Rich and Jeanne McDonald are well known CLA Artists. Rich and Jeanne have been married over 29 years and live on a small farm in southern Ohio. They are part of the southern Ohio contingent contributing to this auction including Joe Seabolt and Maryellen Pratt.
Rich bought his first muzzleloader at the age of 12 and has been hooked ever since. Rich started forging knives and and tomahawks in 1990 and now does it as a full time occupation He was a farrier for about 20 years before this change. Rich also builds very clean and neat longrifles and fowlers; his iron mounted rifles are remarkable. Rich occasionally does horns and other accoutrements.
Jeanne started making knife sheaths when Rich began making knives. Jeanne expanded into hunting pouches, haversacks, quivers and other muzzleloading accouterments. She especially enjoys weaving and is particularly good at it.
Jeanne is the recipient of several Judge's Choice Awards at Dixon's Fair. Rich has numerous awards from various shows. Their work is in collections around the globe.
Jeanne McDonald has donated a Southern Mountain bag with classic lines and a woven strap, the workmanship definitely being of the better class of southern bag, then or now. Rich McDonald furnished the knife and the classic accoutrements, a bullet block, and brush, vent pick and measure. The bag is made from bark tanned deerskin and hand sewn with linen thread. The strap she wove of hemp and cotton. She also made the sheath for the knife. Rich made the thin walled 60 grain antler powder measure, the pick and brush set, and the neat fish shaped .50 caliber bullet block. The knife is forged from 1084.
Rich and Jeanne wanted to create a pouch that could have seen service at the Battle of New Orleans and in keeping with that thought Rich engraved the initials M S and 1815 date on the antler handle, perhaps the knife of legendary Kentucky hunter Mike Stevers or maybe Michel Stoner who died that year.
This is a great bag, look closely at photos for the workmanship.
You can contact Rich and Jeanne McDonald at:
Rich & Jeanne McDonald
5010 Carmel Rd.
Hillsboro, OH 45133
937-466-2071
Email Rich: rmclongknives@aol.com
Email Jeanne: jmcleatherstuff@aol.com
Website: http://www.longknivesandleather.com/
Photo 1 is by Ric Lambert, photos 2 through 4 are by Heinz Ahlers and 5 and 6 by Rich McDonald.
Anyone who wants a great bag should look this one over. The CLA Fundraising Auction this year is loaded with great bags and this is one of the best
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