Monday, November 30, 2020

San Jacinto Bowie Knife and Sheath by John Miller

 

The inspiration for this knife came from one made by Graveley and Wreaks and is pictured in A Sure Defense: The Bowie Knife In America by Worthen and Zalesky.  The second photo shows pictures of the front and back of the original knife as well as my full size paper pattern and my rough forged blade (1084 steel).  The original knife is etched but I can't make out the pattern so I sketched one of my own and etched the blade with salt water and a battery charger.  The original handle is ivory, I carved mine from a piece of cherry and painted it in an attempt to mimic the original.  The sheath is leather and is partially lined with wood.






Copy and photos supplied by John Miller.

Friday, November 27, 2020

Painted Paddle Replicas by John Miller

 

I carved these from 2x6 spruce/fir studs and painted them in the style of the indigenous Northwest Coast cultures.  


Copy and photos supplied by John Miller.

Happy Thanksgiving

 Best Wishes for you and your family for a safe, joyful and happy Thanksgiving.


Art, Jan and Robert

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Jeffrey S. Evans Auction: MARK THOMAS, SHENANDOAH VALLEY OF VIRGINIA CONTEMPORARY KENTUCKY-STYLE FLINTLOCK LONG RIFLE

 

SIZE

54" OA, 38" L barrel.


DESCRIPTION
MARK THOMAS, SHENANDOAH VALLEY OF VIRGINIA CONTEMPORARY KENTUCKY-STYLE FLINTLOCK LONG RIFLE, .40 caliber, figured maple fullstock with elaborate carving and engraved-silver inlays, pierced and engraved Valley-style brass patch box, engraving to other furniture, rifled octagonal barrel, top signed "Mark Thomas", bone-tip pick and oak ramrod. Together with a signed presentation copy of "American Engraves III: Masterpieces in Metal by America's Engraving Artisans" by C. Roger Bleile illustrating the rifle. Two pieces total. Mark Thomas, Dayton, VA. Late 20th century. 

CONDITION
Excellent condition.

PROVENANCE
From a Shenandoah Valley private collection.
Catalogue Note: Mark Thomas (b. 1953) is a member of the NMLRA, a charter member of the Contemporary Longrifle Association, FEGA, and the Honourable Company of Horners.

LITERATURE
Published: Bleile - American Engraves III: Masterpieces in Metal by America's Engraving Artisans, p. 238.

Estimate: $1,000-$2,000

Sold For: $6,000










Photographs and copy from Jeffrey S. Evans and Assoc. here.

Monday, November 23, 2020

Thursday, November 19, 2020

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Wheellock Rifle by Brian Anderson

 

new Wheellock - a commission





Photographs supplied by Brian Anderson.

Tuesday, November 17, 2020

CHARLIE WALLINGFORD KNIFE FOR JEREMIAH “JAKE” BROWNING ~ NOVEMBER 7, 2020 AD

 

As part of a grandfather’s continuing tradition to his grandson, Jeremiah David Browning - this is the 11th handmade knife made by friends for his birthday. This year’s outstanding knife was made by noted knife maker, Charlie Wallingford of Union, Kentucky. Jeremiah received this knife for his 20th birthday, November 7, 2020.

 

Charlie created a handsome knife with a hand forged blade with a deer antler handle with a poured pewter bolster. Continuing in the tradition since the first knife was made by Ian Pratt in 2010, two hearts are incorporated into the knife – this year they are stamped in the blade, flanking Charlie’s touchmark. And “HDW to JDB Nov. 7, 2020” is engraved in the blade.  The end cap is engraved with nick and dot.  

 

This is the 11th knife made for the continuing tradition from a grandfather to a fine grandson. Last year’s 2019 knife was made by Todd Butler; 2018 knife was made Kyle Willyard; 2017 by Steve Auvenshine; the 2016 knife was made by Frank House, 2015 by Doug Delsemme; 2014 by Todd Daggett; 2013 - Daniel Casey; 2012- Joe Seabolt; 2011- Glen Mock; and the first, made in 2010 by Ian Pratt.

 

Thanks to all eleven artists for making my grandson’s gifts extra special.


H. David Wright

Gallatin, Tennessee

November 13, 2020




JEREMIAH IS NO LONGER A TEENAGER.

HE TURNED 20 ON NOVEMBER 7.


Copy and photos supplied by David Wright.

Monday, November 16, 2020

Morphy Auctions: IMPORTANT KENTUCKY RIFLE AND EAGLE-HEAD SABER, BOTH BY JOHN NOLL.

Full octagon, key-fastened, rifled barrel of 43-3/4" length and 0.54 caliber; with John Noll's touchmark “IN” with dagger in raised silver cartouche on left flat near breech, signed on the top flat “John Noll”; dovetailed notched rear sight and brass front sight. The rifle, with an overall length of 59-1/2", exhibit the classic features of the Chambersburg School of riflemaking as evidenced in Noll’s other known rifles, the relief work on the left or cheekpiece side of the butt with handsomely-carved relief 'C' scroll motifs with incised cross-hatching, with comparable relief and incised carving work around the engraved and pierced brass four-piece patchbox on the right side, the tang of barrel and lock; the oval silver thumb piece inlaid on the wrist of the stock has a Federal eagle with shield skillfully engraved upon it. The flat lock with beveled edges is unmarked and is a skillful reconversion back to flint. John Noll was a master gunsmith, carver and engraver who incorporated classic rococo design elements in his carving, in thoughtfully composed designs. John Noll is listed as a gunsmith in Washington Township in Franklin County, Pennsylvania with working dates between 1800 and 1820 and is considered one of the master gunsmiths of the golden age of Kentucky rifles. He was equally adept as both carver and engraver, with few contemporaries able to equal his respective abilities in both areas. [with] (B) An unusual eagle-head pommel short saber, the only known sword attributed to Noll, with a curved, wide-fullered blade of 26-1/2" length and 1-1/4" wide at ricasso. The saber is 32-1/2" long overall and features a unique hilt in that the pommel, as well as grip, is of wood. The grip appears to be of mahogany and carved with spiral grooves and channels, while the pommel, also of the same wood, is a beautifully-carved, crested eagle-head copied from the cast-metal eagle-head pommels found on classic Philadelphia school swords of the Federal era. Its D-shaped knucklebow guard is of flat silver stock that is solder-joined at its rear to a silver ring-shaped ferrule or collar between pommel and grip, while there is a silver, banded ferrule in front of the grip that is soldered directly to the inside face of the silver guard, which terminates in a simple, rounded quillon that curves forward. Noll’s “IN” touchmark is struck on the outer face of the guard, just above the blade spine, while “Col. John Hay” is engraved in script on the outside of the knuckle-bow. John Hay (?-1810) served as a lieutenant colonel in the York County militia during the first decade of the 19th century. Both sword and rifle are illustrated and discussed on p. 24 of “Silver Mounted Swords: The Lattimer Family Collection (2000) by Daniel Hartzler. CONDITION: (A) The barrel a gunmetal grey with a few light patches of freckling down its length, with some wear from old cleanings; the stock and mountings overall very good, with an occasional ding or rub as expected; (B) The sword blade a gunmetal grey in tone; the hilt good and complete, some light scratches and dings to the silver- and wood-word and traces of old silver paint to the pommel. JLK

Minimum Bid: $7,500.
Current Bid: $10,000.
Estimate: $15,000 - $25,000

Auction: Tuesday, Nov 17, 2020


















 
Copy and photos from Morphy Auctions here.