We’re excited to be hosting an Inline Muzzleloading Silhouette Match this fall! Stop by the Walter Cline Range in Friendship, Indiana on November 2nd for a day of Marksmanship!
For more information, contact Dan Thomas at 812-667-0015 or email him at dthomas@nmlra.org
This past weekend, September 14th and 15th, the five ten shot 1000 yards match was held. There were three relays of ten shots on Saturday and two relays on Sunday.
Kenn Heisman was in first place in the muzzle loading class, followed by Dan Bredberg in second. Ian Egbert was first in the cartridge rifle class. Second was Jim Davis followed by his son Jim W Davis. Forth was Kim Kelly and Willard Lamb in fifth.
There were two Muzzle Loading shooters. One was shooting an original Ingram rifle and the other was a replica of a Gibbs made by Pedersoli. The remaining ten shooters were shooting cartridge rifles, from what I saw all were 1874 Sharps Rifles.
Camp Atterbury's mist in the morning cleared and we proceeded to shoot the first three relays of the day. The humidity had relented and with a few clouds, had a nice day for shooting. The next day started well and we were done by 01:30 hours with all then heading to Friendship for the fall shoot.
Since this is a new match, records were set for muzzle loaders and cartridge shooters. The record for aggregate for the muzzle loaders was set by Kenn Heismann with 309-3. He also set the 1000-yard record of 78-1. A new shooter at Camp Atterbury, and he shot with a cartridge rifle, was Ian Egbert. He had an aggregate of 431-7 and a 1000-yard record of 92.
Kenn Heisman was in first place in the muzzle loading class, followed by Dan Bredberg in second. Ian Egbert was first in the cartridge rifle class. Second was Jim Davis followed by his son Jim W Davis. Forth was Kim Kelly and Willard Lamb in fifth.
I do have to say that Dan Bredberg was a great help, he took the Camps' range safety course. He also came in early and helped prep the Connex container that Camp Atterbury provided. Then helped with setting up the range set up and take down.
The Spring shoot will consist of an 800, 900, and a 1000-yard, ten shot relays on Saturday and two 1000 yards ten shots relays on Sunday.
Next year’s fall shoot will be the same as this year. If I can have people contact me at my email address (mrhoppy1@netzero.com) I can send them information about each shoot, besides being put on Camp Atterbury's gate list.
This coming Joe Hepsworth's Memorial will remain the same as it has in the past and anticipate the same for next year. Which will be the tenth anniversary.
Ray
Thank you Ray Hopkins for your continued efforts to organize matches at Camp Atterbury and for your writing of this report.
At Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, Kentucky
Schedule of Classes
3 Day Classes
Beginner 18th Century Quill Work – Lally House
A study of quill working techniques, period dyes and completion of a neck pouch.
Materials will be provided to participants at a minimal cost by Lally.
A study of the Rifle Guns Made in the Valley of Virginia - Wallace Gusler
The study will cover seven early groups, explaining details that define each group, from wood boxes in the pre-Revolutionary era to metal examples of the 1770’s and 80’s. The second half of the class will track these groups as they develop and expand geographically into twelve to fifteen schools by the 1830-40 period. The class will examine in person several early original rifles and some excavated examples. Most of the rifles will be illustrated in slides or Power Points while also using 8 X 10 photographs. No materials are required; a drawing book or notebook is suggested.
6 Day Classes
Assembly and finishing of a 1760’s Colonial Kit Rifle by Jim Kibler - Ed Wenger
Participants will be provide instruction on the assembly and finishing of the kit rifle. Rifle kits need to be ordered in advance of the class by searching “kiblerlongrifles” in late March. Ed Wenger is covering the kit class while Jim Kibler will be teaching a carving class at the seminar.
Intermediate Quill Work Leading to the completion of a period correct artifact of the participants choosing – Lally House
Lally will supply materials for the class at a minimal cost to the participants.
18th Century Carving Practices and Techniques – Jim Kibler
Students have the option of carving on a pre-shaped Quaker butt stock or an assembled kit rifle in the white. Jim Kibler needs to be contacted in late March if a “Quaker Stock blank” is need for the class or if your intention is to carve on a assembled kit rifle in the white. Quaker butt stocks can be provided at a minimal cost and a detailed listing of tools and materials will be provided once registration is complete.
A study of patch box designs – Wallace Gusler – New for 2020.
Beginning with the sliding wooden box and extending to 2 and 4 piece designs along with related release mechanisms. Students will actually assemble an example or samples of their choice. Participants will be provided with a list of tools and materials needed for the class once registration is complete.
Making a period correct Powder Horn - Art DeCamp
Making a period correct Powder Horn including scrimshaw work and related finishing techniques. Samples of other period artifacts made of horn will be shown along with related presentations by Art DeCamp. Horns will be provided to the class for sale at a reasonable cost. A listing of other tools and materials will be sent to the participants in advance of the class.
9 Day Classes
Woodbury School of Gunmaking and Forging of Related Accoutrements – Hershel, Frank and John House
A unique class where participants are given to freedom to work on various aspects of longrifle making from forging gun mounts, to lock and patch box making and casting a pewter muzzle cap. Some participants actually stock up a rifle while others work on their forging skills by making a knife or other related accoutrement. Participants will be responsible for a fee to cover the cost of coal and metal forging supplies. A listing of tools and suggested materials will sent to all in advance of the class once registration has closed. This class is taught at the home of Hershel House in Woodbury, Kentucky – 25 miles from Western’s campus.
Stocking the Pennsylvania Longrifle, or Finishing What You Started – Jack Brooks
Jack has covered this class for several years with great success! For those participants desiring to stock up a rifle, you need to contact Jack in advance to obtain his advice on period correct furniture and materials to complete your project. For those completing a rifle in process, you may also want to contact Jack about your project to make sure you have all materials and tools necessary for completing the rifle. Students will learn historically correct stock architecture for a regional style rifle such as Christian’s Spring, Allentown, Bucks County, Reading, Lancaster, York and others with which Jack is familiar. Students will develop skills in inletting a swamped barrel, fitting the lock, butt plate and trigger guard along with other mounts as time permits.
Advanced 18th Century Porcupine Quill Work – Lally House
Covered in class where participants have the opportunity to complete period correct projects of their choice. Lally will be including birch bark box applications with appropriate period quill work (new for this year). A listing of supplies and materials will be sent to participants in advance of the class while Lally and Crazy Crow will have quilling materials for purchase at a reasonable cost.
Building a period Jaeger Rifle from a Study Piece for students to work from – Ron Scott
Ron Scott has a very well preserved 1740’s Jaeger Rifle that will serve as a model for this class. The rifle will be present during the seminar for examination. Molds are being prepared to reproduce the mounts and lock parts. Students will have the option of preparing a lock from castings or acquiring a Chris Laubach Jaeger lock. Barrels made to original dimensions will be available in a variety of calibers. Ron has a very large collection of European Walnut stocks, and will make them available to seminar members at a discounted rate. Part of the materials package will be multiple photos for study, plus casts of carving and engraving. As in previous seminars, Ron will be available for mentoring on this project though its completion. Please call with any questions at 541-941-0395. A listing of necessary tools and materials will be sent to participants.
Learning the Basics of Sheet Inlay in both Wood and Metal, along with Wire Inlay – George Suiter
George will cover related design applications along with related tools and materials used for the inlay process. Students will actually make wire inlay tools in class. Participants will have the opportunity to purchase a pipe ax head and haft to practice their inlay skills on, or the opportunity to bring the necessary stock blank materials to class to support the learning process of inletting wire and sheet material in both wood and metal.
Important Dates and Information to Remember
Seminar Dates – Classes begin at 1:00 pm CST on Wednesday, June 3rd and end on Friday, June 12th at 1:00 pm, CST 2020. 3 day classes run Wednesday, June 3rd at 1:00 pm through Saturday, June 6th at 1:00 pm. 6 day classes begin on Sunday, June 7th at 8:00 am through June 12th.
Picnics: Saturday, June 6th at 5:00 pm CST at the Leeper farm, and Wednesday, June 10th at 5:00 pm CST at the home of Hershel House. Picnic cost included in registration fees.
Cost of all classes is $120 per day.
Early Registration for PREVIOUS ATTENDEES ONLY – contact Brenda Hooton at the NMLRA at 812-667-5131 (ext. 223) beginning October 9th, 2019 – no registrations will be accepted before then. Please decide on your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choice of classes. Minimum deposit of ½ the class cost and Membership in the NMLRA. Brenda's email -
Official Registration – begins on October 30th, 2019 and runs through February 19th, 2020 on a first come first serve basis. A minimum deposit of ½ the total cost of the class or classes and membership in the NMLRA. Please select your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd or no other choice of classe(s). Contact Brenda Hooton at the NMLRA (812-667-5131 – ext. 223) with your selection(s). Brenda's email -
Full Payment – for all classes required by February 19th, 2020
Cancellation – on or before February 19th, 2020 will result in $150 being kept along with your membership fee to the NMLRA with the balance returned to the individual.
Cancellation after February 19th, 2020 – will result in KEEPING full payment for all 3 day classes, and $500 for both 6 and 9 day classes – there will be NO EXCEPTIONS since the instructional team has been confirmed.
Final Enrollment Notification – will be made to participants by March 25th, 2020 based upon enrollment date and class preferences (1st, 2nd, 3rd, or none). Notification will be by email or USPS if preferred – please advise at enrollment regarding USPS restriction.
Negotiations for Group Lodging – is being made in Bowling Green at the Red Roof Inn “economy” (270-781-6550), and “enhanced lodging” at Western’s Hyatt Place (4 blocks from instruction with hotel transportation) 270-467-0001. Morgantown – House brothers – under discussion.
Lodging updates – will be posted on the official seminar website at: nmlragunsmithingseminar.org and on the NMLRA Educational Web site.
This article was transcribed from a video interview with Jeff. You can see the video with more information here
I got started in leatherwork about 12 years ago. Started off doing motorcycle seats, bags and so forth. I had a pretty good run but I just wasn’t passionate about it.Then I kind of fell into the affliction of being a part of the muzzleloading scene. I started buy and building muzzleloaders, and trying to figure out how I could take that leather and make it fit. I started doing bags, knife sheaths, flint wallets and really enjoyed it. I started researching the history of it and so fourth and now about 3 or 4 years later we’re going to be doing a class at the NMLRA Education Building in Friendship, Indiana.
Jeff Luke of Po Boy Gear
We’re going to talk about the history of hunting/shooting bags, talk about the differences between those and say a possibles bag/haversack. Then we’ll go through and build a bag!
It’s basically kind of a no frills bag, kind of bag you might have seen in the 18th century on a frontiersman all across the country here as we were expanding west. We’ll start off with veg tanned leather, some thread, and a little time and patience and we’ll end up with a finished bag.
This first class will be capped at 10 students, we might do a second one depending on the response of this first round and the outcome.
Students don’t need to know anything about leatherworking whatsoever before taking the class. This will be an absolutely basic course for anyone with no knowledge or with a little. I’ll be doing some of the work for you, cutting out the main pieces. We’re going to let the students cut out their own choice of flap.Then we will go through the dying process with a few options of color there as well. We’re hoping that beginners as well as students with some experience can all enjoy the class and learn something new.
If you’d like to see more of my work, you can look me up on facebook. I have a page “PoBoy Gear” where you can catch up with what I’m doing and what keeps me out of trouble.
This is something I’m really looking forward to. I spend a lot of time on leatherwork, trying to refine the craft and improve with every piece I do. I thoroughly enjoy it.
I’d like to thank the NMLRA for what they are doing to promote this hobby, this passion, this history, I think that is an important thing as we move forward and I appreciate all the work they are doing.
2019 National Championship Rifle Line Winners. Mary Emilia Taylor won the Crosley Cup with 50-2x
NMLRA President Brent Steele speaking at the Rifle Line awards.
If you have anymore photos of the rifle line awards, please send them to eyazel@nmlra.org for them to be included on the site. Thank you.
We had near record turn out this past week at the NMLRA Woodswalk range! Thank you, Trent and Robin Wren for working hard before, during, and after the national championships to prepare the range and keep it running smoothly and safely.
Trent and Robin shared these photos all through the championships to keep us informed of all the great marksmen coming through the range.
We’d like to thank all of our sporting clays competitors for participating in our 2019 National Championships. From what I hear, the flintlock matches were quite frustrating this year with the dry weather!
Thank you NMLRA Vice President Jeff Cunningham for snapping these pictures from the Sporting Clays Awards. In the red hat on the left, we have newly elected NMLRA President Brent Steele, and on the right, Sporting Clays Chief Range Officer Alan Hoeweler.
Brent Steele, Adina Cloud, Alan Hoeweler
Brent Steele, John Kemple
Gene Thurston, Alan Hoeweler
Brent Steele, Hal Carmichael, Alan Hoeweler
Brent Steele, Harry Sparks, Alan Hoeweler
Harry Sparks, Alan Hoeweler
Brent Steele, John Kemple
Brent Steele, Judy Coates, Alan Hoeweler
Brent Steele, Kathy Alford, Alan Hoeweler
Brent Steele, Larry Kershner, Alan Hoeweler
Brent Steele, Les Elliot, Alan Hoeweler
Brent Steele, Mike Franklin, Alan Hoeweler
Brent Steele, Ronny White, Alan Hoeweler
Reenactors and attendees alike had beautiful weather this past weekend at Kohkohmah and Foster near Kokomo, Indiana!
On Friday the event had almost 1800 school children attend, we love seeing events like Kohkohmah work hard to bring in children and give them first-hand learning experiences!
Photo by Robin Auth
Congratulations to Bob Auth and Pat Scott for another wonderful event!
To find out more about the event, check out their website, facebook page, and facebook group!
KohKohMah is not in any way affiliated with the NMLRA, our coverage of this event is voluntary in nature to spread our love of living history here at the NMLRA.
All committee members contact information can be found under the “Contact” tab on the NMLRA website. All board and executive committee positions are volunteer. While members do their best to answer emails and calls, it may take some time for them to get back to each message.
A Special thank you to Robert Frist for sharing these photos with us on Facebook. It’s hard for us to get photos of everything, members like Robert make our jobs a lot easier. Thank you Robert!
We are working on getting scores from the National Championships up as soon as possible, thank you for your patience.
We had another wonderful day here at the 2019 National Championships. The weather was slightly cloudy with sun all day. A slight breeze kept attendees cool, but was not enough to affect the marksmen on the line.
Today was a wonderful day for catching up with several pieces of living NMLRA history.
The NMLRA Media team worked with families and friends of several 95 year old members who have been around for many years to sit down and document some of their history here at the range.
The Pole Cat Porter exhibit in the Rand House Museum has been very well received by our attendees, we are excited to be sharing in the near future.
We had a hustling first Saturday here at the 2019 National Championships! Traffic was backed up on 62, we heard reports it took 2 hours to get through the tiny town of Friendship, Indiana this afternoon.
Shooters, craftsmen, and living history reenactors filled the NMLRA grounds today to share the history and hobbies we all love.
We’re excited to be launching a new variety of shoot merchandise this September. We have our normal two colored shirts, as well as a new hoodie, a sweatshirt, hats and pins! Be sure to stop by the NMLRA Merchandise booth early, these new designs won’t last long!
