Monday, March 31, 2014

A Rifle of Unknown Origin by Tom Curran

This robust rifle pays homage to the colonial period guns of unknown origin, guns that have turned up in America, but of uncertain provenance.  Heavy with overtones of Germanic descent, one might conclude that this is a Continental-made gun. However, there are undercurrents of colonial America running through the carving and form of the maple stock. I tried infuse all the speculation and mystery that accompanies these early rifles into my latest work, much like an historical novel written the language of the day. 

While maple was often used in Europe for gunstocks, it was perhaps the most common wood for stocking firearms made in the American colonies.  The stock wood, then, proves nothing about the origin of this rifle-gun. 

The round face lock would have been made in a German production shop. The barrel is swamped and rifled, a jaeger styled barrel. The reproduction mounts are definitely European, possibly Dutch, but probably German. 

One could assert, and not wrongly, that this gun was made in Germany, using European maple. It could also have been stocked in America, with imported European parts, by a German immigrant smith.

The most compelling argument for this being a colonial-made gun is the two-piece brass patchbox. The complex sliding bolt closure instead of the usual, and later, simple latch and hook mechanism, indicates this is an early form of the hinged brass box.  A mortice is chiseled into the buttplate to receive the sliding bolt. A similar bolt mechanism can be found in the patchbox of the ‘Musician’s rifle’, or Fesler rifle, thought to be a very early colonial stocked rifle.

Barrel: made by John Getz, .60 cal, 35” long
Lock: Davis Jaeger lock, heavily modified
Mounts: reproduction, brass, lost wax cast
Patch Box: fabricated from sheet, rod, and iron bar
Wood: New York sugar maple









Breathtaking photography by the very talented Jim W.Filipski.

Copy and photos supplied by Tom Curran.

Hunting Pouch by Darrel Lang

A simple bag that is 7" x 9" made from 3-4 oz. veg tanned leather and the flap is two pieces of 2-3oz. veg tanned leather, sewn together back to back with the edge burnished. The customer asked for the sun to be tooled in on the flap. There is a small inside pocket and a patch knife added to the back.

Copy and photos supplied by Darrel Lang.

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Antique Rifle

Philadelphia??







Photos supplied by Robert Weil.

One Half Scale Leather Covered Cradle by Paul R. Jones for Karen Jones

This is a half scale copy of an original cradle in the collections of Colonial Williamsburg. It is leather covered inside and out with grain-painted rockers.

I would like to thank Steven Lalioff for all his assistance in the making of this cradle.





Copy and photo supplied by Paul Jones.

Around the Web: Bullet Block

When do you think bullet blocks came into being?

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Horn Pie Crimper by Carl Dumke

The inspiration behind this piece comes from the whaling era where sailors would create these trinkets to sell upon their return to shore after the voyage. The sea horse is carved black buffalo horn. The turned, shaped wheel has a wavy pattern used to create a decorative edge on pie or dumpling crusts and is made from antler rosette. The carved "unicorn" horn is turned from antler tine and then a spiral is carved along the length. The eyes (smallest I have ever turned) are made of bone and then a decorative "x" was cut on edge to add a nice detail to the eye.



Copy and photos supplied by Carl Dumke.

Work by Hary J. Hawthorne

Photo supplied by Harry Hawthorne.

Friday, March 28, 2014

Open Top Pouch by Eric Ewing

This open top pouch was inspired by illustrations in "Sketches of Hunting Pouches, Powder Horns and Accoutrements of Southern Appalachia" by Jim Webb.  It is made from homespun fabric with a brown linen lining for extra strength and was treated with beeswax and linseed oil.  It measures 7.25" wide by 8" tall.  There is an antique bone button for closure and an adjustable leather strap.  The powder horn was made by Tim Crosby.  I made the small copper vent pick and 25 grain measure from cane.




Copy and photos supplied by Eric Ewing.

Primer by Brian Barker



Photographed at the 2014 Lake Cumberland Show by Jan Riser.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

7th Annual Southern Arms and Craft Show


The 7th Annual Southern Arms and Craft Show will be this weekend in Williamsburg, VA at the Holiday Inn Patriot. The show starts Saturday, March 29nd and is from 9AM till 5PM. On Sunday, March 30th the show is from 9AM till 3PM.

Some of the people attending are:

Mark Elliott will have his photography equipment set up at the show and will be taking photos of rifles and other items.






Eve Ottmar 
Jon Laubach
Neal Smith
Tim Hodges
Mac Spencer
Jim Melchor
Doug Douglas
Michael Tuccori
 Ed Wenger
Wayne Trout

Tim Crosby

Wayne Dunlap with Dunlap Woodcraft

Marty Ewing 
Troy Roope Stonewall Creek Outfitters


Mark Elliott photo by Mark, Wallace Gussler photo supplied from here, all other photo by Jan Riser.

Knife by Max Soaper







Photographed at the 2013 CLA Show by Jan Riser.