Friday, April 30, 2010

Nate Mckenzie

Here is my favorite "using rifle" that I built a few years back. It  was built from a Jim Chambers York County kit. I'm not much on kit  guns but this one fits me so well and is so accurate that its almost always the one I grab. It has a 50cal. Getz barrel, Davis  set triggers, Chambers Golden Age lock, and a curly maple stock. I  replaced the front RR pipe with a bigger one so I could use a tapered ram rod. I built this about twenty years ago and used her hard but took good care of her. She's never left me down.







Copy and photos supplied by Nate McKenzie.

Ken Scott Pouch with Scott and Cathy Sibley Horn





Photos supplied by Robert Weil.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Christian's Spring Longrifle by James Klein

This early Colonial era longrifle is obviously of Germanic heritage, but has several distinctly American features. The maple stock, and swamped octagon barrel were features that became popular with skilled German gunmakers when they came to America. Rifles of this style were produced in or near Christian's Spring, Pennsylvania, during the mid 1700's. This hand finished early style .54 caliber longrifle is trimmed in brass. The plain maple stock is raised and incised carved.

The barrel measures 37" in length.


Jim Chamber lock


The top view of the rifle shows off the engraved buttplate comb, with the comb screw as the center of a four petal flower. Forward of the comb a raised line of carving passes over the wrist and separates the wrist from the comb. Beginning at this separation line the wrist sweeps up to meet tang of the breech, which is surrounded by a Fluer-de-Lis of raised carving.

A low flat top rear sight is dovetailed on the barrel, likewise at the muzzle a low silver bladed front sight is dovetailed 2” behind the end of the barrel.


Delicate relief carving decorates the area ahead and behind the cheek. The forend has a raised molding from muzzle to the ramrod entry pipe, ending in a raised carving, just under the palm swell. Two dome headed lock bolts pass through the brass sideplate and stock to engage the lock on the opposite side. The brass plate is finished with a slight burnish, like all of the other brass furniture on the rifle.

Copy and photos by Track of the Wolf.

Joe Schell 18th Century Pocket Knife for Cory Stephens



Photos supplied by Joe Schell.

Save the Date!

33rd Annual Tennessee Kentucky Rifle Show

Friday-Saturday
April 22-23, 2011

Museum of Appalachia, Norris, ,TN

The 32nd Show was one of the best shows that we can remember. They have all been good, but this show was outstanding. Boo and Wayne Elliott are most gracious hosts and with help and support from Buford and Barbara Blanton and Andy Mock the show was quite an event. Friday night's barbecue on the grounds was the perfect way to end the day.

Be sure to mark the date now for next year's show.

Saturday highlights included a talk by Randle Pearce on an outstanding Baxter Bean rifle whose history can be traced back to nearby Cades Cove. The rifle and all accessories were available for viewing both prior to and after the talk.











Buford Blanton displayed the work of the late Ed Thomas.


Another Ed Thomas rifle was displayed on Bill Moore's table.


Henry Bishop's outstanding display for the Kentucky Rifle Foundation.





Rick Lambert was photographing for the CLA American Tradition Magazine all weekend. Many of the fine antique and contemporary pieces were selected for inclusion in the next issue.

Gun No. 21 on pages 104 and 105 from "Longrifles of North Carolina" by John Bivins, Jr. was in attendance at the show.


Copy and photos by Jan Riser. Saturday I had the best banana pudding ever at the museum cafe.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Hill Pearce Bowie with a Jimmy Allen Sheath







Hill Pearce's mark




Photographed at the 2010 Tennessee Kentucky Rifle Show by Jan Riser.