Prior to attending the Albany Congress in 1754, Benjamin Franklin began advocating for greater cooperation among the British colonies of North America. In May of that year, Franklin published an illustration in the Pennsylvania Gazette that hinted at the need for greater unity. Franklin depicted a dismembered snake, each representing a specific colony, with the [...]

On the early frontier, utilizing every available resource was simply a way of life. Kentuckian William Clinkenbeard explained that buffalo wool was often mixed with nettle fibers to produce ready-made textiles. “The buffalo wool,” he would later write, “was the longest in the spring, and the longest we called the best. Yearlings and two-year-old's had [...]

CLA artists consistently find ways to blend contemporary art with a healthy respect for the past. For this year’s CLF Fundraising Auction, Jack Pennington has contributed an outstanding horn that serves as a tangible chronicle of frontier Pennsylvania. The artist explains that “this horn was built to represent what a coureur-de-bois, French-educated native, or French [...]

Artist Gary Tingler routinely produces outstanding donations for the CLF Live Fundraising Auction, and this year is certainly no exception. For the 2022 event, Tingler has produced a durable haversack that’s full of frontier character. This bag will be perfect for your next living history event or trip afield. The body of the haversack was [...]

Artist Todd Butler’s hand-forged knives are in high demand, and for good reason. His knives are among the best blades currently available in the custom market and are only increasing in popularity with collectors. Elegant lines, rugged dependability, and unparalleled craftsmanship characterize the work of this master bladesmith. A regular supporter of the CLF Fundraising [...]

The skilled craftsmen of the CLA consistently produce remarkable art for the annual fundraising auction; for this year’s event, Terry Smith created a truly fresh take on an old standby. Smith’s haversack will bring a touch of class to the firing line of your next black powder event. The body of this stunning bag, entirely [...]

Painted portraiture, particularly of historical subjects, lends itself to the flavor of Early Americana.  For this year’s CFL Fundraising Auction, contemporary artist Lon Brauer has created a beautiful original oil painting in the tradition of Gilbert Stuart, with a touch of Karl Bodmer, which will be a fine addition to any collection of American Art. [...]

The craft of handweaving baskets is an age-old art form that saw widespread use in early America. For this year’s CLF Live Fundraising auction, artist Vicki Hast has contributed a delightful woven basket that will fit in well at a living history event or function as period décor for the home. Hast created this gathering [...]

In the modern world, making and using tools from natural materials is a refreshing way to connect to reality. For this year’s CLF Live Fundraising Auction, a trio of artists has teamed up to create a hunting rig that evokes straightforward craftsmanship and rugged performance. The set is built around a hunting bag by Jeff [...]

This set, made by Lawrence Fiorillo, Todd Hambrick and Chad Matthews, was created to represent the backcountry in the colonial period.  The project drew its inspiration from Todd Hambrick’s powder horn.  The horn is a close copy of an original currently in the possession of Mel Hankla.  The horn is believed to be from the [...]

For black powder enthusiasts, there’s nothing quite like the ubiquitous antler-handled knife of the early frontier. Crafted from readily available materials, these knives saw heavy use in the backcountry, and continue to be a blade of choice for the modern frontiersman. This year’s CLF Live Fundraising Auction will feature an excellent example of this popular [...]

The creative women of the CLA have made this year’s fundraising auction a pleasant exploration of often underappreciated aspects of early American life. For this year’s live fundraising event, artist Heather Schneider has created what many of us take for granted in the modern world: a pocket. Schneider’s pocket will work well at a living [...]

Engraved powder horns are not only functional for the modern black powder shooter but are justifiably considered works of art in their own right. This year’s CLF Live Fundraising Auction features a prime example of 18th century-inspired art by Barbara Smith. Smith’s powder horn is loosely based on a French & Indian War period horn [...]

In the summer of 1775, George Washington was desperate to properly uniform the nascent Continental Army then forming around Boston. During the first week of August, Washington requested Connecticut authorities to begin producing inexpensive clothing for his men and sent along a sample of frontier clothing for them to use as a pattern. It was [...]

In the 18th and 19th centuries, any man unlucky enough to need clothing mended while away from home desperately needed the assistance of a “housewife”, or as they’re prosaically known a “huswif.” Whether in the barracks or in the field, soldiers and frontiersmen could tackle the job of repairing their clothing or uniform with a [...]

The powder-horn is based upon the professionally made 4th generation York County, Pennsylvania powder-horns of the very early 1800s. The characteristics found on this horn and common to 4th generation York’s horns, include concentric grooves at butt and spout, fruit wood butt (cherry in this horn) with rope carving and Greek key carving, and a [...]

The skilled craftsmen of the CLA often produce fine frontier art that can easily be mistaken for a centuries-old original. For this year’s CLF Live Fundraising Auction, artists Casey McClure and Bill Pritchard have teamed up to produce a rugged hunting rig that looks like it’s seen heavy use on the 18th century frontier. This [...]

Bladesmith Verlin Cossel, a perennial supporter of the CLF Live Fundraising Auction, is renowned for creating entirely unique knives that come accompanied with a custom display stand. His creation for this year’s auction is a one-of-a-kind work of art with a remarkable back story. Featuring an alligator theme, Cossel’s knife, measuring 13 inches overall with [...]

For your next trip to the range or the woods, artists Shelly Gier and Kerry Masarik have teamed up to create a well-made and historically appropriate hunting bag that’s been donated to this year’s CLF Live Fundraising Auction. Gier describes her hunting bag as inspired by early 19th century styling “with a bit of working-class [...]

In early America, the humble pocketknife could be found from the drawing rooms of Tidewater estates to the farthest reaches of the frontier. George Washington is known to have owned a number of folding knives, and famed explorer Meriwether Lewis famously carried a pen knife all the way the Pacific Ocean and back. For the [...]

Few weapons from American history exude beauty and mystique quite like the Pennsylvania rifle. This year’s CLF Live Fundraising Auction is pleased to offer an exquisite example of the Pennsylvania rifle by one of the most respected makers in the nation, Larry Gardner. This classic Pennsylvania rifle sports a .45 caliber, 36-inch-long barrel paired with [...]

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 [...]

Engraved powder horns are perennial favorites of black powder devotees, and this year’s CLF Live Fundraising Auction is pleased to offer a stellar example by artists Kathy England and Christie Suchora. England’s powder horn will be an excellent addition to any collection. The horn is adorned with intricate geometric and floral designs characteristic of the [...]

Bill Schneider’s bag is called the Bear Hunter. It is intended to be a back country style bag used by a hunter. It is made out of bark tanned swamp-buck. It is unique backwoods take on a double pouch that the hunter decided to add a storm flap of bear hide. It is sewn on [...]

Whether you’re a shooter, hunter, or collector, a sturdy bag to match your muzzleloader is a necessity. This year’s CLF Live Fundraising Auction will offer a unique and well-made bag by Pennsylvania artist Sarah Miller. Miller’s ideally-sized haversack or “gathering bag” measures approximately 13” x 14”. Made from vegetable tanned cowhide and heavy pillow ticking, [...]

Every black powder shooter needs a functional bag and horn, but eventually we’d all like to upgrade to a quality set. This year’s CLF Live Fundraising Auction will feature a stellar set by artists Jay Blain and Pete Hutton that will fit the bill. Blain’s bearded bag is a classic southern design which, he explains, [...]

This year’s CLF Live Fundraising Auction features a remarkable myriad of art from the talented ladies of the organization. Artist Denise Cossel’s leather hunting bag is testament to the fact that CLA craftspeople are adept at excelling in multiple artistic disciplines. Cossel’s regular craft is weaving, but her donation to this year’s auction rivals the [...]

Custom knives always garner a good bit of interest at the CLF Fundraising Auction, and for this year’s event, artist Daniel Casey has donated a simply spectacular dagger. This hand forged dagger was made from braided steel cable and 1084 spring steel, which Casey put through the laborious process of melding into multi-layered Damascus steel. [...]

Few frontier collector items carry quite the visual appeal of a traditional tribal neck knife and quilled sheath. This year’s CLF Live Fundraising Auction will fortunately offer a stunning example by artists Elizabeth Ashlee and Linda Pritchard. Ashlee’s knife, measuring 6 1/2 inches long, is hand forged from a vintage hay rake tine. It’s a [...]

Custom muzzleloading rifles always command a good bit of attention at the CLF Live Fundraising Auction, but this year’s event will afford bidders a rare opportunity. Missouri artist Bob Browner has donated one of his signature rifles, which is the first Hawken ever presented during the live auction. Browner is widely regarded as one of [...]