Powder Measure by Kenny Nichols

Photographed at a Tennessee Kentucky Rifle Show by Jan Riser.

Powder Measure by Kenny Nichols

Photographed at the Tennessee Kentucky Rifle Show.

Powder Measure by Kenny Nichols

Photographed at the 2016 Tennessee Kentucky Rifle Show by Jan Riser.

Powder Measure by Kenny Nichols

Photographed at a Tennessee Kentucky Rifle Show by Jan Riser.

2018 CLA Live Auction: Hunting Set, Jack Weeks, Paula Hoagland, Rick Lorenzen, Kenny Nichols and Matt Hunt

“I hand stitched the 8x8 inch D- shaped bag of bark tanned deer hide with waxed linen thread.  It has a 3x2 ball pocket and a 4x8 inch partition at the inside back.  Paula Hoagland ( Indiana) provided the hand woven wool and linen strap. Rick Lorenzen (Michigan) contributed the 13 inch scrimshawed  horn with a rattlesnake theme.  The late Kenny Nichols (Alabama) made the 4inch, 70 grain rattlesnake powder measure.  Matt Hunt (Virginia) prepared the bark tan for my bag. “

Each year Jack puts together a team to assemble a unique hunting set with accoutrements.  This year’s rattlesnake set is particularly appealing.  Note the fascinating details on the Lorenzen horn and how coherent the entire set is. This rustic hunting set is well matched and with its rattlesnake theme would go well with a southern rifle.

We note with regret the passing of Kenny Nichols earlier this year.  He will be missed by all of his friends in the longrifle community.

The  artists may be contacted as follows:

Jack Weeks jlwweeks@gmail.com

Rick Lorenzen ricklorenzen@hotmail.com

Paula Hoagland hoagland@tctc.com

Text by Jack Weeks with photo by H. Ahlers

2018 CLA Live Auction: John Weeks Hunting Pouch

I hand stitched the 8x8 bag of bark tanned deer hide with a 3x2 ball pocket and a 4x8 partition. Paula Hoagland(Indiana) provided the hand woven wool and linen strap. Rick Lorenzen (Michigan) contributed the 13" scrimshawed horn. Kenny Nichols(Alabama ) made the 4" 70 gr. rattlesnake measure. Matt Hunt (Virginia) prepared the bark tan for my bag.

Copy and photos supplied by John Weeks.

Kenny Nichols

Ronald “Kenny” Kenneth Nichols, 58, passed away Sunday, March 11, 2018, at his residence in Spruce Pine, Alabama.

Eternal rest grant unto Kenny, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

2017 CLF Auction Item: hunting Bag Set by Jack Weeks, Rick Lorenzen, Shayna Matthews, and Kenny Nichols

CLA artists consistently demonstrate the ability to marry museum-quality aesthetics with rugged practicality.  Artist Jack Weeks and a cadre of talented craftsmen have collaborated to produce a truly outstanding bag and horn set for this year’s CLF fundraising auction.

The project is the brainchild of noted CLA artisan Jack Weeks.  The basic concept, he explains, was to assemble “the equipment a market hunter in the three rivers area would have carried to collect skins and to furnish meat for the garrison and the village at Fort Pitt.”  Some of the items, Weeks says, the hunter could have made for himself; other components in the set he could have traded for locally.  “Our hunter,” explains the artist, “used a smoothbore French fusil de chasse to kill big game with round ball and used the same gun for turkeys and waterfowl.”

This fine set is well fitted for display behind a glass case, but rugged enough for use in the field.  All leather items – including hunting bag, lock cover, flint wallet, bullet pouch, and shot pouch – are all hand crafted from subtly aged vegetable-tanned cow hide.  The face of the 9” x12” hunting pouch is adorned with a pinwheel hex design pierced on the flap; the body of the bag sports a 3” gusset and a full-length partition.  The leather is finished with a homemade and historically appropriate coat of black bear oil and beeswax.  It carries an attached knife sheath with a broken razor knife hafted with a deer leg bone; perfect for cutting patches on the range or in the field.  This exemplary set also includes the basic necessities for the care of your firelock: extra flints, a gun worm, an iron turn screw, a brass vent pick, and a wooden loading block with a shell toggle.

“In the process of gathering and creating items,” explains Weeks, “I had contributions from three CLA artists.”  Rick Lorenzen of Michigan donated an antique powder horn; Shayna Matthews of Maryland contributed a hand-woven horn strap; and Kenny Nichols of Alabama lent his skills with a hand-carved antler tip powder measure.

For more information on the work of the artists, contact:

Jack Weeks (jlwweeks@gmail.com)

Rick Lorenzen (ricklorenzen@hotmail.com)

Shayna Matthews (fiberwoodart@gmail.com)

Kenny Nichols (kennynichols59@yahoo.com)

Text by J Shepherd with photos by D Wright

Accouterment for a Market Hunter in the Three Rivers Area by Jack Weeks

I imagined the equipment a market hunter in the three Rivers area would have carried to collect skins and to furnish meat for the garrison and the village at Fort Pitt. Some things he could have made for himself, some he could have traded for locally. Our hunter used a smoothbore French fusil de chasse to kill big game with round ball and use the same gun for turkeys and waterfowl.  In the process of gathering and creating items, I had contributions from three CLA artists. I made all the leather items of vegetable tanned cow hide. I hand dyed them then finished each with bear oil and beeswax.

The equipment includes clockwise from the top:

1. A lock cover

2. An antique powder horn contributed by Rick Lorenzen of Michigan

3. A hand woven horn strap by Shayna Matthews of Maryland

4. A flint wallet containing extra flints and a gun worm.

5. An iron turn screw and a brass vent pick

6. A bullet pouch for round ball and buck shot

7. An antler powder measure by Kenny Nichols of Alabama

8. A leather powder funnel with a goose quill extension

9. A shot pouch with a thread spool spout

10. A 9x12 hunting pouch with a pinwheel hex sign pierced on the flap, a 3 inch gusset, a full length partition.  It carries an attached knife sheath.

11. A broken razor knifed hafted with a deer leg bone

12. A wooden loading block with a shell toggle

Copy and photo supplied by Jack Weeks.

Powder Measure by Kenny Nichols

 This powder measure was made from a Alabama whitetail deer antler and throws exactly 50 grains by request. It also has a hand braided hemp cord for attaching to a hunting pouch. It's been slightly aged to give the appearance of a well used measure. It was made it for a fellow muzzleloading friend in Michigan. 

Copy and photos supplied by Kenny Nichols.

Powder Measure by Kenny Nichols

70 grains and made from whitetail deer antler in the form of a fish

Photo supplied by Kenny Nichols.