2^nd Annual West Coast Horn Fair

April 27 & 28, 2012

Veteran’s Hall – Morro Bay, CA

• Hands on Demonstrations  and  Interesting Seminars
• Display Tables
• Blank Horns, Finished Horns and Supplies for Sale
• Books
• Steve Vance – Guest Speaker
• Raffles and Prizes
• Santa Maria Tri Tip Roast Banquet on Saturday night

For more information go to www.westcoasthornfair.com

Presented by Powderhorns and More, Inc.

P O Box 1922 – Morro Bay, CA  93443

www.powderhornsandmore.com

bigsmoke72@charter.net

805-772-5367

Most of all, this story is told from a blind person’s point of view in a time when there were no advocates for the blind. If one was blind in 18th  Century Philadelphia and not one of “The Fortunate Ones,” life would have been very hard indeed. This story is also about family life and hope.

Mr. Noesner has a unique perspective as a blind person who loves antique weaponry and has worked as a Colonial historic interpreter at Historic Philadelphia. And he makes powder horns.

As mentioned earlier, Fred Noesner is a member of the guild and has been seen making powder horns at Dixon’s Gunmakers Fair and the HCH annual events at Fort Roberdeau and Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

You can find this 281 page soft cover book at various online venues, but I urge you to give Fred a call and ask for an autographed copy. The price is twenty dollars plus postage and worth every penny!

Fred can be reached at (215) 772-1752 (eastern time zone).

Tim and Carla Crosby at 2011 Williamsburg Show.

The Southern Longrifle Association’s Spring Gun Show will be held in Williamsburg, Virginia for its fifth year!

The HCH’s own Freeman Tim Crosby will be demonstrating how to build powder horns. Here Mr. Crosby is shown with his wife, Carla, who is a certified decorative artist. Mr. and Mrs. Crosby were at last year’s show and had nicely displayed handcrafted items, including banded horns and tole painted items.

This weekend format works for those who cannot take-off work or have other weekday commitments. The line-up for the instructors is impressive. Bob Albrecht Master Horner, Frank Willis Journeyman Horner and Freeman Bob Chattin will be leading the classes.

You must register to attend. >>Here is the link.>>

The HCH’s own Master Horners, Roland Cadle and Art DeCamp, will be giving an intermediate class  on horn building April 13-14, 2012 in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania.

>>Here is a link to their flyer and registration form.<<

Freeman Mark Ewing examining Mark Thomas' (seated) horn work.

It is always nice to see a loyal HCH member get his due in a national publication.  John Hayes crafted an excellent article on Mark Thomas for the December 2011 issue of Muzzle Blasts (the official publication of National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association). I read it twice and gave Mr. Thomas a phone call.

Our conversation was a little meandering… Shakerism, religion in America and England in the 18th Century, modern knife making and powder horn work. This was just in the first ten minutes! It always fun to speak with Mr. Thomas. I did ask him why he seems kind of dour in all of the published pictures of of him. He replied, “Those are the ones I have.” Well here is a picture I took at the Southern Arms and Crafts Show this year. Hopefully, it shows a artisan with a sense of humor as big as his talent.

By the way, his horn coloration is not a secret. He soaks his horns in bath of walnut and butternut hulls with osage orange sawdust. Sometimes he will hit a horn with a Bivins walnut stain if the horn needs a little something.

Please enjoy these pictures of some of Mark Thomas’ work. Every piece has some element of horn work.

Thanks for reading,

Rick Sheets

Here are some links to things mentioned in this blog post:

Southern Arms and Crafts Show (Williamsburg, VA).

The National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association.

Mark Thomas, Craftsman to the Past.

[Show as slideshow]

The Jacobsburg Historical Society is pleased to announce that Richard Hujsa will be the Keynote Speaker at their Annual meeting. Rich has been a member of the HCH for several years.

 A lifelong student of Early American rifles made in Southeastern Pennsylvania, Rich is widely known among collectors, scholars, builders, restorers, and shooters of these guns. He has built many Flintlock rifles and restored countless originals. Many years ago, Rich had an idea of starting a Gun Makers Fair. Chuck Dixon was approached and they decided to hold a one time event. 29 years later, Rich Hujsa is still in charge of the Gun Builders competition!

 A life long Deer Hunter and a passionate Turkey Hunter, he has taken many with his Flintlock Rifle and smoothbore guns.

 The membership of the Jacobsburg Historical Society is in for a real treat on November 10^th.

- Frank Willis (JH)

Rich Hujsa takes a deer with a rifle of his making.

2011 Dixon's HCH Winners. Back row, left to right: Billy Griner, Bob Albrecht (sunglasses on hat). Middle row, left to right: Bill Legdon, Hoyt Masterson (with pouch), Chuck Brownewell Jr., David Rase, John Bolton (on end). Front row, left to right: David Belzer, Eddie McDilda, Jeff Bibb.

Please enjoy these pictures from the 2011 Dixon’s Gunmakers Fair at Kempton, Pennsylvania and our dinner at the Boulton Historic Site. The Honourable Company of Horners had a huge presence and all had a lot of fun to say the least. Our membership dominated the accoutrement judging and we had two junior members, David Belzer and Eddie McDilda, give a great showing with some pretty sophisticated horns.

Tom Ames breaks the tie- to a draw. Jeff Bibb looks on with amusement.

Our annual dinner looked like it might be rained out, but thanks to the tents and a break in the weather the dinner went ahead as planned. We had a wonderful ox roast, Italian and other dishes for our annual dinner  at the Boulton Historic Site at Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Thanks to the good work and panning by Frank Willis (MH)  and the site’s director Lyndsey Brown Frigm (and staff) all went on without a hitch.

www.jacobsburg.org

The Battle of the Titans vote came to a close in a tie. And a breathtaking tiebreaker that resulted in a draw. Team Roland and Team Billy were both gracious winners and perplexed losers at the same time. Those in attendance thoroughly enjoyed  the battle of the southern bag and horn. It seems with the HCH there are only winners and this is one more example!

If you did not make it to Dixon’s and Boulton Historic Site this year, be sure to go next year.

We will have the additions to the Journeyman roll in a future issue of The Horn Book.

Regards,
Rick Sheets

Jeff Bibb's Blowing Horn Wins the 2011 Madison Grant Award.

The Cowboys visit with Master Horner John Proud.

Master Horner Wild Willy Frankfort inspects possible new Journeyman work.

Art DeCamp and Mitch Yates caught hiding behind Allen Martin's display.

Two HCH members, Jay Hopkins and Nick Powers will be speaking on Southern Powder Horns at the Museum of Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA) in Old Salem, NC. Mr. Wallace Gusler will be speaking on Virginia Gunsmiths.

We will have a strong showing from the HCH members from the southeast, but it would be great if we could pack the place with HCH members from all over!   A visit to the well-maintained Moravian town and MESDA is worth the trip alone. You must register and there is a cost to come to the program. Links are at the bottom of this posting.

Regards,
Rick Sheets