CLA Auction Item: FLINTLOCK PISTOL    by Dennis Kelley

by Joshua Shepherd     Photography by Gordon Barlow

In early America handguns were traditionally considered the weapon of choice for gentlemen, but pistols also saw wide use across the frontier. Whether used to settle duels of honor back east or as a weapon of last resort in a dangerous backcountry, one shot from a flintlock pistol could spell the difference between the here and the hereafter.

Bidders at this year’s CLF fundraising auction will have the perfect opportunity to own a fine flintlock pistol by gunmaker and artist Dennis Kelley. Kelley modestly states that this offering is “my interpretation of a ‘poor boy’ or what I would call a working man’s pistol.” The pistol is built around a rifled .40 caliber Green Mountain Barrel, and is fitted with a “Becky’s Lock” formerly manufactured by Davis.

This iron mounted handgun is stocked with an exceptional example of curly maple, and sports a rich amber patina. Artist Dennis Kelley has been creating blackpowder firearms for 45 years, and his vast experience at the workbench is on full display in the straightforward execution of this outstanding sidearm.

For more information on the work of Dennis Kelley, contact the artist directly at:

kelley805@aol.com

To see all the Artists’ contributions to the 2020 CLF Live Fund Raising Auction, visit our website at http://www.contemporarylongriflefoundation.org/2020-live-auction/

Larry Pletcher, editor

www.blackpowdermag.com

CLA Auction Item: QUILLED HAT BAND     by Djuana Tucker

By Joshua Shepherd         Photography by Lon Brauer

During the 18th and 19th centuries, no self-respecting gentleman, or scoundrel, for that matter would consider venturing into public without a hat. For the modern-day frontiersman headed for the range, the rendezvous, or the woods, that hasn’t changed. For those hoping to set their headgear apart from the crowd, CLA artist Djuana Tucker has donated a unique quill wrapped rawhide hatband to this year’s fund-raising auction.

Typical of Tuckers work, the piece is constructed with historically appropriate materials. The artist relied on authentic natural dyes to achieve the color palette: madder root for red and osage orange sawdust, indigo, and madder root to achieve black. The hatband is wide and 22 long, with a brain tanned leather lace on each end, ensuring that the piece will fit any size hat.

One of the premiere quill workers in the nation, Tucker is a regular donor to the CLA auction. Though the artist is firmly grounded in a knowledge of original quillwork, Tucker is a skilled designer in her own right. “I refer to catalogs of museum collections and photographs of original pieces for reference,” she explains, “but I am also inspired by the world around me.” Such an approach affords the artist a good measure of creative freedom. “I tend to focus on design aesthetic and composition rather than perfection in the quillwork pieces I create.”

For further information on the work of the artist, contact:
Djuana Tucker
2539 Angela Drive
Granite City, IL 62040

618-975-8897
Djuana70@yahoo.com
Follow on Facebook

To see all the Artists’ contributions to the 2020 CLF Live Fund Raising Auction, visit our website at http://www.contemporarylongriflefoundation.org/2020-live-auction/

Larry Pletcher, editor

www.blackpowdermag.com

CLA Auction Item: BAG AND HORN SET   by Jeff Luke

Bag size: Height 10”   Width 7 ½”      Powder horn: 13” Outside curve

Whether they’re carried afield for a day’s hunt or hung as period décor in your home, few period crafts exude the alure of the early frontier as well as a nicely paired hunting bag and horn.

This year’s CLF fundraising auction features a stellar set crafted by artist Jeff Luke. Luke created a quintessential hunter’s set to reflect what might have been carried on the frontier by a man of modest means toward the end of the 18^th century. The fringed bag, constructed of bark tanned deer skin, displays a rich brown patina. The underside of the flap is lined with aged pillow tick, and the bag also has an inner pocket and flint pockets hand stitched with linen thread.

The heavy-duty cowhide strap is fully adjustable by means of a rugged hand forged round buckle. The hunting bag also comes with a small bark-tanned ball bag with a simple antler stopper.

The powder horn that accompanies this bag is an understated treasure that exudes the simple dignity of the early frontier. The horn’s stopper is hand carved walnut, and the base plug is white oak, secured to the horn with iron nails. The artist adorned the side of the horn with a simple but dignified scrimshaw inscription that succinctly captures the modest hopes of any outdoorsman: “Hunt Long, Live Well.”

For more information on the work of Jeff Luke, contact the artist directly at:

poboygear@gmail.com

To see all the Artists’ contributions to the 2020 CLF Live Fund Raising Auction, visit our website at http://www.contemporarylongriflefoundation.org/2020-live-auction/

Larry Pletcher, editor

www.blackpowdermag.com

CLA Auction Item: FISHING THEMED POWDER HORN & BAIT HORN SET by Albert Emanuel

Powder Horn length: 9 ¼”           Bait horn length:: 4 ½”

By Joshua Sheppard     Photography by H. David Wright

Hunting and fishing are twin pursuits that have shaped outdoor life throughout American history. For this year’s CLF fundraising auction, Arizona artist Albert “Ace” Emanuel has crafted a stunning pair of horns that will be useful on the hunt or by the lake.

Emanuel’s powder horn is a fine example of the flat variety, fitted with a poplar base plug. The stopper was crafted from horn, carved into the shape of a fish, and then detailed with lightly scrimshawed features. White highlights on the fish mouth were added with a mixture of horn dust and glue.

The set is accompanied by an ingenious bait horn that’s an original design from the artist. Emanuel made use of a slightly bulged and misshapen horn to make the bait container. The bottom of the horn is pine, while the top stopper was turned from a piece of Arizona juniper cedar. The lid, paired with a leather lanyard and a simple wooden toggle, keeps the bait safely secured within the horn. The surface of the piece features delightful scrimshaw of two fishermen, inspired by Pennsylvania Dutch folk art, “a passion of mine,” says the artist, “along with horn and bag fabrication.”

Although Emanuel modestly notes that using the deformed horn was nothing more than a case of “turning a ‘pig into a poke’”, his offering for this year’s CLF fundraising auction is a masterful pairing of an original concept with expert craftsmanship.

For more information on the work of Albert Emanuel, contact the artist directly at: lazyaceaz2@aol.com

To see all the Artists’ contributions to the 2020 CLF Live Fund Raising Auction, visit our website at http://www.contemporarylongriflefoundation.org/2020-live-auction/

Larry Pletcher, editor

www.blackpowdermag.com

CLA Auction Item: KINGS MOUNTAIN BAG AND HORN By Jack Weeks and Rick Lorenzen

Hunting Bag – 8 inch X 9 inch, Horn 16 inches on outside curve

by Heinz Ahlers       Photography by H. David Wright

Jack Weeks and Rick Lorenzen have assembled a rig typical of those used by American Patriots that hailed from the back country settlements in Virginia, North Carolina and what is now Kentucky and Tennessee. These “Overmountain Men” from the western slope of the crest of the Blue Ridge, mustered at Sycamore Shoals, near present Elizabethtown, Tennessee for the march on Colonel Patrick Fergusons Loyalist troops raiding the Carolinas.

Charles William Parkingham Hooper Adams, (1745 -?) Jack’s 5th great-grandfather trekked east from his home in western North Carolina with Lenoir’s Rangers for the valiant fight at King’s Mountain South Carolina.

Ferguson had a force of 100 Provincial regulars and these were joined by 1000 Loyalist militia. Ferguson reached North Carolina’s Broad River, where he issued a pugnacious public letter, calling the local militia to join him lest they be “pissed upon by a set of mongrels” (the Overmountain Men). Distrust and dislike ran deep on both sides in the battles in the Carolinas.

On October 7, 1780, a mounted force of 900 Overmountain men surrounded Ferguson on King’s Mountain and proceeded to attack uphill, frontier rifles and Indian tactics versus Redcoats and loyalists holding the high ground. The result was one of the salient victories of the Revolution and the beginning of Cornwallis’s road to Yorktown.

Jack and Rick have created a horn and bag to celebrate the Battle of King’s Mountain and Jack’s great grandfather’s service. Jack’s simple bark tanned deer hide bag has a woven strap and a forged iron buckle. The strap carries a forged vent pick and Jack’s hand made bear hair pan whisk. Bag and strap are hand dyed dark brown. Included is a handmade bark tanned deer hide bullet bag, dyed to match. It sports a whittled maple stopper, decorative cones with red dyed dear hair tassels and a braided hemp cord strap.

Rick’s superb gray-green scrimshawed horn is graced with period correct floral and geometric designs including an eagle, folk art animals and a crescent moon with stars. “Lenoir’s Rangers NC 1780” pays tribute this North Carolina Company that fought and died for our freedom, An engraved quote from the Bible, John 15.1, calls to mind the is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Rick’s horn has a turned wood plug secured with wooden pegs. It features a panelled tip with an engrailled edging. Attached to the horn’s tip is a boar’s tooth powder measure. Jack added an adjustable vegetable tanned strap with a forged iron buckle. To complete the outfit Rick donated an 11 inch belt knife with a 6 inch blade and antler handle by an unknown maker. Jack added a sheath with raw silk lacing, and hand dyed to match the bag and horn.

Rick and Jack can be rightfully proud of this rig. It is constructed in the simple style of the overmountain folk but reflects their deadly purpose to safeguard their families and drive the British out from their land.

Ferguson was right. And Cornwallis was on the road to Yorktown

Jack Weeks

Two Ravens Leather Work

PO Box 214

Luzerne MI 48636

(909) 390 3676

jlwweeks@gmail.com

Rick Lorenzen

Rick Lorenzen Powderhorns

PO Box 1640

Acme, Michigan 49610

rickpsalm91@gmail.com

To see all the Artists’ contributions to the 2020 CLF Live Fund Raising Auction, visit our website at http://www.contemporarylongriflefoundation.org/2020-live-auction/

Larry Pletcher, editor

www.blackpowdermag.com

CLA Auction Item: WOODBURY SCHOOL BELT KNIFE & SHEATH by Verlin Cossel
Length: 10 ½”

By Heinz Ahlers     Photography by H. David Wright
Verlin Cossel forged this dandy belt knife in the Woodbury tradition. It feature a 6 2/8 inch blade carefully forged out of 1095 carbon steel. The blade has dual touch marks and a nice aged finish. A poured pewter bolster and a coin silver butt cap secure the antler handle to the knife. To finish out its Woodbury pedigree the bolster and butt cap are engraved by Hershel House himself.
This is a finely balanced, nice handling knife. To make it safe to carry Verlin has hand sewn a deerskin sheath with a deer rawhide liner. The sheath is nicely colored with walnut hull dye.Both the grip and the sheath on this knife have nice color. Combining that with Hershel’s engraving you are going to want to show this knife off in addition to using it. Verlin has accommodated that want with a really excellent display stand. Combining American Chestnut, elk antler, and rusty fence wire, this stand really shows the knife and sheath well. The downside is it does increase the chance your spouse will end up claiming it.

Verlin can be contacted by phone at 270-393-8534 and by email at verlin@hotmail.com

To see all the Artists’ contributions to the 2020 CLF Live Fund Raising Auction, visit our website at http://www.contemporarylongriflefoundation.org/2020-live-auction/

Larry Pletcher, editor

www.blaclpowdermag.com

CLA Auction Item: SOUTHERN BANDED HORN by Billy Griner

Length, outside curve: 11 ½”

By Joshua Shepherd       Photography by H. David Wright

A reliable powder horn is a necessity for the blackpowder shooter, and this year’s CLF fundraising auction features a truly exceptional example of the horner’s craft by artist Billy Griner.

Griner’s donation is a quintessential example of the southern banded horn. “This particular horn,” explains the artist, “is a contemporary squirrel rifle horn made in my Satilla River style.” The horn measures eleven and a half inches along the long curve, and features three decorative bands turned in suite. The turnip shaped base plug is Griner’s own design and was turned from beautifully figured gunstock maple. “The horn,” says Griner, is intended to be attached “to the small bag typically used to support a squirrel rifle.”

The entire piece is capped off with a custom spout also of the artist’s design. The spout is a three-piece affair crafted from white tailed deer antler with a copper accent band. The horn’s stopper is made from crape myrtle. Featuring elegant lines and ideal proportions, this stunning horn was colored with the artist’s proprietary blend of dyes, resulting in a piece that features beautifully contrasting patinas. The final finish on the horn is a hand rubbed finish of bear oil, linseed oil, and bees wax.

Artist Billy Griner is a member of the Contemporary Longrifle Association and a Freeman Horner in the Honourable Company of Horners. “I love being able to donate to the CLA,” he says. “It’s a great organization that I will always support.”

For more information on the work of Billy Griner, contact him directly:

billy.griner@gmail.com

To see all the Artists’ contributions to the 2020 CLF Live Fund Raising Auction, visit our website at http://www.contemporarylongriflefoundation.org/2020-live-auction/

Larry Pletcher, editor

www.blackpowdermag.com

CLA Auction Item: HUNTING BAG AND KNIFE by Gary Tingler and Casey McClure

Bag: 8 1/2″ wide by 9 1/2″ deep. Patch knife 9″ long.

By Heinz Ahlers    —   Photography by H. David Wright

Gary Tingler and Casey McClure have created a this simple but extraordinarily well made hunting bag and knife set.  The bag is made of a dark nicely grained buffalo leather with a matching strap.  The edges are welted and show careful stitching, The shape has a nicely tapered bottom and there is a welted interior pocket with a brass button.

The Casey McClure knife is a wicked little thing showing Casey’s usual faultless craftsmanship.  The poured pewter bolster and crowned antler handle give this knife a lot of style.  The rawhide lined center seam sheath is attached to the back of the bag with the hilt riding conveniently over the bag.

This finely crafted Southern bag and knife will compliment any gun.  And fortunately there are a number of horns in the auction and at the CLA show you can use to round this out.

Gary J Tingler

Email: Treeingwalkers@hotmail.com

Phone: 304-704-5892

Casey McClure

6315 Scaffold Cane Rd, Mt. Vernon, KY 40456

Phone: 606 308-4570

To see all the Artists’ contributions to the 2020 CLF Live Fund Raising Auction, visit our website at http://www.contemporarylongriflefoundation.org/2020-live-auction/

Larry Pletcher, editor

www.blackpowdermag.com

CLA Auction Item:   LONG KNIFE By Adam Daub

Length: 15 ½”   Blade: 10 ½”

By Heinz Ahlers   Photography by H. David Wright

Any knife maker will tell you, the longer the blade, the more care you have to take at every step in the process. Forging, hardening, tempering need all to be right on to avoid cracks, warps, and brittle spots. When you do everything right you get one like Adam Daub has donated to this year’s fund raising auction.

The legendary knife of the American frontiersman, (hence the birth of the term “Long Knife”), these blades are also useful for butchering and chopping. With one hand on the blade and the other on the handle it is a drawknife for shaving greenwood.

This is a fine looking knife with very good lines. The poured pewter bolster and antler handle compliment the blade. The half-tang is double pinned to the crown antler handle. The brain-tanned deer hide sheath has a heavy leather liner to safely hold the blade.

This is a very wicked looking long knife for a Revolutionary War style rig – or for the woods runner, “Long Knife”.

For more information on Adam Daub’s work his contact information is: amd9992@gmail.com

To see all the Artists’ contributions to the 2020 CLF Live Fund Raising Auction, visit our website at http://www.contemporarylongriflefoundation.org/2020-live-auction/

Larry Pletcher, editor

www.blackpowdermag.com

CLA Auction Item: HUNTING POUCH SET   By Calvin Tanner, Ron Hess and Louise Hess

Pouch: 7” X 8 1/2”     Powder horn: Length 12“ Butt dia. 2 ½“

By Heinz Ahlers    Photography by H. David Wright

The design of the pouch was inspired by an existing 18th century pouch. Calvin feels the set is one that represents a common pouch of that era. One that would have been carried by a long hunter or settler coming into the western area of Virginia, the Carolinas, or the Ohio Valley.

The pouch is a convenient size – 7” wide by 8 1\2” deep and has an internal pocket.

Like the original the pouch, this one is made from bark tanned deer, dyed a deep rich brown. It is lined with walnut dyed linen cloth and hand sewn with linen thread, approx. 7-9 stitches per inch. All edges are finished. A nice touch is the scalloped design on the front flap, embellished with an edging of red wool. Inside, Calvin has added a leather reinforcing strip at the top which helps the pouch retain its shape and gives it body. The adjustable strap is edged with incised lines and has a hand forged iron buckle.

The chain, vent pick and brush are all hand made. The brush is turned from ebony wood with horse hair bristles. The pick is cold forged from copper wire. The chain is based on one excavated from a British fort site.

The powder horn by Ron Hess is a good representation of one carried by a common man of the 18th century. It has a good twist that allows it to ride very well against the body. Ron colored the horn to a nice warm coffee color. It has a sufficient area for future engraving.

The 1” wide powder horn strap was woven from linen by Louise Hess and dyed with walnut stain giving it a natural look. It also has a buckle adjustment (hand forged), very typical of 18th century work.

These artists can be contacted at:

Calvin Tanner:   tannermc@bright.net

Ron Hess:   rjhess1976@plantationcable.net

Louise Hess:   rjhess1976@plantationcable.net

To see all the Artists’ contributions to the 2020 CLF Live Fund Raising Auction, visit our website at http://www.contemporarylongriflefoundation.org/2020-live-auction/

Larry Pletcher, editor

www.blackpowdermag.com

CLA Auction Item: TAVERN SMOKER’S COMPANION  By Greg Bray

Size: 14” x 5”

By Joshua Shepherd   Photography by H. David Wright

Despite the fact that the habit of smoking tobacco has largely fallen out of favor in modern America, the practice was ubiquitous in colonial America. From the drawing rooms of Philadelphia to the farthest reaches of the frontier, “making smoke” crossed the societal bounds of class and culture.

For this year’s CLF fundraising auction, artist Greg Bray has created a truly unique offering for collectors. “It’s a smoker’s companion,” explains Bray, “that would have been found in a tavern or in a home of someone of wealth.” The hand-forged creation is a curious-looking but masterfully-executed example of the blacksmith’s art. The piece is based on original examples made by colonial American blacksmiths, says Bray, which were “free formed, unlike the English versions.”

The implement itself is a pair of spring-loaded tongs with a pipe tamper at the top and a pipe cleaner in the middle that also keeps the tongs aligned. Bray hand-forged the entire piece from mild steel; the finished product is 14 inches long and 5 inches deep. This fine collector’s item is fully functional, but sure to be a one-of-a-kind conversation piece at home or in camp.

Bray, a veteran blacksmith of nearly three decades’ experience, also serves as the executive director of Prickett’s Fort, a West Virginia living history museum that recreates life on the early frontier. A repeat auction donor, Bray observes that “The CLA is vital in perpetuating the history and the importance of the early craftsmen in the building of our nation. The CLA allows todays modern-era craftsmen and women to be able to have a venue to show their talents and to carry on the traditions of the early craftsmen.”

For more information on the work of Greg Bray, contact the artist directly at: director@prickettsfort.org

To see all the Artists’ contributions to the 2020 CLF Live Fund Raising Auction, visit our website at http://www.contemporarylongriflefoundation.org/2020-live-auction/

Larry Pletcher, editor

www.blackpowdermag.com

CLA Auction Item: NORTHWEST TRADE GUN  by Doug Warren

By Joshua Shepherd   Photography by H. David Wright

Classic firearms from America’s past are naturally at the heart of the modern Longrifle Culture. Collectors at this year’s CLF fundraising auction will have the opportunity to acquire a truly iconic weapon that saw broad use across the early American frontier: the Northwest Trade Gun.

Artist Doug Warren has donated a truly unique version of the ubiquitous British trade gun. Easy to carry, quick to load, with tremendous stopping power and accurate to fifty yards these guns were favorites with the tribes, traders and trappers. Warren’s custom-built smoothbore sports a 20 gauge, 36” long, octagon-to-round Colerain barrel and is fitted with a Chambers round face lock, noted for excellent sparking and reliability. Warren scratch built the trigger and stocked the gun in maple, which was given a rich hand-rubbed oil finish.

A longtime member of the CLA, Warren is an experienced gun and bag maker with over thirty years of experience, and his Northwest gun is far from a standard mass-produced trade musket. The maker refers to the gun as a “contemporary trade gun.” Although original trade guns generally possessed stocks with little more than 1 inch of drop, Warren’s offering features a buttstock with 3 inches of drop, ensuring a gun that will handle and sight far easier for the modern shooter.

For more information on the work of Doug Warren contact the artist directly at: dougwarren1969@gmail.com

To see all the Artists’ contributions to the 2020 CLF Live Fund Raising Auction, visit our website at http://www.contemporarylongriflefoundation.org/2020-live-auction/

Larry Pletcher, editor

www.blackpowdermag.com

CLA Auction:   LONGHUNTERS KNIFE      by Chad Matthews
Length: 13 1/2”   Blade: 8 3/4”

By Heinz Ahlers     Photography by H. David Wright

The CLF is proud to present this classically styled long hunters knife by Chad Matthews.  The carbon steel blade is combined with a classic s shaped cross guard and bolster. Both are also of carbon steel. The blade length is 8 3/4”  and overall is 13 1/2”.

This is a fine looking traditional knife with a striking curly maple grip.  The blade is made from an old file in keeping with its traditional look.  In early America no file ever died, it was made into something else. It has the look and feel of a user, great for butchering, camp work, or minor disputes over cards.

Chad Matthews is a newer member of the CLA from Rome, Georgia.  He has been making knives since he was 15 years old and learned of the CLA on Facebook a couple of years ago.  He likes what the CLA does and that prompted this donation.  Support our artists, support the auction and let your friends know we are out there.  This great Chad Matthews’ knife is an example of the art and craft you cannot get anywhere else.

Chad can be contacted by email at   <Cmatthews1861@gmail.com>

Larry Pletcher, editor

www.blackpowdermag.com

CLA Auction: FRONTIER HUNTING POUCH WITH POWDER HORN

By Cory Joe Stewart    Pouch 9” X 5 ½”   Horn 17” around the curve.

By Heinz Ahlers   Photography by Gordon Barlow

Cory Joe Stewart has a flair for the segment of the longrifle culture that lived in the upcountry, above the fall line of the rivers and often over the Blue Ridge. These “over mountain” folk or “woodsies” were largely self sustaining. English or city made goods would have traveled 300 miles or more on a packhorse to reach their hands and be priced accordingly. In this environment you made what you could from what was at hand. You traded with a neighbor for those things they had a knack for making. The over mountain folk enjoyed art but they liked the simpler forms. Their schools of gunmaking, reflected this preference, the Bean rifles, the Bull family rifles, the early rifles of eastern Kentucky and upcountry Georgia. The young folks were outfitted in hand-me-downs, so simple things, well made and “lasty” were prized.

The pouch and horn Cory Joe has donated to the 2020 CLF live Auction exemplifies these values.   This is a small game hunting bag, for family meat hunting, not extended long hunts. A wide comfortable canvas strap, that has been waxed and oiled and gathered some grit, suspends the bag. The bag is deer hide, and there is an iron buckled leather adjustment section on the canvas strap, perhaps salvaged from some harness. That touch accommodates different sized family members sent out to make meat.

The horn has a bit of style to it. A piece of deer antler tine has been hand filed and fitted for the spout. Some brass tacks (perhaps from the same harness that was salvaged for the adjustment strap) give it a little shine. Sturdy straps secure the horn to the pouch. It won’t do to have the horn dangle. The horn plug is quickly carved wood. The younger folks will let those plugs get away from them.

This is a nice bag and horn set. It will work as well as its ancestors and looks as good as it should. Would be right at home with an iron mounted rifle on a deer hunt.

Cory Joe Stewart’s contact information is: coryjoes@gmail.com

To see all the Artists’ contributions to the 2020 CLF Live Fund Raising Auction, visit our website at http://www.contemporarylongriflefoundation.org/2020-live-auction/

Larry Pletcher, editor

CLA Auction October 2020 18^TH CENTURY FOLDING KNIFE by Scott Summerville

By Scott Summerville

Length: Open 9” Closed 5”

By Joshua Shepherd     –    Photography by H. David Wright

Whether you’re headed to the backcountry for an 18^th century trek or bound for a desk job in the big city, a reliable pocket knife is a gentleman’s necessity. Perennial auction supporter Scott Summerville has once again generously donated a top-quality reproduction folding knife for this year’s CLF fundraising auction.

Summerville explains that this knife is based on an original piece from his collection which was found in upper Michigan near the colonial fur trade routes along Lake Huron. Summerville’s knife is copied closely from the original, and is a French design from the mid-eighteenth century which features a spear point blade typical of the era. Since the original knife handle was incomplete and the material is not known, Summerville chose richly aged sheep horn for the scales of his reproduction.

Collectors can do no better than this exquisite blade by Scott Summerville, who is one of the nation’s top authorities on 18^th century folding knives. A veteran bladesmith, Summerville has been crafting knives since 1993 for collectors and public institutions across the nation, including Colonial Williamsburg. An expert in the technical aspects of his craft, Summerville nonetheless stays true to the classic designs of early America. “My drive”, he says, “is to produce historically accurate knives in construction and appearance.”

For more information on the work of artist Scott Summerville, contact the artist directly at summerville1757@yahoo.com

To see all the Artists’ contributions to the 2020 CLF Live Fund Raising Auction, visit our website at http://www.contemporarylongriflefoundation.org/2020-live-auction/

Larry Pletcher, editor

www.blackpowdermag.com

CLA 2020 Auction Item:  THE SCOUT SET

By Joshua Shepherd   @   Photography by H. David Wright

At its core, the Contemporary Longrifle Association is a community of collaborative artists who share an enthusiasm for early American heritage. For this year’s fundraising auction, Shelly Gier organized an effort by a score of CLA artists to produce “The Scout Set”, a truly remarkable collection of practical tools for the modern frontiersman.

The Scout Set is built around a superb knapsack crafted by artist Shelly Gier. Gier refined the design of the pack after spending countless hours during backcountry treks. “I researched many different styles of packs,” she explains, and “ended up taking individual features from several styles and morphed them into one.” The finished product is an attractive but utilitarian pack that will make life in the backcountry much easier for the practical outdoorsman.

The body of the knapsack is crafted from period-appropriate hemp fabric which is treated with beeswax and deer tallow for water resistance. Leather welts protect the side seams, and there are four rings sewn in the seams on each side. The base of the knapsack is reinforced with oak tanned leather treated with bear oil. Both the top and bottom of the pack sport two tabs for securing additional gear. The pack also boasts two additional pockets: one positioned inside the flap for smaller items, another on the front, which is integrated into the seams.

Hand craftsmanship is apparent in the smallest details. The straps for the pack are made from walnut dyed hemp reinforced with oak tanned leather. The webbing is bound on the edges with bark tanned leather as found on original pieces. The buckles on the shoulder straps were hand forged by Jim Hayes, and the small buckles on the flap were hand forged by John Rader.

No 18^th century scout would dare to venture into the wilderness without a tomahawk. For this set, noted blacksmith Benjamin Hoffman has contributed one of his renowned belt axes. The design is based on an original piece dating from 1770-1812 that was found in Ohio. Hoffman hand-forged the head from 1070 tool steel, and hewed the handle from a hickory blank. Hoffman’s belt axes are honed sharp, and this piece comes complete with a custom sheath hand crafted by Hoffman out of oak tanned cow hide.

For a good blade, you’ll do little better than to own the knife in this set created by artist Tony Chase. A member of the American Mountain Men, Chase is more than familiar with the features than render a knife reliable for actual use in the backcountry. This razor-sharp blade was created from 1080 steel and fitted with bone scales, and is ideally sized for an all-purpose knife around camp. The knife is paired with a custom belt sheath by Mike Conkling. Conkling crafted the sheath from horse butt strip, which exhibits a rich vegetable tanned russet color. The sheath’s welted seam was sewn with waxed linen thread, and the entire sheath was given a protective coating of neatsfoot and mink oil.

Whether you’re headed to the backcountry for a short hike or an extended trek, it’s a good idea to pack basic fishing gear. Historian and reenactor Matt Wulff contributed a fishing rig based on cod winders common in the 18^th century. Wulff’s hand winder was made from hardwoods and entirely assembled with the use of hand tools. The fishing line is period-appropriate hemp, and the hook is a hand forged “spade” type. A simple cork bobber and hardwood peg make it adjustable for depth, and split buckshot serves as a weight. The winder is finished with colonial blue milk paint.

For keeping your bearings in rugged country, Joe D Baxter has donated a compass that fits nicely in an 18^th century pack. The brass-rimmed compass is nestled in a pine body handcrafted by Baxter. The swiveling lid to the case also displays a simple but appropriate carving: “1776.”

When you’re ready to bed down for the night, the scout set includes a warm and hard-wearing blanket by Minnesota weaver Carrie Jessen. “I am drawn to the patterns, colors, and fibers used in our early colonial period,” explains Jessen, “now, I’ve learned to appreciate their properties that make them valuable today, such as warmth, durability, and sustainability.” This heirloom-quality piece is a two panel center seam wool blanket, handwoven on a four harness loom in a straight twill pattern.  It is heavy weight; colors are russet and tan striped and it is 68” x 79”. The seam and hem stitching was done with linen.

Jessen’s blanket is accompanied with vegetable tanned leather straps by Jeff Luke. The blanket straps, which have hand forged iron buckles by Jeff Rader, were designed with a connecting strap that also doubles as a carrying handle. For carrying additional loads on the trail, Luke also constructed a tumpline. The head strap for the tumpline is constructed of cowhide, with tooled accent lines and forged rings on each end, while the strap ends are 4-5oz cowhide dyed in walnut hulls.

The scout set also includes the camp necessity of a fire making kit. Barbara Smith crafted the tinder box/fire starter container from horn, with a maple base plug and lid. The lid is fitted with an antler knob and has a twisted, brain tanned leather thong to keep the lid attached to the container. The kit contains all the necessities for fire starting, including a steel striker, flint, a tin of char cloth, flax tow, and a small beeswax candle. The surface of the horn container is adorned with attractive scrimshaw designs including the sun, moon, an owl, a compass, and two Native Americans by a fire. The artist used dyes and walnut stain to add a rich patina to the horn and highlight the intricate scrimshaw designs.

For securing your gear or setting up camp, the pack also comes with authentic 18^th century rope by Darrell Brandenburg. Brandenburg’s cordage is legendary in the reenactment community for strength and reliability. Made entirely by hand and roughly 25 feet long, the ropes are crafted from jute and then fire treated, rendering them less prone to stretching and resistant to rot.

Travis Bauer contributed a truly unique item to the Scout Set: a miniature drawknife. This diminutive workhorse is hand forged out of 1084 carbon steel and is the perfect companion for trekking. The piece is ideally suited for a variety of tasks around camp, such as sharpening stakes for shelters or for cooking use around the campfire. The back side of the high-carbon blade can also be used as a flint striker for fire making.

If you’re thirsty after a long day on the trail, the Scout Set has what you need. Bob Browder’s canteen is a masterful example of the leatherworker’s art. This colonial-era beauty is fully watertight and, attached to a woven strap, is ready for the trail. Rob Park contributed a rugged noggin, hand-carved from hard maple and finished with ten coats of mineral oil. Linda Pritchard donated a fine example of one of her reproduction redware mugs. The pack also includes a horn cup by Jeff Gier which was painstakingly crafted with methods straight from the 18^th century. After shaping, the body and bottom of the cup were heat fitted, assuring a watertight seal. The cup was then treated with melted beeswax.

Linda Pritchard

If a beverage a little harder than water is more to your liking, loyal auction donor Jerry Eitnier has contributed a rum horn to the scout set. This small section of horn, which carries an attractive primitive scrimshaw design, is fitted with pine plugs and a hickory stopper and ready to hold the ardent spirit of your choice.

For an evening’s meal by the campfire, Todd Butler’s skewer set will prove invaluable. Butler’s set includes three hand forged skewers which can be used as a tripod or cook set.  Each skewer is 18” long with a twist and interlocking ring. Troy Sowers’ copper boiler can serve as beautiful period home décor in your kitchen, but will also hold your evening meal in camp. For seasoning your victuals, Master Horner Carl Dumke has included a horn salter which he explains represents “the remnant of a French and Indian War powder horn that was broken and repurposed.  It is engraved in the theme of that period.” The piece is an original design, but exudes history: the horn’s wooden plugs are crafted from salvaged 300-year-old pine.

Here are the photos of the artists who contributed to the Scout Set:

For more information on the work of the artists, contact them directly:

Shelly Gier: shellycamps1790@gmail.com

Benjamin Hoffman: hoffmanreproductions@yahoo.com

Matt Wulff: wulffspack@woh.rr.com

Jerry Eitnier: ike47949@yahoo.com

Carrie Jessen: musket@paulbunyan.net

Rob Park: park4@bright.net

Bob Browder: longhunter1957@yahoo.com

Tony Chase: 1780hunter@gmail.com

Mike Conkling: jmconkling@gmail.com

Carl Dumke: cjdumke86@yahoo.com

Joe D Baxter: jdbaxter87@gmail.com

Jeff Luke: poboygear@gmail.com

Jeff Gier: woodswalker319@hotmail.com

Todd Butler: capallmaraforge@gmail.com

Barbara Smith: barbarasmith011960@gmail.com

Linda Pritchard: lpritch@columbus.rr.com

Travis Bauer: asecondchanceathistory@gmail.com

Darrell Brandenburg: kinjano@comcast.net

Troy Sowers: brushcreekcattle@hotmail.com

To see all the Artists’ contributions to the 2020 CLF Live Fund Raising Auction, visit our website at http://www.contemporarylongriflefoundation.org/2020-live-auction/

Larry Pletcher, editor

www.blackpowdermag.com

CLA AUCTION ITEM – OCT 30

HEART OF THE HEARTH ORIGINAL PAINTING   by Maria Freed

by Joshua Shepherd

Photography by H. David Wright

Examples of traditional fine art appear at the annual CLF fundraising auction only occasionally. For this year’s event, artist Maria Freed has contributed a lovely original painting for the benefit of the Contemporary Longrifle Association.

Freed’s original painting, Heart of the Hearth, pays homage to the traditional center of family life. “Unfocus for a moment,” explains the artist, “and you can notice the heart shape formed by the pattern of light within the painting. The heart of the home has long been known as the kitchen, with women being the traditional tenders of the hearth. The true heart of the hearth is the very woman who shines her own light and tends the fires of home and family. Without the heart, there is no warmth.”

Based on a reference photo by Ken Giorlando, the painting is executed in watercolors, a transparent medium that offers little room for mistakes. But after applying about a dozen layers of paint, Freed succeeded in producing a delightful work of art that successfully captures the warmth of home. The creative process, she observes, was “So hard to commit to, but once I got rolling, nothing could stop me.”

Painted with professional grade watercolors on 100% cotton rag paper, this work of art is protected by UV-blocking plexiglass glazing and surrounded by an acid-free archival mat. Measuring 11” x 15”, this exceptional painting comes framed and ready to hang, ensuring the Heart of the Hearth will become a treasured family heirloom for generations to come.

For more information on the work of Maria Freed, contact the artist directly at:

mariafreed72@yahoo.com

To see all the Artists’ contributions to the 2020 CLF Live Fund Raising Auction, visit our website at http://www.contemporarylongriflefoundation.org/2020-live-auction/

Larry Pletcher, editor

www.blackpowdermag.com

PIPE TOMAHAWK  By Simeon England, Mike Miller, and Kyle Willyard

Length 21 1/2″ Head 5 1/2″ tall.

The name tomahawk is a combination of tribal and English words. Algonquin and Lenape peoples called their lightweight axes “tamahak,” “tamahakan” European Americans pronounced these words as “tomahawk.” They liked the size and weight of the original tool, but made their own adaptation by replacing the stone heads with iron heads having steel blades. Tribes who had never seen a handled tool with a metal head called it a tomahawk, adopting the indigenous term to the iron headed too.

Around 1740, Native Americans or European Americans adapted the iron tomahawk into a new form known as the pipe tomahawk. The trade tomahawk is a tool with a wooden handle and a metal head. What differentiates a regular tomahawk from a pipe tomahawk is its head, which consists of a cutting edge on one end and a pipe bowl on the other. Pipe tomahawks could be used for smoking and chopping when necessary, but they usually were more symbolic than practical. Tobacco smoking had a spiritual significance to native peoples

Pipe tomahawks also are a mix of Old World and New World products. The majority of these tools were made in North America. Their handles are of native woods and their axe blades were metal. Blades were usually iron with a steel cutting edge or, if not intended for cutting, they were made of brass. Some of the heads and handles were decorated with silver, pewter, lead, brass, and copper inlays.

European Americans traded pipe tomahawks with native peoples during the fur trade era, from about 1650 to 1870. European Americans also presented pipe tomahawks as gifts in diplomatic agreements and treaty signings with tribes. Joseph Brandt was painted with one in his 1776 portrait by George Romney; Tecumseh had one presented to him by Colonel Proctor. Lewis and Clark took 50 pipe tomahawks with them on their 1803-1806 expedition to trade or present as gifts.

When three noted CLA blade artisans get together on a project, it is certain something special will result. This year Simeon England, Mike Miller and Kyle Willyard have produced an outstanding pipe tomahawk. Historically correct in its features and embellishment, this is a significant display of exceptional work of these three talented artists.

Simeon hand forged the tomahawk from a gun barrel and forge welded in a steel bit. In Simeon’s own words “I forged, then profiled the blade with file work, Kyle Willyard engraved and added the silver inlet to the head, and Mike Miller hafted (it,)including all of the work in coin silver and wire inlet. It’s a pleasure to work with these two artisans.”

As you can see from the photos, this pipe tomahawk is created with the correct architecture and materials. The knife inlay on the right side of the blade on the hand forged head is historically correct, appearing on an original pipe tomahawk attributed to John Small of Vincennes. Sterling silver has been used for the haft cap, mouthpiece and inlay and the engraving is ‘top drawer’. The haft is a fancy piece of curly maple and features a flange for a wrist strap. Look closely at the attention to detail, including the engraved silver mouthpiece and the carved wood clean-out plug.

The CLF Live Fund Raising Auction has a history of offering fine presentation pipe tomahawks, but they do not come up every year. This is one of that select group and this year is your chance to own one.

The artists’ contact information is below

Simeon England: <simeonengland@gmail.com>

Mike Miller <riflemaker@aol.com>

http://www.millerlongrifles.com

Kyle Willyard (Old Dominion Forge) <kwillyard@earthlink.net>

http://www.olddominionforge.com
To see all the Artists’ contributions to the 2020 CLF Live Fund Raising Auction, visit our website at http://www.contemporarylongriflefoundation.org/2020-live-auction/

Larry Pletcher, editor

www.blackpowdermag.com

Woodbury Style Knife by Heinz Ahlers