Gunmakers' WorkshopWith Ian Pratt and Ken GahaganDatesWeek 1 - March 19 - 25, 2023 Class has filled. Accepting alternates
Week 2 - March 26 - April 2, 2023 Class has filled. Accepting alternates CostCost of workshop which includes meals and lodging: $1120. The cost of parts will vary by the project and is not included in this fee.
Welcome to the Gunmakers' Workshop at Canter's Cave where we carry on the tradition of building the American flintlock gun! Starting with a stock blank, a barrel and a few basic components, instructors Ian Pratt and Ken Gahagan will guide you through the construction of your own gun using common hand tools and time honored methods. In addition to assisting you with your project, your instructors will give daily presentations and demonstrations on tools and techniques that they use in their work.
It is expected that students will have varying degrees of experience in gun building and that one student’s goals will differ from those of the next, but in all cases our hope is to impart a more thorough understanding of the art and craft of gun building. We welcome both beginners and experienced builders alike, and we recommend that all all potential participants contact us to discuss expectations and possibilities. |
Ian Pratt Gunmaker Ian Pratt built his first longrifle in the 1990's. Within just a few years he was building rifles full time. Specializing in iron mounted guns, Ian’s unique flintlock firearms have become among the “most wanted” by shooters and collectors from all over the country. A true black powder fanatic, Ian hunts and shoots almost exclusively with a pair of muzzleloading guns which he built. Eager to pass along his passion for building and using flintlock arms, Ian has taught various classes in gun building, knife making and forge work at the Log Cabin Shop, Conner Prairie, the Washington Historical Gunmakers’ Guild, for the NMLRA both at their annual Gunsmithing Seminars at Western Kentucky University and at their educational facility in friendship, Indiana , and at Jim Chambers Flintlocks in Candler , North Carolina. His work has been featured in many publications including Muzzleloader Magazine, American Tradition, Muzzle Blasts, and American Frontiersman, and his thoughts on longrifle building may be heard on podcasts with ilovemuzzleloading.com's Ethan Yazel . Work By Ian Pratt: |
Ken Gahagan Gunmaker and artisan Ken Gahagan has been interested in history and working on 18th century items since his teens. He started by building reproductions of 18th century furniture for his own home, which soon led to creating pieces for sale. In time he added to his skills the forging of period correct trade knives including many in the Dutch style. He then expanded into gun making. Ken makes a wide variety of early longrifles and fowling pieces, and may be best known for his remarkable Hudson Valley Fowlers and authentically styled composite guns. His work has been featured in Muzzleloader Magazine, Muzzle Blasts and publications of the Contemporary Longrifle Association. In his former hometown of Pittsburgh PA, Ken taught classes in knife forging and gunmaking . He currently resides in Virginia. Ken can be contacted at kgahagan4@gmail.com Work by Ken Gahagan: |