2022 Fundraising Archives - Contemporary Longrifle Foundation

Early American Shirt by De-Anda Shaver

Whether you’re a period long hunter or a casual target shooter, a historically appropriate shirt will make a nice addition to your collection. This year’s CLF Live Fundraising Auction will feature a quality eighteenth century style shirt by De-Anda Shaver. This shirt is made from natural & blue medium weight cross bar 100% Polish linen and was entirely hand sewn. This roomy, period-appropriate shirt comes in size large. De-Anda is a gifted craftswoman who’s dedicated to the living history community...

2022 Fundraising

Twined Buffalo Wool and Nettle Fiber Bag by Beverly Simpson

Spare flints, extra balls, turnscrew; it seems that every black powder shooter has too many extra supplies rattling around in his pouch. Fortunately, a very special donation to this year’s CLF Fundraising Auction will help fix the dilemma of every muzzleloading enthusiast. Artist Beverly Simpson is one of the Women Artists of the CLA group who created a piece for this year’s Auction. Her twined bag is a small, multi-use piece that will fit nicely into your shooting bag, or,...

2022 Fundraising

“Join or Die” Patriotic Folk Painting by Angela Jones McMullen

Prior to attending the Albany Congress in 1754, Benjamin Franklin began advocating for greater cooperation among the British colonies of North America. In May of that year, Franklin published an illustration in the Pennsylvania Gazette that hinted at the need for greater unity. Franklin depicted a dismembered snake, each representing a specific colony, with the line “Join, or Die” below the image. Throughout the French and Indian War, and later during the Revolution, the image of the snake was...

2022 Fundraising

Eighteenth Century Wool Cap and Mitts by Emily Burns

On the early frontier, utilizing every available resource was simply a way of life. Kentuckian William Clinkenbeard explained that buffalo wool was often mixed with nettle fibers to produce ready-made textiles. “The buffalo wool,” he would later write, “was the longest in the spring, and the longest we called the best. Yearlings and two-year-old's had the best wool on. Made the buffalo wool into hats too.” For this year’s CLF Fundraising Auction, artist Emily Burns has contributed a set of...

2022 Fundraising

Ft. Duquesne Powder Horn by Jack Pennington

CLA artists consistently find ways to blend contemporary art with a healthy respect for the past. For this year’s CLF Fundraising Auction, Jack Pennington has contributed an outstanding horn that serves as a tangible chronicle of frontier Pennsylvania. The artist explains that “this horn was built to represent what a coureur-de-bois, French-educated native, or French soldier may have built while garrisoning this particular frontier bastion.” This impressively proportioned powder horn, crafted from a bison horn, measures 8 ½ inches around...

2022 Fundraising

Haversack by Gary Tingler

Artist Gary Tingler routinely produces outstanding donations for the CLF Live Fundraising Auction, and this year is certainly no exception. For the 2022 event, Tingler has produced a durable haversack that’s full of frontier character. This bag will be perfect for your next living history event or trip afield. The body of the haversack was made from heavy linen cloth, dyed in a walnut hull bath, and given a protective coat of beeswax. It’s a well-made bag, hand-sewn with waxed...

2022 Fundraising

Classic Frontier Knife by Todd Butler

Artist Todd Butler’s hand-forged knives are in high demand, and for good reason. His knives are among the best blades currently available in the custom market and are only increasing in popularity with collectors. Elegant lines, rugged dependability, and unparalleled craftsmanship characterize the work of this master bladesmith. A regular supporter of the CLF Fundraising Auction, his donation to this year’s event is a standout that’s sure to elicit competitive bidding. This early 19th century-inspired frontier knife, hand forged from...

2022 Fundraising

Haversack by Terry Smith

The skilled craftsmen of the CLA consistently produce remarkable art for the annual fundraising auction; for this year’s event, Terry Smith created a truly fresh take on an old standby. Smith’s haversack will bring a touch of class to the firing line of your next black powder event. The body of this stunning bag, entirely handsewn with waxed thread, was made from a vintage coverlet remnant which offers a bit of stunning visual contrast to the rest of the bag,...

2022 Fundraising

“Blue Stroud” – Original Oil Painting by Lon Brauer

Painted portraiture, particularly of historical subjects, lends itself to the flavor of Early Americana. For this year’s CFL Fundraising Auction, contemporary artist Lon Brauer has created a beautiful original oil painting in the tradition of Gilbert Stuart, with a touch of Karl Bodmer, which will be a fine addition to any collection of American Art. This work is in a classical style of studio paintings common to the 18th and 19th centuries before the advent of photography. This original oil...

2022 Fundraising

Willow Basket by Vicki Hast

The craft of handweaving baskets is an age-old art form that saw widespread use in early America. For this year’s CLF Live Fundraising auction, artist Vicki Hast has contributed a delightful woven basket that will fit in well at a living history event or function as period décor for the home. Hast created this gathering basket from European cultivated willow that was raised and harvested on the Hast Farm in Ohio County, Kentucky. The intricately woven willow stems are nicely contrasted with...

2022 Fundraising

Hunting Pouch, Horn and Knife Set by Jeff Luke, Joe-D Baxter and Jonah Cain

In the modern world, making and using tools from natural materials is a refreshing way to connect to reality. For this year’s CLF Live Fundraising Auction, a trio of artists has teamed up to create a hunting rig that evokes straightforward craftsmanship and rugged performance. The set is built around a hunting bag by Jeff Luke, a longtime auction supporter. Luke explains that the set is intended to “represent typical backwoods hunting rig from the mountains of Tennessee in the...

2022 Fundraising

Bag, Horn and Tomahawk Set by Lawrence Fiorillo, Todd Hambrick and Chad Matthews

This set, made by Lawrence Fiorillo, Todd Hambrick and Chad Matthews, was created to represent the backcountry in the colonial period. The project drew its inspiration from Todd Hambrick’s powder horn. The horn is a close copy of an original currently in the possession of Mel Hankla. The horn is believed to be from the French and Indian War era. This information inspired us to attempt to recreate a kit that a backwoods colonial might have carried off to...

2022 Fundraising

Antler-Handled Frontier Knife by Darcy Quapp

For black powder enthusiasts, there’s nothing quite like the ubiquitous antler-handled knife of the early frontier. Crafted from readily available materials, these knives saw heavy use in the backcountry, and continue to be a blade of choice for the modern frontiersman. This year’s CLF Live Fundraising Auction will feature an excellent example of this popular knife by Canadian bladesmith Darcy Quapp. Hand-forged from 5160 steel, the blade is married to an antler handle harvested from a prime Alberta whitetail. The entire...

2022 Fundraising

Lady’s Pocket by Heather Schneider

The creative women of the CLA have made this year’s fundraising auction a pleasant exploration of often underappreciated aspects of early American life. For this year’s live fundraising event, artist Heather Schneider has created what many of us take for granted in the modern world: a pocket. Schneider’s pocket will work well at a living history event or as a delightful addition to your home collection. The pocket is based on an original 18th century design which can be found in...

2022 Fundraising

French and Indian War Era Powder Horn by Barbara Smith

Engraved powder horns are not only functional for the modern black powder shooter but are justifiably considered works of art in their own right. This year’s CLF Live Fundraising Auction features a prime example of 18th century-inspired art by Barbara Smith. Smith’s powder horn is loosely based on a French & Indian War period horn originally made in 1760. The surface of the horn features elaborates and well-executed scrimshaw designs including a soldier, a man and woman, a church, house,...

2022 Fundraising

Hunting Shirt by Mary Brandenburg

In the summer of 1775, George Washington was desperate to properly uniform the nascent Continental Army then forming around Boston. During the first week of August, Washington requested Connecticut authorities to begin producing inexpensive clothing for his men and sent along a sample of frontier clothing for them to use as a pattern. It was an “Indian or Hunting Shirt” with “a cape ruffled.” Washington explained that “It is designed as a Species of Uniform both cheap & convenient.” This...

2022 Fundraising

Housewife Sewing Kit by Rebecca (Beckie) Mooneyhan

In the 18th and 19th centuries, any man unlucky enough to need clothing mended while away from home desperately needed the assistance of a “housewife”, or as they’re prosaically known a “huswif.” Whether in the barracks or in the field, soldiers and frontiersmen could tackle the job of repairing their clothing or uniform with a tidy, portable sewing kit known as a housewife. The term goes back to at least the middle of the 18th century, but this year’s CLF...

2022 Fundraising

Powder Horn and Strap by Henry and Dianna Bowman

The powder-horn is based upon the professionally made 4th generation York County, Pennsylvania powder-horns of the very early 1800s. The characteristics found on this horn and common to 4th generation York’s horns, include concentric grooves at butt and spout, fruit wood butt (cherry in this horn) with rope carving and Greek key carving, and a removable turned horn screw tip (this one has the "beehive" style) that can be used as a filling funnel. The incised engravings include truncated text...

2022 Fundraising

Bag and Powder Horn by Bill Pritchard and Knife by Casey McClure

The skilled craftsmen of the CLA often produce fine frontier art that can easily be mistaken for a centuries-old original. For this year’s CLF Live Fundraising Auction, artists Casey McClure and Bill Pritchard have teamed up to produce a rugged hunting rig that looks like it’s seen heavy use on the 18th century frontier. This set is built around Pritchard’s D-shaped hunting bag, which is crafted from bark-tanned deerskin. This workingman’s bag, measuring 7 by 8 inches, is entirely hand-sewn...

2022 Fundraising

Alligator-Themed Knife by Verlin Cossel

Bladesmith Verlin Cossel, a perennial supporter of the CLF Live Fundraising Auction, is renowned for creating entirely unique knives that come accompanied with a custom display stand. His creation for this year’s auction is a one-of-a-kind work of art with a remarkable back story. Featuring an alligator theme, Cossel’s knife, measuring 13 inches overall with an 8-inch-long-blade, is a robust edged weapon worthy of the southern frontier. Cossel’s stunning frontier blade was forged from 1095 steel; a full tang is...

2022 Fundraising

Fringed Hunting Bag by Shelly Gier and Hand-Woven Strap by Kerry Masarik

For your next trip to the range or the woods, artists Shelly Gier and Kerry Masarik have teamed up to create a well-made and historically appropriate hunting bag that’s been donated to this year’s CLF Live Fundraising Auction. Gier describes her hunting bag as inspired by early 19th century styling “with a bit of working-class western influence.” The body of the bag is made from vegetable tanned cowhide which is lined with goat leather. The bag features an exterior gusseted...

2022 Fundraising

Mid-Eighteenth-Century Folding Knife by Scott Summerville

In early America, the humble pocketknife could be found from the drawing rooms of Tidewater estates to the farthest reaches of the frontier. George Washington is known to have owned a number of folding knives, and famed explorer Meriwether Lewis famously carried a pen knife all the way the Pacific Ocean and back. For the 2022 CLF Live Fundraising Auction, perennial auction supporter Scott Summerville has donated another stellar example of a colonial folding knife which is sure to garner...

2022 Fundraising

Pennsylvania Rifle by Larry Gardner

Few weapons from American history exude beauty and mystique quite like the Pennsylvania rifle. This year’s CLF Live Fundraising Auction is pleased to offer an exquisite example of the Pennsylvania rifle by one of the most respected makers in the nation, Larry Gardner. This classic Pennsylvania rifle sports a .45 caliber, 36-inch-long barrel paired with a strikingly figured maple stock. The stock carries tasteful and crisp carving and is fitted with gleaming brass furniture. Gardner has long been regarded a...

2022 Fundraising

Quilled Hat Band by Djuana Tucker

During the 18th and 19th centuries, no self-respecting gentleman, or scoundrel for that matter, would consider venturing into public without a hat. For the modern-day frontiersman headed for the range, the rendezvous, or the woods, that hasn’t changed. For those hoping to set their headgear apart from the crowd, CLA artist Djuana Tucker has donated a unique quill-wrapped rawhide hatband to this year’s fundraising auction. Typical of Tucker’s work, the piece is constructed with historically appropriate materials. The artist relied...

2022 Fundraising

Micmac Powder Horn by Kathy England and Quilled Strap by Christie Suchora

Engraved powder horns are perennial favorites of black powder devotees, and this year’s CLF Live Fundraising Auction is pleased to offer a stellar example by artists Kathy England and Christie Suchora. England’s powder horn will be an excellent addition to any collection. The horn is adorned with intricate geometric and floral designs characteristic of the Micmac tribe of the northeast woodlands. England found her inspiration for this piece from an original horn found in the book The Engraved Powder Horn...

2022 Fundraising

Bag, Horn and Knife Set by Bill Schneider

Bill Schneider’s bag is called the Bear Hunter. It is intended to be a back country style bag used by a hunter. It is made out of bark tanned swamp-buck. It is unique backwoods take on a double pouch that the hunter decided to add a storm flap of bear hide. It is sewn on with brain-tan deer. It has a knife that the sheath lost its loop in service and was cased in brain-tan leather and added to...

2022 Fundraising

Haversack by Sarah Miller

Whether you’re a shooter, hunter, or collector, a sturdy bag to match your muzzleloader is a necessity. This year’s CLF Live Fundraising Auction will offer a unique and well-made bag by Pennsylvania artist Sarah Miller. Miller’s ideally-sized haversack or “gathering bag” measures approximately 13” x 14”. Made from vegetable tanned cowhide and heavy pillow ticking, this robust and eye-catching bag will easily stand up to the rigors of the field or the range. Sporting hand-sewn leather and fitted with brass...

2022 Fundraising

Bearded Bag by Jay Blain and Pennsylvania Horn by Pete Hutton

Every black powder shooter needs a functional bag and horn, but eventually we’d all like to upgrade to a quality set. This year’s CLF Live Fundraising Auction will feature a stellar set by artists Jay Blain and Pete Hutton that will fit the bill. Blain’s bearded bag is a classic southern design which, he explains, “was inspired by my time in the foothills of North Carolina's Appalachian Mountains.” Blain’s recreation is based on the famous McGlamery Bag from Rutherford County,...

2022 Fundraising

Hunting Bag by Denise Cossel

This year’s CLF Live Fundraising Auction features a remarkable myriad of art from the talented ladies of the organization. Artist Denise Cossel’s leather hunting bag is testament to the fact that CLA craftspeople are adept at excelling in multiple artistic disciplines. Cossel’s regular craft is weaving, but her donation to this year’s auction rivals the work of any experienced leatherworker. Cossel’s roomy and well-made bag is crafted from hard-wearing, oil-tanned cowhide. The bag is entirely hand-stitched with linen thread, and...

2022 Fundraising

Dagger by Daniel & Chelsey Casey

Custom knives always garner a good bit of interest at the CLF Fundraising Auction, and for this year’s event, artist Daniel Casey has donated a simply spectacular dagger. This hand forged dagger was made from braided steel cable and 1084 spring steel, which Casey put through the laborious process of melding into multi-layered Damascus steel. Measuring in with a 5 ½” long blade, this knife sports the contrasting color and texture only achieved with Damascus. The spiral carved handle, 4...

2022 Fundraising

Neck Knife by Elizabeth Ashlee and Quilled Sheath by Linda Pritchard

Few frontier collector items carry quite the visual appeal of a traditional tribal neck knife and quilled sheath. This year’s CLF Live Fundraising Auction will fortunately offer a stunning example by artists Elizabeth Ashlee and Linda Pritchard. Ashlee’s knife, measuring 6 1/2 inches long, is hand forged from a vintage hay rake tine. It’s a strong but graceful blade paired with an antler handle. Fitted with a poured pewter bolster and coin silver end cap, this is a fine collector’s-grade...

2022 Fundraising

Hawken Rifle by Bob Browner

Custom muzzleloading rifles always command a good bit of attention at the CLF Live Fundraising Auction, but this year’s event will afford bidders a rare opportunity. Missouri artist Bob Browner has donated one of his signature rifles, which is the first Hawken ever presented during the live auction. Browner is widely regarded as one of the best Hawken makers working today, and this rifle puts his considerable skills on full display. The piece exhibits stylistic features from two original J...

2022 Fundraising