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Life in the Old West
The Old West never died. It was the begining of a legendary culture that still thrives today. Join western host, Dave Rodgers as we examine the legends, people, places, and frontier cultures of the past and now. Rediscover forgotten famous faces from The Old West's many walks of life and meet the new generation of a daring breed fit to fill their boots.
For all of you historic enthusiasts, we shall begin the immersion. If you yearn for the smoke of a campfire, the seat of a good saddle and the wind whispering over an untamed landscape, it’s time to begin. Now, let’s roll back time and journey from then through today.
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The Little Things: What was in an Old West Traveler's Pockets?
What would you carry in your pockets if you lived in the Old West? Here's a Glimpse at some items carried by 19th Century Frontier Americans A sample of common pocket items for a frontier traveler: Durable pocket watch with quartz face, utility knives of many styles, matchsafe, compass, wallet for currency, coinage and personal papers, pouch for coins or tobacco & pipe, alcohol flask, and silk handkerchief. "In the 21st century, we have traded self reliance and valuable life
Dave Rodgers
3 days ago9 min read
Frontier Campfires, Then and Now
The campfire is one of history's greatest outdoor traditions. Here are some quick tips for the next generation of frontiersmen from managing the fire to cooking just as our Old West ancestors did. It discusses how to select campfire fuel, how to build a campfire, how to manage a fire and cook food in camp.
Dave Rodgers
Jan 215 min read
Old West Gunfights, Guns & Methods, The Truth vs. Fiction
Old West Shooting Methods and Eyewitness Accounts Shed Some Light on the Truth Hidden Behind Hollywood Myth Dave Rodgers is Chief...
Dave Rodgers
Dec 10, 202422 min read
TRADITIONAL 1870's PUMPKIN PIE
Thanksgiving & Christmas are right around the corner, so here is a traditional old western pie recipe to enjoy by your homestead fireside...
Dave Rodgers
Nov 20, 20246 min read
Survival Tricks for When Less is More: Alternate Uses for Common Old West Items
How Did Old West Travelers Treat Life's Little Emergencies Without Towns or Stores Nearby? Here are Some Ideas on Making Do With What...
Dave Rodgers
Apr 21, 202413 min read
WINCHESTER - SPRINGFIELD - COLT, 150th Anniversary for Three Iconic American Guns 1873-2023
By Dave Rodgers Happy 150th to Colt's "Peacemaker" .45, Springfield Armory's 1873 .45-70 Trapdoor Rifle, and the 1873 Winchester .44-40....
Dave Rodgers
Dec 2, 20239 min read
The Mesquite: Super-Food Treasured by The Ancients. It is Delicious & Easy to Prepare. Here's How...
By Dave Rodgers If you are Diabetic and looking for a Sugar Substitute, or a Health Enthusiast who likes ancient grains, you might want...
Dave Rodgers
Jul 11, 202213 min read
HAWKEN - SHARPS - WINCHESTER, Three Iconic Rifles of the American Plains
By Dave Rodgers Deep in the Heart of the Superstition Wilderness, Three Pards Came Together and Put Some of the Old West's Most Famous...
Dave Rodgers
Apr 17, 20224 min read
Mules in the American West
The American Mule deserves more credit than it's given as the trailblazer's companion. In fact, it is more versatile and valuable than the horse in its ability to cope with rough terrain and the unexpected dangers on and off the trails of the American Frontier. Dave Rodgers is Chief Editor of the Frontier American Illustrated News. He is a tribal member and westerner descended directly from Squire and Edward Boone (father & brother of Daniel Boone). With an old-west family li
Dave Rodgers
Jul 27, 202127 min read
Survival Food of the American West
Learn about the kinds of foods that kept best on the American frontier; how was it prepared, packed, and how contrary to lore, our...
Dave Rodgers
May 21, 202115 min read
The Western Wagon Train: Part-Two, Life on the Trail
Hear from those who traveled the trail as to what life really was like in a wagon train. How did they 'circle the wagons' or what was the...
Dave Rodgers
Mar 17, 202125 min read
The Western Wagon Train: Part-One, The Routes West, Wagons, Prairie Schooners & How They Were Packed
What were the routes of the western emigrant? What kinds of wagons were used? How were they made and was there standard wagon-wheel...
Dave Rodgers
Mar 4, 202120 min read
Bottoms Up! Cocktails and Spirits in the Old West...
But Wait! I thought Frontiersmen Ate Nail-heads and Gun Powder When They Were Not Quenching Their Thirst With Benzine and Snake Venom!...
Dave Rodgers
Mar 1, 20217 min read
The ‘Bedroll’ or ‘Blanket-Roll’ from the Frontier to the Civil War
Knowing the old ways of the blanket-pack is important for bushcrafters and historians alike. Here is more about the lightweight knapsack...
Dave Rodgers
Jan 30, 202120 min read
Colt’s .36 “Navy Revolver” & The Lesser-Known Tips from Sam Colt Himself
From Wild Bill Hickok to an Endless Array of Frontiersmen, Outlaws, Soldiers, and Various Rugged Individuals; the Most Historically...
Dave Rodgers
Jan 22, 202113 min read
The “Hunting Bag” of the 18th-19th Century American Frontier
What were the Basic survival Essentials Carried in the Frontiersman’s Hunting Bag? Our ancestors more commonly called it a ‘Bullet Pouch’...
Dave Rodgers
Jan 17, 20219 min read
The Gun-Flint & Flint-Lock, Learn About a Vanishing Weapon of America’s Frontier Past
The ‘pan-and-flint’ arms of the American Revolution and its following decades should be remembered as the signature weapon of the west...
Dave Rodgers
Jan 13, 202110 min read
Money in the Old West: Coins of America's 1840s-1870s Beyond the Mississippi
If you like gold and silver from America's past, you should read this. Many people don’t know what the coins of the American West even...
Dave Rodgers
Jan 5, 202110 min read
Calle De Los Negros, the Wickedest Street in the American West
Beneath the pavement of present-day Los Angeles lies a foreboding secret. Within sight of the festive Olvera Street, there was once a...
Dave Rodgers
Jan 1, 202115 min read
Introduction to 19th Century Penmanship & How to Do It.
Regardless if you call it 'Calligraphy' or just 'Fancy Handwriting', here is a good way to get you started on a vanishing art. Learning...
Dave Rodgers
Dec 25, 202012 min read
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