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Bring your finished or unfinished guns to Dixon's

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Hi,
Matt Harshbarger and I are offering our expertise as gun makers and students of 18th and early 19th century forearms to advise, consult, and critique your finished and unfinished gun projects at Dixon's Gunmakers Fair. Matt is one of the judges of firearms at the fair. He is a member of the Kentucky Rifle Association and the Contemporary Longrifle Association. He studied under Allen Martin for several years and is well known for his superb work. I believe most of you know me and my work so perhaps there is no need for an introduction. This is an opportunity to get some help with your projects on a private one to one basis. Matt and I will be doing this by individual appointments so we can be sure to give you undivided attention. I will be available for meeting with you after noon on Friday, July 26 and Saturday July 27, and between 10AM-noon on Sunday, July 28. Matt is available during 9AM-11AM Friday and 2PM-4PM Saturday. We will try to schedule at least a 30 minute time slot with you and perhaps more depending on interest. Contact me by private conversation through this site and Matt on his Facebook account under his name, Matt Harshbarger. There is no fee for this opportunity. Matt and I are doing this as a volunteer service to the community. It should almost be a good as sitting on my shop porch talking guns.
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Also, on Friday (July 26) at 10AM in the seminar tent I will be giving a talk on designing and building 18th and early 19th century British sporting guns. On Saturday (July 27) at 10AM I will be giving a hands-on demo about shaping the wrist and lock area from a squared blank.
dave
 
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Will the demo on Saturday be in the seminar tent also? This is my first time at Dixon's, so any direction will be greatly appreciated.
Hi Shane,
It will be in the ALR tent next to the seminar tent. I believe the full schedule showing times and locations is now posted on Dixon's website.

dave
 
Hi Shane,
It will be in the ALR tent next to the seminar tent. I believe the full schedule showing times and locations is now posted on Dixon's website.

dave
Thanks, I looked at the schedule. There are several I am interested in, yours included. Looks like I could easily spend the entire day there.
 
With the heat predicted for this weekend I'm now thinking I'm going to pass on going. I cannot take extreme heat anymore and under those tents is going to be sweltering. It's a shame too because I do want to go.
 
So there are categories for placing guns in some kind of a "beauty contest"? What are the categories? Entry fee? Prizes? Can you ship them there if you are not attending personally? What are the risks?
 
Col. Batguano got me thinking.
I've got maybe a silly question...
With the MCs and others that ride without a club and attend bike rally's we have a trophy section that is classified as "Rat Bikes." Those are the beat up, dropped, no paint, scratched rides but still work and those that ride them with pride. Is there some kind of "Ratty Smoke Pole" per say that people keep with them all the time.
 
So there are categories for placing guns in some kind of a "beauty contest"? What are the categories? Entry fee? Prizes? Can you ship them there if you are not attending personally? What are the risks?
Hi David,
The purpose of the gun judging is largely educational. The judges provide feedback on your work and they also pick their choices of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places in different categories of work and skill level. There are categories for 1st gun, apprentice, journeyman, and master. Within each skill level there is best carving, engraving, patch box, etc. If you submit a gun, and you have to be there to enter, you have to start first at the apprentice level and then move up over time. There are no prizes except ribbons and no entry fees. This has been going on for over 30 years. I've enjoyed the process over the years from apprentice through master but many don't like being judged or compared. One of the nice features of the judging facility is that there is always a new display of 6 or 7 original long rifles on display sponsored by the Kentucky Rifle Association. Anyway, what Matt and I are offering is not connected to the judging at Dixon's. We are offering folks our expertise for free to help them with their projects.

dave
 
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I used to do Dixons Fair regularly Great venue, Grand event well worth the trip . I only put one gun in 'Journeyman'. A Scots Lemon Butt Snaphance pistol as it was all I had . I was long past' apprentice' but would never claim' Master' .(The more you learn the more you know you cant ever know the half of such a trade) . And Ime deffinatly a 'Journeyman 'you might say . .Well the Judges know US guns to the inth degree ,but 17c Scots stuff threw them a bit, they queried why the' Knurling' on the Thistle muzzle but it wasn't knurling just the hand filled base of the' Thistle' . But it took first anyway in that class . If you can then going to this fair is well worth the trip .
Rudyard
 
Hi,
I am just bumping this to the top to remind folks. If you would like me to consult with you on your gun project please send me a private message to set up a time. Currently, Friday is booked up for me but I have time after 3PM on Saturday and between 10AM-noon on Sunday.

dave
 

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