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 Squire’s personal pipe ax is a good illustration of
that point. Unlike their war service, it is generally known that the Boone
brothers, Daniel and Squire were both handy at the forge, so handy that they even
made guns. Several artifacts still exist that are attributed to their hands,
including a very special pipe axe that is currently curated by the Indiana
Museum.
The axe was originally
forged by Squire, and later traded to his brother-in-law, Mr. Benjamin Van
Cleve, for a cow. Then, during the War of 1812 Benjamin’s soldier son William
carried and used the family heirloom all the way to the Battle of New Orleans.
Brian Anderson copied
Squire’s work by forge welding several pieces of wrought iron buggy tire into a
bar or billet that was hammered out into the tomahawk head, accurately copying
the Boone piece right down to the inserted steel bit. Next, following
tradition, a small section of rifle barrel was fitted and brazed onto the head to
serve as the pipe bowl. After that everything was patiently hand worked and
filed into its final shape. Finally, just like Squire did on the original,
Brian used an ash sapling for the axe’s haft.
From whimsical folk
art pieces like his wonderful forged iron “Salamander on Wheels” to exacting
copies like the “Squire Boone Pipe Axe” made for the 2013 CLA Fundraising
Auction, Brian Anderson is a master of his craft, and we are proud to have this
special piece in our auction.
For an interview
with Brian, and to see more of his work, you can visit this link: here.
You can contact
Brian at:
Brian Anderson
447 Frank
Orvis Rd,
Bristol, Vermont 05443
Email: brianderson@silversunbeam.com
Phone:
802-453-2199
Copy and photos supplied by the Contemporary Longrifle Foundation.
I don't think Daniel Boone was ever a blacksmith or made tomahawks or rifles. Squire was the blacksmith in the family. Daniel also was not in the War of 1812. He was in the French and Indian War with General Braddock at Pittsburgh but he would have been in his 70's by the time of the War of 1812 and living in Missouri.
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