| April 09, 2005 |
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Club hits the bull’s eye for trigger happy Historical gun enthusiasts are recreating a long-gone era in the shadow of Lady’s Slipper – and making history come alive, writes Brett Adkins. Mike Holmes took the pictures.FOR the little boy lurking in every man who ever dreamed of being a pirate, Davey Crockett or even an Eastern Cape frontiersman, you just got lucky. A historical re-enactment club whose members play out their fantasy by being able to target-shoot with replicas of famous muzzle-loading guns is quickly attracting attention just outside Port Elizabeth. The Falcon Rock Historical Firearm Association was initiated by firearm historian Robin Barkes. With a handful of other enthusiasts he launched a trading post project with a shooting range a few months ago and it is turning history into a game you can actually play. It’s like being on the set of Glory or Gettysburg where everything is virtually genuine – and you get to have a starring role. It was when he was in Colorado five years ago that Barkes visited Bent’s Fort and thought to himself how wonderful it would be to create the Eastern Cape’s very own fort harking back to the frontier wars of the 1830s where people could come to relive history. It is a trend that is sweeping the world whereby groups of people gather over weekends to reenact famous showdowns, battles and other historical events with all the starched and gleaming trimmings – authentic uniforms, weapons, gunpowder and other period firearm accessories like powder flasks, nipple spanners and cappers. The Falcon Rock club has now established an actual fort, the Falcon Rock Trading Post, on the estate of gunmaker Rolf Hüttenrauch just below Lady’s Slipper which forms part of the Witteklip Mountains.
It is here that the “black powder boys” gather on the second Saturday of every month to indulge their Redcoat, Confederate soldier, cowboy or even the wild Eastern Cape frontiersman fantasy. “People come out here and they can’t believe it,” said Barkes. “As one enthusiast put it: ‘It’s like stepping out of a time machine’.” Barkes explained that an encouraging aspect for historical gun enthusiasts was that replicas of muzzle-loading firearms dating back to the 19th century were considered to be antiques by the government. This meant that these guns were not subject to the strict licensing laws and regulations controlling contemporary gun ownership. And today, to show off their project to interested members of the public, the Falcon Rock members are hosting an “open house” from 2pm, so that historical firearm fans can get to shoot a six-bore elephant gun, if they want to. “It’s living history,” said Barkes. “A guy who dreamed of being a pirate when he was a little boy can come out and fire a pirate pistol.” The excellent replicas – made in Italy and America – include long guns and pistols – six shooters like Navy Colts, Army Colts and Remingtons, said Barkes. “The reproduction is precise. You can buy a Colt, for instance, made by an Italian manufacturer which is an exact replica of the kind used by Clint Eastwood in one of his so-called spaghetti westerns.” The idea is to get prospective new members to buy an imported replica – on sale at the fort – and to join the club for regular target practice and other get-togethers.” “We already have 43 paid-up members,” he said. The fort also had toilet facilities, a canteen and a licensed saloon so that the collective group of cowboys, frontiersmen and soldiers can retire after a day of target shooting for sustenance and refreshment. He said the site of Falcon Rock Trading Post was of some historical importance. In 1764, an American ship, the Hercules, was wrecked near Fish River and the captain and his crew of 64 had begun walking to Cape Town when they arrived at the spot known as Fitch’s Corner then owned by a boer named Fourie. “He allowed them to stay to recuperate and then, when they left, he gave them six sheep which they drove ahead of them to provide them with food until they got to the next farm.” Barkes said when the Falcon Rock Trading Post was fully completed it would also be available for functions such as 21st birthday parties or similar events. Just the place to get shot in style and live to tell the tale.
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