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Early Longhunter Knife & Sheath by Heinz Ahlers & Joe Seabolt

by Heinz Ahlers The classic knife of the early American frontier, the single edged longhunters knife, was the working tool of the rifleman. Although these knives were often made from imported butcher knives, the longhunter frequently sought out the products of the skilled frontier smith for a knife that was a bit stouter and had a finer steel blade than the cheap butcher knives. The longknife and tomahawk were the everyday working tools of the frontier hunter and doubled as...

The Charles Parkingham Hooper Adams Hunting Bag by John Weeks

by Jack Weeks Through genealogy research, we found that my fifth great grandfather, Charles Adams 1745-1780, a farmer in northwest North Carolina, was a member of the North Carolina Rangers. He fought in Revolutionary War battles in the southern theater from 1776 until his death in 1780. He served with General Griffith Rutherford during the Cherokee Campaign and with Captain William Lenoir's Company in both the Surry and Wilkes County Militia. This hunting bag reflects the design that he might have...

Early Virginia Rifle by Dan Fruth

by Heinz Ahlers Dan Fruth is donating a pre Revolutionary War styled rifle. Dan handled the original he based this rifle on and took the measurements used. This is a Valley of Virginia styled gun, perhaps from Augusta County. The barrel, by Ed Rayle, was copied from dimensions taken from the original. It is 43" long and 1 1/8" breech at the breech, with a 50 calibre rifled bore. The lock is a Chambers Colonial Virginia. The trigger guard and...

Otter Pouch & Buffalo Horn Set by Matthew Fennewald & Alec Fourman

Matthew Fennewald and Alec Fourman have combined their efforts to produce this outstanding historically correct otter pouch and buffalo horn set for the 2015 CLF Fundraising Auction. You may remember Matt's hand crafted bow commemorating Choctaw Chief Pushmataha. It sold very well in the 2013 auction. Matt and Alec are both stickers for thorough research and authenticity. Matt and Alec relied on a quote by James Adair as the inspiration for this work. Adair came to America in 1735, and...

Mesquite Handled Dagger by Steve Auvenshine

by Heinz Ahlers Steve Auvenshine has generously donated this fine boot knife to the 2015 CLF Fundraising Auction. This beautiful knife, 9 inches overall, showcases Steves well-known talents as a knife maker. The knife has a dagger shaped single edged blade with a period correct crocus finish. It features silver mounts, including the silver overlays on the ricasso of the blade. All the silver mounts including the coffin inlay, are punch decorated. Steve related an interesting history on the knife. The knife is...

Fraktur Artwork by Sandy Greco

by Heinz Ahlers The CLF is proud to present for auction this 11 X 14 Fraktur style colored drawing. Fraktur is an art form introduced in America by the Pennsylvania Germans with some of the earliest work being done by the Ephrata Cloister in Lancaster County. The term Fraktur can describe a form of calligraphy, a font type, or generally the colorful floral and figurative drawings and paintings that started as illumination for birth and baptismal certificates and evolved to...

Quilled Pouch by Djuana Tucker

by Heinz Ahlers The CLF Fundraising auction is proud to present this mid-18th century Eastern Woodland/Great Lakes style quilled bag by Djuana Tucker. Djuana has over 10 years experience in quillwork and credits Bruce Horne and Chuck Edwards with getting her started in this dimension of living history. Djuana can be seen at living history events throughout the midwest and refers to Fort de Chartres, in Prairie du Rocher, Illinois, as her home base. Here is Djuana's piece in her...

Cutlery Set in Quilled Pouch by Glen Mock & Bill Wright

by Heinz Ahlers Glen Mock is noted for his outstanding knife making and has previously donated to the CLF Auction. We are specially indebted to our multiple year donors. This year Bill Wright teamed up with Glen and pushed him a bit outside of his comfort zone. As a result of this collaboration the CLF is proud to offer a unique and charming Glen Mock spoon and fork set in a Bill Wright brain tanned and quilled pouch. The hand forged...

Desperate Times Bag & Horn Set by TC Albert & Tim Crosby

by Heinz Ahlers It's desperate measures for desperate times, or so the saying goes, and hard times can turn desperate in a flash. A cat-a-mount "painter", a rogue old black bear, or even a cunning red fox preying on the livestock could set a mountain family back in no time, and the predator would have to be dealt with before total ruination set in. Once hard times struck, bad weather, a failed crop, a broken gun or even a simple shortage...

Woodbury Longhunter Knife & Sheath by Hershel House, John House, & Joe Seabolt

by Heinz Ahlers The knife is a special piece of equipment; knives can be cooking tools or butchering tools, wood carvers or weapons. For a longhunter, the knife was expected to be all the-se things. This put a lot of demands on the knife, it had to be tough enough to split out a deer pelvis, sharp enough to cut hair, handy enough to whittle, useful for cutting meat and chopping turnips, and a killing edge when the rifle was...

Push Dagger & Sheath by Joshua Crain

by Heinz Ahlers Joshua Crain has recreated one of those icons of the Mississippi River culture, the push dagger. This style was popular in New Orleans during the 1800s where it was known as a gimlet knife. One was involved in the Wilson - Anthony fight between elected officials in the Arkansas State Legislature in 1836. These knives have waxed and waned in popularity since the 17th century, this fine little rig of Joshua Crain's may bring them back. This hand...

Native American Ladle by Donald Shaver

by Heinz Ahlers Donald Shaver is donating a ladle inspired by an original 18th century piece. Don made this treenware ladle of Mulberry he harvested himself and dried for 2 years. He finished the ladle with bear grease bringing out the natural color of the mulberry.. The ladle has 4 sterling silver inlays. The two inlays on the back of the bowl have coin silver pins cut from a dime and the two heart shaped inlays bracketing the handle have...

Turned Handle Knife & Sheath by Benjamin Hoffman

by Heinz Ahlers The CLF is proud to be able to offer at auction this finely crafted traditional belt knife donated by Benjamin Hoffman. This is a re-creation of the kind of hand crafted knife made by an accomplished frontier smith who was proud of his work and touch marked it. All of the work in this piece is traditional, hand forged on a coal forge, hand turned wood, hand cast pewter. In addition to historically correct methods , Ben has...

Hunting Pouch by William Smith

By Heinz Ahlers The hunting pouch and horn are symbols of the American frontier. By the early 19th century you could tell a lot about a man by his pouch and horn, pouches showed distinct regional variations, wide ranges in quality from home made to finest cordwainers work, and variations in size and shape based on use. Bill Smith has donated a pouch representative of the professional quality bag made for frontier use. Bill has donated a double bag of finely...

Knife by Paul Bigham with Sheath by Steve Helfrich

by Heinz Ahlers Paul Bigham has created this handsome knife.The dark finished blade, one piece curly maple handle and dark finished grip cap make a knife with a great deal of style. Paul hand forged this knife and from 1084 steel and it features a full length tang with a riveted steel grip cap and a steel cross guard. Combined with the dark sheath made by Steve Helfrich this knife exhibits the clean simple design of the best 18th century Frontier...

Mississippi-Style Knife by Gary Corum

by Heinz Ahlers and Gary Corum Gary Corum has created a late 18th to early 19th century knife in the lower Mississippi River Valley style. The knife is 12 inches overall with a 7-inch blade. The blade is hand forged 1095 steel, a high performance knife steel with excellent edge holding properties. This entire knife is expertly hand made by Gary. There are several interesting touches to this piece. The blade is rather pointy, and the shape is a precursor to...

Rifle by Bill Pritchard

by Heinz Ahlers Bill Pritchard has been building rifles in Maysville since 1976, when he was motivated by the activities of the Bicentennial to try his hand at building flintlock longrifles. Bill was largely self taught, guided by Kindig, Thoughts on the Kentucky in Its Golden Age; Shumway, Rifles of Colonial America; and Recreating the Kentucky Rifle by Buchle. Bill estimates he has built about 75 rifles, 25 to 30 in the 5 years since he retired, and one or...

Pouch, Horn, & Belt Pouch Set by Tom Greco

by Heinz Ahlers Tom Greco has donated a fine pouch and horn set with a matching belt pouch. The bag style is typical of Eastern Pennsylvania and is paired with a southern style horn suggesting an owner who moved down the Great Wagon Road as the frontier spread westward. Oil tanned buffalo hide is used in both the shoulder bag and belt pouch. Tom's craftsmanship and attention to detail are apparent in the pillow ticking lining, welted seams and double...

An Iconic Southern Pistol in the Style of Elisha Bull by Mike Miller

There are some antique flintlock arms that seem to epitomize a genre or "school" as well as capture the personality of the maker and the time and place in which it was created and used. The fine silver mounted "Death or Victory" pistol by Elisha Bull of Tennessee is just such a piece. Well known riflesmith Mike Miller of Paducah, Kentucky has graciously built and donated a near-bench copy of this famous pistol as one of the centerpieces for...

Southern Mountain Rifle by Marc Tornichio

This early iron mounted Southern longrifle was created by Marc Tornichio This rifle is not a copy of any one rifle but incorporates the architecture and features of several early iron mounted rifles of the western Virginia/Carolina Appalachian area from the 1790 to 1810 period. It shows the quality workmanship of a trained and talented gunsmith from 200 years ago or today. Marc says, "The rifle has a lot of characteristics of the GB rifle with a touch of...

Frontiersman Sculpture by Joshua Shepherd

Joshua Shepherd created this piece. Titled "The Frontiersman" it is 21" tall and made of hydrostone with a hand-applied finish. This is number 14 of a limited edition of 50. (In honor of 1814 and in keeping with the theme of the auction.) The round hat, rifle, and hunting shirt are characteristic of the working frontiersman and the detail of the bag, horn, and belt are remarkable. "The Frontiersman" is a well done casting which catches the essence of the...

Iron Mounted Elisha Bull Rifle by Roger Sells

Roger Sells is a well known contemporary builder and is a regular at the Lake Cumberland CLA Mini Show and at the KRA Show held at the Museum of Appalachia. He is noted for extremely well-made iron mounted Appalachian rifles and great Hawken rifles. Roger lives in an area of Tennessee where gunsmiths lived and worked during the 1800 to early 1900 time frame. Roger notes that he was exposed to iron mounted Southern rifles at the age of 12,...

Southern Banded Horn with Hand Woven Strap by Ron Hess and Kris Polizzi

This is a Southern style banded horn of the type that would have been carried by militia or volunteers from the southern States in the War of 1812. This charming powder horn has been created by Ron Hess and the fine hand woven strap donated by Kris Polizzi. Ron lives in Georgia and makes powder horns and other items constructed of horn. He is a member of the Honorable Company of Horners and gives thanks to Art Decamp and Billy...

Native American Style Bag by Robert Pawling

Robert Pawling is a CLA artisan specializing in dyed porcupine quill embroidery of many kinds done on braintanned deerskins to produce 18th C. Northeast Native accoutrements. Bob has extended his style a bit in keeping with this years auction theme of westward expansion. Bob has produced a bag like the indians of the western plains and mountains were producing in the period of early contact. This bag has quillwork in the Wabanaki style of the upper Northeast Saint Lawrence region....

Bag & Horn Set by Donald & Tina Shaver

CLA artists Donald and Tina Shaver handcrafted this circa 1810 to 1825 hunting pouch and horn set for the 2014 CLA fundraising auction. The pouch is a classic beaver tail pouch with a carved buffalo powder horn. Donald Shaver's interest in American History began during his youth and he started reenacting about 30 years ago through the Boy Scouts. His first period of interpretation was the Rocky Mountain fur trade era of the 1830s, then 15 years ago he met...

Pouch, Measure, Brush, Pick, & Bullet Board by Rich and Jeanne McDonald

Rich and Jeanne McDonald are well known CLA Artists. Rich and Jeanne have been married over 29 years and live on a small farm in southern Ohio. They are part of the southern Ohio contingent contributing to this auction including Joe Seabolt and Maryellen Pratt. Rich bought his first muzzleloader at the age of 12 and has been hooked ever since. Rich started forging knives and and tomahawks in 1990 and now does it as a full time occupation He...

Chris Barker Hunting Pouch Set

Chris Barker has donated a complete hunting rig. Chris designed the bag and constructed the rig, doing all of the leather work. We are proud to say that Chris is one of our repeat donors to the live auction. Several other artisans were involved in the project. The leather for the bag was donated by Joel Ketonen of the Dallas Muzzle Loading Gun Club, The accoutrements were pur-chased from noted artisans by Chris. The Southern banded horn and powder measure...

Maryellen Pratt and Joe Seabolt Hunting Bag and Horn Set

Maryellen Pratt lives in Adams County, Ohio with her husband Ian Pratt. Maryellen is a maker of premium hunting bags, knife sheaths, haversacks and sundry other items. She is meticulous in using period correct materials and techniques. And her careful antiquing processes are universally appreciated. Maryellen regularly conducts classes on the skills and methods of making pouches and advanced leather working at the Log Cabin Shop in Lodi, Ohio and other venues. Her products are regularly featured on the...

Double Hunting Pouch by William Smith

The hunting pouch is an icon of the American frontier. By the early 19th century pouches could show distinct regional variations, wide ranges in quality from home made to finest cordwainers work, and variations in size and shape based on use. This years auction presents a stunning range of bags and accoutrements. Bill Smith has donated a double bag of finely tanned deer skin with double internal compartments. Bill has been making bags for over 20 years and they are...

The “Five Ears Pouch” by T.C. Albert & Tim Crosby

By 1814 even in the far west of the Illinois country the frontier was changing, even so, many blood feuds kindled by earlier mutual antagonisms between the Red and White neighbors still smoldered. Born in just such a place during just such a time, Colonel John Moredock, the celebrated Indian Hater, first sought revenge against the Indians responsible for massacring his mother and stepfather and kidnapping his siblings, but he didn't stop there. The legend goes on to tell...

Knife & Sheath by Jerry Eitnier

Written by Heinz Ahlers Indiana gunmaker, Jerry Eitnier is a returning donor to the CLA fundraising auction. Jerry is no stranger to the muzzle loading sport and art. He has been involved for more than 40 years. He joined the National Muzzle Loading Association in 1973, and in 1987 he built his first longrifle. He became a charter member of the Contemporary Longrifle Association in 1991. Jerry is strongly influenced by Hershel House's work, he builds guns the style of "the...

An Andy Jackson Alligator Horsemen’s Knife by Joe Seabolt

By T.C. Albert Trekking across the Louisiana bayou two brothers rushed to get to the besieged port city before it was too late. Even though a decisive American victory had been declared, the pair was disappointed that the battle had ended and that they had missed the chance to share in its glory. The British had been "whooped"! And though Jim and his brother Rezin had just missed it, the other "Half Alligator-Half Horse" men that had followed Andrew Jackson throughout...

A Hunter’s Shot Pouch Set from a Frontier on the Eve of War by Cal Tanner and Jim Hays

Cal Tanner is a maker of hunting pouches, haversacks, powderhorns and other items who is well known for his exceptional leather craftsmanship and quality. He has won numerous awards for his work, which, in Cal's own words, he approaches with the mindset of a professionally-trained eastern craftsman working with locally available materials after moving to the Ohio frontier at the end of the 18th century. Jim Hays and his wife Peggy are multi-talented artists with unique ability to capture...

Trade Silver Wrist Band by Wayne & Marilyn Holcombe

Brooklyn, Michigan residents Wayne and Marilyn Holcombe are silversmiths by trade and operate XX TRADE SILVER. XX Trade Silver began 10 years ago when their close friend, Chuck Leonard, a premier silversmith taught them the art of silversmithing. Wayne chuckles when he relates how it all started. "I was involved with competition black powder shooting and Marilyn accompanied me to a lot of shoots through the years. One day Marlyn mentioned to Chuck Leonard that she got bored at the shoots...

Jerry Eitnier Knife & Sheath

By Heinz Ahlers Indiana gunmaker, Jerry Eitnier has been involved in the sport of muzzleloading for more than 40 years. He joined the National Muzzle Loading Association in 1973, and later became a charter member of the Contemporary Longrifle Association in 1991. In 1987 he built his first longrifle. Influenced by Hershel House's work, he builds guns as he terms them in the style of "the Hershel House Woodbury School" with iron mounted guns being his specialty. Jerry wryly comments, "Sometimes...

Nathan Boone Pouch & Horn Set by Tim Sanner & Jim Webb

A few years after the Boone family settled along the Femme Osage in Missouri, the War of 1812 broke out. Soon war parties of Native Americans loyal to the British began attacking American settlers up and down the Mississippi River. Though he wanted to serve, Daniel Boone was deemed too old to serve and stayed home to guard and protect the family. His son Nathan on the other hand, was ordered by William Clark to raise a company of...

A Choctaw Style Bow, Quiver, and Arrows Set by Matt & Paul Fennewald

Pushmataha is the most famous chief of the Choctaw nation and was the primary Choctaw war leader during the War of 1812. Pushmataha died in 1825 on a diplomatic mission to Washington DC and is buried there in the Congressional Cemetery as Brigadier General Pusnmataha. When CLA member Matt Fennewald heard the theme of the CLF auction was the War of 1812 he was enthusiastic about changing his original donation proposal of a horn and bag to a Choctaw bow....

Trade Silver Shell Gorget by Wayne & Marilyn Holcombe

Brooklyn, Michigan residents Wayne and Marilyn Holcombe are silversmiths by trade and operate XX TRADE SILVER. XX Trade Silver began 10 years ago when their close friend, Chuck Leonard, a premier silversmith taught them the art of silversmithing. Wayne chuckles when he relates how it all started. "I was involved with competition black powder shooting and Marilyn accompanied me to a lot of shoots through the years. One day Marilyn mentioned to Chuck Leonard that she got bored at the shoots...

A Fine Lexington Style Rifle by Marvin Kemper

By Guy Montfort Marvin Kemper has crafted a groundbreaking piece - a stunning, museum quality reproduction of an early 19th century longrifle in the style of the Bryan family of central Kentucky that he has graciously donated for the Contemporary Longrifle Foundation 2013 fundraising auction. By the time of the War of 1812 the "Kentucky Rifle" and the frontiersmen who used it had already captured the imagination of the American public. When the War grew imminent, the danger and perhaps...

Isaac Shelby Commemorative Knife by Glen Mock

As the 18th century closed, treaties were signed and the frontier moved west. Among the Americans who volunteered from Kentucky in the War of 1812 were many veterans of the Revolution and the bloody frontier conflict that consumed the Ohio Valley and southern Appalachians for years afterward. Isaac Shelby served as a soldier in Lord Dunmore's War, the Revolutionary War, and the War of 1812. While governor of Kentucky, at age 63 he personally led the Kentucky militia in...

Plug Bayonet by Todd Daggett

Written by Heinz Ahlers Todd Daggett is a carpenter by trade and a blacksmith for love of the art. He is an active member of the CLA and a member of the American Mountain Men since 1995. Todd strongly supports the CLA mission and says the Lexington Show is the only show he does all year. The plug bayonet is an early form of bayonet that is associated with use by the Canadian militia forces and native tribes during the French...

Bob Browner’s copy of the Andrew Jackson Pistol

(Reprinted by permission of Muzzle Blasts, June 2013 issue) "Andrew Jackson's Dueling Pistol" By T. C. Albert An important firearm made by a renowned gunmaker for a renowned United States President now resides in that President's historic home. The gunmaker: Phillip Creamer The President: Andrew Jackson This distinguished firearm, a dueling pistol once owned by the illustrious President Jackson, currently resides at "The Hermitage", a historical landmark and museum located at Jackson's restored plantation home near Nashville Tennessee. Jackson was lauded as a national hero...

Jerry Eitnier Powder Horn

By Heinz Ahlers Indiana gunmaker, Jerry Eitnier has been involved in the sport of muzzleloading for more than 40 years. He joined the National Muzzle Loading Association in 1973, and later became a charter member of the Contemporary Longrifle Association in 1991. In 1987 he built his first longrifle. Influenced by Hershel House's work, he builds guns as he terms them in the style of "the Hershel House Woodbury School" with iron mounted guns being his specialty. Jerry wryly comments, "Sometimes...

A Woodland Native Prisoner Tie by Darrell Brandenburg with Quillwork by Tom Gifford

Darrell Brandenburg was born 1941 in the northern tip of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. He was raised on a farm some 30 miles distant from Alpena, the nearest large city. All of his life Darrell has been interested in American history, hunting, primitive skills, camping and being outdoors. These interests have been logged in over 30 years of historical reenactment. During that time Darrell made the majority of the accoutrements he needed for portraying various persona, developing the...

The John Jacob Sheetz Rifle Project

By Mark Sage(Reprinted by permission of Muzzle Blasts) On the morning of January 8, 1815, 2000 English Soldiers lay dead or wounded on a soggy, marshy battlefield six miles downriver from New Orleans. In a fight that lasted less than an hour, the Americans under Andrew Jackson had done the impossible and beaten the proud and powerful British army, touted to be the best in the world at that time. The Brits were well equipped, better supplied and had just...

WIKI UP ~ An original pastel painting by Pamela Patrick White

Nationally renowned artist Pamela Patrick White has donated one of her exquisite works of art for this years CLA Fund Raising auction. Wiki Up shows a group of Woodland Indians lounging around the fire in the interior of a wiki-up, hence the title for the painting. The original pastel is framed in a handsome hardwood frame and measures a generous 34 x 29. This wonderful work of art by one of Americas foremost historical painters will make a beautiful...

Daniel Boone’s longhunter’s pouch & horn set by Tim Crosby & Tim Albert

Tim Crosby and TC Albert teamed up to make this copy of a Daniel Boone horn and pouch set. The set is based on images of a pouch and horn known to have once been owned by Daniel Boone, and traded to a neighbor along the Big Sandy River in the late 1790s. In the book, My Father Daniel Boone, his son, Nathan Boone relates some of the events taking place during this time period, when for several years the Boones...

A Circa 1810~1825 Pouch and Horn Set by Donald Shaver

CLA artist Donald Shaver handcrafted this circa 1810 to 1825 hunting pouch and horn set for the 2013 CLA fundraising auction. The pouch is based on the one seen on page 25 of Madison Grants book The Kentucky Rifle Hunting Pouch. He crafted the traditional deep D shaped pouch itself from bark tanned cow hide and like the original that had a strap made of old time listing, Donald used an old woven strap that he had on hand,...

Squire Boone Pipe Ax and the War of 1812

Brian Anderson of Bristol Vermont is a well-known gunsmith, artist, teacher, and blacksmith, and he offered to put his skills to work for our 2013 CLA Fundraising Auction by making us a copy of the Squire Boone Pipe Axe. When you think of the Boones, you don't often think of their involvement in the War of 1812, and the little known story of Squires personal pipe ax is a good illustration of that point. Unlike their war service, it is...

A Tansel Style Powder Horn by Jeff Bottiger

On the sleepy Indiana frontier, led by their War of 1812 veteran patriarch, a family of prolific hornsmiths carved their way into American folk art history. Francis Tansel and his sons John, Timothy and Stark produced such a consistent though uniquely decorated powder horn that today their work is instantly recognized and simply called the Tansel style. Though once only regionally appreciated as a mid-western powder horn, today top dollar is eagerly paid to own just an average Tansel carved...