Our American with Disabilities Act project is working hard towards building a rifle and complete set of accoutrements to raise money for building ADA compliant restrooms at the Walter Cline range. Mike Miller, Dennis Priddy, Larry Horrigan, Dick Miller, John Kleihege, Bart Copenhaver, Bill Hoover and I are building the rifle. The Honorable Company of Horners is making a powder horn, Jeff Luke is making a shooting bag, Ron Lowell is crafting a banded priming horn, Larry Callahan is hand making a ball mold and a tow worm, John Cummings is forging one of his signature knives. Look to Muzzle Blasts and the NMLRA. org website for details on how you can purchase tickets to win this once in a lifetime prize.
We’ve talked about the gun in previous articles, now let’s talk about some of the other artists working on the project. Larry Callahan of Missouri makes a line of hand-crafted bag molds, tow worms, lead ladles and other period-correct accouterments. Larry got involved with muzzleloaders back in the 1980’s, when there was a rendezvous virtually every weekend in Missouri. Having always made his own gear, when his job as a building inspector ended, his friends suggested he start selling some of the items he made. Larry’s work was an instant hit. Larry has done a lot of research on originals and it shows in the accuracy of his products. Original ball molds were made by the same smith that made the barrel. Barrel bores were often not any particular size but drilled and reamed until the hand-forged barrel cleaned up and bore was right finish. This meant needing a mold to match the barrel bore, so the barrel maker made a mold to match. Larry can do the same by making a mold to any size needed. For example, if you need a .412” diameter ball to make your gun shoot the tightest group, Larry can accommodate that. His molds are made of steel which has less expansion when up to casting temperature than aluminum molds, making a more accurately sized ball. A close friend of Mike Miller, every rifle made by Mike comes with one of Larry’s molds. Larry’s tow worms are the same style and quality as the originals. He makes each one by hand, twisting the worm by eye until they match the original design. Larry will be adding to the ADA project by making a ball mold and one of his fine tow worms. Larry will be hosting a class on forging butt plates, trigger guard thimbles among other things this spring. The class is limited to a small number of students. Contact Larry at his website www.bagmolds.com or by phone at 314-288-5439 for details.
John Cummins has been blacksmithing at Friendship since he got out of the army the 1970’s. He has spent a lot of time at the Walter Cline range. John’s told me stories of when Max Vickery and Wilford Shaw were always around the range. John was drawn to buck skinning and primitive camping right from the start. He started out with a forge set up in the primitive campground at Friendship, making tools and camp hardware during the spring and fall shoots. He would often sell his hand-forged camp gear while at a rendezvous and have to forge a new set for the next camping trip. Now he is the resident blacksmith at the Walter Cline range, working at the shop on the south end of the armory building. John is a serious competitor. He has won the Valley aggregate 5 years out of 6 and in 1983 he won the match that earned him the NMLRA 50th anniversary rifle made by Dan Klinden.
One of the finest blacksmiths and bladesmiths I have ever met; his knowledge of metallurgy and thermal processing is on par with that of a degreed engineer. He’s always willing to help others and give much needed advice, but he is an honest and humble man that doesn’t brag about his abilities. Most recently John has helped Broadus and Angus Thompson get their start, two fine lads that are currently working at the blacksmith shop at the Walter Cline range. John is a member of the American Bladesmithing Society and has attended several classes by J Nielson and Jason Knight of the History channel’s show “Forged in Fire”. John will be making a knife and sheath for the ADA project. I can’t wait to see it. I’m always interested in John’s work; it represents historical accuracy and a high degree of skill.
These two fine artists are doing their part to support the NMLRA and improve the Walter Cline range. You can help too, save your lunch money, and buy some tickets for the ADA drawing. You can find them in Muzzle Blasts and on the web at NMLRA.org.
Thank you, Larry and John
Benjaman Quearry
gunmakershall@gmail.com