Jeff Luke sent us several photos of his latest pouch, a donation to the NMLRA Gunmaker’s Hall ADA Longrifle Set Auction. Read about Jeff’s fine contribution below.
My contribution to the ADA project is a Virginia style, divided shot pouch. I started with a gorgeous bark tan deer hide from Larry Callahan. The pouch is roughly 8"×8.5" and has a small pocket stitched onto the divider, which also serves a the welt for the side seams. The 1" strap was cut from 5-6oz vegetable tan cowhide, has an edge groove treatment and is adjustable by means of a brass button on the rear of the pouch body. The flap has a folk art hex symbol and edge detail burned in, a slight Pennsylvania twist on the simplistic Virginia pouch design, common in the region at the time.
Jeff Luke has contributed his lovely work to the NMLRA for several years now, we can’t thank him enough for his effort and support.
This month I want to talk about some of the amazing prizes that we have for the 2022 Gunmaker’s Hall Giveaway. Jeff Luke has been making some of the finest hunting pouches you can find. He is a stickler for historically accurate work. He gave me a description of the pouch he made for us in a recent conversation. Jeff explained it like this.
We have two fine flintlock arms this year by Larry Horrigan and Malchiah Pifer, along with some fantastic horn work by Orville Mumma and a really nice shooting bag by Jeff Luke. More prizes will follow.
Any way that works for you is the best way. There is no one method that is correct.” (Clay Smith)
Part I of this series presented alternatives for solving one of the most vexing problems in the making of a muzzleloading pistol”: “There is little difference between making a rifle and making a pistol-except: how does a smith hang onto a pistol stock while working on it?”
First published in 1985, this series provides a scholarly approach to understanding the technologies which have comprised the gunmaking trade since its inception.
Making muzzleloading pistols is a much-maligned craft. “To a gunsmith, Kentucky pistols leave a lot to be desired. Pistol making is time-consuming and challenges all of the skills required to make a good rifle. A barrel, breech plug, and lock have to be inletted. Triggers, thimbles, nose cap, butt cap, side plate, bolts, screws, sights, ramrod, and stock all have to be created just as they must for a longrifle. To be of use, the hardware has to be of rifle quality.