Gary Birch Hunting Pouch

The knife is also by Gary.

Gary Birch's Mark

Birch 83

Photographed at the 2011 Lake cumberland Mini CLA Show by Jan Riser.

Antique Horn

Photographed at the 2011 Lake Cumberland Mini CLA Show by Jan Riser.

William Madden Rifle

This “New School” piece was inspired principally by the work of Hagarstown, Maryland gunsmith George Kreps, Sr. and, secondarily, by that of John Armstrong, and his mentor, Hanover, Pennsylvania gunsmith George Schreyer.  Maryland architecture is evident in the slight “swan’s-neck” wrist and v-shaped forestock.  Ornamental motifs used by Kreps and Armstrong appear as piercings in the toe plate (heart / bell flower) and ramrod thimbles (bell flower / Edelweiss flower) and in the carving in front of the trigger guard (stylized bell flower) and behind the rear ramrod thimble (Schreyer fleur de lis or stylized acanthus leaf).  A Federal Eagle, frequently engraved on the cheekpiece, is displayed here as an engraved silver inlay in the nosecap.

The patchbox has a side opening, “captured” lid with a cabinet catch and “throw-bolt” release mechanism patterned after that found on a lid by Hachen-Schreyer (Muzzle Blasts, March 2005, pp. 55-57).  The sideplates opposite the lock and around the patchbox are substantially of the same design used by Kreps and are partially engraved in the broken-line style employed by him.  Engraving on the tang and barrel, which is “popped” by use of gold inlay, are my own designs.  They also show the broken line style favored by Kreps.  Barrel key escucheons and surrounding wire inlay are of contemporary design. Ropework, used by both Kreps and Armstrong, surrounds the patchbox lid and serves as a border at the breech of the barrel.

 The carving behind the cheekpiece features curved diaper work found on a rifle by Kreps.  The carvings along the wrist are of my own design. Carving around the barrel tang is typical of that used by Armstrong and other northern Maryland gunsmiths.   The shell-like carving ahead of the lock and sideplate panels is a modified form of the gadrooning used in this location by Armstrong and Schreyer. All are cut in low relief below the base of the surrounding surface plane in the manner done by Schreyer.

The rifle was built as a surprise 2010 birthday/Christmas gift for my brother.  In the tradition of symbolic ornamentation found on some period arms, this rifle displays artistic embellishments of significance to him, our family and our Western Nebraska heritage.  The “Scotts Bluff” and “Chimney Rock,” prominent landmarks along the Platte River for rendezvous-bound traders during the fur trade era, for travelers along the Oregon Trail and in the shadows of which we grew up, appear as engraved overlays on the patchbox lid and cheekpiece inlay, respectively.  The views depicted by the overlays are substantially the same painted by A. J. Miller in 1837.  A Nebraska blue agate, set in a leaf and scroll inlay, adorns the lower butt stock.  A Plains buffalo skull (made of buffalo bone) is part of the fancy, folding rear sight. A distinguishing feature of the Madden Coat of Arms, a silver, heraldic raptor with an ivory swan in its grasp, forms the apex of the patchbox finial.  My brother’s astrological sign, a frontal portrait of Capricorn (the Sea Goat), is engraved on the lock plate along with a trophy of ornaments symbolic of the hunt commonly seen in 18th Century French pattern books.  A symbol of his profession (dentistry), comprised of a caduceus and a pair of pliers (found in a 12th Century stained glass  picture of St. Apollonia of Alexandria, the patron saint of dentistry), is engraved on the tang of the rear ramrod thimble.  December, the month of his birth and Christmas, is symbolically captured by an engraved bi-metal, floral inlay in the trigger guard – a poinsettia (the Christmas flower).

The piece is built around a 50 cal. 44" Getz swamped barrel, Wayne Dunlap quarter-sawn sugar maple blank and L & R Durs Egg lock.  Except for the cast buttplate and triggerguard, all mounts, including set-triggers, are handmade.  The stock is stained with shop-made aqua fortis and finished with shop-made varnish oil.           

Text and photos by Wm. (Bill) Madden, Gunmaker

Bozeman, Montana            

David Gillespie Tombstone Casting

A picture of a Period Proper Plaster Casting of a reproduction of an original slate tombstone from the French and Indian War Period, 1754 in Charleston, SC of a Sea Captain, Mr. Thomas Poole, (1717-1754) who drowned in the Charlestown SC Harbour, March 1754. I carved the copy and cast my copy.  We found in 1768 where a Boston Stone cutter was making plaster castings of his stonework to disseminate among fellow carvers, and to sell to the general public.

The Hour Glass With Wings shows that “Time Flies.” The Statement “Yesterday for me & To Day for Thee,” says to the reader  “Yesterday was my day, & Today is your day, but tommorrow will be someone else’s day.” Reader, this was an admonition of the original carver, Henry Emmes of Boston to realise that our lives are short, 250 yrs later this is still true.


Copy and photos supplied by David Gillespie.

David Dodds Rifle

This is David's interpretation of the Wm. Antes rifle. David worked for the Getz barrel company at the time, and made the barrel as well. The wood for this piece is quite nice, about 8-10 curls to the inch, and typical of David's work is the fit and finish. He also lived in the area where Antes worked for a time, and all in all I always felt he had as much "mojo" going for him on this piece as any he has ever built.

Copy and photos supplied by Dan Fruth.

Maryellen Pratt Bag with Knife by Ian Pratt

The bark tanned deer hide is by Charlie Brown. The horn is an old one, nice green color to match the horn handled knife. The measure is also by Ian.

Photos by Maryellen Pratt.