Chris Crosbys fine contribution to this years CLF auction represents, he explains, a piece that would have been carried by a man of middling means, to service his smooth rifle or fowler. The body of the bag is made from vegetable tanned calfskin and the bindings on the flap and at the throat of the bellows panel are bark tanned sheepskin. The bags rich coloring was achieved with the artists own resourceful mix of crushed willow and oak charcoal,...
Glen Mock forged this fine knife, a stylish 6 inch bladed belt knife with a coin silver pummel cap setting off the antler handle. This blade has an interesting long choil. Glens forged blades are well known for their ruggedness and edge holding. This blade and handle have an interesting architecture and the knife is extremely comfortable in the hand. This will make a great camp knife and skinner. Heinz Ahlers has contributed a simple belt sheath from vegetable tanned...
For the tribes of the northeast woodlands, no item in the warriors kit was as essential as a good blade, which very often took the form of the traditional neck knife. French Capt. Pierre Pouchot, who closely observed the natives during the French and Indian War, noted that Indian warriors wouldnt venture anywhere without one. Their knife is hung from a sheath from the neck, and falls upon the breast, wrote Pouchot, and they regard this property as sacred...
This year the CLA Live Auction is offering one of Bill Smiths popular haversacks. This leather and herringbone weave hemp cloth version of Bills haversack is particularly attractive. The haversack is approximately eleven inches by eleven inches. The leather flap is a very dark brown as is the one and a half inch wide leather strap. The bag is fully lined in duck cloth with two accessory pockets on the inside. The Hemp cloth is almost black and the herringbone...
This Virginia style horn and strap is by Tim Crosby. The horn features a screw tip and an antler collar with a horn tip. There is also a turned antler finial on the butt cap. The Tim Crosby patch knife has a turned antler handle and a bolster from a recycled pipe axe bowl. Tim also created the accouterments; a turned pewter powder measure with a turned wooden tip, a horse hair brush, and a work hardened copper vent...
Independentruggedself-reliant. Few images in our nations history are as enduring as that of the quintessential American frontiersman. For this years CLF fundraising auction, artist Joshua Shepherd has created a unique sculpture Taking Aim - that pays fitting homage to the legendary longhunters who helped carve a nation out of a forbidding wilderness. Directly modelled in sculptors epoxy, the frontiersman sports an iconic hunters frock, broad-brimmed hat, powder horn, antler handled long knife, and, of course, flintlock rifle. Measuring approximately...
Gary Tingler has furnished an exceptionally nice hunting bag for this years auction. The soft leather bag is tightly sewn and features a darker welt. The design of this bag is notable. It has a taper from the eight and a half inch bottom to the five and a half inch top. The ample flap fits very closely at the top opening. There are two extra pockets, one under the flap with a separate flap and button closure of...
by Heinz Ahlers with photography by Ric Lambert and Heinz Ahlers The Chippewa or Ojibwe were a large indigenous nation with an agricultural history and a great engagement in trade. They traded copper, pipestone, and furs. By the late 18th century this highly civilized tribe had absorbed cultural elements and material goods from the Cree to the north, the Iroqouis to the east, and both French and English trade items. The traditional Ojibwa smoking pipe incorporated some of these changing cultural...
by Joshua Shepherd with photography by Gordon Barlow This great Andrew Knez Jr. painting was scheduled to be auctioned last year. That did not happen. Your auction Chairman was a bit remiss in the logistics also Andrew unfortunately was involved in a serious automobile accident on his way too the auction. We deferred the auction of the painting off to this year. We are happy to say Andrew has recovered nicely and should be at the auction this year. We...
by Heinz Ahlers with photography by Heinz Ahlers The linen hunting bag could be in the Appalachian Mountains, especially the Southern Mountains. This breathable fabric style bag was the precursor to the canvas web gear that served our military in two World Wars. The light weight fabric bag works very well as long as you avoid a lot of loose pointy things in the contents. This linen bag with leather flap is nicely crafted by noted leather worker Andrew Verdon. This...
by Heinz Ahlers and Josh Wrightsman with photography by Ric Lambert The pre-revolutionary frontier, west of the great wagon road was an exciting place, from the Allegheny River country down through western Virginia and the Carolinas. The Frontiersman were learning their trade and the skills that would take them across the continent. One of their primary tools was the American longrifle and one of the cradles of longrifle development was Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Josh Wrightsmant and Gary Tingler have created an early...
by Heinz Ahlers with photography by Ric Lambert, Heinz Ahlers, & K. Tingler The longrifle is an essential part of the longhunters kit. But,the longrifle without the hunting bag is a difficult thing to manage. You could put the balls in a your pocket, if you had a pocket, or in your mouth, but probably not enough for a long hunt So the hunting bag became a natural accessory to the longhunters gun. It was also a presonal piece of...
by Joshua Shepherd with photography by H. David Wright CLA artists consistently demonstrate the ability to marry museum-quality aesthetics with rugged practicality. Artist Jack Weeks and a cadre of talented craftsmen have collaborated to produce a truly outstanding bag and horn set for this years CLF fundraising auction. The project is the brainchild of noted CLA artisan Jack Weeks. The basic concept, he explains, was to assemble the equipment a market hunter in the three rivers area would have carried to...
by Heinz Ahlers with photography by Heinz Ahlers & H. David Wright The early history of the rifle in America is always fascinating and problematic. We know that rifles were in use on the frontier prior to the French and Indian War. John Fraser mentioned the loss of seven rifled guns at the Battle of Fort Necessity. Even earlier, in 1743, the trader John Armstrong stole a rifled gun and a horse from a Delaware Indian. Armstrongs murder when the...
by Heinz Ahlers with photography by H. David Wright The Eighteenth Century was a time of few possessions. Items of personal ornament often doubled with a useful purpose. The treasured family pieces were kept in containers appropriate to their value. Glen Mock has created such a piece for the 2017 Auction. Carefully crafted from natural material this shawl brooch is stunning and elegant. Glen has always been known for his scrimshaw work in horn, bone, antler and other natural materials....
by Heinz Ahlers with photography by H. David Wright Steve Lodding and H. David Wright have teamed up to create a spectacular engraved powder horn inspired by an original in a private collection. The antique French and Indian War period New York map horn, attributed to the "Pointed Tree" carver contains a base plug that was uniquely painted with a scene of a gentleman hunting birds over his dog. Lodding, who made and engraved the horn, used features of the "Pointed...
Pistol Case by Jerry Moniot by Heinz Ahlers with photography by Gordon Barlow Sometimes when you have something really nice, you want to have it in a case that you can open when you want to display it, and close when you want to be a bit more discreet, Also you might prefer not to shove your antique Nicholas-Noel Boutet French officers pistol into a cigar box. Jerry Moniot hand made this finely crafted chest he refers to as a pistol case....
For this years CLF fundraising auction, a cadre of some of the most respected artists in the muzzleloading community has teamed up to create a truly remarkable collection christened A Warrior's Clutch. The goal for the craftsmen, explains artist Ian Pratt, was to create a vibrant, visually striking set of items that reflect the possessions carried by a warrior in the mid-18th century. Although we imagine a general Great Lakes region as our warrior's home, his identity remains unknown. The...
by Joshua Shepherd with photography by Ric Lambert and Heinz Ahlers There are few items in a hunters kit as crucial as a trusty possibles bag. For this years CLF fundraising auction, a trio of artisans - Dwight Umbel, Kris Polizzi, and Jerry Eitnier teamed up to create a visually stunning bag and horn set thats sure to become a family heirloom. The bag itself is the creation of CLA artist Dwight Umbel. Umbel crafted the bag from 2-3 oz....
Lally House and Kyle Willyard have collaborated to make a special project for this years CLA Auction. This knife and quilled sheath showcase the first quality work of two top artisans. The neck sheath is a preferred Native American method for carrying the knife, it is safe to assume this useful method would have carried over to the frontier as it is both useful and attractive. The hand forged knife by Kyle features traditional styling with an integral forged bolster,...
by Joshua Shepherd with photography by Gordon Barlow Despite the passage of centuries, mankind, at his core, remains the same. Life in the 18th century could entail some pretty serious work, but everyone eventually needs get away from it all. Long before he penned the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson was a hard-working Williamsburg attorney who managed a veritable mountain of court cases. But on April 14, 1769, Jefferson recorded his expenses for a little harmless diversion: he paid 7...
Priming horns can be a topic of some discussion about their presumed use or non-use on the American frontier. Nevertheless priming flasks did exist in Europe and Asia and are found in museum collections for 16th to 18th century arms. Sometimes called Pulvers from the German word for ground or powdered, these small flasks seem to have been used with matchlocks, wheellocks and cannon. Have you ever thought about what a paper cartridge equipped musketeer did when his firelock...
by Joshua Shepherd with photography by H. David Wright It's arguably the most important tool for any outdoorsman: a good blade. But for the modern-day frontiersman who favors period black powder shooting, not just any knife will do. This years CLF fundraising auction is fortunately graced with an outstanding knife and sheath set by artisans Robert Park and Linda Pritchard. Accomplished bladesmith Robert Park handcrafted the knife, which is forged from 1084 spring steel. It's a well-proportioned piece: the handle is...
This hunting set consists of a banded screw tip horn with leather strap, a leather pouch with decorative welt, a flint wallet, lathe turned cleaning tools, an antler measure, pan brush and vent pick. This entire set exhibits close attentional to detail and the pride in workmanship that mark all Tom Greco products. The horn is medium sized with a nice warm color with two white bands. The bands have fine molding lines. The turned antler screw tip shows excellent...
by Heinz Ahlers with photography by H. David Wright The powder horn has always been a very personal piece of equipment. Map horns that showed country the bearer already knew like the back of his hand, scrimshawed horns with the owners name, plain buffalo horns that showed that you had killed one, and spotted horns all told a story. The understated but elegant horns in keeping with the plain living, God fearing folks of the Southern frontier and the flamboyant...
by Heinz Ahlers with photography by Ric Lambert and Heinz Ahlers In 1748 George Washington was on his first adventure over the Blue Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley. Lord Fairfax had taken a liking to the 16 year old and thought to introduce him to the wilds and the art of surveying. In Georges Journal of My Journey Over the Mountains began Fryday the 11th of March 1747/8 Washington comments on their dinner with Solomon Hedges, Justice of the Peace...
by Heinz Ahlers with photography by Gordon Barlow Scott Summerville makes great knives and razors. He is a staunch supporter of the CLF Auc-tion and has again given us a great folding knife. This is a classic bone handled knife with a 3-1/2 inch blade. Scott hand builds these knives, hand shapes them and heat treats them to per-fection. This knife is a common pattern found around various British posts and encampments from the 1750s through the 1800s. Scott models...
by Joshua Shepherd with photography by H. David Wright In September of 1736, nineteen chiefs from the Six Nations the Iroquois Confederacy arrived at Philadelphia to strengthen the "covenant chain", or traditional alliance, with British officials in Pennsylvania. When Kanickhungo, the chieftan who spoke on behalf of the Seneca tribe, rose to speak, he expressed "Satisfaction in the friendly and good Disposition of you our Brethren, towards all the Indians of the Six Nations." As a record of...
by Heinz Ahlers with photography by H. David Wright I have always liked the longknife style. The design choices for a longknife vary from a heavy bladed, thick handled, fighting knife with a cross guard to a thin bladed utilitarian butcher knife style. I believe a longhunter preferred to carry tools that could meet multiple challenges. This longknife seeks to combine everyday utility with a potential for combat. The 9-1/2 inch blade from 1084 carbon steel tapers from just under 1/4...
by Heinz Ahlers The CLF is again privileged to present a Scott Summerville folding knife. In prior years Scott made similar stunning folders for us which commanded a lot of attention Once again, Scott is one of our repeat donors and continues to support the CLF. The folding knife is an authentic accoutrement for the 18th and early 19th centuries. Scott's creation is a beautiful piece in warm brown and gunmetal grey tones. A quality example of a folding knife with...
by Heinz Ahlers with photography by H. David Wright Mike Davis has produced a fine Woodbury style belt knife for this years action. Mike is a repeat donor, having donated an iron mounted rifle last year that sold very well. This year Mike has turned out a 6 inch bladed knife in a classic frontier pattern. The whitetail antler handle with a poured pewter bolster shows Mike's association with House brothers school of knife making. If you only wanted to carry...
by Joshua Shepherd For the average shooter, the annual CLA show in Lexington, Kentucky is always a great place to outfit one's blackpowder rig with a few needed items. A spartan setup of horn and bag will suffice; muzzleloading enthusiasts are, after all, an eminently practical set of folks. But what makes the CLA show singularly unique is its broad selection of museum quality reproductions, a truly remarkable display of fine craftsmanship that constitutes a breathtaking exhibit of the applied...
by Joshua Shepherd with photography by H. David Wright For any craftsperson, the successful marriage of three-dimensional and two-dimensional disciplines is one of the most difficult hurdles of the creative arts. Buyers at this year's CLA fundraising auction will have the chance to own a unique sculpture by master carver Bruce Meurer that skillfully accomplishes the feat. Meurer executed the piece in basswood, a tight-grained medium favored by professional woodcarvers. Measuring 11" high, the bust depicts a typical warrior of the...
by Joshua Shepherd While a healthy respect for the past is second nature for most blackpowder enthusiasts, passing on that heritage to the next generation is equally important. In a remarkably well executed collaborative effort, CLA artists Ron Vail and Ken Scott have teamed up to produce a distinctive horn and pouch set that captures the poignant significance of inherited tradition. Scott explains how the unique project came about. Last year he was approached by Ron Vail about crafting a matched...
by Heinz Ahlers with photography by Gordon Barlow Among the tribes of the eastern woodlands, few symbols could be as potent as the ball headed war club. Missionary John Heckewelder, who spent a lifetime on the frontiers of Pennsylvania and Ohio, explained that When the Indians have determined to take revenge they would leave a carved war club at the site of an ambush. It was a stark tribal message that many Europeans failed to grasp, but which native warriors...
Hunting Bag and Accoutrements by Jack Weeks by Heinz Ahlers & Jack Weeks Jack Weeks is a repeat donor to the CL Foundation Auction. Jack is an accomplished maker and a careful researcher. His leather powder funnel with a goose quill spout is a neat and useful addition to the pouch. Here is a description of the Shot Pouch in Jack's own words. "When I start a leather project, after some research, I like to imagine I am creating an item that will...
by Heinz Ahlers with photography by Ric Lambert Ed Fish is donating a copy of a very important rifle currently owned by Brian LaMaster. The rifle bears an inscription on the patchbox, N D Boone, Kaintuck done in a primitive style. Based on this inscription and extensive research Brian believes the original rifle may have been owned by Nathan Boone and that it was built by Daniel Boone and William Arbuckle around 1790. The rifle could have been used by...
by Heinz Ahlers Joe Seabolt is generous in his support of the CLA. Not only does he always come up with a donation, he is always willing to help out other folks with the team donations. Joe has 3 items in the auction this year. You may have to hunt for the one patch knife. Heinz Ahlers is the CL Foundation Auction chairman and the oldest apprentice in the Cedar Ridge Apprentice Program. We have included a photo of Joe instructing...
by Steve Lasley with photography by Ric Lambert & Heinz Ahlers The Pennsylvania-style hunting bag can be more complex than the styles encountered on the frontier in the Southern Highlands. Eastern Pennsylvania was more settled and specialized craftsman such as cordwainers, bookmakers and tanners were available. An active commerce in trade and cash existed east of Fort Cumberland in the mid 18th century. Although homemade bags were in common use, bags with linings and a bit more style are often...
by Heinz Ahlers with photography by Ric Lambert For the upcoming Contemporary Longrifle Foundation Fund Raising Auction to be held at the Annual Meeting in August, CLA members Gary Tucker, Eddie Rector, Ron Vail, Ken Scott , Heather and J Casey McClure have recreated a collection of artifacts based on early frontiersman and trader John Frasers life during the time of the French and Indian War. The John Fraser Project tells a story about an important figure on the early frontier....
by Joshua Shepherd with photography by H. David Wright For General George Washington, the mundane duties of supply and logistics would come to be as important as strategy and tactics. Washington, who cut his teeth on the western frontier during the French and Indian War, was keenly aware that appropriate clothing was crucial to the fighting trim of his men. When the cash-strapped Continental Congress decided in 1775 to supply the army with linen hunting shirts, Washington was concerned that...
by Tim Albert with photography by H. David Wright As war between Britain and the American colonies loomed, in a letter to his Prime Minister Lord North, King George wrote: The New England governments are in a state of rebe-llion, blows must decide whether they are to be subject to this country or independent... The war is inevitable and let it come! More prophetic words were never spoken, for blows would indeed decide. They would go on to decide again soon...
by Heinz Ahlers with photography by Ric Lambert and Heinz Ahlers The successful colonial farmer, wealthy merchant or Virginia aristocrat, wanted his equipment to send a message about his social status. A fine rifle or fowling piece would be accompanied by fine shooting bag and horn. By the beginning of the French and Indian war rococo decoration and dark leather were very much in style. Tom and Sandy Greco, repeat auction supporters, have created this refined and historically appropriate hunting set...
by Joshua Shepherd with photography by Gordon Barlow Few blades capture the indomitable spirit of the frontier quite like the Bowie knife. It's a fearsome edged weapon that's quintessentially American: rugged, hardy, and better off left alone. In fitting homage to the legendary Bowie as well as the independent spirit it represents attendees of this year's CLA fundraising auction will have the opportunity to own a stunning example of a contemporary Bowie crafted by one of America's top...
by Heinz Ahlers with photography by Ric Lambert Young people on the frontier went about armed from an early age. In Thoughts on Kentucky Rifle in the Golden Age Joe Kindig Jr. shows a 30 inch barreled youths rifle he attributes to Wolfgang Haga. This is an early gun with a brass box and raised carving. Kindig also notes that he owned another boys rifle by Fredrick Zorger dated 1805 that was engraved and had a patchbox. Nathan Boone related...
by Joshua Shepherd Blackpowder shooters can get by for some time with an average shooting bag, but eventually they'll want to upgrade to the best. In the world of the longrifle culture, Kentucky's own William Smith has established a reputation for fine craftsmanship that has set a benchmark in the field. At this year's fundraising auction, CLA members will have the chance to bid on a distinctive Smith bag that's sure to round out any hunting rig in fine style. Smith's...
by Joshua Shepherd The frontier longrifle is unquestionably one of the most uniquely American art forms developed in the last two centuries. To showcase the graceful lines and exquisite workmanship inherent to the discipline, Jim Parker of Calvary Longrifles has crafted a truly unique sculpture that should undoubtedly prove popular with collectors at the 2016 CLA fundraising auction. Although the timeless phrase "lock, stock, and barrel" sums up the most necessary components of the longrifle, Parker has focused his efforts on...
by Heinz Ahlers This American hanger by Joe Seablolt and Ian Pratt accompanied by a Strap and Baldric by Maryellen Pratt is a hard to find Frontier item. This style of short sword or cuttoe was a fighting weapon, useful to mounted troops and a mark of prestige for officers. Extremely useful in hand to hand combat, their relatively short length is useful in close quarters. The reason they are seldom seen today is not their usefulness, it is the difficulty...
by Jack Pennington When one thinks about the frontier, one of the animals that come to mind is the American Bison. From the hills and blue grass land of Kentucky to the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains, this animal provided meat, fur, hide, bone and horn for food, clothing, shelter and tools to both native and European people alike. In keeping with this spirit, Jack Pennington has created and is donating a buffalo horn that could be found from the...
by Heinz Ahlers and Tom Greco There is always something appealing about a cased pistol set. This one is especially so because Tom Greco has added a touch of the all-American Woodbury School to the a fine American pistol. The flintlock pistol features a .50 caliber cannon barrel and brass guard and thimbles, a sterling silver thumbpiece and a coin silver washers for the lock screws. The barrel and guard are gracefully adorned with engraving by Hershel House and tastefully...
