2018 CLA Show: Photos

The Genius of Hershel House

CLA 2018

Commemorative Print Series

By

Gunmaker and Artist

Hershel House

As all discriminating art lovers knows-an artists simple attention to detail is one thing-but, the artist who captures the absolute in authenticity of detail is quite another.  And those privileged to be exposed to the renderings of artist Hershel House unanimously attest to his ability to authentically detail his various works.

As a lad growing up in Woodbury, Kentucky, House was nurtured in the way-of-the-woods, with a deep love and respect for nature; which in later years led him into-as House refers, “a true labor of love.” House also developed a keen interest in muzzleloading rifle hunting, when at age sixteen, he found an old rifle in a tobacco barn near his family’s home.

Even now House dedicates countless hours to the building of muzzleloading rifles for shootist and hunters across the nation.  A longstanding member of the National Muzzleloading Rifle Association and charter member of the Kentucky Corps of Longriflemen; House hastens to add the he builds rifles for use rather than decorative value!  But a futher bit of evidence that this artist approaches the execution of both his gunworks and artwork with a clear sense of realism in their creation.

At our fall shoot 1983 at Friendship, Indiana, I was called before the board of directors of the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association. As a part of the next years fifty year celebration they wanted an art print or prints to raise money for the Association. Western Artist David Wright, fairly new on the rendezvous scene at that time, made a bid and was considered for the art work. He was on our magazine Muzzle Blast staff. An artist from Philadelphia, Pa. came in, pushed me aside, laid out his art prints and they were fairly good! He was not one of our Association members! I had just a few sketches with me! A long boring afternoon, the directors couldn't seen to make up their minds. I could hear plenty of activity up in the primitive area, longrifle gun fire, yelling and singing a faint sound of live Bluegrass music. Plenty of cold beer being drank and I needed one bad! Finally my old friend Doctor Eldridge Baker, then vice president of N.M.L.R.A. and a director, slammed his fist down on the big conference table saying, "Hershel House has been a member here for eighteen years. He has taken part, since the beginning of the development and success of the primitive camp and rifle range. Hershel donated one of his rifles as a prize for the valley aggregate 1974. Also winning that event twice, later on. Also building a hundred or more longrifles for our members, many are in use on our range today! He is the one who deserves to do the prints." Other directors said "OK." We decided I would do four pen and ink drawing depicting our different activities! I pondered all fall and winter what to sketch. As time was running out in late March, I finally sat at my kitchen table, did all four in one afternoon and evening. In the middle of this my wife, Dark Moon, washing dishes, cut her hand badly on a broken glass. Had to take her to our doctor, got her hand sewed up! Took my four sketches to Grey Stone Press in Nashville and the were approved. Grey Stone did and excellent job, printing a five thousand series as a package deal! I had suggested a two thousand series as we didn't have near five thousand members but our board of directors wanted to make big bucks, so I had to sign and number twenty thousand print, which took about a week and a half. My left hand cramped and I had bandaids on three fingers. Dark Moon was a big help, she would hand me four prints to be signed and numbered, she slipped them into their folder, handing me four more. Loaded up three hundred pounds of prints, headed to Friendship in my old Ford. Collected my two thousand dollars what I had charged and was agreed to by the Association. That next summer 1984 at our fifty year celebration shoot, they had a NMLRA small booth set up to sell bi-centennial items. I was supposed to set there and sell and autograph sets to member customers each day. Being more interested in longrifle competitions up in the holler, I hid out! The print sets did sell fairly good, some used as shooting prizes and over a number of years the five thousand series did sell out. The original sketches are framed and hang in our NMLRA Museum at Friendship. A few years back our board of directors said if I would not do another numbered series, it would be fine to print up and sell a few more sets. My friend Barry Embry owner of Embry's Impressions did a fine job on the same color heavy textured paper.

This display by Dr. Philip Hurley won a Display Award.

Photographed at the 2018 CLA Show by Jan Riser.

2017 CLA Show: Photos of Contemporary Hunting Pouches Display

 Contemporary Hunting Pouches

The hunting pouch or “possibles” bag evolved as a necessity for any user of a flintlock rifle as it allowed safe loading and servicing of the firearm.  Unique to each owner, they could be elaborate or primitive depending on  the time period or owners station in life.  Presented here are contemporary examples of both types of bags from makers Joe Mills of Owensboro, Kentucky and the Jud Brennan family of Delta Junction, Alaska.

Joe Mills made this Virginia style hunting pouch with vegetable tanned calf skin and lined with deer skin.  The fringe is brain tan.  This Virginia style design is similar to those of the late 18th and early 19th century,  An Art DeCamp Pennsylvania style screw tip horn complements this bag.  Charlie Wallingford made this antler handled patch knife with pewter bolster and silver end cap.  A Jim Chambers adjustable measure hangs on the strap.  This is my person bag assembled for me in 2007.

"What’s In My Bag"

White cotton patch material.

50 cal ball bag by Rich McDonald.

Hickory shot starter by Joe Mills.

Flat priming horn by Bill Smith.

Turn screw by Rich McDonald.

Pliers and ramrod puller by Larry Callahan.

Patch and ball puller by Larry Callahan.

Flint wallet  by Vicki Hast.

Brennan Family Bags

Jud Brennan, noted flintlock gun maker from Delta Junction, Alaska, has a large and talented family.  Immersed in the flintlock culture as they ere, it would only be natural for them to follow in their father’s footsteps and produce period accoutrements.  Presented here are three bags produced by the Brennan Family – mother Julie, daughter Abbe, sons Jesse, Seth and David.  These bags are Virginia style, gentlemen’s bags with elaborate carved horns and well forged patch knives.

Seth Brennan Bag

Virginia style bag with facing dragons on the flap.

Frontier type engraved horn with carved walnut end cap.

Antler handled patch knife with pewter bolster.

Antler handled vent pick.

Contemporary powder measure.

From the collection of John and Vicki Hast

Brennan Family Bag #2

Julie Brennan hand sewn leather pouch with facing quarter moons.

Jessie Brennan Tansel style horn (his #19 horn).

Jud Brennan curly maple handled patch knife with pewter bolster.

Antler handled vent pick.

From the collection of John and Vicki Hast

Brennan Family Bag #1

Abbe Brennan hand sewn leather pouch with Federal Eagle on the flap.

Jesse Brennan Tansel style horn with repair  (his #14 horn).

Seth Brennan curly maple handled patch knife with pewter bolster.

David Brennan vent pick.

Contemporary powder measure.

From the collection of John and Vicki Hast

Joe Mills Hunting Pouches

Joe Mills learned to work leather under the guidance of his father, Randall Mills.  However, Joe Mills advanced contemporary bag making to a new level with his unique ability to age and add patina to his bags.  This craftsmanship allowed him to take modern materials and make them appear 200 years old.  Displayed here are 4 finely crafted bags made by Joe Mills for myself, a close friend and our two sons.  They represent a variety of styles ranging from the more refined  Virginia style to a more primitive type bag.  All bags shown are actively used by the owners for both deer hunting and recreational shooting.

Joe Mills primitive beaver tail style bag with the initials P.H. and a pewter button.  Art DeCamp Pennsylvania style screw tip horn.

Jim Hayes antler handled patch knife with pewter bolster and end cap.

Contemporary powder measure.

From the collection of Peter Hurley

Joe Mills primitive style beaver tail bag.

Antique horn on separate strap.

Joe Seabolt hickory handled patch knife with pewter bolster and end cap.

Bone powder measure.

From the collection of Phil Hurley

Joe Mills primitive style pouch with coverlet interior.

Large antique horn on separate deerskin strap.

Tim Ridge walnut handle patch knife.

Small brass primer by Brad Mills.

Antler powder measure.

From the collection of John Tyler Hast

 Copy by John and Vicki Hast. Photographed at the 2017 CLA Show by Jan Riser.