I Love Muzzleloading

I was asked to give a presentation at the 2023 Kalamazoo Living History Show about the work I’m doing to grow the community and instill a passion for history in future generations.

Click here to view the Video Presentation

Click here to read/view the Presentation

All my life I’ve heard that this community is dying, together we can make sure that never happens.

Since I Love Muzzleloading started, I’ve had a lot of great conversations with people inside the muzzleloading/living history community and outside our community. These conversations have and will continue to fuel this kind of study for me because I’m interested in it.

This presentation and the accompanying Q&A session are designed to help you help the community. I want to give you the tools and some ideas to start thinking about so you can act to preserve this history and this culture that we all hold so dear.

The full presentation, outline, and video are listed below. The entirety of the Q&A is available as a separate audio presentation.

As always, this is my opinion and not meant to be a statement on right or wrong, good or bad. This is an ongoing conversation. Please let me know what you think, or how you feel about it anytime by writing or talking to me at an event.

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On March 4, 2023 I was a guest on the 11 Bang Bang show hosted by Ethan Woods. The 2.5-hour live show was full of great conversation, questions, and all-around good times. If you enjoyed these selected clips, you'll want to check out the full show.

I'd like to thank our sponsors for their support:

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T.C. Albert designs and reproduces authentically crafted hunting pouches in a variety of traditional styles, often using measured patterns taken directly from original pouches in his "jury quality" re-creations.

T.C. will also accept pouch restoration/conservation work, and consignments for copies of specific documented originals or special one of a kind custom designs. Completely equipped bag, horn and knife sets are also available.

He is the author of the book "Recreating The 18th Century Hunting Pouch," , and is a staff writer for Muzzle Loader magazine, writing the "Do'in it Yourself" column...T.C. lives and works in the historic "Illinois River Valley" near legendary Starved Rock. (References and current available pieces sent upon request.)

Boone’s Pouch & Horn Set by Tim Crosby and TC Albert - https://www.contemporarylongriflefoundation.org/fundraising/2013-fundraising/daniel-boones-longhunters-pouch-horn-set-by-tim-crosby-tim-albert/

TC's work on the Contemporary Makers Blog:

http://contemporarymakers.blogspot.com/search/label/T.C.%20Albert

http://contemporarymakers.blogspot.com/

TC’s profile on the Contemporary Longrifle Association = https://www.longrifle.com/all-artisans/entry/1252/

TC’s influence as a boy: “The Great Adventure” by Janice Holt Giles.

Mink Oil - Hit or miss

Lanolin products

Lexall - Comes from the car restoration world

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Today we're talking with 18th century artist and knifemaker Steve Auvenshine about his history in muzzleloading and how his life as a Kentucky state trooper started him down a muzzleloading path that started with a CVA kit and lead to Hollywood production. Steve is credited for 13 movies/tv shows, including 1923, Pale Blue Eye, Jurassic World, and Crossbones with one more on the way. You've seen his work hanging from the belts of Chris Pratt and the Rock and he's quite possibly cleaned the most muzzleloaders featured on the silver screen.

I'd like to thank our sponsors for their support:

• ThorBullets - Visit ThorBullets.com to learn more.
• Muzzleloader Magazine - Visit MuzzleloaderMagazine.com to learn more

Get your own "I Love Muzzleloading" Hat here

Click here to SUBSCRIBE

The Jumanji Knife: https://blademag.com/tv-and-movie-knives/knife-jumanji-welcome-jungle

The Jurassic World Knife; https://www.kentucky.com/entertainment/movies-news-reviews/article263243223.html?fs=e&s=cl

Steve's IMDB Page with a list of all the productions he's been involved with: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2935660/

Follow Steve Auvenshine's work:

https://www.facebook.com/auvenshine/

https://www.instagram.com/auvenshine_knives/

American Bladesmith Society (ABS): https://www.americanbladesmith.org/

Conversation Time Stamps:

0:25 Steve's start in Muzzleloading

9:48 Early Artistic Research

18:35 Steve Auvenshine's Independent Work Process

14:30 Artistic Principles in Knifemaking

28:00 Making a Bowie knife for Duane "The Rock" Johnson

37:45 Making a knife for Sir Patrick Stewart on "Piccard"

45:20 From Kentucky Trooper to Knife Maker/ First Hollywood Job "Master and Commander"

57:18 Armorer on Netflix's Pale Blue Eye

01:00:00 Historic Accuracy in Hollywood

01:10:00 Classes and Education Opportunities

01:11:47 Where to find Steve's work

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Today we're talking with Frank Jarboe, a Kentucky boy turn theologian turned character demonstrator about his passion for history, research, and the context of history both then and now.

I'd like to thank our sponsors for their support:

• ThorBullets - Visit ThorBullets.com to learn more.
• Muzzleloader Magazine - Visit MuzzleloaderMagazine.com to learn more

Get your own "I Love Muzzleloading" Hat here

Click here to SUBSCRIBE

Frank has been dedicated to living history for 20 years, but before that, he was a passionate learner and lover of history. His family has been in the United States since the 1600s, so there is a personal motive to his study of history and he hopes to bring a similar connection to the public as he and his wife Carol share their many character demonstrations at 40+ events each year.

View some of the Jarboe's work on their youtube channel

ParsonJohn.org

ReenactingSchedule.org

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Muzzleloading is leaving 2022 with a bang, not a whimper. We’re back with the final “Muzzleloading News” update for the year and it’s a jam-packed episode.

Learn more about these stories here

Swiss Contest- https://schuetzenpowder.com/contest/

I'd like to thank our sponsors for their support:

• ThorBullets - Visit ThorBullets.com to learn more.
• Muzzleloader Magazine - Visit MuzzleloaderMagazine.com to learn more

Get your own "I Love Muzzleloading" Hat here

Click here to SUBSCRIBE

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Today we're talking with Contemporary Master Horner Art DeCamp. Art's work has been an inspiration to me and my historic research for several years. His books are second to none in their accurate documentation and assessment of original horns and I'm excited to be sharing his story with you today.

While Art is considered one of the best craftsmen of the contemporary age, he had humbled beginnings as a young boy in Indiana. His father was a firearms appreciator and Art followed suit, continuing a family appreciation of historic arms. The DeCamp family home was near Fort Ouiatenon in Lafayette, Indiana, home of the "Feast of the Hunters Moon", a massive long running living history event. As Art puts it, "It was hard for me to get away from history." In second grade, Art brought a filled powder horn to his 2nd Grade show and tell the program, even at that young age he couldn't help but share his appreciation for historic works of art. As a young man Art dove deeper into muzzleloading culture by building an off-the-shelf muzzleloader kit. The experience got him started but Art was looking for more, the kit wasn't shaped right, the components weren't beautiful, and things weren't adding up. With the help of several dedicated family friends, Art took to building his own muzzleloaders "from the blank" with sets of parts, diagrams, and illustrations of original pieces as his reference.

For years Art would balance his job, his family, and his appreciation for historic crafts. "As a parent, I worked a lot in the evenings after the kids went to bed", Art says, "I thought it would change once they were grown but I still find myself working into the night!". Art is a very jovial guy, even as we reminisce about his time on the road driving a couple of thousand miles round trip to see some original pieces at the KRA shows he laughs, "I don't know how you explain driving 2300 miles round trip to go look at some old guns." As a young man with a young family, I appreciate Art's openness and honesty about including his family in his passion, "A time comes when you have to put your kids first and that's important". If you find yourself in a similar situation, you'll enjoy the insights and commentary Art has on not only being an artist but a father and husband as well.

Like many others, our conversation ebbed and flowed as the evening progressed. From Art's history to his thoughts on the contemporary community, we covered a broad range of topics, but towards the end, we settled on one topic I think is important to hear discussed from an artist of Art's caliber- Getting started and getting better. Art's advice for someone looking to make traditional accoutrements echos a positive montra I love hearing from contemporary masters, "Don't be bashful, reach out and ask for help."

Art DeCamp has been building muzzle loading rifles and powder horns since 1980, and specializes in replicating the Kentucky rifles, and shop-made screw-tip horns of Pennsylvania. His horn making is concentrated on the lathe-turned, screw-tip type horns from the various “schools” of eastern Pennsylvania, and accurate replication of Tansel style engraved horn work from central Indiana. Much of his horn working time is spent performing historically accurate museum quality restoration work on original powder horns.

Follow Art's work on his website http://www.artspowderhorns.com/

The last of Art's Books can be found here: https://www.crazycrow.com/powderhorns-and-accouterments-books/pennsylvania-horns-of-the-trade/

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Today we’re talking with friend of the program Eddie Davenport about his recent adventure to Montana to star in the History Channel’s Mountain Men: Ultimate Marksman. Eddie has won multiple national titles through the N-SSA but this was by far the most intense competition he’s been in.

I'd like to thank our sponsors for their support:

• ThorBullets - Visit ThorBullets.com to learn more.
• Muzzleloader Magazine - Visit MuzzleloaderMagazine.com to learn more

Get your own "I Love Muzzleloading" Hat here

Click here to SUBSCRIBE

For contacting Eddie

Instagram Currituck_Kid.

“Mountain Men: Ultimate Marksman” premiering Thursday, November 3 at 9:30/8:30c on The HISTORY Channel

“Mountain Men: Ultimate Marksman” tests skilled weapons experts like never before –from using a bow and arrow to hit bullseyes while balancing in a moving river to firing historic rifles through a 12-foot wall of fire. The series incorporates fascinating facts about American history with explaining how weapons were made for successful survival for living off the land. Each weekly, one-hour episode brings together four talented competitors to a ranch in Montana as they strive to become the “Ultimate Marksman,”a title achieved only by completing three rounds of precision-based challenges. Each competitor must use a different centuries-old weapon and technique to effectively hit targets. The challenges also present a unique twist requiring competitors to move through the landscape in a way that only mountain men and women would. At the end of the third and final round, the marksman or markswoman with the highest total points earns the coveted title and walks away with a grand prize of $10,000.

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Simeon England is a nationally recognized craftsman, blacksmith, gunsmith, bladesmith, from South Central Kentucky specializing in 18th century hand forged tomahawks, flintlock rifles, and hand forged blades.

I met up with Simeon at the 2022 Contemporary Longrifle Association show. Simeon displays his work at this show and talked me into handling several of the ahwks he had on display. Instantly I recognized a difference in how it handled compared to my ‘throwing’ tomahawk. This sparked a nearly hour long discussion about the form and function of original tomahawks. Much like many of the tools of the 18th century, tomahawks had their own special use and it was evident Simeon had not only done the research, but was excited to share it openly.

I'd like to thank our sponsors for their support:

• ThorBullets - Visit ThorBullets.com to learn more.
• Muzzleloader Magazine - Visit MuzzleloaderMagazine.com to learn more

Get your own "I Love Muzzleloading" Hat here

Click here to SUBSCRIBE

Resources for newcomers:

Practical Blacksmithing volume 1-4

Jim Wright, American Pioneer Video

The Art of Blacksmithing —-

[email protected]

https://www.facebook.com/simeon.england

https://www.instagram.com/simeonengland/

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Today we’re talking with Mike Judson, a living historian with an appreciation for the history of the Northwest Territories and what would become Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Michigan. Mike has spent time in the American mid west and mid south and has worked to find and enjoy the history of any place he visits. At the age of nine he began shooting with his family, this interest began to foster his appreciation of history at a young age. Even now, many years later history is a big part of Mike’s life.

I'd like to thank our sponsors for their support:

• ThorBullets - Visit ThorBullets.com to learn more.
• Muzzleloader Magazine - Visit MuzzleloaderMagazine.com to learn more

Get your own "I Love Muzzleloading" Hat here

Click here to SUBSCRIBE

Like many in muzzleloading, Mike has seen the continued cultural changes in the United States and worries about what it means for the future of a hobby he’s been involved with for decades. While chatting we talk about several events that no longer exist, whether affected by the economy or a dissolving patron base, we’re seeing a number of events go away, and with them, staples of local history.

You could say this concern over the future of not only the Five Medals event but the livelihood of Mike’s friends who depend on these events to support their families has spurred another change in Mike’s living history journey. In recent years Mike has begun to think about the future and how he can support an incoming generation of enthusiasts so that someday he may pass the reins and see them carried forward.

I wanted to talk to Mike because I’ve seen that very desire, the desire to see this continue in my interactions with him. I’ve known Mike since I was a boy and he’s been a great friend to me in my own living history journey. He’s provided resources and keywords I use in my own research and I can’t thank him enough.

This interview is about Mike’s story, but it became more than that, I think. It became the story of a man’s passion through time, changing like the seasons. Each season supports and nurtures the next.

Follow Five Medals Living History online at https://www.facebook.com/Five-Medals-at-The-Trace-103932441259144 

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