Retiring just wasn’t enough for David Wheeler.

After investing 14 years as an officer and armorer for the Oneida Nation Police Department, Dave was looking for a way to continue to be active. He also wanted to give back to the Oneidas. He found a perfect fit with the First Allies Living History Group.

Since December, Dave has been volunteering his time as an assistant armorer. An armorer works on firearms, repairing guns, replacing and refitting parts, and ultimately ensures the safe operation of weapons.

“It’s fun to be able to work with materials and make them work properly,” Dave said. “I always enjoyed working with weapons. I remember doing so with my father who was a hunter.”

Dave has worked with black powder rifles since the 1960s. Not only did he share a love of hunting with his father, but he shares a long history of law enforcement with his family. His father and his uncle were state troopers. In fact, his uncle was on the original flying team. His brother and cousin also served as officers.

Dave also worked for the Oneida City Police Department for 27 years. He is certified as a firearms instructor and a New York State Hunter Safety Instructor, and is certified by the National Rifle Association for rifle, pistol, and shot gun.

Among Dave’s current projects is bringing a replica Brown Bess Long Land model back to working condition. The military-issue weapon, a muzzle-loading flint lock, was used during the Revolutionary War era. The original weapon was issued in 1762 and, in the hands of an expert soldier or experienced hunter, was fairly accurate at 50 yards.

While the model has numerous pieces, soldiers were asked to pay attention to the most important parts: the lock (flintlock), stock (wooden end of the firearm) and barrel (the musket). The phrase “lock, stock, and barrel” is still in use today and means “the whole thing.”

“The 1700s models are quite a bit different the way the parts are made. Modern weapons are machine-made. In the 1700s, they were handmade. They added a lot more embellishments on their weapons.”

Dave said he is proud to volunteer for this team and said this is one way for him to support the Nation after they supported him during his career. “The Nation’s provided this service, this historical service, that we just don’t see anywhere else,” he said. “The Oneidas played a very important part in the founding of this country. People don’t realize how much history there is in Central New York.”

“The Nation invested a lot of money in materials for this (First Allies),” Dan Umstead, superintendent, said. “Dave’s taken the time to take every piece of equipment we have apart, clean (the pieces), and put it back together. He’s taken care of something old and made it work like new.”

Dave is also working on a project for the National Park Service at Fort Stanwix, repairing and cleaning muskets used at the site. This spring, First Allies will host a workshop on proper care and maintenance of the firearms. Another workshop will be held on firing the weapons.

Proud of the Oneida’s role in history, the First Allies Living History Group continues to accurately portray the Oneida story. Prop specialties include period artillery, firearms, uniforms and American Indian crafts.

The group earned a President’s Volunteer Service Award for its work at Fort Stanwix National Monument and other National Park Service sites over the past five years. The award was presented by Fort Stanwix Superintendent Debbie Conway. The award is given to individuals and groups who have logged at least 4,000 hours of volunteer time; since 2002, the First Allies group has completed more than 11,000 volunteer hours.

Members also found themselves busy at other sites, including the Oriskany Battlefield, Valley Forge, and Saratoga.