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Muzzleloader Range Log
Introduction I am developing a new application for traditional muzzleloader shooters; a range log. It is a long way from being finished, but I would like to invite your feedback. Muzzleloader shooting is very specialized and needs a range log geared to these special requirements. To address those needs, the application is currently divided into […]
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18th Century Suit of Clothes
I have been meaning for some time to make myself a set of late 18th century clothing to wear to longrifle culture events. As my weight has stabilized at a reasonably healthy level and I had the time due to the pandemic, I decided to get this project done. I made an 18th century English […]
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Fraktur Painted Blanket Chest
Given that my work fell off by about half this year due to the pandemic economic downturn, I started to fill my time with personal projects. This blanket chest has been on my personal project list for some time. I finally got it finished. This chest is approximately 50″ L x 24″ W x 28” […]
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Artisan Book Series – Mark Elliott
I have been honored by the publication of a book about my life and work by the Contemporary Longrifle Association. This book includes a longer biography than I have included on this website and high quality glossy color photos of my best work. If you are a collector of my work, you will want to […]
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Why Black Lives Matter to Me
Given the current unrest and uncertainty over race, as a Christian and a person working a twelve step program of recovery, I have felt challenged and called to write on my experience with racism. This is my personal story, but I call on all white southerners, like myself, to examine their own story with racism. […]
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Important – Leather Care
I just wanted to post a quick note about leather care. Leather dries out and cracks over time. I recently saw an old bag of mine that had been put away for several years and had cracked badly. Fortunately, the leather had not cracked all the way through and the bag could be saved. It […]
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Early Virginia Longrifle Templates & Layout Guide
1775-1785 Augusta/Rockbridge Co. Virginia Longrifle Templates & Layout Guide This offering is my attempt to help the beginning gunmaker by making some of my layout tools available to them. As the title indicates, this drawing has templates for my interpretation of the 1775-1785 Augusta/Rockbridge Co. Virginia longrifles documented by Wallace Gusler in the Journal of […]
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Charcoal Blueing a Barrel
Today, I was fortunate enough to be present for the charcoal bluing of a longrifle barrel. Richard Frazier, a former journeyman at the gunshop at Colonial Williamsburg, was charcoal bluing the barrel for his latest rifle. He was sharing the process that they used for years, and still use to blue gun barrels at the […]
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Handmade Colonial English Flintlock
Handmade Tumbler Trouble In conjunction with some recent repair/restoration work, I have started working on an all handmade flintlock. That means one made of wrought iron in the same manner as an 18th century Virginia gun shop including making all the screws. I have completed a set of templates for the lock and have forged […]
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Metal Bow Drill
I just finished making a metal bow for my watchmakers type metal bow drill. The bow itself is very simple. Unlike the ones in the period catalogs, it doesn’t have a ratchet mechanism. I was given a old fencing foil with which to make a bow and there just wasn’t enough metal there to support […]