Ian Pratt on iron mounted rifles, working collaboratively, and passing along the craft

Photo courtesy of the Ian Pratt on Instagram

Photo courtesy of the Ian Pratt on Instagram

In this episode, talk with contemporary craftsman Ian Pratt. Ian has spent the better part of the last 20 years building iron mounted long rifles.

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As a younger man, Ian saved up enough money and took some time off work to attend the NMLRA / WKU Seminar to learn Lock Building from Jim Chambers. During any break in the class, Ian would run across the hall to catch bits from the House Brothers classes. From there he traveled to their home shop to chat and learn before stepping out to develop his own style of rifle building.

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Photo courtesy of the Ian Pratt on Instagram

Photo courtesy of the Ian Pratt on Instagram

Since taking those classes, Ian and his wife Maryellen have started teaching their own classes in a variety of locations. Both Ian and his wife teach classes at the Log Cabin Shop in Lodi Ohio, as well as at Canter's Cave in Southern Ohio with the Southern Ohio Artisans Guild. If you like Ian's work and want to see it in person, you can find him behind a table and in the crowd at several events during the year including the large CLA show in the fall, as well as several other "Mini" CLA Shows through the year.

Links Ian Pratt Discusses in this episode

Follow Ian on Instagram

Washington Hatfield Rifle at RIA

Gunmaker’s Workshop with Ian Pratt and Ken Gahagen

Ian’s profile at Southern Ohio Artisans

Kentucky Rifle Foundation Scholarship

Find out more about the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association at our website - NMLRA.org

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