2012 River Longrifles Indoor Trade Show: Photo

Ken Scott and Ron Vail

Noember 17th & 18th in Greenfield, Indiana
 This was the first trade fair that they have had and are planning on making it a yearly event.

Photo by Vicki Johnson.

2012 Hershel House Knife Workshop: Photos

William "Cousin Willie" White, John House, Hershel House

Photos supplied by Brian Barker.

2012 Washington Historical Gunmaker's Guild: Photos

Pam Skillman demonstrating the Creelman Center Sock Knitter

The  Sock Knitting machine I used can be described as a Creelman  “closed cam” home circular knitting machine.  The basic working parts are a cog ring, cam cylinder, needle cylinder, needles and crank , but the catalogs of the period list over 100 parts. The Creelman Brothers started manufacturing knitting machines in Canada in the mid 1800’s. Though they manufactured about twenty types of machines,  the one I have may be a prototype for an early light weight home use machine, built around 1880.

To operate, the handle is cranked and the cam cylinder rotates around the stationary needle cylinder or drum. As the cam cylinder turns an internal “V” cam pushes the needles up to the yarn held by a guide. As the needle rises the latch opens and the hook catches the yarn. The needle is then pushed down by the cam, the latch closes around the yarn and the needle drops through the existing stitch, creating a new stitch.  This all happens very quickly as Maryellen found out, she knit about 7 inches of sock in a couple of minutes.

Weights are placed on the completed work as it comes out to keep tension on the stitches, allowing the needles to open and close. The tall “mast” holding the yarn over the work keeps an even tension on the yarn as it is fed into the machine by the yarn guide.

Pictures by Maryellen Pratt, taken at the 2012 Meeting of the Washington Historical Gunmaker's Guild with copy by Pam Skillman.

2012 Washington Historical Gunmaker's Guild: Photos

Items by Kathy Godby of University Place, Washington

Kathy makes period correct colonial garments and finely embroidered pockets and haversacks. Some of her items are museum reproductions, others are of her own design based on historical pieces. 

Kathy can be contacted at Kathy Godby.

Pictures by Maryellen Pratt, taken at the 2012 Meeting of the Washington Historical Gunmaker's Guild with copy by Ian Pratt.

2012 Washington Historical Gunmaker's Guild: Photos

Horns by Scott Morrison of Oregon

The banded horn with plum wood base and an applied horn tip was inspired by an original North Carolina piece which descended in the Strayhorn Family. The original is pictured in Bill Ivey's "North Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865".  

 The blowing horn is patterned after the style of original hunting horns and feaures a single band and an applied antler tip.

Bag by Jeff Bibb, knife and banded horn by Scott Morrison, powder measure by Harold Moore.

Pictures by Maryellen Pratt, taken at the 2012 Meeting of the Washington Historical Gunmaker's Guild with copy by Ian Pratt.

2012 Washington Historical Gunmaker's Guild: Photos

a variety of powder horns and other horn items made by Steve Skillman of Yelm, Washington

Pictures by Maryellen Pratt, taken at the 2012 Meeting of the Washington Historical Gunmaker's Guild with copy by Ian Pratt.

2012 Washington Historical Gunmaker's Guild: Photos

A selection of powder horns, all made by Glenn Sutt of Olympia,WA

Pictures by Maryellen Pratt, taken at the 2012 Meeting of the Washington Historical Gunmaker's Guild with copy by Ian Pratt.

2012 Meeting of the Washington Historical Gunmaker's Guild: Photos

Rich Downs received the WHGG's "Gunmaker of The Year" award at the awards ceremony and live auction.  Rich Downs on the left and gun maker Dave Dolliver on the right.

The annual auction generates funds to pay for the following year's guest speaker / instructor. In previous years, instructors have included noted artisans Brian Lemaster, Jack Brooks, Mark Silver, Wallace Gusler and Art Decamp.

Morning announcements.

Iron Mounts Class with Ian Pratt

Rich Downs at center working with a student inletting a barrel. Steve Skillman at right

Gun maker Dave Rase of Bremerton, Washington gave a talk on types of muzzle decoration commonly found on guns of the South. Here he demonstrates the use of a tool he made which cuts rings and punches round marks on the muzzle face.  

Pouch making class with Mike Nesbitt. Maryellen Pratt attended the event and helped with the class.

Pictures by Maryellen Pratt, taken at the 2012 Meeting of the Washington Historical Gunmaker's Guild with copy by Ian Pratt.

2012 CLA Show: Photos

Lehigh Valley and Beyond Display

by Bob Roughton

"We are blessed to be The Caretaker of these rifles."

George Stanford

Michael McHugh

Larry Mock

George Suiter

Fred Riley

George Stanford (top)

One of the most famous guns known. This copy of the "Andrew Verner" was built especially for noted collector, John S DuMont in 1969. 

Barrel 46" Cal .50

Michael McHugh (bottom)

John Young style with heavy Herman Rupp influence. Lots of superb wire work.

Barrel 48 1/2" Cal .50

Larry Mrock (top)

1976. Nice Herman Rupp copy starting to look real. His Biventennial gun

Barrel 43" Cal .45

George Suiter - Williamsburg (bottom)

Nice copy of the Jacob Kuntz Rifle in the famous Winterthur Museum

Carrel 44" Cal .46

George Suiter (top)

Fred Riley (bottom)

His personal rifle, a classic Allentown-Bethlehem, wildly done in the "New School" style.

Barrel 42" Cal .54

Wayne Watson

Michael McHugh

Allen Martin

Larry Mrock

Michael McHugh

Wayne Watson (top)

Excellent version of a John Rupp with superb checkering.

Barrel 47" Cal. 54

Michael McHugh (bottom)

In the style of Herman Rupp with a sliding wood door.

Barrel 48" Cal .50

Wayne Watson

Michael McHugh

Allen Martin (top)

Great rendition of the "Unknown Maker",  Kindig #54, and Shumway Vol #1, #65

Barrel 45 1/2" Cal .50

Larry Mrock(bottom)

1980, Wonderful example of a John Rupp, Allentown-Bethlehem School. 14 silver inlays

Barrel 42" Cal .45

Allen Martin

Larry Mrock

Michael McHugh

Variation of the John Shuler, Shumway Vol #1, #64 cir 1790-1800

Barrel 44" Cal .54

 Michael McHugh

Lisa Crews Display

Photographed at the 2012 CLA Show by Jan Riser.