Sunday, January 31, 2010

NMLRA Announces Museum Exhibits for National Spring Shoot 2010

National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association Announces Museum Exhibits for National Spring Shoot 2010
By Leslie Martin Conwell
American History Events Coordinator
The National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association will be offering several exhibits at the Rand House Museum for the National Spring Shoot.  The NMLRA welcomes as guest curators Curtis Johnson, Jeff Jaeger, and the National Firearms Museum of the National Rifle Association.
Curt Johnson is bringing a large collection of Illinois-made firearms.  Curt’s interested in collecting Illinois guns began in 1968 when he was shown a locally made, 19th century rifle.  Although he was familiar with many of the gunmakers from out east, seeing this piece sparked his interest in finding out more about the gunmakers from the state where he lived. These gunmakers helped outfit not only the local settlers, but also those headed on their way to settle the American West.  Curt then began his long quest to learn all he could about Illinois-made firearms, and amassed a beautiful collection of original pieces.  Curt has agreed to share his passion for these guns by displaying many of them at the Rand House Museum for the 2010 National Spring Shoot.  These will include longrifles, Plains rifles, percussion Schuetzen rifles, and shotguns.  Tools and photos related to the history of Illinois firearms will also be on display.  Curt exhibited part of his collection in 1998 at the Rand House Museum, but states that he has amassed many fine new pieces since that time, and some of these will be on exhibit in June.  
Besides being an avid collector, Curt is an accomplished author.  He will have available for sale his series of volumes entitled “Gunmakers of Illinois,” published by George Shumway.
Jeff Jaeger, who is well known as a collector of Indiana-made firearms and who has exhibited parts of his personal collection in the past at the Rand House, will be on hand to talk about and promote a new book he co-authored with Jim Dresslar, “John Small of Vincennes, Gunsmith on the Western Frontier.”  The book chronicles the life of John Small, and discusses his many diverse craft skills and business interests.  Jaeger and Dresslar highlight specific examples of Small’s work owned by well-known names in American frontier history, such as William Clark, the Girty brothers, Francis Vigo, and Pierre Menard.  Recently reviewed in Muzzle Blasts (December 2009), the book provides fascinating insight into the life of this early Indiana gunsmith.  In his review of the Jaeger/Dresslar work, noted author James Alexander Thom (Panther in the Sky, Follow the River, etc.) wrote “It is a quality work, about quality work…congratulations on such a beautiful production…the photographic representations of John Small’s fine handiwork show that your verbal praise is not exaggerated…the research is thorough, the history accurate.”   The book will be on sale at the Rand House Museum during the course of the Spring Shoot.
Philip Schreier of the National Rifle Association’s National Firearms Museum is a frequent guest curator at the Rand House, and is planning on bringing some collection pieces for display.  Watch the NMLRA website at www.nmlra.org for future updates on the NRA’s exhibit.
The NMLRA is grateful to these guest curators for their willingness to share their collections and knowledge with others.
Museum hours for the National Spring Shoot will be posted on the NMLRA website at www.nmlra.org.  For more information on the Rand House Museum, or if you are interested in exhibiting at the museum in the future, please contact Leslie Martin Conwell, NMLRA American History Events Coordinator, 765.563.6792, nmlraevents@seidata.com.

Friday, January 29, 2010

Updated Living Arts Class Schedule


 National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association Announces “Living Arts” Class Schedule for National Spring Shoot 
June 12th-20th, 2010 
The National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association’s Living Arts program will be sponsoring a number of traditional craft classes at the National Spring Shoot. All classes will take place on the grounds of the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association in Friendship, Indiana in the Primitive Encampment/Living History Center. 
Blockprinting Class 
Virginia Tucker of Virginia Floor Cloth and Woodworking Company is offering a workshop on the art of blockprinting in the Primitive Encampment/Living History Center June 12th from 10: 00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Virginia is well known for her lovely blockprinted silk scarves. Participants will make a printing block, and will leave with two pieces of handmade paper that they have blockprinted designs on. Fee is $40.00 and all materials are included. To register, call Leslie Martin Conwell, NMLRA American History Events Coordinator, at 765.563.6792, nmlraevents@seidata.com. Participants must pre-register. 
Basketmaking Class 
Daniel Nye of Ishpeming, Michigan is planning a three day/six hour basketmaking class on June 12th, 13th, and 14th. Students will learn making a basket from scratch, using traditional methods. Instructor provides all materials, and he will teach various options of collection and preparing materials, weaving both freehand and over a mold, and the carving of rims and handles. A list of tools needed will be provided by Mr. Nye. Class fee is $50.00. Class size is limited! To register or for more information, contact Daniel Nye, 4105 Deer Lake Rd., Ishpeming, MI 49849, 906.486.9350, djnye@up.net
Blacksmithing Class 
Blacksmith Aubrey Williams will instruct a blacksmithing class that will take place in the Primitive Encampment/Living History Center on June 16th from 9 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Mr. Williams has been blacksmithing for over 30 years, and has practiced his craft at living history sites, museums, and reenactments throughout the United States. Instructor will supply all tools and materials. Students must bring their own eye and ear protection. Topics include operating a coal-fired forge with a mechanical blower and basic forgecraft. Cost of the class is $80.00, and is payable at the time of the class. Class size is limited! For information, please contact the instructor at incorgiable@yahoo.com, or 812.448.1909. 
Primitive Bow Making Class 
Navio Occhialini, master bow maker and head of the NMLRA’s Bow Range, will offer his class on the art of primitive bow making at the Primitive Encampment/Living History Center June 15th-16th. Instructor supplies the materials to build a Woodland-style bow and three arrows, as well as a “how to” DVD. Some tools are required, and a list can be obtained from contacting the instructor. Cost of the class is $200.00, and is payable at the time of the class. Pre-registration is required, as class size is limited! Contact the instructor at 317.872.4920 or at cocch@sbcglobal.net for more details.
Leather Stitching Class
Wayne Troup of Vintage Leather will be teaching a class on basic leather stitching Monday, June 14th from 10:00 a.m. to 12: p.m. in the Primitive Encampment/Living History Center at his tent. Wayne has been a professional leatherworker for over thirty years. Wayne will demonstrate his stitching technique and discuss basic leather construction. Class participants will learn how to start, stop, splice, and split thread, and punch and space holes. At the end of the session they will have completed an approximately 6” x 4” deerskin drawstring pouch, with piping. The class fee of $40.00, payable at the time of the class, includes a leather awl, needle, and the materials to make the pouch. For registration information, contact Wayne at 812.331.4050. 

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association Announces “Living Arts” Class Schedule for National Spring Shoot


 National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association Announces “Living Arts” Class Schedule for National Spring Shoot 
June 12th-20th, 2010 
The National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association’s Living Arts program will be sponsoring a number of traditional craft classes at the National Spring Shoot. All classes will take place on the grounds of the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association in Friendship, Indiana.
Blockprinting Class 
Virginia Tucker of Virginia Floor Cloth and Woodworking Company is offering a workshop on the art of blockprinting in the Primitive Encampment/Living History Center June 12th from 10: 00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Virginia is well known for her lovely blockprinted silk scarves. Participants will make a printing block, and will leave with two pieces of handmade paper that they have blockprinted designs on. Fee is $40.00 and all materials are included. To register, call Leslie Martin Conwell, NMLRA American History Events Coordinator, at 765.563.6792, nmlraevents@seidata.com. Participants must pre-register.
Blacksmithing Class 
Blacksmith Aubrey Williams will instruct a blacksmithing class that will take place in the Primitive Encampment/Living History Center on June 16th from 9 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Mr. Williams has been blacksmithing for over 30 years, and has practiced his craft at living history sites, museums, and reenactments throughout the United States. Instructor will supply all tools and materials. Students must bring their own eye and ear protection. Topics include operating a coal-fired forge with a mechanical blower and basic forgecraft. Cost of the class is $80.00, and is payable at the time of the class. Class size is limited! For information, please contact the instructor at incorgiable@yahoo.com, or 812.448.1909.
Primitive Bow Making Class 
Navio Occhialini, master bow maker and head of the NMLRA’s Bow Range, will offer his class on the art of primitive bow making at the Primitive Encampment/Living History Center June 15th-16th. Instructor supplies the materials to build a Woodland-style bow and three arrows, as well as a “how to” DVD. Some tools are required, and a list can be obtained from contacting the instructor. Cost of the class is $200.00, and is payable at the time of the class. Pre-registration is required, as class size is limited! Contact the instructor at 317.872.4920 or at cocch@sbcglobal.net for more details.
Leather Stitching Class
Wayne Troup of Vintage Leather will be teaching a class on basic leather stitching Monday, June 14th from 10:00 a.m. to 12: p.m. in the Primitive Encampment/Living History Center at his tent. Wayne has been a professional leatherworker for over thirty years. Wayne will demonstrate his stitching technique and discuss basic leather construction. Class participants will learn how to start, stop, splice, and split thread, and punch and space holes. At the end of the session they will have completed an approximately 6” x 4” deerskin drawstring pouch, with piping. The class fee of $40.00, payable at the time of the class, includes a leather awl, needle, and the materials to make the pouch. For registration information, contact Wayne at 812.331.4050.