There will be more information in the December Muzzle Blasts and (soon) on the NMLRA web site but for now here is a list of the 2012 class offerings:
3-Day Classes ($350 plus materials) from 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday May 30th to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday June 2nd.
Traditional Barrel Rifling, Loops and Sights – George Suiter – New for 2012
This class is designed to enable participants to rifle a smooth bore barrel using a rifling bench and traditional tools and materials. A standard 54 caliber swamped barrel will be selected for the project. In addition, participants will prepare barrel loops and sights and fit them to the barrel. Modifications will be made to the tang of the breach plug according to period practice found on originals.
Class size will be limited to 8. Approximate cost $250.
Silver Wire Inlay – Mark Silver – New for 2012
This class will explore a variety of types of silver and brass wire inlay appropriate for American longrifles and European arms. Students will make a simple set of two tools for inlaying the wire, and provided a good introduction to heat treating for beginning students. Stock preparation, scraping and finishing issues will be covered. This class is intended for both beginning and more advanced makers. Those with prior experience will, in consultation with the instructor, create a project suited to their interests. Participants will have the choice of using a “Quaker stock”, perhaps from a previous class, or inexpensive practice pieces of maple.
Class size will be limited to 8. Approximate cost $60 to cover wood, inlay and tool making materials for the class.
Making a Hunting Shirt of the Period – Eve Otmar – New for 2012
This class covers all the steps in making a traditional open linen hunting shirt by hand. This covers measuring and creating a pattern for the hunting shirt and then cutting and assembling all the pieces. Period correct stitches will be taught as well as different techniques in making and applying fringe. Depending on the student skill levels, some may not finish their hunting shirts, but all the basic steps will be demonstrated and practiced.
The class also includes three lectures. The first is the use and techniques of natural dyes on linen fabric using period dye materials and techniques with time spent on hunting shirt color ways. The second lecture covers the various ways in which the hunting shirt may be tied closed. We will examine finger weaving, loomed and other materials. The third lecture will be given by Wallace Gusler. Wallace will deal with the possible origins of the fringed hunting shirt and the evolution of rifleman’s dress on the frontier and in the back country from the 1750’s to the early Revolutionary War Period.
Class will be limited to 8. Approximate cost $125 for materials. All skill levels welcome.
6-Day Classes ($680 plus materials) begin at 8:00 a.m. Sunday, June 3rd and ends about 1:00 p.m. Friday, June 8th.
Finish What you Started – Bob Elka & Joe Valentin
Returning from 2008! This class provides former seminar students with the opportunity to have Bob and Joe help them complete, or at least make a lot of progress toward completing any rifle, fowler, Jaeger or pistol that was started in any previous class at the NMLRA Gunsmithing Seminar. We know there are projects out there collecting dust. Now there is no excuse, so dig it out of your closet and get to work!
Class will be limited to 8. Material fee: None.
Engraving – Beginning and Intermediate – Mark Silver – New for 2012
This course is meant for the student with little or no engraving experience who wants to improve their understanding of and ability to execute, the styles of engraving used on American longrifles and fowlers. It is also for those who have already had at least one course in engraving and wish to work with British or continental styles.
The class will explore the elements used on patchboxes, side plates and mounts, including types of borders, scrolls, volutes, and leafage. Most of the class time will be spent in intensive practice repeating the basic elements of these types of engraving. Intermediate students will be introduced to and practice lettering of various styles, and the engraving forms found on sporting arms from British and Europe, including, if they wish, relief chiseling of sculpted foliage and borders.
Class limited to 8. Approximate cost $25 for materials.
Longrifle Relief and Incised Carving – Jim Kibler
Participants taking this class will be introduced to process and techniques used in creating traditional longrifle carving. Subjects covered will include tool selection and sharpening, carving design and execution. The various techniques used in producing both incised and relief carving will be the course focus. Participants will perform carving on provided “Quaker” practice stocks which can be kept by the student to serve as a guide for future reference and carving projects.
Class limited to 8. Approximate cost $75 for materials.
9-Day Classes ($1,010 plus materials) from 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday May, 30th to 1:00 p.m. June 8th.
Stocking an American or English Pistol – Jim Chambers – New for 2012
In this class participants will have the choice of stocking one of several styles of pistols. I have parts available for a 13 inch long swamped barrel American style pistol that would be great for hunting or a 9 or 10 inch octagon-to-round American or English pistol. Lock choice will be either the small Siler of the Queen Anne Pistol lock. Hardware can be either brass of steel. Wood choice can be curly maple, birds eye maple, or American or English walnut. The class will include inletting the barrel, lock and other parts and shaping the pistol to form.
Class limited to 8. Approximate cost $350 for materials.
Stocking a French and Indian War Rifle Gun – Wallace Gusler – New for 2012
This early rifle has a curly maple stock in the form of an Indian trade gun of the mid -18th century. It is a composite rifle with salvaged Dutch lock and English trade gun mountings. It is pictured in Shumway, Rifles of Colonial America, Volume II, pages 606 to 609, rifle #142. Shumway wrote a very short description in 1980. Much has been learned about this rifles make-up since then and it is the subject of two articles that will be published in MuzzleBlasts in the near future. The original will be in the class for study to insure the best detail. The barrel and lock will be removed for examination.
Students will need to purchase all the parts of which some will require alteration done in class or in advance as per direction from Wallace. As in previous classes, Ed Rayl will produce the barrel from inch by inch measurements of the original. Wallace will provide measured drawings of loops, sights, stock profile and mounting details two weeks after the registration deadline. Participants will need to come to class with the barrel inlet and the ramrod hole drilled.
Class limited to 8. Approximate cost $900 for materials.
Stocking a Germanic-Dutch Blunderbuss – Ronald Scott – New for 2012
In this class participants will build an early Continental Blunderbuss using investment cast mounts from an original Dutch Fowler and lock from Jim Chambers 2010 class. A custom profiled 21 inch barrel by Ed Rayl will be inlet into a European Walnut stock. In addition to general construction techniques, a study of early European arms architecture will be covered. This project is somewhat less ornate than previous European flintlock courses and should be in the skill range of most participants having basic stocking experience.
Class limited to 8. Approximate cost $600 for materials. Premium grade stock blanks are available at an additional cost.
Stocking an 18th Century Verner Rifle – Jack Brooks – New for 2012
Participants will be stocking a rifle in the style of Andrew Verner of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Using Photographs, measured drawing, and castings from an unpublished, original Verner rifle as well as a rifle by Jack, students will learn the architecture and construction details of this old master. Stocks will be pre-inlet for the swamped barrel and the ramrod hole already drilled. Jack will teach his geometric method of stock shaping to reproduce this graceful rifle.
Class limited to 8. Approximate cost $900 for materials.
