BlackPowderMag.com Flintlock Rifles and Black Powder Guns
Dixon’s is the Mecca for all things relating to black powder and muzzleloading. Some of the most beautiful flintlocks in the world find their way here to be judged and displayed.
This was my first trip to Dixon’s Gunmakers’ Fair. While I could only spend one day, I certainly was not disappointed. It was all I had heard and more.
It was drizzling on the short drive heading from Allentown to Dixon’s, but it stopped as we parked the car. Not knowing where to start, we went to the first tent and found Don Getz, Wayne Dunlap, and Jim Chambers just inside. From there on everywhere we went there were old friends. Some I met before, and some were friends I learned to know through ALR.
I intended to take many photos but as usual I got too involved in conversations to do that. The few posted here are among the better ones. For instance, one can’t look at Kieth Casteel’s wheellock without reaching for a camera. It is an amazing piece.
David Price’s table deserves a close look. David built the swivel breech for the raffle at the Fall Championships at Friendship. The raffle gun was the subject of his carving tutorial on the ALR site. He also helped me do the slow motion videos of locks during the Spring Shoot.
I remembered that Rich Pierce and Tom Curran mentioned being up the hill. As we headed to higher ground, the rain started. I heard a voice welcoming us out of the rain. The camp belonged to Gene Baldwin, one of the Susquehanna Rangers. This group does the F&I War reinactments. They made some of the cannon noise heard through out the day. The rain grew stronger and lasted perhaps 40 minutes. It gave us a chance to chew the fat with Gene. His group has a web site:www.susquehannarangers.com if you would like to become involved.
When the rain stopped we found the Pierce/Curran booth, but Rich and Tom were out and about. We happened by the horn tent. I didn’t know there were so many horn makers. Everywhere you looked there was outstanding examples of horn work.
We continued on, retracing our steps. I hate to drop more names but we saw Allen Martin, Peter Alexander, Mark Wheland, and Larry Gardner. I found Bill Shipman’s table but missed Bill. Here are a couple of photos of one of Bill’s rifles.
Across the isle from Bill’s was Allen Martin. Allen had a couple of rifles that begged to be photographed. The top one was much discussed on ALR.
There were many people to speak with, if I try to name them all I surely will miss someone. It did seem like old home week. I regret not getting photos of more makers with their guns. I should have slowed Taylor, Cody, and Brian down long enough for a photo. If they come back from BC next year, I won’t make the same mistake.
Traveling to Dixon’s is worth the trip. For us it’s 660 miles one way. I’ll be back.