T.C. Albert Pouch and Horn

After a weekend of working at the hunting camp, bush-hogging trails and woods roads, and cutting firewood, I'm back inside doing the publisher thing.

I want to show you another prize we brought home from the CLA show. Every year, there is a silent auction of items covering several tables. I always like to bid on something, because the items are donated by artisans, and the Contemporary Longrifle Foundation gets the money. This year, I was going to bid on this pouch and horn set made by our MUZZLELOADER staff writer, T.C. Albert, but Linda (my wife) beat me to it, and she won. This is one of Tim's boot top pouches, like he wrote about in his first article for MUZZLELOADER. In addition there's a neat little horn and an antler powder measure attached. We were pleased to win it and to have a nice piece of Tim's work to hang on the wall in the office, or take to the woods when hunting season rolls around.

Bill Scurlock

Bob Harn Rifle

Since I'm on the subject of Bob Harn, I wanted to show the rifle he made for me in 1988. It's .50 caliber with a walnut stock. The lock was hand made, since there were no quality round-faced locks on the market back then. Lew Sanchez did the engraving. It is based on Rifle 119 in Shumway's Rifles of Colonial America, Vol. 2.

This rifle has several deer to its credit, though I usually use a different rifle when hunting these days.

Bill Scurlock

Harn Knife Photos

OK, now I know how to add photos, so here are some photos of the Harn knife I bought at the CLA show. You can contact Bob at bridgetroll@verizon.net.

Bill Scurlock

Bob Harn Knife

I saw Bob Harn at the CLA show and ended up buying a great little folding knife from him. It's a beauty inspired by knives found in Neumann and Kravic's Collector's Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Revolution.

Bob is a wonderful craftsman and is known primarily as a gunmaker. In fact, he made me a rifle in about 1984, and I still have it. He does enjoy making a few knives every year. He makes several different styles of small folders. This one measures 7 inches fully open. There will be a review in an upcoming issue of Muzzleloader. And, when I have time to get my stuff together, I'll post a photo here.

Bill Scurlock

Sept/Oct MUZZLELOADER Magazine

The next issue will be mailed either today or tomorrow. I wasn't actually at the office today, but I know what the plan was for mailing. I enjoyed putting this issue together (as usual). Several good pieces include another story by Mike Blumenstein, an interesting piece by Fred Stuzenberger and a nice piece on Rogers' St. Francis Raid by Tim Todish with excellent illustrations by Gary Zaboly. Anyhow, I think that you will enjoy it.

Ready for cooler weather now, but I know that I'll most likely have to wait most of a month before I see much coolness. Then it will be real close to Arkansas' early muzzleloader season. Almost can't wait.

Bill Scurlock

Texas Muzzleloading Season

Good news for muzzleloaders in many parts of Texas this coming hunting season. There are approximately 23 counties with the new muzzleloader season. In my county, Bowie, the dates run from Jan. 4 through 10, 2010. This is after the modern season closes. Might be a good time to hunt, especially if you have a place that hasn't been hunted too hard or too much toward the end of the season. It's a positive step to me that Texas has finally expanded their muzzleloading season to places besides a few special hunts on state land. Of course, Texas has always allowed the use of muzzleloaders during regular gun season, but for many, it will be nice to get out in the woods with a muzzleloader and not have to worry about the modern cartridge rifles. If we could just make muzzleloader seasons "traditional side lock ignition only" I'd be even happier.

See ya,
Bill

Neat Rifle

My cousin, Richard, made a chance discovery near here in Arkansas, and it was a big hit with some of the collectors at the CLA show. Seems that a friend brought Richard an old rusty rifle that had been in this Arkansas family since before Ark. became a state (1836). Richard set about lightly cleaning the rust off and discovered "Jacob Young" stamped on the trigger plate, "J S" in script on the barrel, and part of "Jacob" on the lock plate (the rest of the name on the lock had been eaten away by percussion cap fowling). The rifle was stocked in walnut, mounted in iron, and was originally flintlock. At least two other early 19th century rifles by Jacob Young exist. I can't go on and on here, but more on Jacob Young is available on Mel Hankla's website, www.americanhistoricservices.com.

Bill Scurlock

Back Home

We're back home this evening from the CLA Show. Our whole family got to go: Linda, Justin, Jacob and me. So we did a little tourist stuff on Sunday and drove in today.

Brought back all (expect those sold at the show) of the signed and numbered hardcover copies of Tom Grinslade's Powder Horn book. Those on order should be shipped tomorrow. The book received rave reviews at the show.

Some things to look forward to in upcoming issues of Muzzleloader are knives by Amish blacksmith Norman Yoder and handmade pouch molds by one of the Missouri boys. Good looking accoutrements. There are other things, but these come readily to my road-weary mind.

More later.

Bill Scurlock

CLA Show/House Brothers Rifle

The CLA show ended today, but not before the raffle for the House Brothers' Rifle at 2:30. The raffle raised at least $138,000 for the CLF. The foundation will us the funds for various programs of education and building up the Association.

The winner of the hand-made longrifle was Jerry Raisor. Jerry was at the show and got to accept the rifle in person. It was exciting and well done.

The CLA is starting a twice-yearly full color magazine for the membership. I'm part of the committtee that will produce the magazine. This will be another good reason to join the CLA. For more information go to www.longrifle.ws.

See ya in a couple of days.

Bill Scurlock

Live From Lexington!

I didn't blog earlier this week because I was loading for and then traveling to the Contemporary Longrifle Association Show in Lexington, Kentucky. We set up yesterday. The show started this morning. There is an amazing amount of stuff here to see and great stuff for sale. Lots of great knives, guns, horns and all manner of traditional artwork of early Americana. There's a section of antique guns and gear too, all muzzleloading era. Some for sale, some for display.

You will be reading about some of the neat stuff I'm seeing in future "Prime Possibles" write-ups in Muzzleloader.

Gotta get back to the table now. The hardcover Powder Horn books are on the way to the show now and will be here this afternoon.

Bill Scurlock

Magazine, Books & Show

Still finishing up the September/October issue. It's basically finished, but Linda and I will be editing and making corrections for the next couple of days before it goes to the printer.

The softcover edition of Grinslade's powder horn book was delivered this morning. It looks great. We have to wait on the hardback edition, but still plan to have them at the CLA show next week if the bindery gets them finished.

I'm looking forward to seeing friends and being at the show. While I'm happy to be able to make a living in this sport/pastime/culture of muzzleloading, the main reason I go to the show is to see friends, many of whom have been friends for 30+ years. Of course, seeing the amazing array of guns, accoutrements and other artwork is always nearly overwhelming. If you haven't been there, or if it has been several years, you should definitely plan to go.

Bill Scurlock

Working on September/October Issue

Linda set up this blog and has done the posting so far. Starting today, I'm picking it up and planning to post regularly. We're continuing work on the September/October issue this week. Should finish it up in the next few days and send it to the printer.

Word from the book printer is that production on Tom Grinslade's powder horn book is on schedule. Since the printer has to contract out the hardback binding, he's at the mercy of the bindery. It still looks like we'll have the new book at the CLA show and begin shipping orders for them from our office on August 17.

On the personal side, Linda and I have a guy working on our small farm west of here today. He's ripping about 16 acres that we will replant this winter. Ripping is basically pulling a bar through the ground to break up compacted soil. The new trees will be planted in the rows he rips. It will significantly increase survival of the seedlings and help them get a quicker start.

Bill Scurlock