Recent work by Steve Boyleston

This is a rifle I just completed with a really interesting history.  I bought it in the rough from a small Auction in Ohio.  It was started in 1965 in Ohio.  I do not know who the maker was as he passed away, so the rifle sat dormant since that time. When I received it, it was made from a blank of very figured curly maple. It is square with the outside profile, no way to change it. There was a Russ Hamm Bedford County Flintlock that sparks as good as any lock. The side plate was real unusual but so were some of the Angstadts original pieces. There was a Berks County style toe plate. It had double set triggers with no trigger guard. With the profile having the old exaggerated Roman Nose I decided to make a Lehigh rifle which was probably the original makers thought.  It has a 13/16ths 45 Cal Barrel, stamped “Barrel by Dave R. Taylor of Little Hocking, Ohio.  He was a top maker in his time and would be way over 100 years old today. Several years ago I bought an original 1800 Peter Angstadt 2 piece Patch Box. I decided it was fitting to use it on the rifle, it has an old frontier shop hinge repair on the bottom . The basic carved designs are from the Joe Kindig Rifle. I also used some Stoffel Long border designs. It has the Lehigh Indian Head in front of the trigger guard. The Silver inlays are engraved like the original rifle. The stain that I used was Nitric Acid that I get from Eric Kettenburg 15 years ago, rubbed with boiled Linseed oil, it polished out like a fine varnish, nothing else. It is funny the rifle is 65 years old now. I do not who started it out back then but maybe they would like it.

Copy and photos supplied by Steve Boyleston.

Powder Horn by Steve Boyleston

 " Being a close friend of America's Top writer about Our History., David McCullough ., I decided to Gift a Special Powder Horn as a symbol of friendship. I can not say in enough words about him in all aspects of his life. I have made him things in the past that were special. The Powder Horn was inspired by our many conversations about the French and Indian War. When I decided to make it., I used an old horn from a mounted set dated 1873 from Lowell Massachusetts ., both sides are really nice. So the horn was already 150 years old. The designs are from several fine originals in Jim Johnsons Book and Jim Dresslars Book. The horn had the right feel about it and did not give up easy from end to end. It was real creamy white., after doing the neck shaping and fitting the Black Walnut Base plug I started on the designs. The spout plug was carved from a scrap of Slippery Rock maple., with a small 18th century French Key hand threaded to attach the small strap to. Around the bottom there is Philadelphia., New York, Albany and Boston. Around the top is Quebec. I don't know how many symbols are on it., but many. The Curly Maple stand was hand made and lined with tanned Buffalo with small brass nails., David said that he didn't know what he liked the best. 

    Upon receiving the Powder Horn David called me and said that it is the finest thing that he and his wife Rosalee have ever owned in there over 60 years of marriage. I have never had a better compliment in the last 48 years of making longrifles., powder horns., tomahawks and pouches. He told me that every guest and family member love seeing it. My Friend is a true gentleman which is rare anymore. 

Copy and photos supplied by Steve Boyleston.

French and Indian War Horn by Steve Boyleston

A French & Indian War horn based on the art work of three horns in John Dumonts book. This horn is not a copy. The horn is 15 1/2" long and 2 1/2" across the base plug. It is a lobed horn that cracked. It is repaired by using handmade copper staples then tar and pine pitch was coated inside and out. The base plug was reinstalled and sealed with the same sealer which dries as hard as a rock. Many old horns were repaired this way. The horn has some Lake George border in several places with the towns being Philadelphia, New York, Albany and Boston. The early style alphabet is on one side. It is dated 1760 as were the original horns.  The spout was darkened like the early horns from the book. The color of the horn is the natural with the art work it makes for a good background.

Copy and photos supplied by Steve Boyleston.

Old Ax Heads with Hafts by Steve Boyleston

The very pitted head was excavated in Quebec about 20 years ago. Virtually all of the early dug tomahawks were English or French, this one is definitely French, circa 1710, forged from iron not cast steel. The second is an import as well fourth quarter of the 18 th century, being a hammer pole. It was really used and has heavy pitting as well. The handle was designed after a New England War Club. Both are stocked in a few of my last pieces of Slippery Rock, a Maple from Gerald Gutchess. They have acid and linseed oil finish on them.

Copy and photos supplied by Steve Boyleston.

Rifle by Steve Boyleston

This is a rifle I have just completed. Germanic style rifle 1760's era with stepped wrist, elongated lock panels, incised and relief carving, and a reshaped buttplate.  There is a late Tennessee trigger guard to replace the broken original one.  A large early style sterling silver oval on the wrist, and a small wide early style patchbox.  All parts are engraved in Rococo. Nitric Acid from Eric Kettenburgwas used for staining. Oil finish, 50 cal. Radius groove rifled barrel from John Getz. Relief carving around rear entry thimble.

Copy and photos supplied by Steve Boyleston.

Curly Maple Longrifle by Steve Boyleston

in the early style of Jacob Kuntz, 

a period trigger guard from an original rifle, 

sterling silver hunters star 

Copy and photos supplied by Steve Boyleston.

Pistol by Steve Boyleston

This pistol style could be from 1790-1815. It has a 13 inch barrel 13/16 ths., 45 cal. radius groove rifling. Stocked from a blank, the trigger guard is unique, and the side plate is made from 100 year old brass. The silver inlays are sterling. John Bivins made the iron muzzle cap and thimbles. The sights are handmade. Everything is engraved from the muzzle cap back.  Nitric acid and wax finish. The total length is 19 inches. The ramrod is from hickory that was soaked in coal oil for 3 months in 1981. It is hard as fiberglass, natural polish. The flint is from France, 18th century period and is Amber Flint.

Copy and photos supplied by Steve Boyleston.