Gallery

The history of this rifle began years ago when my friend Rick Shellenberger in Colorado cleaned out an old muzzleloading shop. Among other items, he brought home 2 Sharon .58 caliber rifle barrels. Both were rifled at 1 turn in 72 inches. These barrels have eight lands and grooves. Rick kept one barrel and gave the other one to me. Back in Indiana, years passed until I began collecting parts to complete ... Read More »

The Stones Trace Tavern is the location of perhaps the best muzzle loading rifle range in northern Indiana. Read More »

Ever see a shooting line a quarter mile long? Ever seen a muzzleloading slug gun that weighed over 100 lbs? Ever watched a barrel being rifled by hand? Ever seen a shooter bust doubles with a double flint fowler? You can for 10 days each spring and fall in southern Indiana. Come join us!  Editor: Larry Pletcher The Spring Shoot at Friendship is over, and as usual the trip was a treat. ... Read More »

Gallery One contains photos of the grounds, although many of these will overlap topics. Editor: Larry Pletcher The physical grounds change from time to time. The entrance to Primitive is recent, but the Education Building had its Grand Opening this spring. This project was completed completely with donations. The building has a kitchen, a large room for meetings or banquets, and a number of small meeting rooms.   Friendship 2011 Spring Shoot ... Read More »

Shooting Positions Let’s take a look at shooting competition at Friendship. Included in the main shooting line are Pistol, Offhand, Cross Sticks, Bench rest, Silhouettes, LongRange, Slug Guns, and Chunk Guns. Next to the Pistol Line is the Trap Range. A short walk up the dry creek bed is Skeet and the Quail Walk. Muzzleloaders of every description are shot here based on the type and the sights used.   Return to ... Read More »

Primitive Range The Primitive Range is our next stop. While there are many matches for primitive guns on the regular range, the primitive range is for primitive muzzleloaders exclusively. Here you will see shooters in costume firing flintlock rifles and fowling pieces – just to name a few. You might even see a rare breech-loading Ferguson rifle here. Again there are many matches. The Mountain Man Aggregate includes flint/steel fire starting , ... Read More »

Commercial Row, Gun Makers Hall Next we’ll check out Commercial Row and Gun Makers Hall. If you need a hawk or knife, parts for a new gun, or about any other muzzleloading accessory, you can probably find it shopping these booths. If you need a barrel, Rice barrels are here. Chambers, Davis, and L&R locks are here. Wayne Dunlop has amazing wood. Gun Makers Hall is an amazing place. Some of the ... Read More »

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 »

Larry Pletcher, Editor — Photo Credit: Steve Chapman, Larry Pletcher (Use your “back” button to return to the article.)       Read More »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

The biggest CLA show ever is now over. While the number of CLA exhibitors grew from years past, the original displays done by the Kentucky Rifle Association made an immense contribution. Following is a collection of photos from a number of sources. We hope you enjoy them. I decided to use a series of slide shows because of the number of photos to be included. I wish to thank those who gave ... Read More »

This group includes, in no particular order, photos taken by a number of ALR members.  I thank them all for their permission and support.               Read More »

This group of photos are mostly from the main room.     Read More »

This last group has  number of ALR members and their work.   Read More »

Most regional styles are represented here.   Read More »

The KRA had many original horns and firearms.   Read More »

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, ... Read More »