BlackPowderMag.com

Tag: Dixon’s Gunmaker’s Fair

  • Chuck Dixon Chats with Tom Curran

    Chuck Dixon Chats with Tom Curran

    Tom Curran caught Chuck Dixon in the shop and collected this interview for Black Powder Mag. Even if you know Chuck you are likely to learn more listening to the interview. (Larry Pletcher)

    I had tried to call ahead to make an appointment to meet Chuck for this interview, but I don’t believe my message got through, judging from Chuck’s reaction when I asked him if he would grant me an interview. Everyone who knows Chuck knows how willing he is to talk, but never about himself.

    Having already had these thoughts, I arrived at the shop, to find one customer being served by Chuck himself. No one else was around. When the transacton was done, and it was my turn, I stepped up to the counter and introduced myself. When I mentioned my mission, Chuck got this terrified look, and said, “Oh, no, you’d be better off talking with my son, Greg”. I told Chuck that wasn’t going to work, because this was kind of a living history, similar to Foxfire, and I wanted to hear his story. Chuck’s face lit up, and he ran over to the book section, and started piling books up on the counter. “There,” he said with a smile. “There’s the whole story.”

    I thanked him for the books and explained what I wanted was to capture his voice. By now I can see he’s cornered and doesn’t know what to do. At this point, I asked him HOW he got interested in the longrifle. That was all it took to get Chuck into his element. Please sit back and let Chuck take you on a little tour of his story. by Tom Curran

    Photobucket

    Above is the sign one sees pulling into Dixon’s. The fair started in 1983 and has been going strong since then. (Photo used with Permission)Photobucket

    (Photo – Tom Curran)

    The following is the intro of “Ten Years of Dedication”, Remembrances of Dixon’s Gunmaker’s Fair by T. E. Ames. It helps to put into words Chuck’s dedication to the Pennsylvania rifle. Used with permission.

    Photobucket

    (Photo – Tom Curran)

    Directions: If you have a fast connection, simply click on the link “Download MP3“. If you are on a dialup connection, right click the link. You will get a menu that contains “save target as”. Here you can save the audio file to your hard drive. It should then play in real time.The interview has been divided into two parts. Click on the blue link below to begin Part 1.

    Tom and Chuck took a break here. When they start Part 2, Chuck talked to Tom about conversations with Charlie Cole, a local farmer and friend. These chats, the new flintlock deer season, and the coming Bi-Centennial all resulted in Chuck’s decision to start Dixon’s Gun Shop.
     

     

    Chuck was recognized as an inductee into the NMLRA Muzzleloading Hall of Fame for 2008. He was one of two inductees this year. Congratulations, Chuck!

    Black Powder Mag also wishes to thank Tom Curran for conducting this interview. Tom’s interviews have been a valuable asset, and we understand there may be more to come. Thanks, Tom, for your contributions.

    Chuck, thanks for being a part of the interview process. I enjoyed setting up the page and hope to meet you next year at the fair.

  • Dixon’s 2007 Gunmakers’ Fair

    Dixon’s 2007 Gunmakers’ Fair

    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.