Up the Valley and Through the Gap by Mel Hankla at The Filson Historical Society

Mel Hankla will give a power point presentation entitled, “Up the Valley and Through the Gap” which highlights several of the fine long rifles in The Filson’s collection, among other note worthy rifles and gun smiths of flint lock rifles.

Mr. Hankla is a historian by trade and has been active in frontier era “Living History” since the early 1980’s.  In 1984, he received a National Endowment of the Arts – Folk Arts Apprenticeship grant to work with Hersel House, “a noted builder of longrifles” since 1967.

This event will be held Thursday, January 23, at 6:00 p.m. at The Filson Historical Society, 1310 S. Third Street, Louisville.  This program is free for members, $10 for non-members.  Reservations are suggested to assure seating.

Copy from The Filson Historical Society.

2013 Mississinewa: Photos

Photos of the battle here and photos of camp life here.

Mississinewa 1812:Photos

Mississinewa 1812 is the largest War of 1812 living history event in the United States. Sponsored by the Mississinewa Battlefield Society Inc, Marion, Indiana with the support of the Department of Natural Resources. It is a historical commemoration of the Battle of Mississinewa fought here on December 17-18, 1812.

Jan Zender, Tim Connin, Steven Lalioff and Mike Wilson

(not in this order)

This Coat looks like it's from the period, it's absolutely Beautiful!

Coat still in the works...

That's only part of the crowd, there's a bunch more behind me.

More about Mississinewa 1812 can be found here.

Photos and photo descriptions from Tom Connin.

33rd NMLRA Gunsmithing Workshop and Seminar at WKU

33rd Year of the NMLRA Gunsmithing Workshop and Seminar at WKU

Advanced Registration Information

By H. Terry Leeper

2014 Classes at a glance:

3-Day classes, Option 1 (June 4 – 6 ) - $360

· Drawing and Design for Engraving and Carving – Jim Kibler

· Conservation and Restoration of Period Arms – Wallace Gusler

· Introductory Porcupine Quill Work and Traditional 18th Century Dyes – Lally House

· Making a Makers Stamp – George Suiter

3-Day Classes, Option 2 (June 8 – 10) - $360

· Aging Techniques – Ian Pratt

· Inkle Loom Weaving – Pam Hutton

3-Day Class, Option 3 (June 11 – 13) - $360

· Making a Hunting Pouch – Ken Scott

6-Day Classes (June 8 – 13) - $690

· Finish What You Started – Bob Elka and Joe Valentin

· Longrifle Engraving: Beginning and Intermediate – Jim Kibler

· Longrifle Relief and Incised Carving – Wallace Gusler

· Making a Screw Tip Powder Horn and related Horn Accoutrements – Art DeCamp

· Brass Casting and making of Gun Mounts including a Brass Box – George Suiter

· Advanced Quill Work – Fabricating a Knife Sheath – Lally House

· Lock Making and Tuning – Jim Chambers

9-Day classes (June 4 – June 13) - $1,020

· Building a French Pistol Ca. 1650 – Ron Scott

· Building a 1750’s Pipe Ax Based on a Warren County, Kentucky Original  – Jack Brooks

· Longrifle Stock Architecture - stock shaping and inletting using 18th century  style tools and techniques – Mark Silver

· Woodbury School of Iron Mounted Gun Making – House Brothers: Hershel, Frank and John

Related Activities: Shoot and Picnic on Saturday June 7th at the Leeper farm, and a Wednesday Picnic June 11th at the Hershel House Residence. Picnic cost is included in the registration fee (spouse or friend additional $10.00). There will be several evening seminars to be announced once registration is complete.

For Advanced Registration: Send an electronic letter of inquiry to: both Terry Leeper terry.leeper@wku.edu, and Morgan Mundell mmundell@nmlra.org  at the NMLRA, or call 270-202-8141 - Leeper, or 812-667-5131 – Mundell. You must list your 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices. If you only list one choice, we will assume that you have no other interest in other seminar classes. A non-refundable down payment of $100 needs to be received at the NMLRA by October 25th to hold your request until the formal announcement of the seminar is made in the December issue of Muzzle Blasts. On February 21st, one/half of the workshop feed will be due to the NMLRA with the balance due On April 25th. Should a class have to be canceled because of low enrollment (less than 8); all fees will be returned on April 4th, of 2014. 

Please note that there are three beginning dates for the 3 day class options to enable participants to participate in more than one short course. Also, seminar activities at WKU end on Friday before the National Shoot of the NMLRA at Friendship, Indiana on Saturday the 14th.

Conner Prairie at Dawn

On Saturday, Sept. 21, Conner Prairie Interactive History Park, Indiana’s only Smithsonian Affiliate, will open its doors from 7 a.m.-10 a.m. for adults to explore 200 acres of beautiful landscape. During Conner Prairie at Dawn, visitors will be able to take photos, paint, sketch, hike, meditate, do yoga, or simply enjoy our beautiful grounds before the park opens to the public. Capture the sun rising over our historical covered bridge, identify native birds, animals and insects, marvel at the morning fog rolling off the historic prairie, burn calories on our Nature Walk, or just enjoy the peace and tranquility of Conner Prairie’s beautiful landscape. This event is for adults 18 and older. Admission is $10, which includes access to our grounds from 7 a.m.-10 a.m. For those wanting to explore our historic grounds after 10 a.m., you may purchase full-price, general admission tickets for $15. This includes admission from 7 a.m.-5 p.m.

Conner Prairie Interactive History Park inspires curiosity and fosters learning by immersing visitors in Indiana’s past. The state’s only Smithsonian Affiliate, Conner Prairie allows visitors to explore Indiana’s natural and cultural heritage by visiting communities and moments from the past and learning about events, discoveries and forces that shaped the American Midwest. Encouraging discovery about the environment, innovation and invention, bio-sciences, technology, the arts and culture, Conner Prairie inspires lifelong interests and prepares the next generation to be competitive in a global marketplace. Conner Prairie and its five outdoor experiences, indoor interactive exhibits and acres of natural exploration areas not only welcome more than 330,000 visitors annually – including more than 60,000 students – but also attract peers from across the nation seeking to learn from its innovations and success. Visit Conner Prairie or call 317.776.6006 or 800.966.1836 for admission dates, hours, ticket prices and opportunities to donate. Connect with Conner Prairie on Facebook at facebook.com/connerprairie, Flickr at flickr.com/people/connerprairie, YouTube atyoutube.com/user/ConnerPrairie and Twitter at twitter.com/connerprairie.

Copy supplied by Lynelle Mellady. Photo from Google.

Fort Loudoun 18th Century Trade Faire

The Sequoyah Birthplace Museum and Fort Loudoun State Historic Area are partnering for the Great Island Festival, slated for September 7-8, from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. each day.

At the Fort Loudoun 18th Century Trade Faire visitors of all ages will enjoy strolling thru the Faire as they did in the 18th Century. There will be demonstrations throughout the day in artillery and musketry, along with several battles and skirmish re-enactments, the big battle demonstration daily at 1:30. Merchants and artisans will be on hand to peddle food and wares reminiscent of the time. Stop in and get a cold Root Beer or Ginger Ale from the “Tears of the Tankard Tavern, and enjoy period food from “Two French Tarts.” Visitors can also learn about slate tombstone carving, 18th century fishing, blacksmithing and carpentry. Music and other entertainment acts will include The Traveling Caudells, a traditional vocal duo; Out of the Ordinary, featuring a hammered dulcimer, English guitar, harp and vocals; and the Beggar Boys, talented singers and fiddlers. Common Stock’s Curious Booth of Wonders, and the Amazing Juggling Budabi Brothers will also delight and astonish visitors of all ages. Returning this year will be Faire Wynds Circus, featuring musicians, a conjuror, equalibrialist, contortionist and an escape artist. Two new musical acts are making their way inland from the sea this year: Thunder and Spice, who will bring to you music that will make you want to sing along, and Four Sheets to the Wind, who will have you singing so loud you may walk the plank.

Steve Marshall

Judge Carroll Ross

Copy and photos from Fort Loudoun.

2013 CLA Live Auction: Jerry Eitnier Knife and Sheath

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 I work on the far side of this school. Some of my work is a little different.” 

He has studied under some of the most noteworthy artists in the field, taking five years of classes at the Annual Traditional Arts & Arms Making Workshops at Conner Prairie Living History Museum in Fishers, IN.  There he was taught by gunmakers Hershel House, John Schippers, Mark Silver and blacksmith Melvin Lytton and others. Additionally, he’s had the opportunity to work with Frank House down in southern Illinois.  Jerry is quick to credit others for his success, “Most of what little I know I learned by doing but so many people have helped me along the way and I can't thank them enough.” Today, besides building firearms he has broadened his talents into the arts of blacksmithing, crafting knives and making powder horns.

Fellow CLA member and gunmaker, Mark Thomas has this to say about Jerry’s work; “He likes to forge the iron for the hardware on his iron mounted rifles but he is also capable of making other items in his blacksmith shop. Most of his blacksmith work is for his own projects but once in a while he will offer some things for sale or take in an occasional order. He may have a knife or two, an axe or maybe just trigger guards and butt plate.” 

Jerry’s knives and horns are like his rifle guns; “built to be safe and to be used”. The CLA is fortunate to have one of his knives donated by Jerry for this year’s Fund Raising Auction.  It’s a small belt knife of a convenient, easy to carry size that will do about anything that you would ask of a good knife. Hand forged from 1080 steel with the look of frontier blacksmithing, this knife is meant to use and should hold up well. It comes with a handsome, well-crafted sheath.

Jerry has generously donated his art to support this year’s auction because, as he says – “in return for all the support and help I have received over the years from other CLA artisans.”

Jerry’s contact information is below.  His website is well worth a visit.

Jerry Eitnier

Box 125

Hillsboro, IN 47949

765-798-3525 

Email: Ike47949@yahoo.com  

To see more of Jerry’s work, visit his website:

www.eitnierrifles.com

Jerry Eitnier

Eitnier Rifles

Iron Mounted Southern Guns

Copy by By Heinz Ahlers with photos supplied by the Contemporary Longrifle Foundation.

2013 CLA Live Auction: “A Knife Fit for an Alligator-Horse” by Joe Seabolt

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 the war of 1812 to its final battle would have been proud to carry one of legendary fighting knives that the Bowie’s would later make famous. In fact, the Bowie knife was arguably destined to become at least as famous as battle the Battle of New Orleans itself.

Imagining Jackson’s men armed with such a formidable blade inspired the re-creation of this knife. Bladesmith Joe Seabolt has created a scale interpretation of the knife shown both on page #141 and the back cover of the book “Accoutrements II” by James R. Johnson. From its “false edge” clipped point to its hard wood handle, in basic size and shape this deadly side arm incorporates all of the characteristics normally seen on a classic Bowie. Although this style of knife is a little later than what Joe normally makes, it is one that he has wanted to copy for a long time and he thought the 2013 CLA fundraising auction would be the perfect reason to finally do so.

Joe hand forged the blade from 1095 steel, and it is an impressive 11¾” long by 1¾” wide by 5/16” thick.

Also hand forged are the knife’s traditional “S” shaped iron guard and the matching iron sheath fittings. After forging, once the blade was tempered everything was painstakingly fitted and then carefully finished, resulting in another fine example of the authentic early American cutlery for which Joe is so famous.

Every detail of the big knife and its custom fitted leather sheath has been taken into consideration; including the use of a hand selected billet of aged “old hickory” wood that was used to make the handle of this special knife that would have done “Old Hickory’s” men proud.

SMILIN' JOE SEABOLT

CONTEMPORARY KNIFE AND RIFLE MAKER

by Sharon Cunningham  

Joseph Edman Seabolt, native Cincinnatian, is a journeyman electrician by trade, and a blacksmith courtesy of Steve Marshall of Goodlettsville, Tennessee. His knife making is the product of the teachings of both Marshall and Hershel House, the latter, Seabolt states, "has become not only my mentor, but a close friend as well. House is 'my inspiration." 

Joe has attended four seminars at Canter's Cave in Jackson, Ohio, taught by both Hershel and his brother, John House.

Joe has been married to Diane, an RN, for twenty-three years and the couple lives in a log house, that he mostly built himself, in a woodland area near Goshen, Ohio. He works in his blacksmith/workshop he also built himself from logs taken from an old Virginia cabin for his Cedar Ridge Forge.

Seabolt grew up, like many of us, watching Fess Parker as Daniel Boone on TV, and often "went into the woods to try to emulate the great backwoodsman." He began making knives at about age 10 by grinding down saw blades and crudely applying rough handles. In his late teens he "got a little better and was making blades using the stock removal method." Joe began building custom made, hand forged knife blades in the early 1990s at Historic Mansker's Station in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. Under the tutelage of Steve Marshall, the resident blacksmith at Mansker's, Joe was taught to hand forge blades on a charcoal forge with a bellows and 18th century style tools. He subsequently set up his own forge and equipment and began making custom knives in this old-fashioned way.

Seabolt's philosophy  is that "knives are one of man's oldest and most indispensable tools, and my goal is to make cutlery that not only has an 18th century look and feel, but is also a functional tool. Someone may have to depend upon a knife in an emergency, and I always keep this in mind. I want my knives to be historically accurate, but mostly they must feel good in the hand and be able to do the job for which they are intended."

His artistry tends toward the Early Rifleman style with a long, graceful blade hammer forged from 1095 high carbon steel. Joe utilizes a special heat-treating that quenches the blade to make the spine softer than the edge, same way as the old time cutlers. This method produces a more flexible blade with maximum strength that makes it easy to sharpen and hold an edge longer than most. Seabolt  states of his finished product, "No knife leaves my shop until it will shave hair!"

Joe's knives are handled primarily with antler and bone, but he offers various American hardwoods and ebony as well. He states, "I carefully select antler for straightness and size and may look through 100 pieces to find five that meet my needs. When people pick up one of my knives, I want them to tell me it fits their hands so comfortably it's as if it was made just for them"  Joe uses a finish that gives the completed work a feel of age and toughness, but is still a beautiful example of the maker's work. His sheaths are made with rawhide liners sewn with catgut and covered with either brain-tanned deer skin or bark-tanned leather sewn with linen thread.

Custom tomahawks and belt axes are also built by Seabolt, from the same hammer forged 1095 carbon steel, and are patterned after those of the 18th century Indian trade. These tools are handled in curly maple, hickory or American walnut. He uses only the best materials in both his knives and tomahawks, and they carry a lifetime guarantee from defects in workmanship.

Joe sometimes builds custom longrifles, which he states are of the Woodbury School, but he personally prefers building custom knives and tomahawks. He began his riflemaking in 2006 after attending a seminar taught by Hershel House at Canter's Cave in Jackson, Ohio. There, he polished his knowledge of hammer-forging rifle furniture - ramrod 

thimbles, side plate and nose cap - the style made popular in muzzleloading circles by the House brothers of Woodbury, Kentucky.

Since the early 1990s, Joe has made "hundreds of 18th century style knives." This year he donated one of his early rifleman knives with custom leather sheath to the Contemporary Longrifle Association [CLA] for the organization's 2013 Fund Raising Auction.  

Several years ago Joe teamed up with noted gunmaker Ian Pratt (Ohio) and together they teach knife making classes at seminars held by the Log Cabin Shop in Lodi, Ohio. These workshops are rewarding to both builders and the class members get the expertise of two masters in the trade. For more information about the classes, contact Joe at (513) 722-4321 or Ian at (330) 814-3748. The Log Cabin Shop can be contacted by email at: logcabin@logcabinshop.com or go online at: www.logcabinshop.com 

Joe Seabolt is as generous as he is talented; he states of his fellow craftsmen, "Attending CLA shows and meeting the best artisans [from] around [the country] has really improved my own work...Joining the CLA has been one of the best things I have done...."  He also belongs to the 2nd Company of the North Carolina Militia and attends living history events at Martin's Station near Ewing, Virginia, The Fair at New Boston in Springfield, Ohio, and the shooting matches at the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association's Walter Cline Range in Friendship, Indiana, of which he is a member. He is a Life Member of the National Rifle Association is one of that organizations's certified firearms instructors.

See all of Joe's knife styles at the upcoming 

Contemporary Longrifle Association Annual Show and Meeting

August 16 and 17, 

2013 in the Grand Ballroom of the Lexington Convention Center 

Lexington, Kentucky

Contact Info: 

6794 Gaynor Rd.

Goshen OH 45122

(513) 722-4321