Shope Arms

Shope Arms Tools and tips for the 18th century soldier and sporting enthusiast

From "the universal angler" written in 1766 by Richard Bowlker:"The red fly comes down the latter end of February, and c...
09/02/2026

From "the universal angler" written in 1766 by Richard Bowlker:
"The red fly comes down the latter end of February, and continues till the middle of March. He is made of a dark Drake's feather, and the body of a red hackle, and the red part of a squirrel's fur. He has 4 wings and they lye flat on his back. He comes on very plentifully in cold stormy days"

Tied in the hand on an eyeless hook armed with a snood of 2 twisted horse hairs with the ingredients listed above. I think next time Id do smaller wings but more feathers and tie them back more to get the 4 wings "flat on his back" but I'm pretty happy with this!

It's difficult to appreciate the magnitude of this undertaking. Flintlocks were designed and made in a pre-industrial ag...
09/02/2026

It's difficult to appreciate the magnitude of this undertaking. Flintlocks were designed and made in a pre-industrial age where the irregular curves and complex geometry of forged, hand fitted components were not an issue. Modern manufacturing methods and interchangeble parts prefer straight lines and regular, well defined curves... this guy is a wizard

me and the Kerls hanging out on the headless horseman bridge in Sleepy Hollow
08/25/2026

me and the Kerls hanging out on the headless horseman bridge in Sleepy Hollow

Just got back from the battle of Brooklyn! First time with my own officer kit on the field, first reenactment in the mid...
08/24/2026

Just got back from the battle of Brooklyn! First time with my own officer kit on the field, first reenactment in the middle of Brooklyn, and first 250th event for the hessians!! Photos and videos are popping up all over the place so I'll be sharing more soon. The hessian Renaissance continues!!

Forgot to make a post about traveling north for the battle of Brooklyn but I'm trying out a new impression here! Very ex...
08/22/2026

Forgot to make a post about traveling north for the battle of Brooklyn but I'm trying out a new impression here! Very exciting to be part of the Hessians first 250th battle

Since rust (aka patina) makes a firearm so much more valuable then this must be absolutely priceless. I wonder how long ...
08/09/2026

Since rust (aka patina) makes a firearm so much more valuable then this must be absolutely priceless. I wonder how long maintenance has to be deferred for it to increase value? If an original gun is properly maintained for two centuries but then allowed to rust does that count? Or does the rust need to be a certain age for it to be considered patina?

The Siler to Pistor Lock conversion is nearly complete! This has been a fun project and I'm particularly proud of modify...
08/08/2026

The Siler to Pistor Lock conversion is nearly complete! This has been a fun project and I'm particularly proud of modifying the featherspring from an external screw to an internal screw via brazing.... WITHOUT damaging the spring temper. Frankly I'm shocked that worked

Hard to believe these are the same lock
08/07/2026

Hard to believe these are the same lock

This is the Germanic "I wasn't asking" style ramrod with a very large mass at the end that makes both ramming cartridges...
08/03/2026

This is the Germanic "I wasn't asking" style ramrod with a very large mass at the end that makes both ramming cartridges and returning the rammer faster. The originals were probably forge welded but I haven't done that yet so it's been brazed!

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