INTRODUCTION

A full-time designer and fabricator of eighteenth century decorated sporting firearms, working in European and American stylistic traditions. While Rifles compose the majority of my work, Fowlers and Pistols are offered. Accepting commissioned projects with occasional offerings of completed firearms for sale.

Pricing is done on an individual project basis. Prices will range from $4,500 to $9,000 for projects of moderate to high decoration. All materials are of the highest quality and authenticity.

Biography

I am a full-time Gunmaker, specializing in Eighteenth century Firearms. I began constructing Flintlocks in 1975 soon after graduating from Oregon State University and have been producing Firearms professionally since 1978. I am currently a Director of the Contemporary Longrifle Association. One of my Jaeger Rifles was part of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts Exhibition “Three Centuries of Tradition-The Renaissance of Custom Arms Making in America, 1640-1940.” This Flintlock Rifle appears on Page 63 in the Book that accompanied the exhibit. Additional examples of my work appear in a soon-to-be released book on Jaeger Rifles by author Erhard Wolf.

I founded the Oregon Gunmakers Fair in 1991. This annual event was founded to promote Flintlock Gunmaking skills through demonstration and exhibition. Since that modest beginning, the number of participants has grown to about 50. More importantly, the sophistication and quality of exhibited firearms has seen a consistent increase. In addition to teaching at the Gunmakers Fair, I have conduct a weekly class in my workshop. I offer a five day carving workshop twice yearly.

Future Projects

Available for commission 

c. 1720 Pair of Viennese pistols.
This pair will be executed in the style of Felix Meier, Vienna. The architecture will reflect the long Saddle Pistol shape of the period. The mounts are of cast brass, engraved in the deep bold style of Meier. The convex locks are elegantly shaped and engraved in the same style as the mounts. Barrels are 20 ga., beautifully tapered, twelve inches long. Stocked in fancy English walnut with profuse and intricate Baroque carving.
Price $12,000

c. 1730 Germanic Rifle
The design of this Rifle is in progress. It is heavily influenced by patterns of Johann Christoph Weigel. The rifle will be made up in 58-caliber, with a Damascus swamped barrel 28-½ inches long. The stock is a spectacle of exhibition grade burl Madrone. This hardwood is identical in appearance to fruitwood, with golden red color. It is superior in strength, hardness and brightness of figure. The lock, triggers, and all mounts will be hand fabricated. Extensive relief carving of the stock and engraving of metal parts will complete a one of a kind Rifle.
Price $20,000 

c. 1740 Germanic Rifle
This Rifle will be made up in 58-caliber using a 28-½ inch swamped barrel. The stock is presentation grade European Walnut. The mounts are a limited reproduction derived from an original rifle I restored a few years ago. These are iron mounts with beautiful rococo borders. The rifle will be decorated with profuse carving on the stock and moderate engraving. This will yield a very fine classic flintlock sporting rifle.
Price $8,000

c. 1770s American Longrifle
This rifle will reflect the Virginia and Maryland influences of rifle making in the third quarter of the eighteenth century. The barrel is 54-caliber, octagon to round, forty inches long. The stock is exhibition grade hard curly maple. The lock is of the English export type. The decoration will focus primarily on relief stock carving and engraving of functional parts.
Price $6,800