BlackPowderMag.com Flintlock Rifles and Black Powder Guns
Conner Prairie 21st Annual Art and Arms Making Workshop Larry Pletcher, Editor — Photo Credit: Steve Chapman, Larry Pletcher (Use your “back” button to return to the article.) Read More »
Knife Making Part 1
Author Archives: Larry Pletcher
Knife Making Part 2
Larry Pletcher, Editor — Photo Credit: Steve Chapman, Larry Pletcher (Use your “back” button to return to the article.) Read More »
Engraving Class Part 1
Conner Prairie 21st Annual Art and Arms Making Workshop Larry Pletcher, Editor — Photo Credit: Steve Chapman, Larry Pletcher (Use your “back” button to return to the article.) Read More »
Engraving Class Part 2
Conner Prairie 21st Annual Art and Arms Making Workshop Larry Pletcher, Editor — Photo Credit: Steve Chapman, Larry Pletcher (Use your “back” button to return to the article.) Read More »
Gun Stock Carving Part 1
Conner Prairie 21st Annual Art and Arms Making Workshop Larry Pletcher, Editor — Photo Credit: Steve Chapman, Larry Pletcher (Use your “back” button to return to the article.) Read More »
Gun Stock Carving Part 2
Conner Prairie 21st Annual Art and Arms Making Workshop Larry Pletcher, Editor — Photo Credit: Steve Chapman, Larry Pletcher (Use your “back” button to return to the article.) Read More »
Screw Tip Horn Class Part 2
Conner Prairie 21st Annual Art and Arms Making Workshop Larry Pletcher, Editor — Photo Credit: Steve Chapman, Larry Pletcher (Use your “back” button to return to the article.) Read More »
Shooting Bag Class
Conner Prairie 21st Annual Art and Arms Making Workshop Larry Pletcher, Editor — Photo Credit: Steve Chapman, Larry Pletcher Ken Scott, Instructor (Use your “back” button to return to the article.) Read More »
Ken Scott – Bag Maker, Leather Worker
October 2010 – vol.5, Larry Pletcher, editor I first met Ken Scott at the Conner Prairie Gun Show in 2001. I bought at journal from him. Since then I have seen and admired his work at many muzzleloading events. His bags are, in my opinion, the benchmark by which other bags are compared. Ken’s bags caught my eye at the CLA show this August. His bag “No King by Jesus” is a ... Read More »
Screw Tip Horn Class Part 1
Conner Prairie 21st Annual Art and Arms Making Workshop Larry Pletcher, Editor — Photo Credit: Steve Chapman, Larry Pletcher Return to Gallery Return to Article Digg it! Bookmark this on Del.icio.us Next / Previous Articles: « Shooting Bag Class Part 2 | Screw Tip Horn Class Part 2 » Read More »
Blackpowder Slug Guns – Precision Paper Punching Machinery
Blackpowdermag editor, Larry Pletcher For years I’ve been fascinated with the slug guns during the Muzzleloading Championships at Friendship. This year I decided to do an article on these remarkable guns. This article is the first in a two part series on slug guns. The second will look at the largest slug gun I have ever seen. Slug gun shooting has a long tradition in the NMLRA. During my 30+ years of ... Read More »
Blackpowder Slug Guns – The Mitchell Gun
Slug Guns Part 2 allows a unique look into the world of slug guns. Blackpowdermag.com is pleased to bring you this look at the “Mother of all Slug Guns.” Blackpowdermag editor, Larry Pletcher In Part 1 the topic was slug guns in general; Part 2 zeroes in on one of the largest slug guns ever to be fired at Friendship. This gun, built by George Mitchell, is one of four guns in ... Read More »
Mark Wheland – Riflemaker
October 2010 – vol.4, Larry Pletcher, editor I think I first met Mark at Dixon’s a few years ago and was impressed with his work. Since then I have admired his rifles at the CLA shows in Lexington. Mark’s gun making started as a hobby, but now is a full time occupation. He won a “Best of Show” at Dixons in 2005. I remember a conversation with Mark a few years ago ... Read More »
Conner Prairie 21th Annual Traditional Arts and Arms Making Workshop
The Conner Prairie 21st Annual Traditional Arts and Arms Making Workshop has just concluded. As you enter Conner Prairie to attend class you see CP’s new addition: a tethered balloon in memory of the aeronauts and the beginning of balloon flight in the 1800’s. There is more to Conner Prairie than the classes for black powder folks. photo credits: Steve Chapman, Larry Pletcher editor: Larry Pletcher The classes at Conner Prairie ... Read More »
Charles Wallingford – Knifemaker
October 2010 – vol.3, Larry Pletcher, editor Charles Wallingford is an old-school knife maker from Union Kentucky. His blades are hand forged with traditional handle materials. Most I have handles have been antler. He also makes a fine long rifle, but I suspect his passion is his blades. A man can’t have too many knives; I have a fair number. My favorite knife was made by Charlie. You can see Charlie and ... Read More »
Homer Dangler – Riflemaker
September 2010 – vol.2, Larry Pletcher, editor One cannot think of flint rifle makers without including Homer Dangler. A maker of muzzleloaders for decades, Homer is widely respected for his work. Home Dangler has been a part of Friendship for many years. Although Homer is in his 80’s, he is still active whether it’s making fine guns, building airplanes, or flying them. Homer has a new web site located at the link ... Read More »
Jeff Bibb – Horn and Bag Maker
September 2010 – vol.1, Larry Pletcher, editor Jeff Bibb is a maker of fine powder horns and shooting bags. He specializes in southern muzzleloading accessories. His banded horns and screw tips are my favorites. I enjoyed working beside Jeff at Conner Prairie. Jeff attends a number of Blackpowder events, among them are: Dixon’s Gunmakers Fair, CLA (Contemporary Longrifle Association, Lexington), Southern Long Rifle Show, Williamsburg, VA., 18th. Century Artisan’s Show, Lewisburg, PA, ... Read More »
ITX Non-Lead Field Test for Accuracy
Do you live in a lead-free hunting zone? Are there alternatives for the traditional muzzleloading hunter? BlackPowderMag examines one possibility. Recently I received a quantity of ITX non-lead balls made to be fired in a muzzleloading rifle. The maker is Continuous Metal Technologies Inc located in Ridgeway PA. Brad Clinton is the contact person. The company produces non-lead projectiles for hunting applications. If, for a variety of reasons, hunting with lead becomes ... Read More »
CLA Announces New Journal, American Tradition
Mel Hankla, Editor P.O. Box 156 Jamestown, KY 42629 270-566-3370 melhankla@amhiss.com The Contemporary Longrifle Association is pleased to announce the publication of the inaugural issue of its bi-annual journal, American Tradition. This journal is devoted to the tradition of early American craftsmanship in the firearms and related accoutrements trade, as practiced by the artisan-members of the CLA. Established in 1997, the not-for-profit CLA is dedicated to the art of contemporary longrifles and ... Read More »
Part 1 – Horn-making
Hershel House and his Woodbury School — CLA FEATURED ARTIST
Hershel House and his Woodbury School By Mel Hankla Photography by Ric Lambert, Jan Riser, Mel Hankla and H. David Wright Reprinted with permission from Muzzleloader magazine, July/August 2009. For more information on this and other black powder topics visit the web site atwww.muzzleloadermag.com Hershel Carmen House was born July 4, 1941 and needs no introduction to these pages. His work has been nationally known for the better part of four decades. Hershel and ... Read More »
Brian Barker — CLA FEATURED ARTIST
A NEW KID ON THE BLOCK By Paul R. Jones Reprinted by permission of the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association/ Muzzle Blasts magazine, November 2008. For information on the NMLRA and other black powder topics please visit the website at www.nmlra.org I like tomahawks! I always have, even when I was collecting Colts or Scottish swords, but I just never could afford them. Then, when I discovered that contemporary craftsmen were making them ... Read More »
Screw Tip Horn Class repeated at Conner Prairie
Art DeCamp’s instruction and horn-making techniques were invaluable to me in making screw-tip horns. Thank you, Art, for the class and the extra help you provided. Art has a new web site at:www.artspowderhorns.com Samuel Pletcher grew up in southern Lancaster County in the 1750s. He apprenticed to a weaver, and by the time of the Revolution he was married with a family. One family source says he fought in the war, but this ... Read More »
Making Lancaster Screw Tip Horns – Intro
Art DeCamp’s instruction and horn-making techniques were invaluable to me in making screw-tip horns. Thank you, Art, for the class and the extra help you provided. Art has a new web site at: www.artspowderhorns.com Samuel Pletcher grew up in southern Lancaster County in the 1750s. He apprenticed to a shoe cobbler, and by the time of the Revolution he was married with a family. One family source says he fought in the war, ... Read More »
Making Lancaster Screw Tip Horns – Part 1 (Large Pics)
Art DeCamp’s instruction and horn-making techniques were invaluable to me in making screw-tip horns. Thank you, Art, for the class and the extra help you provided. Art has a new web site at: www.artspowderhorns.com When you select a horn, there are some dimensions that should be considered. For Part 1 we will deal with preparing the tip end of the horn. For the horn used in this Tutorial a 5/8″x11 thread will ... Read More »
Making Lancaster Screw Tip Horns – Part 2 (Large Pics)
Art DeCamp’s instruction and horn-making techniques were invaluable to me in making screw-tip horns. Thank you, Art, for the class and the extra help you provided. Art has a new web site at: www.artspowderhorns.com In this part we will discuss the preparation of the butt of the horn. This will involve trimming, shaping, and turning. We will also turn and fit the plug. Let’s first look at the horn. There is probably material ... Read More »
Making Lancaster Screw Tip Horns – Part 3 (Large Pics)
Art DeCamp’s instruction and horn-making techniques were invaluable to me in making screw-tip horns. Thank you, Art, for the class and the extra help you provided. Art has a new web site at: www.artspowderhorns.com Part 3 will deal with the turning of the threaded tip. First let’s choose the tip. Keep in mind the proportions of the horn. We want the diameter and the length to look pleasing when attached to the ... Read More »
Ian Pratt — CLA FEATURED ARTIST
IAN PRATT’S IRON-MOUNTED MAIDENS By Sharon Cunningham Photographs by John Pratt and H. David Wright Reprinted with permission from Muzzleloader magazine, May/June 2008. For more information on this and other black powder topics visit the web site at www.muzzleloadermag.com To give the reader the added advantage of color and extra space on the website, we are adding photographs to the story. We realize you would like to see more of the artist’s work and therefore ... Read More »
House Brothers — CLA FEATURED ARTISTS
PRESERVING AMERICAN TRADITION: Hershel, Frank and John House carry on the magic passed down by the old masters. . . By Mel Hankla Photography by Ric Lambert, Steve Auvenshine, and H. David Wright Reprinted with permission from Muzzleloader magazine, January/February 2009. For more information on this and other black powder topics visit the web site atwww.muzzleloadermag.com There has never been a time since its invention that the American muzzleloading rifle has not been produced; yet ... Read More »
Frank and Lally House — CLA FEATURED ARTISTS
Frank & Lally House Artistry in Unison . . . By Mel Hankla Photography by Ric Lambert, Gordon Barlow, and H. David Wright Reprinted by permission of the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association/ Muzzle Blasts magazine, April, 2009. For information on the NMLRA and other black powder topics please visit the website at www.nmlra.org Frank and Lally House are well known in today’s contemporary longrifle culture. Each an artisan in their own right, their ... Read More »