2019 CLA Live Auction: Lobed Horn and Hunting Bag by Tim Crosby and Marc Hamel

Tim Crosby and Marc Hamel teamed up to create a superb colonial era bag and horn set for this year’s CLF fundraising auction. The architecture of Hamel’s cowhide hunting bag is inspired by an eighteenth century engraving that depicts a rifleman wearing a similar bag. The bag is made from 2-3 ounce cowhide, tooled and dyed by Hamel. The main flap is 4-5 ounce cowhide, and the saddle stitching is waxed linen. The welt, edge binding and internal pocket are soft cowhide. The bag is 11” wide at the widest, 8” wide at the top, and 8” tall.

Crosby’s 10-inch-long lobed horn is about 12 ½” around the outside curve. The horn is ornately decorated with a paneled and scalloped tip, and is fitted with a pine base plug. Crosby imparted a warm patina to this piece, using his own custom blend of dark dyes followed by dark brown oil-based leather dye while the horn was still hot from the color bath.

The entire set comes complete with a flint accessory kit by Crosby. The horse-tail brush and the pick handle are from lathe-turned cow horn tips. The pick itself is copper to minimize touch-hole damage. The powder measure is also horn, and has eight panels. The accoutrement hangers were made from iron clock chain, and attach to the strap via a copper “octopus”

hanger attachment.

For more information on the work of the artists, contact them directly at:

Tim Crosby: ccrosby004@columbus.rr.com

Marc Hamel: bodneytower@gmail.com

Copy and photos supplied by the CLF.

2019 CLA Live Auction: Frontier Georgia Bag and Horn Set by Ron Hess and Marc Hamel

CLA members are very often inspired by history in the creation of their art. A 2018 exhibition at the Georgia Museum of Art, which focused on the state’s early gunsmiths, prompted Georgia artist Ron Hess to create this fine bag and horn set for this year’s CLF fundraising auction. The oldest firearm at the exhibition was an 1815 rifle attributed to frontier gunsmith Richard Allen; the Allen rifle is accompanied by an original bag and horn which was duplicated by Ron Hess and Marc Hamel.

Hess tackled the difficult process of creating the horn, skillfully reproducing the intricate southern-styled piece with integrally carved bands and a beehive base plug crafted from dogwood. He completed this collection with a nice set of antler rifle tools and powder measure. Hamel reproduced the bag, which has two interior compartments. Strap adjustment, faithful to the original, is by means of a horn button. Hamel finished the bag with a russet dye and an oil and wax sealer.  

For more information on the work of Ron Hess and Marc Hamel, contact the artists directly at:

Ron Hess: rjhess1976@plantationcable.net

Marc Hamel: bodneytower@gmail.com

Copy and photos supplied by the CLF.

2018 CLA Live Auction: Early 19th Century Bag and Horn Set by Tim Crosby and Marc Hamel

This Virginia style horn and strap is by Tim Crosby.  The horn features screw tips and finial and an antler collar with a horn tip.  The Tim Crosby patch knife has a turned antler handle and a bolster from a recycled pipe axe bowl.  Tim also created the accouterments; a turned pewter powder measure with a turned wooden tip, a horse hair brush  and work hardened copper vent pick, both with turned antler handles.  

The hunting bag is by Marc Hamel. the body is 2-3 oz cowhide and the flap is lined 4-5 oz cowhide.  The styling is early 19th century with an English influence: perhaps from either Virginia, the Carolinas or Savannah.  The cross and sunburst on the flap reflects John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. Whosoever follows Me will never walk in darkness but have the light of life.”  Marc also made the matching knife sheath with scalloped welt.  The buckle and copper accoutrement hanger were provided by Bob Hill.

If you attend the auction take the opportunity to handle this set. It is a great combination of the work of a long time CLA artist, Tim, and a talented new artist, Marc.

For more information on the artist’s and their products you may contact them.

Tim Albert’s contact information is: ccrosby004@columbus.rr.com

Marc Hamel’s contact information is: bodneytower@gmail.com

The Contemporary Longrifle Foundation will have the Live Auction Fundraiser for the Contemporary Longrifle Association at the CLA Annual Meeting on Friday August 17 in Lexington Kentucky.

The CLF live auction takes place at the annual meeting of the CLA in Lexington, Ky on August 17 this year.  The Auction will take place in the Convention Center Exhibit Hall at 5:00 PM.

The CLA meeting and exhibition is for members only, however, non-members have two options.  They may attend and join at the meeting for $20.00 for their first year (with certain restrictions). Non-members may also use the absentee bidding process described on the CLA web currently under the CLF 2017 Auction section.  You also may call the CLA office for details 540-886-6189

Be sure to visit the CLF 2018 Auction website going up on July 15 for extended descriptions of the items and more photographs of each item. 

Text by Tim Crosby with photos by H Ahlers