Lot 6: Frontier Hunting Rig by Jeff Luke, John Rader and Joe D Baxter

For this year’s CLF Fundraising Auction, a trio of the CLA’s finest teamed up to create a unique hunting rig that highlights the role of faith and religion in our country’s history. Jeff Luke explains that he “wanted the set to be indicative of a home-built rig that may have been carried by a common man, of modest means, in the first half of the 19th century.”

The set is built around Luke’s hunting bag. The artist describes it as a simple, single piece, side fold, D-shaped pouch constructed of 3-4oz vegetable tanned cowhide. The flap has been inscribed with a cross and “Trust in Him.” The strap features a forged iron buckle by John Rader. The entire bag was hand stitched using waxed linen thread. 

The backside of the bag has an integral leather sheath that carries a handy forged knife by John Rader. Hung from the pouch straps is a rather simple powder horn with a walnut stopper and a walnut base plug secured with forged nails. Inscribed on the horn are the words “Trust in Him”.

The set is rounded out with everything the blackpowder shooter might need. It includes a small ball pouch inscribed with a weeping heart made by Luke. Affixed to the strap are a forged vent pick by John Rader, an antler pan brush, and a unique powder measure by Joe D Baxter which is inscribed with a Bible verse, Romans 12:3, which appropriately references a man’s measure of faith. 

Luke explains that each component of this set “has been carefully aged and given a patina to indicate a well used, yet well cared for set from years gone by.”

For more information on the work of the artists, contact:

Jeff Luke: poboygear@gmail.com
John Rader: raderjd180@gmail.com
Joe D Baxter: jdbaxter87@gmail.com