Lally and Frank House Quilled Sheath and Knife

This quilled sheath and hand forged knife, made by Lally and Frank House, are part of the 2010 CLA live auction at the annual meeting in Lexington, Kentucky, on Friday, August 20th. You can contact them at 859-707-5429 or 859-707-9677.

Bill Scurlock

July Issue of American Tradition

Good news! I got my copy of the 2nd issue of American Tradition in the mail yesterday. That means that some of you have already received it and others will get theirs within a few days. Of course, since I work on putting it together in a printable format, I saw it all some time back. But, it's nice to see in print.

This is another fine issue, probably visually more pleasing than the first issue. The credit for that goes to the artisans whose work appears therein, but also to the photographers (Ric Lambert did the most photography) and to the graphic designer, David Wright. Of course, there is a whole staff that works on putting each issue together, most notably the editor, Mel Hankla. 

This issue has 56 pages plus the covers, all printed in full color on enameled stock. That's 8 more pages than the last issue. The contents include "Contemporary Longrifles as Documentary Statements" by Mark Silver, "The Creation of America's First West: The Crucible of the Long Hunter Culture" by Ted Franklin Belue, Native American Culture: Life As Art" by Michael Galban, Certifiably Native: The 2010 CLA Live Auction" by T.C. Albert, 4 reviews of museums, "Book Reviews" by Lee A. Larkin and Gigi Lacer, and "Sources & Resources" by Russ Young. 

American Tradition is the journal of the Contemporary Longrifle Association and is published twice a year. It is only mailed to members of the CLA. Some of the members have said that American Tradition, alone, is worth the cost of membership. To join or to learn more about the CLA go to [www.longrifle.com]. 

Bill Scurlock

Brain-Tan Leggings and Leg Ties by Penny Wayne and Tom Gifford

Penny Wayne and Tom Gifford made these decorated brain-tan leggings and quilled leg ties that are part of the 2010 CLA live auction at the annual meeting in Lexington, Kentucky, on Friday, August 20th. You can contact Wayne at www.kyleatherandhide.com and Gifford at 513-504-6693.

Bill Scurlock

Bag by Shawn Webster and James Blake

The quill-decorated finger-woven bag, by Shawn Webster and James Blake, is part of the 2010 CLA live auction at the annual meeting in Lexington, Kentucky, on Friday, August 20th. You can contact Webster at websterquillwork@yahoo.com and Blake at www.whitesavagetrading.com

Bill Scurlock

Headdress by Michael Galban

This headdress by Michael Galban is part of the 2010 CLA live auction at the annual meeting in Lexington, Kentucky, on Friday, August 20th. You can contact Galban at 585-398-2276.

Bill Scurlock

Amanda Webster Strap and Steve Lodding Horn

This Kahnawa:ke Mohawk quilled strap by Amanda Webster and a trade horn by Steve Lodding are part of the 2010 CLA live auction at the annual meeting in Lexington, Kentucky, on Friday, August 20th. You can contact Webster at websterquillwork@yahoo.com and Lodding at patentbreech1@embarqmail.com

Bill Scurlock

Todd Bitler Club-Butt Fowler

This club-butt fowler, made by Todd Bitler, is part of the 2010 CLA live auction at the annual meeting in Lexington, Kentucky, on Friday, August 20th. You can contact Todd at www.nativeworkshop.com

This St. Etienne type-D fusil, made by Rich Dillon, is part of the 2010 CLA live auction at the annual meeting in Lexington, Kentucky, on Friday, August 20th. You can contact Rich at www.dillonsflintlocks.com

Bill Scurlock

Barnett Northwest Gun by Cam Pitkethley

This early Northwest Company trade gun, made by Canadian builder, Cam Pitkethley, is part of the 2010 CLA live auction at the annual meeting in Lexington, Kentucky, on Friday, August 20th. You can contact Cam by calling 705-674-9588.


Bill Scurlock

This "Chief Tammany" powder horn, made by Art DeCamp, is part of the 2010 CLA live auction at the annual meeting in Lexington, Kentucky, on Friday, August 20th. This is a screw-tip horn decorated with lead oxide. You can contact Art at www.artspowderhorns.com


Bill Scurlock

Ken Gahagan's Cartouche Knife

This filigree-handled cartouche knife, made by Ken Gahagan, is part of the 2010 CLA live auction at the annual meeting in Lexington, Kentucky, on Friday, August 20th. You can contact Ken at kgahagan4@gmail.com


Bill Scurlock

Roland Cadle's "Warriors" Horn

This Philadephia-style, screw-tip powder horn, made by Roland Cadle, is part of the 2010 CLA live auction at the annual meeting in Lexington, Kentucky, on Friday, August 20th. You can contact Roland at www.villagerestorations.com

Bill Scurlock

Chief Paugus horn by John Proud

A powder horn made by John Proud is part of the 2010 CLA live auction at the annual meeting in Lexington, Kentucky, on Friday, August 20th. You can contact John at www.jproud1@twcny.rr.com

Rocky Mountain National Rendezvous

I've been away for a few days at the RMNR near Creede, Colorado. It was a beautiful site with a lot a great people. Saw many old friends and met a number of new ones. Since I was camped in the short-term camp, I carried some trade goods and magazines up the hill to Jason Gatliff's camp. Jason was gracious enough to share his shade and his chairs with me. Jason publishes On the Trail magazine, a magazine that is mostly for those who participate in frontier living history, both Colonial and Western. It's a good magazine, and you may want to check it out at www.ottmagazine.com.

As soon as I can, I will continue posting the images of the items in this year's CLA auction.

Bill Scurlock

Both of these beaded items made by Diane and David Chambers are separate items in the 2010 CLA live auction at the annual meeting in Lexington, Kentucky, on Friday, August 20th.

Contact David and Diane at the CLA show.

Bill Scurlock

Mike Small Horn - Tom Conde Sash

This powder horn by Mike Small with a fingerwoven strap by Tom Conde are part of the 2010 CLA live auction at the annual meeting in Lexington, Kentucky, on Friday, August 20th. You can contact Mike at www.mspowderhorns.com and Tom at www.condetrading.com

Bill Scurlock

David Hughes Silver Gorget

This rare silver shell gorget by David Hughes is part of the 2010 CLA live auction at the annual meeting in Lexington, Kentucky, on Friday, August 20th. You can contact David at dhughes@consolidated.net

Bill Scurlock

Silver Brooch by Joe Valentin

Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be posting the items that will be in the 2010 live auction at the CLA Annual Meeting and Show on Friday, August 20th at 4:00 pm. An article about these items and the makers is in the July/August issue of MUZZLELOADER.

Joe Valentin's phone number is 989-635-4177.

Bill Scurlock

Pulling a Ball

I had an event last week that allowed me to test part of a new tool that I'm reviewing, as well as a previously reviewed item. These items are the Gunner's Mate by Dave Crisalli and the Virtually Indestructible Ramrod by Rob Brandt.

A friend came by the office and brought a rifle that had a stuck ball. He hadn't used the rifle for 2 or 3 years, ever since he had stuck the ball. Didn't know if it was loaded or not, but the darn thing was dirty when he put it up. So I got the V.I. Ramrod and the ball screw off of the Gunner's Mate, and went to work. Had to put some oil down the bore to finally get the ball moving. When I pulled it out, it was an obviously oversized bare lead ball. Knowing this guy who brought it in, I was not surprised.

Anyhow, the ball screw really took a bite into the ball, which was necessary give the circumstances. And the V.I. rod was great. I had to place the rod in a vise to pull against. I think that a regular rod would have been torn up. The V.I. rod is a wooden rod, so it still looks great, but it has a steel core that keeps it from coming apart. I've used it frequently in the years since I got it.

The website for the ramrod is: www.periodramrod.com and David's email is decrisalli@gmail.com

Bill Scurlock