This article was transcribed from a video interview with Jeff. You can see the video with more information here
I got started in leatherwork about 12 years ago. Started off doing motorcycle seats, bags and so forth. I had a pretty good run but I just wasn’t passionate about it.Then I kind of fell into the affliction of being a part of the muzzleloading scene. I started buy and building muzzleloaders, and trying to figure out how I could take that leather and make it fit. I started doing bags, knife sheaths, flint wallets and really enjoyed it. I started researching the history of it and so fourth and now about 3 or 4 years later we’re going to be doing a class at the NMLRA Education Building in Friendship, Indiana.
Jeff Luke of Po Boy Gear
We’re going to talk about the history of hunting/shooting bags, talk about the differences between those and say a possibles bag/haversack. Then we’ll go through and build a bag!
It’s basically kind of a no frills bag, kind of bag you might have seen in the 18th century on a frontiersman all across the country here as we were expanding west. We’ll start off with veg tanned leather, some thread, and a little time and patience and we’ll end up with a finished bag.
This first class will be capped at 10 students, we might do a second one depending on the response of this first round and the outcome.
Students don’t need to know anything about leatherworking whatsoever before taking the class. This will be an absolutely basic course for anyone with no knowledge or with a little. I’ll be doing some of the work for you, cutting out the main pieces. We’re going to let the students cut out their own choice of flap.Then we will go through the dying process with a few options of color there as well. We’re hoping that beginners as well as students with some experience can all enjoy the class and learn something new.
If you’d like to see more of my work, you can look me up on facebook. I have a page “PoBoy Gear” where you can catch up with what I’m doing and what keeps me out of trouble.
This is something I’m really looking forward to. I spend a lot of time on leatherwork, trying to refine the craft and improve with every piece I do. I thoroughly enjoy it.
I’d like to thank the NMLRA for what they are doing to promote this hobby, this passion, this history, I think that is an important thing as we move forward and I appreciate all the work they are doing.
2019 National Championship Rifle Line Winners. Mary Emilia Taylor won the Crosley Cup with 50-2x
NMLRA President Brent Steele speaking at the Rifle Line awards.
If you have anymore photos of the rifle line awards, please send them to eyazel@nmlra.org for them to be included on the site. Thank you.
We had near record turn out this past week at the NMLRA Woodswalk range! Thank you, Trent and Robin Wren for working hard before, during, and after the national championships to prepare the range and keep it running smoothly and safely.
Trent and Robin shared these photos all through the championships to keep us informed of all the great marksmen coming through the range.
We’d like to thank all of our sporting clays competitors for participating in our 2019 National Championships. From what I hear, the flintlock matches were quite frustrating this year with the dry weather!
Thank you NMLRA Vice President Jeff Cunningham for snapping these pictures from the Sporting Clays Awards. In the red hat on the left, we have newly elected NMLRA President Brent Steele, and on the right, Sporting Clays Chief Range Officer Alan Hoeweler.
Brent Steele, Adina Cloud, Alan Hoeweler
Brent Steele, John Kemple
Gene Thurston, Alan Hoeweler
Brent Steele, Hal Carmichael, Alan Hoeweler
Brent Steele, Harry Sparks, Alan Hoeweler
Harry Sparks, Alan Hoeweler
Brent Steele, John Kemple
Brent Steele, Judy Coates, Alan Hoeweler
Brent Steele, Kathy Alford, Alan Hoeweler
Brent Steele, Larry Kershner, Alan Hoeweler
Brent Steele, Les Elliot, Alan Hoeweler
Brent Steele, Mike Franklin, Alan Hoeweler
Brent Steele, Ronny White, Alan Hoeweler
Reenactors and attendees alike had beautiful weather this past weekend at Kohkohmah and Foster near Kokomo, Indiana!
On Friday the event had almost 1800 school children attend, we love seeing events like Kohkohmah work hard to bring in children and give them first-hand learning experiences!
Photo by Robin Auth
Congratulations to Bob Auth and Pat Scott for another wonderful event!
To find out more about the event, check out their website, facebook page, and facebook group!
KohKohMah is not in any way affiliated with the NMLRA, our coverage of this event is voluntary in nature to spread our love of living history here at the NMLRA.
All committee members contact information can be found under the “Contact” tab on the NMLRA website. All board and executive committee positions are volunteer. While members do their best to answer emails and calls, it may take some time for them to get back to each message.
A Special thank you to Robert Frist for sharing these photos with us on Facebook. It’s hard for us to get photos of everything, members like Robert make our jobs a lot easier. Thank you Robert!
We are working on getting scores from the National Championships up as soon as possible, thank you for your patience.
We had another wonderful day here at the 2019 National Championships. The weather was slightly cloudy with sun all day. A slight breeze kept attendees cool, but was not enough to affect the marksmen on the line.
Today was a wonderful day for catching up with several pieces of living NMLRA history.
The NMLRA Media team worked with families and friends of several 95 year old members who have been around for many years to sit down and document some of their history here at the range.
The Pole Cat Porter exhibit in the Rand House Museum has been very well received by our attendees, we are excited to be sharing in the near future.
We had a hustling first Saturday here at the 2019 National Championships! Traffic was backed up on 62, we heard reports it took 2 hours to get through the tiny town of Friendship, Indiana this afternoon.
Shooters, craftsmen, and living history reenactors filled the NMLRA grounds today to share the history and hobbies we all love.
We’re excited to be launching a new variety of shoot merchandise this September. We have our normal two colored shirts, as well as a new hoodie, a sweatshirt, hats and pins! Be sure to stop by the NMLRA Merchandise booth early, these new designs won’t last long!
We’re excited to see the grounds filling up with camps, marksmen, families and craftsmen today. NMLRA Media spent some time walking through the living history grounds this afternoon.
We’re posting through the day on our social media. Follow us as @NMLRA on facebook and @muzzleblasts on instagram to see stories and photos throughout the days.
Be sure to tag us on social media to be featured on the site and NMLRA social media!
The 2019 National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association (NMLRA) All 1,000 yards Black Powder Target Rifle Match will be held at Camp Atterbury, IN., on 14-15 September 2019.
Shooting is at 1,000 yards. Permitted rifles: Any safe original or reproduction traditional muzzle loading style of firearms fired from the shoulder in the mid - late 1800’s era of International Rifle Matches or breech loading single shot rifle chambered in an original black powder cartridge.
Targets are 6’ high by 10’ wide. New NMLRA records will be established for these size targets for both muzzle loading and cartridge rifles.
