometimes the names of the shooters. Quite often the shooters mark their hits, sometimes with little conical pegs, and sign their names on the back of the target. During my latest in-depth research expedition, I observed a target that was not meant to be shot but rather to be hung in the schuetzen house. It was to honor the local volunteer firefighters whose representatives were present at that banquet.

Traditions vary about the use of the target. In our club, we shoot a "King Target" each match, a shot at a regular target, sign our names to the hits and present it to the best shot. In some clubs in Germany, an honor target at a schuetzen fest is shot to determine the Schuetzen King for the year, an honor that may entail certain social responsibilities. At more mundane occasions the honor target is presented to the winner or the honoree(s) or hung in the schuetzen house or a favorite pub.

The Way

It seems there are a lot of misapprehensions about "Schuetzen" so I thought it appropriate to add my own. I am often asked if our sport is the same in Germany. The answer is, of course, yes and no. The German Schuetzen Union was organized in 1861 to, among other things, to improve marksmanship both as a skill and a science-just like our NRA a decade later. Our sport loosely replicates the firearms and techniques of the zenith of Schuetzen just prior to WWI. The German branch of our sport has had a couple of major road bumps along the way but remains dedicated to the original purpose. This means, of course, that old single shot rifles are deemed passe', which, in a practical sense, they are. So, to answer the question: no, they have progressed beyond shooting with antiques, for the most part. However, it just so happens that there is yet some lively competition widespread in Germany with odd looking rifles with hooked buttplates, shooting plain-based lead bullets, off-hand at distant targets. The difference is that they are muzzleloaders. It is interesting that one of the makers of these guns refers to them as Schuetzen rifles. The term has emigrated to the US and now back to Germany. So, what about shooting with the Aydts and Martinis that are the models for our rifles? It is still done although I am not sure that the matches are DSB sanctioned. There are some matches, mostly in southern Germany and Austria, that not only keep the tradition alive but also the style. A competitor must not only shoot an appropriately traditional rifle (or Zimmerstutzen) but must also dress appropriately. The schedule for these matches can be found at the website of Josef Albl, an artist woodcarver of Oberammergau. So the answer to the original question is also "yes, sort of."

Well do they?

This has been circulating on the internet but I thought that I would add it here so that the question might be finally put to rest.

Gedenkbuch

One of the more interesting things that I was able to see and browse through in my travels was a copy of the Gedenkbuch or Memory Book for the third German Bundeschiessen that was held in Vienna in 1868. It was a bit of a challenge in that the publisher neglected to print an English version and also used a type face that takes a little getting used to. That being said, the writing was plain and straight forward-as far as I could tell. The book is the "after action" report of the shoot.
The third Bundeschiessen attracted over five thousand competitors to shoot from one hundred sixty positions. This was not a small undertaking and required planning not only for conducting and scoring the matches but also for housing, feeding, transporting, and caring for the other needs of the participants. This seems to have been done with a great deal of intelligent thought and attention to detail. For example, it specified the kind, quality, and cost for a meal.
It is useful to remember that these gatherings were inspired by a growing desire of the German people to be united politically. This had been taking place even while planning for the festival was going on. Austria and Prussia went to war in the summer of 1866, just two years before. Prussia thumped the Austrians pretty well, inflicting casualties at a rate of about seven to one using their new secret weapon, the Dreyse breech-loading needle rifle. Prussia then simplified government administration of the German states that had been allied with Austria by doing it themselves. Nevertheless and surprisingly so, the mood at the Bundeschiessen seems to have been brotherly and not focused on the past.
The actual matches, and there were several, were held at 175 and 300 meters and were shot off-hand. For example, the Wehrmanns-scheiben was fired with something like a service rifle. The rules specified no set trigger, no hooked butt plate, and no patched bullets. The target was at 300 meters and was about three feet tall and half as wide. I neglected to record the scores but there seems to have been some fine shooting. The winner of the rapid fire target (300 meters, three minutes) won with a Peabody single shot-way ahead of the Winchester repeaters.

Gus Zimmermann

Gus Zimmermann emigrated from his home in Endingen to New York while still a very young man. He became a hotelier and judging from his largesse, a successful one. He also became a successful rifle shot, competing both in the US and Germany. It is a little hard to imagine that, given the time required for travel, that frequent trips would be the norm. However, during the 1890's and well into the 1920's Mr. Z seemed to do just that making part of his program visits to his hometown, enjoying the Schuetzenfest and sharing his gains from the New World. Our research of Endingen's "Golden Uncle" continues.

Germany 3.0 Endingen

Endingen, a small town at the base of the Kaiserstuhl, might seem an unlikely tourist destination. But that would only be if someone did not know that this is the home town of the famous Schuetze Gus Zimmermann of whom more will be relayed later. Mr. Z was very generous to his neighbors in his day, giving great gifts to the schuetzenverein, the church, and the community. His benefactors have not forgotten, either. For example, there is Gus-Zimmermann-Allee, an attractive tree-lined path to the forest; the city museum has its own display of his awards; and the schuetzen club maintains a veritable monument to his memory.

Friend Ingo Laue not only surprised me with a visit and a tour of the schuetzen house but also arranged for us to celebrate with the club the crowning (chaining?) of the new schuetzen king the following Saturday. This soiree consisted of music, dinner, some speaking, dancing, singing, and enjoying the principal agricultural product of the region. The club honored the youth marksmen, the volunteer fire department-the subject of this year's honor target-and presented the church with a sizable donation. They were very hospitable to their visitors. I was given a club patch, along with extra refreshments including a sip of Schuetzenschoerle from a silver cup that had been won by favorite son, Gus Zimmermann. Many thanks to the good and generous folks of Endingen. Later in the week, B. Kellner and I were able to interview a member with much knowledge of Mr. Z. We were also able to visit the city museum in the company of the city archivist and to visit the church that houses Mr. Z's gift. I'll say it again: The people of Endingen were especially kind and have my thanks.

Germany 2.2

Today's big deal was a visit to the Bugatti collection in Muhlhouse (moo looz) Fwance. Absolutely heaps o' heaps. Race cars, old limosines and luxury cars, and "interesting" cars from before WWII. The really great thing about this place, as you can see from the picture, is that they leave the keys in the cars and you can take them for a spin.

Germany 2.1

Today was a visit to the Schützenmuseum in Bern Switzerland. It is near the city center and entrance is free. On display are many target rifles, service rifles from flintlock times, trophies, targets, medals, cups, flags, scoring devices, etc. Included are a Sharps or two, a Peabody, and a Winchester.

Germany 2

What, you may well ask yourself, is there to do in Germany during November that would be of any interest? Saturday we strolled around the old town in Freiburg and then went to the mountains south of the city. This part of Germany is not the ugliest place in the world. That night, we went to a special place to work on my SD (Schnitzel Deprivation). I am no longer suffering from it but the yearning still remains. Probably further treatment is required.

Sunday we drove to a small town called Endingen which has some significance that might be explored later and was surprised to find that we were there to do a little shooting at the local Schützenhaus. After soundly whipping Ingo at his own sport, we took a little walk around the area and then drove to the misnamed but worth visiting Black Forest. The leaves are changing and I would say that it is more of a yellow or orange forest. After a short stop at a restaurant where we snacked on a Black Forest torte (probably not more than 4000 calories) we climbed up the little side hill from which above picture was taken. I think that this last exercise might be a good cure for jet lag and future travelers should take note.

Germany

I am leaving for the Land of the Big Schnitzel (Baden, in particular) tomorrow. It is purely educational in nature as I hope to visit a Schuetzen Museum in Berne, a rifle match, a gun maker, a firearms collection or two, and an Elvis impersonator. Plus a visit to the BLUE LUBE Works is on the schedule. I may be able to post some pictures. I also hope to study with the noted gastrosopher B. Kellner the various edibles and potables of the region. I have engaged the services of a couple of native guides to ease my passage and to explain the quaint ways of the indigenous folk. The above photo of Merdingen is by the internationally known photo artist Ingo Laue.

Boo!

Happy Halloween.

Hubertus Octoberus

Our St. Hubertus shoot is done and the laurels (and the coveted tub of BLUE LUBE) were taken by Paul Lambert in the main match. Paul shot a 249-10X on one of his targets and if that was not honor enough, he also took home the Ehrenscheibe, a little memento for his recent birthday anniversary. Gaylord won the Traditional Rifle match and the Merdingen medal, shooting a 360 with his real purty Buechel Meister. Bill Flint actually outshot Gaylord with a 383 but his traditional rifle just wasn't traditional enough. Sorry Bill, take the bragging rights though. Ron Bell also shot the Traditional match and did quite well even though he is recovering from a recent low altitude sky diving accident. This may not be our last match of the year as Gary is investigating the use of a setting for winter Zimmerstutzen competition. Stay tuned.

September Golden Spike Scores

In case you are not, as I am not, on Denny's email distribution list, you have been waiting to see how things went. Well, I have obtained them and have posted them here. You can see that attendance is down a bit from previous shoots which, to me, indicates that great strides are being made in weather prediction.

Albert Gotthilf Sterzing RIP

This week is the anniversary of the passing in 1889 of Albert Sterzing, the first president of the German Schuetzen Union (DSB). Sterzing was a gifted and extremely competent man and an orator whose friends called him "The Hurricane." He was born in Zella St. Blasii in 1822. His father was a physician and a brother learned the gun making trade. After his education and apprenticeship, he rose through the ranks of the legal bureaucracy of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to become an adviser to Ernst II and counsel to the Thuringian railway. He also found time to become the Schuetzenmeister of the Altschuetzengesellschaft of Gotha.
His lasting gift to his fellow man, besides his family, was his leadership in the founding of the DSB. Ernst II, Duke of SCG (see way below), picked Sterzing to organize the Schuetzen societies of Germany into a "national" organization. This was complicated by the fact that at the time, 1861, "Germany" consisted of thirty-nine more-or-less independent states, some of which forbade the joining with "foreign" organizations. He was successful, extremely so. The first "national" Schuetzenfest in 1862 attracted about 8000 participants from around the globe. Much of what fueled the enthusiasm was the strong feeling among Germans for a once-again united Germany, a child that was born in 1871 with the help of the midwife, Wilhelm I of Prussia, and his men in blue.
Sterzing was elected as the first president of the DSB, a post he held, with much esteem, until his death. His real gift, beyond his organizational and motivational skills, was to guide this organization of armed groups, the Schuetzen societies, successfully through the dangers posed by revolutionaries on one hand and suspicious princes on the other. He did this, in my opinion, by steering competition away from military style competition while still emphasizing improvements in arms and marksmanship. Those precious exemplars of Schuetzen art, the rifles of his and later times-up to the time of National Socialism-are decidedly unmilitary. While the first standard competition rifle followed the example of the Swiss model 1852 Feldstutzen, complete with bayonet mount, we end the era with the beautiful but impractical Aydts and Martinis.