On August 8-10 the Montana Historical Gunmakers Guild Gunmaker's Fair took place in Bozeman. We had a good turn out and as usual a number of excellent presentations.
The Washington Guild was well represented.
Here Dave Rase and Steve Baima are showing us how to draw and erase at the same time (well not really but it was too good to pass up
)
Mark Morain kept a number of members busy cutting out and sewing in his Shooting/Hunting Pouch class.
Dave Peelgren did an excellent talk on hidden hinge patch boxes and making sets of identical escutcheons.
Dave Rase did a power point presentation on the importance of the Kentucky Rifle developed by the KRA.
Matt Dennison of NorthStar West did a Barrel Browning explanation and Demo that actually produced brown in 3 days in Montana. Something that we wondered about but he got a break with the relative humidity which sometimes makes rusting difficult RHs under 10 are not unknown here.
Joe Sharber did some velocity testing of vents and breeches in the week before the Fair and while he had limited data it was interesting and as soon as he heals up he will do more testing. Sorry Joe could not resist....
Gary Huber gave a presentation on Scrimshaw and also donated scrimshawed horn that was signed by attendees over the course of the Fair then was drawn for Sunday. It was won by Mike Clark who said he would only sign it if he won it...
Dan Phariss did a presentation on blackpowder and blackpowder ballistics.
Ryan Roberts' (Muzzleloader Builder's Supply) presentation on Lehigh Valley guns was very well done, as is typical of his work.
He also brought a selection of stocks, ramrod blanks and other parts.
Terry Jo Mann, also of MLBS did a class on Body Stress relief and at one time had several members, including Ryan, pushing on trees and laying on the grass. Doing inletting, carving etc does set up a lot of stress in backs and shoulders and she real relief to several patients.
We had a very informative presentation on adhesives by Bill Madden covering various wood glues and epoxies and their strengths and characteristics.
Randy Cochran did another great presentation this year, this time on Southern Hunting Pouches, horns and bag axes.
Dick Weaver did a well received in persona talk on the early fur trade detailing the difficulties with the first attempt to place a post in Three Forks of the Missouri area.
There were numerous others including a long panel presentation by Bruce Benedict, Steve Baima and Dan Phariss on shop made tools and fixtures. Steve explained how he did the layout for his engraving on a pistol side plate as he works toward a pair of brass barreled pistols ala Kuntz.
Dave describing his current project during the "Current Projects" forum.
We should have more photos, but for the inherent laziness of the Guild member doing the videos and such. Modesty prevents my mentioning his name...
Dan
