Contemporary Makers

Monday, March 10, 2014

Patch Knife by Todd Daggett

Photographed at the 2014 Lake Cumberland Show.

25th Arts and Arms Making Workshop at Connor Prarie

Conner Prairie’s Hands-on classes are a rare opportunity to work closely and directly with some of the nation’s best craftsmen. Classes run from 8 am to 5 pm. Small class sizes in well equipped facilities will allow you to develop skills from basic to advance.
All materials included in class price. Tools provided are provided in some of the classes.

Advanced Horn Work

Saturday, October 4 – Tuesday October 7, 8 am – 5 pm,

Wednesday October 8, 8 am – noon

Further develop your hornworking skills through the construction of two horns: an internal screw-tip Berks County and a pressed and shaped flat horn. Art DeCamp will cover a wide variety of topics, from the history and architechture of early horns to many tips and techniques for reproducing period-correct powder horns. This class will expose students to preparing, heating, shaping and turning horns and their parts. Instruction will also be given on period techniques for the coloring of powder horns.

Engraving

Monday, October 6 – Friday, Oct. 10 8 am – 5 pm

Master engraver John Schippers teaches the art of metal engraving. Using practice pieces, learn basic design, tool selection and sharpening techniques.

2 - Day Classes

Session 1
Monday-Tuesday, October 6 -7, 8 am – 5 pm
Wednesday, October 8, 8 am – 12 pm

Session 2
Wednesday, October 8, 1-5 p.m.
Thursday-Friday, October 9-10, 8 am – 5 pm

Axe Forging (Session 2)

Learn traditional forging techniques from blacksmith Nathan Allen. Students will examine stylistic differences and construction techniques used on historic axes and will then forge and finish an axe of their own.

Leather Work (Session 1)

Join Ken Scott as he teaches his unique style of making hunting bags and pouches. Pattern development and basic leatherworking techniques will be covered as well as Ken’s unique antiquing methods.

Knifesmithing (Session 1)

Under the tutelage of Dwight Gallian, students will learn about the history and manufacture of a traditional hand-forged knife. Class will include materials selection, forging and finishing a functional knife.

Folding Knife (Session 1)

Instructor Nathan Allen will teach how to build an 18th century style folding knife. Traditional filing, bench work and heat treating skills will be used to construct an attractive steel and brass folding knife.

Document Box (Session 2)

Traditional furniture maker Justin Kauffman will guide the process of making an early 18th century document box. This dovetailed oak box will begin with a green log. Students will learn to rive out the proper pieces, dimension the boards and do the dovetail and captured panel joinery needed to assemble.

Coopering (Session 1)

Experience the art of coopering. Learn how to properly select wood, use traditional coopers’ tools and fit together a wooden piggin with instructor Chuck Andrews.

Campaign Horn (Session 2)

Work with hornsmith Art Decamp as you build your own French and Indian War Campaign horn. Learn basic horn construction, heating and shaping horn, hand fitting a simple butt cap and crafting a stepped down neck. Surface finish and coloring and applying simple period style engraving to your horn will also be covered.

Week-end Classes

Saturday, October 4 & Sunday October 5, 8 am – 5 pm

Boot Bag

Saturday, October 4, 8 am – 5 pm

USE IT UP, WEAR IT OUT, MAKE IT DO, OR DO WITHOUT. There are numerous examples of small frontier hunting pouches made from old boots. During this one day class, instructed by Ken Scott, participants will learn how to make a hunting pouch from a pair of old boots. Instruction includes historical research, pattern development, applying the pattern to the leather, assembly and dying.

Hearth Cooking

Sunday, October 5, 8 am - 3 pm

Learn to prepare a traditional meal over an open fire. Enjoy the smell of wood smoke as hearth cooking expert Sarah Withrow shares her knowledge. Learn to blend traditional techniques with historic and contemporary recipes that are perfect for home entertaining, re-enacting or camping.

Carving

Saturday, October 4 & Sunday, October 5, 8 am – 5 pm

Learn basic carving techniques under the tutelage of John Schippers. Using simple carving knives, students will learn proper design and layout of long rifle relief carving. Original examples of period long rifles and pistols will be on display for students to reference in their work.

Basic Blacksmithing

Saturday, October 4 & Sunday, October 5, 8 am – 5 pm

Join Nathan Allen as you learn the basics of blacksmithing. Students will learn skills such as using a forge, drawing, punching, hardening and tempering steel and forge welding. Projects such as s-hooks, fireplace poker, chain links and a fork will be made

Pennsylvania German Design

Sunday, October 5, 8 am – 5 pm

Create instant family heirlooms with Ken Scott while exploring the 18th century folk art of Pennsylvania. Ken will introduce traditional styles and design as students learn the art of calligraphy and drawing used in early fraktur, such as marriage and birth certificates.

More information can be found here.

Copy and photos from Conner Prairie.

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Lehigh County Rifle withAngle Gabriel with His Horn

37″ full oct 45 Cal. smooth unmarked bbl. Overall 51-3/8″, butt is 4″ x 1-1/2″. Bbl held to stock with 4 pins. Stock is very faintly curled maple. Wrist is nicely crosshatch checkered. Outstanding brass patchbox is magnificently engraved with 7 piercings and a finial depicting winged angel Gabriel blowing his horn. A piercing in finial is filled with a black horn inlay. Patchbox door is engraved “TB”, probably for owner since there are no known gunsmiths with these initials in Lehigh County area. Flintlock plate is marked “Ketland” and brass sideplate has 4 piercings, 2 of which are inset with bone or ivory. Round silver cheekpiece inlay is engraved while round silver wrist inlay is not. Buttplate is inlet into top of stock and trigger guard has a stud forward of bow, all characteristic of Lehigh/Northampton County rifles.

PROVENANCE: Collection of Dr. Douglas Sirkin.

CONDITION: Very attractive rifle in good condition throughout as restored. Bbl has been cut 1-1/2-2″ from rear. 2″ piece of wood above forward part of lock has been replaced and all wood surrounding lock has been replaced suggesting lock is a replacement. 1-1/2″ x 1″ triangular piece of wood replaced at toe and rear 1″ of toeplate is replaced. 4-50105 RG19 (6,000-10,000)

Copy and photos from James Julia.

Painting by David Wright

Man's fine Linen Shirt, 1790-1810

White linen, CF ruffled opening, high stand collar, L 35", (few small holes in back) very good.

Price Realized: $ 1800.00

Copy and photos from Augusta Auctions.

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Silver Mounted Sword by Kyle Willyard and Jared Secrest with Scabbard by Wick Ellerbe

Throat and Chape/drag are all 20 ga. sterling silver. Leather is 6/7oz vege tan, blacked with vinegaroon, and sewn with 6 cord linen thread. This scabbard was fitted to the beautiful silver mounted sword shown, which was made by Kyle Willyard and Jared Secrest of "Old Dominion Forge". The drag/chape is of two halves joined by silver braze and glued in place. The throat has a one piece collar butt joined in the back by a silver braze. The top cap was opened to the blade shape and joined on with a high strength 600° soft solder. The locket/frog button is a five piece affair being of a washer base, tube shaft, and 8ga silver button, silver brazed together and to the throat body. The thick walled tube shaft has a tight fitted brass rod inside with a 1/16" steel pin through the center and into the button and throat forming a very strong structure. These scabbard mounts with their hand filed decorative bands were inspired by an original 18th c. scabbard.

Copy and photos supplied by Wick Ellerbe.

Man's Wool Knee Breeches, American, ca. 1818

White wool, fall front, self covered buttons, pencil note in watch pocket "white kerseymere small clothes worn by Grandfather C.G. Loring at his wedding in 1818", cross stitch embroidery on inside waistband "Loring", (cotton gusset added CB) excellent.

Price Realized: $ 1560.00