Fundraising

Dickert Fleur de Lis Rifle by Nate Koval

by Heinz Ahlers Nate Koval of West Virginia has produced this early style brass mounted rifle inspired by the Jacob Dickert rifle. George Shumway featured the original in Rifles of Colonial America vol. 1 as rifle 48. The original is signed J Dickert on the barrel and displays his typical double C scroll carving behind the cheek piece. The rifle has definite pre-revoluntionary rifle style with classic simple raised carving, beautifully executed by Dickert and by Koval. The Fluer de Lis...

Quilled Pouch by Djuana Tucker

by Heinz Ahlers The CLF Fundraising auction is proud to present this mid-18th century Eastern Woodland/Great Lakes style quilled bag by Djuana Tucker. Djuana has over 10 years experience in quillwork and credits Bruce Horne and Chuck Edwards with getting her started in this dimension of living history. Djuana can be seen at living history events throughout the midwest and refers to Fort de Chartres, in Prairie du Rocher, Illinois, as her home base. Here is Djuana's piece in her...

Fraktur Artwork by Sandy Greco

by Heinz Ahlers The CLF is proud to present for auction this 11 X 14 Fraktur style colored drawing. Fraktur is an art form introduced in America by the Pennsylvania Germans with some of the earliest work being done by the Ephrata Cloister in Lancaster County. The term Fraktur can describe a form of calligraphy, a font type, or generally the colorful floral and figurative drawings and paintings that started as illumination for birth and baptismal certificates and evolved to...

Mississippi-Style Knife by Gary Corum

by Heinz Ahlers and Gary Corum Gary Corum has created a late 18th to early 19th century knife in the lower Mississippi River Valley style. The knife is 12 inches overall with a 7-inch blade. The blade is hand forged 1095 steel, a high performance knife steel with excellent edge holding properties. This entire knife is expertly hand made by Gary. There are several interesting touches to this piece. The blade is rather pointy, and the shape is a precursor to...

Mesquite Handled Dagger by Steve Auvenshine

by Heinz Ahlers Steve Auvenshine has generously donated this fine boot knife to the 2015 CLF Fundraising Auction. This beautiful knife, 9 inches overall, showcases Steves well-known talents as a knife maker. The knife has a dagger shaped single edged blade with a period correct crocus finish. It features silver mounts, including the silver overlays on the ricasso of the blade. All the silver mounts including the coffin inlay, are punch decorated. Steve related an interesting history on the knife. The knife is...

Bag & Horn Set by Donald & Tina Shaver

CLA artists Donald and Tina Shaver handcrafted this circa 1810 to 1825 hunting pouch and horn set for the 2014 CLA fundraising auction. The pouch is a classic beaver tail pouch with a carved buffalo powder horn. Donald Shaver's interest in American History began during his youth and he started reenacting about 30 years ago through the Boy Scouts. His first period of interpretation was the Rocky Mountain fur trade era of the 1830s, then 15 years ago he met...

Native American Style Bag by Robert Pawling

Robert Pawling is a CLA artisan specializing in dyed porcupine quill embroidery of many kinds done on braintanned deerskins to produce 18th C. Northeast Native accoutrements. Bob has extended his style a bit in keeping with this years auction theme of westward expansion. Bob has produced a bag like the indians of the western plains and mountains were producing in the period of early contact. This bag has quillwork in the Wabanaki style of the upper Northeast Saint Lawrence region....

Southern Banded Horn with Hand Woven Strap by Ron Hess and Kris Polizzi

This is a Southern style banded horn of the type that would have been carried by militia or volunteers from the southern States in the War of 1812. This charming powder horn has been created by Ron Hess and the fine hand woven strap donated by Kris Polizzi. Ron lives in Georgia and makes powder horns and other items constructed of horn. He is a member of the Honorable Company of Horners and gives thanks to Art Decamp and Billy...

A Hunter’s Shot Pouch Set from a Frontier on the Eve of War by Cal Tanner and Jim Hays

Cal Tanner is a maker of hunting pouches, haversacks, powderhorns and other items who is well known for his exceptional leather craftsmanship and quality. He has won numerous awards for his work, which, in Cal's own words, he approaches with the mindset of a professionally-trained eastern craftsman working with locally available materials after moving to the Ohio frontier at the end of the 18th century. Jim Hays and his wife Peggy are multi-talented artists with unique ability to capture...

Iron Mounted Elisha Bull Rifle by Roger Sells

Roger Sells is a well known contemporary builder and is a regular at the Lake Cumberland CLA Mini Show and at the KRA Show held at the Museum of Appalachia. He is noted for extremely well-made iron mounted Appalachian rifles and great Hawken rifles. Roger lives in an area of Tennessee where gunsmiths lived and worked during the 1800 to early 1900 time frame. Roger notes that he was exposed to iron mounted Southern rifles at the age of 12,...

An Andy Jackson Alligator Horsemen’s Knife by Joe Seabolt

By T.C. Albert Trekking across the Louisiana bayou two brothers rushed to get to the besieged port city before it was too late. Even though a decisive American victory had been declared, the pair was disappointed that the battle had ended and that they had missed the chance to share in its glory. The British had been "whooped"! And though Jim and his brother Rezin had just missed it, the other "Half Alligator-Half Horse" men that had followed Andrew Jackson throughout...

Frontiersman Sculpture by Joshua Shepherd

Joshua Shepherd created this piece. Titled "The Frontiersman" it is 21" tall and made of hydrostone with a hand-applied finish. This is number 14 of a limited edition of 50. (In honor of 1814 and in keeping with the theme of the auction.) The round hat, rifle, and hunting shirt are characteristic of the working frontiersman and the detail of the bag, horn, and belt are remarkable. "The Frontiersman" is a well done casting which catches the essence of the...

Knife & Sheath by Jerry Eitnier

Written by Heinz Ahlers Indiana gunmaker, Jerry Eitnier is a returning donor to the CLA fundraising auction. Jerry is no stranger to the muzzle loading sport and art. He has been involved for more than 40 years. He joined the National Muzzle Loading Association in 1973, and in 1987 he built his first longrifle. He became a charter member of the Contemporary Longrifle Association in 1991. Jerry is strongly influenced by Hershel House's work, he builds guns the style of "the...

Southern Mountain Rifle by Marc Tornichio

This early iron mounted Southern longrifle was created by Marc Tornichio This rifle is not a copy of any one rifle but incorporates the architecture and features of several early iron mounted rifles of the western Virginia/Carolina Appalachian area from the 1790 to 1810 period. It shows the quality workmanship of a trained and talented gunsmith from 200 years ago or today. Marc says, "The rifle has a lot of characteristics of the GB rifle with a touch of...

The “Five Ears Pouch” by T.C. Albert & Tim Crosby

By 1814 even in the far west of the Illinois country the frontier was changing, even so, many blood feuds kindled by earlier mutual antagonisms between the Red and White neighbors still smoldered. Born in just such a place during just such a time, Colonel John Moredock, the celebrated Indian Hater, first sought revenge against the Indians responsible for massacring his mother and stepfather and kidnapping his siblings, but he didn't stop there. The legend goes on to tell...

An Iconic Southern Pistol in the Style of Elisha Bull by Mike Miller

There are some antique flintlock arms that seem to epitomize a genre or "school" as well as capture the personality of the maker and the time and place in which it was created and used. The fine silver mounted "Death or Victory" pistol by Elisha Bull of Tennessee is just such a piece. Well known riflesmith Mike Miller of Paducah, Kentucky has graciously built and donated a near-bench copy of this famous pistol as one of the centerpieces for...

Double Hunting Pouch by William Smith

The hunting pouch is an icon of the American frontier. By the early 19th century pouches could show distinct regional variations, wide ranges in quality from home made to finest cordwainers work, and variations in size and shape based on use. This years auction presents a stunning range of bags and accoutrements. Bill Smith has donated a double bag of finely tanned deer skin with double internal compartments. Bill has been making bags for over 20 years and they are...

Pouch, Horn, & Belt Pouch Set by Tom Greco

by Heinz Ahlers Tom Greco has donated a fine pouch and horn set with a matching belt pouch. The bag style is typical of Eastern Pennsylvania and is paired with a southern style horn suggesting an owner who moved down the Great Wagon Road as the frontier spread westward. Oil tanned buffalo hide is used in both the shoulder bag and belt pouch. Tom's craftsmanship and attention to detail are apparent in the pillow ticking lining, welted seams and double...

Maryellen Pratt and Joe Seabolt Hunting Bag and Horn Set

Maryellen Pratt lives in Adams County, Ohio with her husband Ian Pratt. Maryellen is a maker of premium hunting bags, knife sheaths, haversacks and sundry other items. She is meticulous in using period correct materials and techniques. And her careful antiquing processes are universally appreciated. Maryellen regularly conducts classes on the skills and methods of making pouches and advanced leather working at the Log Cabin Shop in Lodi, Ohio and other venues. Her products are regularly featured on the...

Rifle by Bill Pritchard

by Heinz Ahlers Bill Pritchard has been building rifles in Maysville since 1976, when he was motivated by the activities of the Bicentennial to try his hand at building flintlock longrifles. Bill was largely self taught, guided by Kindig, Thoughts on the Kentucky in Its Golden Age; Shumway, Rifles of Colonial America; and Recreating the Kentucky Rifle by Buchle. Bill estimates he has built about 75 rifles, 25 to 30 in the 5 years since he retired, and one or...

Chris Barker Hunting Pouch Set

Chris Barker has donated a complete hunting rig. Chris designed the bag and constructed the rig, doing all of the leather work. We are proud to say that Chris is one of our repeat donors to the live auction. Several other artisans were involved in the project. The leather for the bag was donated by Joel Ketonen of the Dallas Muzzle Loading Gun Club, The accoutrements were pur-chased from noted artisans by Chris. The Southern banded horn and powder measure...

Pouch, Measure, Brush, Pick, & Bullet Board by Rich and Jeanne McDonald

Rich and Jeanne McDonald are well known CLA Artists. Rich and Jeanne have been married over 29 years and live on a small farm in southern Ohio. They are part of the southern Ohio contingent contributing to this auction including Joe Seabolt and Maryellen Pratt. Rich bought his first muzzleloader at the age of 12 and has been hooked ever since. Rich started forging knives and and tomahawks in 1990 and now does it as a full time occupation He...

Daniel Boone’s longhunter’s pouch & horn set by Tim Crosby & Tim Albert

Tim Crosby and TC Albert teamed up to make this copy of a Daniel Boone horn and pouch set. The set is based on images of a pouch and horn known to have once been owned by Daniel Boone, and traded to a neighbor along the Big Sandy River in the late 1790s. In the book, My Father Daniel Boone, his son, Nathan Boone relates some of the events taking place during this time period, when for several years the Boones...

Nathan Boone Pouch & Horn Set by Tim Sanner & Jim Webb

A few years after the Boone family settled along the Femme Osage in Missouri, the War of 1812 broke out. Soon war parties of Native Americans loyal to the British began attacking American settlers up and down the Mississippi River. Though he wanted to serve, Daniel Boone was deemed too old to serve and stayed home to guard and protect the family. His son Nathan on the other hand, was ordered by William Clark to raise a company of...

WIKI UP ~ An original pastel painting by Pamela Patrick White

Nationally renowned artist Pamela Patrick White has donated one of her exquisite works of art for this years CLA Fund Raising auction. Wiki Up shows a group of Woodland Indians lounging around the fire in the interior of a wiki-up, hence the title for the painting. The original pastel is framed in a handsome hardwood frame and measures a generous 34 x 29. This wonderful work of art by one of Americas foremost historical painters will make a beautiful...

Jerry Eitnier Knife & Sheath

By Heinz Ahlers Indiana gunmaker, Jerry Eitnier has been involved in the sport of muzzleloading for more than 40 years. He joined the National Muzzle Loading Association in 1973, and later became a charter member of the Contemporary Longrifle Association in 1991. In 1987 he built his first longrifle. Influenced by Hershel House's work, he builds guns as he terms them in the style of "the Hershel House Woodbury School" with iron mounted guns being his specialty. Jerry wryly comments, "Sometimes...

The John Jacob Sheetz Rifle Project

By Mark Sage(Reprinted by permission of Muzzle Blasts) On the morning of January 8, 1815, 2000 English Soldiers lay dead or wounded on a soggy, marshy battlefield six miles downriver from New Orleans. In a fight that lasted less than an hour, the Americans under Andrew Jackson had done the impossible and beaten the proud and powerful British army, touted to be the best in the world at that time. The Brits were well equipped, better supplied and had just...

Trade Silver Wrist Band by Wayne & Marilyn Holcombe

Brooklyn, Michigan residents Wayne and Marilyn Holcombe are silversmiths by trade and operate XX TRADE SILVER. XX Trade Silver began 10 years ago when their close friend, Chuck Leonard, a premier silversmith taught them the art of silversmithing. Wayne chuckles when he relates how it all started. "I was involved with competition black powder shooting and Marilyn accompanied me to a lot of shoots through the years. One day Marlyn mentioned to Chuck Leonard that she got bored at the shoots...

A Woodland Native Prisoner Tie by Darrell Brandenburg with Quillwork by Tom Gifford

Darrell Brandenburg was born 1941 in the northern tip of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. He was raised on a farm some 30 miles distant from Alpena, the nearest large city. All of his life Darrell has been interested in American history, hunting, primitive skills, camping and being outdoors. These interests have been logged in over 30 years of historical reenactment. During that time Darrell made the majority of the accoutrements he needed for portraying various persona, developing the...

Jerry Eitnier Powder Horn

By Heinz Ahlers Indiana gunmaker, Jerry Eitnier has been involved in the sport of muzzleloading for more than 40 years. He joined the National Muzzle Loading Association in 1973, and later became a charter member of the Contemporary Longrifle Association in 1991. In 1987 he built his first longrifle. Influenced by Hershel House's work, he builds guns as he terms them in the style of "the Hershel House Woodbury School" with iron mounted guns being his specialty. Jerry wryly comments, "Sometimes...

Axes by John Donelson and Bart Dellinger

In the War of 1812, during naval battles on the Great Lakes or on the high seas, it was customary for ships to engage with cannon as they closed upon each other, and then to finally board each other where the final outcome of the engagement was settled in hand to hand combat. With its sharp steel spike, the boarding ax was designed to pry red hot cannon balls from the wooden decks before they could catch fire and...

Bob Browner’s copy of the Andrew Jackson Pistol

(Reprinted by permission of Muzzle Blasts, June 2013 issue) "Andrew Jackson's Dueling Pistol" By T. C. Albert An important firearm made by a renowned gunmaker for a renowned United States President now resides in that President's historic home. The gunmaker: Phillip Creamer The President: Andrew Jackson This distinguished firearm, a dueling pistol once owned by the illustrious President Jackson, currently resides at "The Hermitage", a historical landmark and museum located at Jackson's restored plantation home near Nashville Tennessee. Jackson was lauded as a national hero...

The Joshua Crain Commander Oliver Hazard Perry Knife

You may not have heard much about him yet, but Im sure you soon will. One of the youngest artisans of the Contemporary Longrifle Association, Joshua Crain approached us about donating a project to the 2013 War of 1812 fund raising auction, and then totally knocked it out of the park with this commemorative knife. We asked Josh if he might want to tell us a bit about himself and his project, and heres what he had to say: Hello,...

Plug Bayonet by Todd Daggett

Written by Heinz Ahlers Todd Daggett is a carpenter by trade and a blacksmith for love of the art. He is an active member of the CLA and a member of the American Mountain Men since 1995. Todd strongly supports the CLA mission and says the Lexington Show is the only show he does all year. The plug bayonet is an early form of bayonet that is associated with use by the Canadian militia forces and native tribes during the French...

Chippewa Birchbark Canoe Model by Ray Boessel

Ray Boessel Junior has graciously donated one of his Chippewa-style birch bark canoes as an auction item for the 2013 CLA show in Lexington. It is a scaled down version (model) of the larger size he makes at his canoe shop in Northern Minnesota, near the Big Fork River. It measures five feet long and almost a foot wide. The materials in its construction are the exactly the same as his large canoes. White birch bark is used for...

Isaac Shelby Commemorative Knife by Glen Mock

As the 18th century closed, treaties were signed and the frontier moved west. Among the Americans who volunteered from Kentucky in the War of 1812 were many veterans of the Revolution and the bloody frontier conflict that consumed the Ohio Valley and southern Appalachians for years afterward. Isaac Shelby served as a soldier in Lord Dunmore's War, the Revolutionary War, and the War of 1812. While governor of Kentucky, at age 63 he personally led the Kentucky militia in...

A Tansel Style Powder Horn by Jeff Bottiger

On the sleepy Indiana frontier, led by their War of 1812 veteran patriarch, a family of prolific hornsmiths carved their way into American folk art history. Francis Tansel and his sons John, Timothy and Stark produced such a consistent though uniquely decorated powder horn that today their work is instantly recognized and simply called the Tansel style. Though once only regionally appreciated as a mid-western powder horn, today top dollar is eagerly paid to own just an average Tansel carved...

A Fine Lexington Style Rifle by Marvin Kemper

By Guy Montfort Marvin Kemper has crafted a groundbreaking piece - a stunning, museum quality reproduction of an early 19th century longrifle in the style of the Bryan family of central Kentucky that he has graciously donated for the Contemporary Longrifle Foundation 2013 fundraising auction. By the time of the War of 1812 the "Kentucky Rifle" and the frontiersmen who used it had already captured the imagination of the American public. When the War grew imminent, the danger and perhaps...

Squire Boone Pipe Ax and the War of 1812

Brian Anderson of Bristol Vermont is a well-known gunsmith, artist, teacher, and blacksmith, and he offered to put his skills to work for our 2013 CLA Fundraising Auction by making us a copy of the Squire Boone Pipe Axe. When you think of the Boones, you don't often think of their involvement in the War of 1812, and the little known story of Squires personal pipe ax is a good illustration of that point. Unlike their war service, it is...

Trade Silver Shell Gorget by Wayne & Marilyn Holcombe

Brooklyn, Michigan residents Wayne and Marilyn Holcombe are silversmiths by trade and operate XX TRADE SILVER. XX Trade Silver began 10 years ago when their close friend, Chuck Leonard, a premier silversmith taught them the art of silversmithing. Wayne chuckles when he relates how it all started. "I was involved with competition black powder shooting and Marilyn accompanied me to a lot of shoots through the years. One day Marilyn mentioned to Chuck Leonard that she got bored at the shoots...

A Circa 1810~1825 Pouch and Horn Set by Donald Shaver

CLA artist Donald Shaver handcrafted this circa 1810 to 1825 hunting pouch and horn set for the 2013 CLA fundraising auction. The pouch is based on the one seen on page 25 of Madison Grants book The Kentucky Rifle Hunting Pouch. He crafted the traditional deep D shaped pouch itself from bark tanned cow hide and like the original that had a strap made of old time listing, Donald used an old woven strap that he had on hand,...

A Choctaw Style Bow, Quiver, and Arrows Set by Matt & Paul Fennewald

Pushmataha is the most famous chief of the Choctaw nation and was the primary Choctaw war leader during the War of 1812. Pushmataha died in 1825 on a diplomatic mission to Washington DC and is buried there in the Congressional Cemetery as Brigadier General Pusnmataha. When CLA member Matt Fennewald heard the theme of the CLF auction was the War of 1812 he was enthusiastic about changing his original donation proposal of a horn and bag to a Choctaw bow....

“A Tansel Pouch and Horn Set” by the Two Tims

Another item specially made for the upcoming CLA auction is a detailed copy of the Francis Tansel Fort Meigs powder horn. Two very similar Ft. Meigs were made by Francis while he actually served at Ft. Meigs as a volunteer in Boswells 10th Kentucky Militia regiment, and it is believed that there once may even have been a third. The special horn for this set, complete with its turned and applied walnut tip, fish mouth, and toothed engrailing was crafted...

A complete Rifle Accoutrement Tool Set and Quilled Storage Pouch by Larry and Zach Callahan

A complete Rifle Accoutrement Tool Set and Quilled Storage Pouch by Larry and Zach Callahan Every rifle needs some special custom tools to keep it firing well and in working order. Realizing that, artists Larry and Zach Callahan, a father and son team from Pevely Missouri, worked together to make a very nice and very complete set of riflemans accoutrements and the specially made brain tanned, quill decorated pouch to keep them in. We are very happy to include their...

A Traditional Tobacco Pipe by James Blake and Chris Hays

"A traditional Native American Tobacco Pipe by James Blake and Chris Hays" James Blake and Chris Hays have teamed up to create a truly iconic Native American item for our auction, one that would have typically been crafted and used by Native Americans all along the frontier during the War of 1812 . Chris has carefully fashioned a pewter inlaid, red "Catlinite" pipe bowl, and to accompany it James made a traditional quill decorated and incise carved pipe stem. This is...

The CLA “Alligator Horse” rifle by Mitch Yates and the ALR Moderators

The CLA "Alligator Horse" rifle by Mitch Yates and the ALR Moderators" Mitch Yates and the moderators over at American Long Rifles web site have made a very special rifle for the upcoming CLA fund raising auction. This Dickert style rifle was designed to pay tribute to the legendary Hunters of Kentucky and their expliots at the Battle of New Orleans under Andrew Jackson. The rifle has a special "Alligator Horse" silver inlay, and silver presentation plack affixed inside the...

Tecumseh/Brock War Club by Mike McHugh

Tecumseh/Brock War Club by Mike McHugh. When the war of 1812 finally broke out, General Isaac Brockhad been preparing for it for quite some time. After stopping the American advance under the command of William Hull, Brock met the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh and together they planned an attack that resulted in the fall of Detroit and the capture of its entire garrison. Brock and Tecumseh became instant friends, and after the Battle of Detroit they exchanged gifts and tokens of that...

Long knives by Daniel Casey, Dana Buchannan, Joe Seabolt and Billy Heck

An undeniably important piece of our shared "Culture of the Longrifle" is the knife. So inseperable were frontiersmen and their ever present big blades, that they were identified by them and actually called "longknives", both a name and a trait that persisted as long as such men roamed our American frontiers. Our auction wouldnt be complete with out a few of these iconic knives to choose from, and true to form, CLA artists specializing in the creation of these...

Battle of New Orleans horn by Harris Maupin

Harris Maupin of Hillsboro Missouri carved this large powder horn for the upcoming CLA fundraising auction in Lexington Kentucky, and if a picture is worth a thousand words, then the carvings on this horn could easily represent a whole book about the events that took place at the Battle of New Orleans. Harris carved the horn in the "Andrew Clark" style, where the various scenes are engraved vertically in a very detailed manner. There are soldiers, field artillery, battle...

Donations from Curt Gillock and Jennifer Frantz

Curt Gillock of Two Fools Leather Goods has made this "Hair-on Flop-top Trunk" for the upcoming CLA fundraising auction. It's number 7 of only 10. The palonia wood frame is covered with a fine Brindle hair-on steer hide. The "English Tanned Harness Leather" straps, handles and trim are all edged and burnished by hand. The actual "Floptop" is backed and bound to a strong piece of the same leather as a strengthener. It is then hand-sewn through the wooden...