Misc. Books

Now Back in Print. This paperback gives you all the info on making primitive bows. It tells about harvesting the wood, choosing the right wood, all about different styles of bows. Then when you have the bow made, It has instructions on making the arrows and bow strings and quivers. This book is written by D.C. Waldorf and his wife, highly respected in the field. If you are interested in making bows or just want to know how it is done, this book is the one to get.
BK-452 The Art of Making Primitive Bows and Arrows.....$15.00 Please use our New Website...

Recreating the American Longhunter: 1740-1790

Describes how and where the American longhunter lived. Discusses the clothing, weapons, and equipment used in the everyday life of a longhunter. 65 pages. Paperback.
BK-569 Recreating the American Longhunter: 1740-1790.....$10.00 Please use our New Website...

The Cooper and His Trade

This informative book discusses materials, tools, and techniques used in making your own barrels. Also discusses the history of coopering. Many illustrations. 192 pages. Paperback.
BK-861 The Cooper and His Trade.....$22.00 Please use our New Website...

Battle Weapons of the American Revolution

Over 2200 detailed photographs are included in this book. 373 pages of muskets, rifles, pistols, swords, bayonets and more are included. Paperback.
BK-566 Battle Weapons of the American Revolution.....$35.00 Please use our New Website...

Past Into Present

This book is a great guide to first-person interpretaion. Well-researched with many example, Stacy Roth takes you through the entire persona-building process. Chapters discuss history of first-person, theatrical parallels, and research techiniques. Good for the new reenactor or seasoned pro alike. Paperback, 254 pages.
BK-539.....$20.00 Please use our New Website...

"Common Sense" by Thomas Paine

In 1776 over 600,000 copies of this pamphlet sold in the colonies with a population of only 3 million and a fifth of them were slaves. Find out why a handful of people would challange the world's most powerful nation. Audio book on 2 compact discs. Listen and learn!

AB-283 "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine.....$14.00 Please use our New Website...

Clans Tartans of Scotland

We are always pleased when we can offer a good book on tartans. Not only is this book full of tartans (almost 200!) but it has sections on highland dress, clans and their associated families, a listing of clan societies and breathtaking pictures of Scotland. 10" X 7-3/4" , 144 pages, hardcover.
BK-863.....$20.00 Please use our New Website...

The Merry Gamester

A practical handbook of the English-speaking world's most popular card, dice and board games. From ancient times to 1900. Describes 23 card games, 7 dice games and 7 board games. Plenty of ideas for period games to play in camp at historical events.
BK-564.....$12.00 Please use our New Website...

Revolutionary Medicine

This entry in the "Illustrated Living History Series" by Keith Wilbur, M.D., shows medical and surgical techniques of the 18th century. Covers hospitals, epidemics, apothecaries, military surgeons, prevention and more. The gruesome and ineffective are portrayed as well as the skilled, common sense methods. Great for the medical reenactor!
BK-488 .....$15.00 Please use our New Website...

The Age of Agony

A detailed study of the often horrifying world of 18th century medicine. This book gives the reader a wide-eyed look at blood-letting, surgery, hospitals, childbirth, insanity, disease and the "quackery" of medical science. This very interesting book will make you grateful for 20th century medical knowledge. 237 pgs., 22 illustrations.
BK-899.....$14.00 Please use our New Website...

Swords and Blades of the American Revolution

By George Neumann
The pictorial encyclopedia of bladed weapons. Describes swords, bayonets, spontoons, halberds, pikes, knives, daggers, tomahawks and axes used on land and sea in the 18th century. Over 1600 photographs with good descriptive text. Every knife maker or collector needs this book.
BK-484 Softback.....$24.00 Please use our New Website...

Colonial Frontier Guns

A classic reference book on trade guns. Very illustrated with almost 100 photos of original guns and parts, plus good descriptive text. Includes a good section on knapping gun flints. 176 pgs., softbound.
BK-442.....$17.50 Please use our New Website...

Collector's Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Revolution

By Neumann and Kravic
Photos of over 2,300 authenticated items used in the late 18th century - clothing, personal gear, camp furniture, medical, cooking and eating ware, guns, knives, tents and much more. A good reference for both military and civilian reenactors.
BK-440 Softback.....$25.00 Please use our New Website...

Early American Antique Country Furnishings

With over 2100 photos of original and reproduced items, this book covers American furniture from 1600-1800. Separate sections on furniture, cookware and personals. Excellent historical reference guide. 349 pgs.
BK-491.....$20.00 Please use our New Website...

How to Stay Alive in the Woods

Could you survive if stranded in the woods? Bradford Angier's classic survival handbook will tell you how to find food, water, warmth and shelter. Includes making fire, orienteering and safety tips. Great reading, full of valuable information.
BK-823.....$9.00 Please use our New Website...

Exploring the Outdoors with Indian Secrets

Here are the Indian methods for moving silently through the forest without being seen. Includes techniques for snaring game, bowhunting, reading animal tracks, getting close to big game and outwitting nature. Very interesting reading, 223 pgs.
BK-498.....$15.00 Please use our New Website...

The Frontier Rifleman

The clothing, accoutrements and weapons of the Revolutionary War era backwoods rifleman are described and illustated in detail. Includes patterns for clothing and moccasins, historical information on battles and quotations from period writings describing the importance of the rifleman in the American Revolution. 183 pages.
BK-485.....$17.50 Please use our New Website...

The Voyageur

Authoritative account of the French-Canadian guides for explorers and fur traders in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Good descriptions of clothing, canoes and canoeing, food, songs, speech, customs, fort life and more. Originally published in 1931, 289 pgs.
BK-457.....$13.00 Please use our New Website...

The Voyager's Highway

Originally published in 1941, this is a companion volume to The Voyager and follows up with more information on the Minnesota area fur trade. Looks at different ways of life along the inland waterways.
BK-456.....$13.00 Please use our New Website...

Tidings from the 18th Century

Beth Gilgun's book collected and updated from almost 10 years of articles in Muzzleloader magazine. With information on all aspects of 18th century life, we recommend this book wholeheartedly. 285 pages and many pictures.
BK-816.....$27.00 Please use our New Website...

A Midwife's Tale

The life of Martha Ballard, based on her diary, 1785-1812. Many details of pioneer life are brought to light. Pulitzer Prize winner.
BK-849.....$14.00 Please use our New Website...

Home Life in Colonial Days

A much-requested sourcebook that has been in demand since it's original publication in 1898. It contains many illustrations and comprehensive, detailed accounts of how American colonists lived. Sections include homes, food, drink, different occupations, taverns, gardening, travel and worship. Over 450 very informative pages.
BK-549.....$15.00 Please use our New Website...

Child Life in Colonial Days

First published in 1899. Tells of all aspects of a child's life during the colonial period. Chapters on babyhood, clothing, school, discipline, manners, religion, toys and pastimes. 418 pgs, illustrated.
BK-547.....$15.00 Please use our New Website...

Good Wives

The lives of women in New England, 1650-1750. Painstakingly researched, lively with scandal and homely detail. A vivid description of home life in colonial times.
BK-868.....$13.00 Please use our New Website...

The Way of Duty

This book is a must for anyone studying or recreating a woman's life in the 18th century. A detail book about a woman, Mary Fish (1736-1818) and her family. Drawn from documents and correspondence of the period. 281 pages.
BK-500.....$13.00 Please use our New Website...

The Book of Buckskinning I

This series is great for the buckskinner and reenactor alike. All the books are packed with photos and descriptive articles. #1 is a "must-have" for the new buckskinner, with chapters on getting started, guns, clothing, rendezvous & shoots, tipis, crafts & skills, women in buckskinning and much more.
BK-801.....$16.50 Please use our New Website...

The Book of Buckskinning II

#2 is filled with information on 18th century clothing, camp gear, powder horn building, primitive travel with horses, leather work and much more. Includes patterns for the various projects.
BK-802.....$16.50 Please use our New Website...

The Book of Buckskinning III

Beads, beadworking and quillworking, period shelters, quillworking, moccasins, camp cooking (includes recipes), hunting pouches. #3 also features a center spread of 22 color photos showing clothing and beadwork examples.
BK-803.....$17.50 Please use our New Website...

The Book of Buckskinning IV

In #4 you can learn about blacksmithing, handmade knives, making rawhide, trade silver, early blankets and capotes, southwest style clothing, primitive lighting (which includes lanterns and candle making), trade silver, a review of American historic sites and more.
BK-804.....$17.50 Please use our New Website...

The Book of Buckskinning V

Tipi know-how, Fur-trade Indian dresses, engraving & carving, old time music, historic games & sports, pack animals, more reviews of American historic sites. #5 also features 8 pages of color photos.
BK-805.....$18.00 Please use our New Website...

The Book of Buckskinning VI

How to make a traditional hunting pouch, 18th and 19th century horse gear, powder horns, frontier trail foods, period trekking with Mark Baker, finger weaving and more. #6 also features 8 pages of color photos.
BK-806.....$19.00 Please use our New Website...

The Book of Buckskinning VII

Chapters on clothing for the Rocky Mountain trapper & frontier woman, winter trekking, bark tanning, trunks & chests for transport. Also features 12 pages of color photos.
BK-807.....$20.00 Please use our New Website...

The Book of Buckskinning VIII

#8 is the latest edition in this fine series of living history information. Chapters on Beaver Hunting, gear of the trapper, evolution of the cocked hat, history of the horse in the fur trade and beadwork.
BK-808.....$21.00 Please use our New Website...

Living History: Drawing on the Past

Cathy Johnson's book of illustrations and information for the reenactor. Includes accoutrements of writers, artists, hunters, cooks and descriptions of many historic sites.
BK-509.....$12.00 Please use our New Website...

Who Was I?

This new book by author/artist Cathy Johnson offers the reenactor the ideas, tools, inspiration and resources for developing a living history persona. It includes illustrations of common clothing from 1750-1850, personas for women, men and children as well as research tips.
BK-513.....$10.00 Please use our New Website...

Diderot's Encyclopedia of Trades and Industries

Two paperbound volumes filled with detailed engravings showing mid-18th century industry. Originally written & published in France, 1763.
BK-444 Set.....$43.00 Please use our New Website...

Home Building in Colonial America

By Keith Wilbur, an excellent descriptions of tools and methods of home building from 18th century America. Heavily illustrated, 120 pages.
BK-503.....$16.00 Please use our New Website...

Professional Smithing

An excellent manual for the modern professional blacksmith. It describes traditional techniques for ironwork, whitesmithing, toolmaking, locksmithing and more. Written by a professional smith with over 50 years' experience. It includes lots of photos and shop drawings. 133 pages.
BK-852.....$25.00 Please use our New Website...

Early American Crafts & Trades

Interesting little book that is a reprint of an 1807 edition. Covers 23 different trades such as: carpenter, ship-wright, baker, apothecary, etc. 23 illustrations, 140 pages.
BK-543.....$5.00 Please use our New Website...

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Jas. Townsend & Son, Inc.
133 North First St,
PO Box 415-W,
Pierceton, IN 46562

Our Email Address Is jastown@jastown.com