School’s On

Written by Gary Horne

The following is a comprehensive list of all known 2020 classes currently offered to those interested in all facets of muzzle loading offered at a number of locations and is priced for almost any budget. Now included are some individual instructors in several facets of the muzzleloading hobby and arts. Classes range from those suitable for the beginner to the advanced instructors that offer classes from their homes like Jack Brooks, Jim Parker, and Mike Brooks. There were some great classes conducted in 2019 and we are looking forward to new ones as 2020 gets underway. As we move from the winter offerings of 2020. 

Private Gun Building Classes with Mike Brooks

Website:mikebrooksflintlocks.com

Location: Mike Brooks Shop, New Liberty, Iowa Contact: Mike Brooks

Phone: (563)508-0612

Email: mike@mikebrooksflintlocks.com

Dates: As scheduled with student

Cost: $200 per day

Now offering gun building classes. I can take up to two students at a time. Attend anytime, just call and make arrangements as to when you want to come and how long you would like to attend. We can work on anything you like, kit building, building from a blank, carving, engraving, finishing, etc. Stay as long or as little as you like. $200 per day.  

Mike Brooks

NRA Short-Term Gunsmithing Classes at Montgomery Community College

Website: www.MONTGOMERY.EDU/NRA

Location: Montgomery Community College, Troy, North Carolina

Contact: Alex Williams; email – williamsa4158@montgomery. edu

Phone: 910-898-9672

Dates: June 3 – March 30 – April 03 and September 14 - 19, 2020

Cost: all classes $495 plus supplies

Comments: Pistol Build class will require purchase of a Cham-bers pistol kit

Kit Building/ Finish What You Start / Engraving with Jim Parker

Website: parkerfirearms.com

Location: 3441 Self Creek Road, Warrior, AL 35180 Contact: Jim Parker

 Phone: Shop: (205) 680-9219 / Cell: (205) 566-1387 Dates: March 9-13, 2020; May 18-22, 2020; July 13-17, 2020; October 12-16, 2020

 Email: calvarylongrifles@gmail.com

 Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Cost: $750 plus materials

My classes hold up to 5 students and the dates for 2020 are March 9th through the 13th, May 18th through the 22nd, July 13th through 17th, and October 12th through the 16th. The classes are 5 days each and the cost is $750 for the 5 days, additional days can be scheduled at $150 a day. Room and board are provided and 3 meals a day, breakfast, lunch and dinner. I have a 5 bedroom, 3 bath home and we provide all bedding, towels and washcloths. I serve a hot breakfast, eggs sausage or bacon, biscuits or toast, juice, milk, coffee. Lunch will sandwiches and chips and a snack, supper will be another hot meal provided by my darling bride. I require a 50% deposit to hold your spot in the class. The March class fills up fast so if you want that class reserve your spot early. I can also do one on one classes at a cost of $150 a day, please call to set up a private class.

Student provides the pre-carved kit for the class. The student is also to bring as many as possible of the recommended tools from the tool list on my website. The goal of the class is to as-sist the student in building the rifle to a functioning rifle by the end of the 5 day class. That is the barrel, lock, triggers and all hardware mounted on the rifle and functioning. Many students shoot their projects by Friday afternoon. The finish work can be done at home or brought back to finish in another class.

NMLRA Gunsmithing Seminar and Workshop at WKU

Website: www.nmlragunsmithingseminar.org/2020-classes

Location: Western Kentucky University Campus, Bowl-ing Green, KY

Contact: Brenda Hooton; email – nmlra@nmlra.org Phone: 812-667-5131, ext. 223

Dates: June 3 – June 12, 2020

Cost: All classes $120 per day

Comments: 3, 6 and 9 day classes available

3 day classes:

Beginner 18th Century Quill Work;

A study of Rifle Guns Made in the Valley of Virginia

6 day classes:

Assembly and finishing of a 1760’s Colonial Kit Rifle by

Jim Kibler;

Intermediate Quill Work Leading to a period correct

artifact;

18th Century Carving Practices and Techniques; A

study of patchbox designs;

Making a period correct Powder Horn

9 day classes:

Woodbury School of Gunmaking and Forging of

Related

Accoutrements;

Stocking the Pennsylvania Longrifle, or Finishing

what You Started;

Advanced 18th Century Porcupine Quill Work; Building a period Jaeger Rifle from a study piece for

students to work from;

Learning the Basics of Sheet Inlay in both Wood and Metal, along with Wire Inlay

Muzzleloader Wire Inlay

Wire and Sheet metal inlay Techniques. The student will learn the techniques for designing and inlaying decorative sheet metal and wire into the wood, with several simple tools the student will make in class. Inlays were commonly used to decorate firearms of the 18th and 19th centuries. Instructor: George Suiter *(SS) Self-supporting Muzzleloader Wire Inlay | 3/30-4/3 | MTWTHF | 9A-6P | $495

Muzzleloader Pistol Build

In this five day class, the student will assemble a pistol from a kit and have a functioning pistol to shoot by the end of class. I recommend starting with one of the two kits offered by Jim Chambers Flintlocks Ltd. (www.flint-locks.com) a long-barreled Kentucky style or an English style with a shorter barrel is offered for order. The student will learn to inlet the components into the stock shape the stock and decorate the stock with relief carving. The metalwork will be polished and instruction will be given for bluing or browning the iron parts. Instruction will be given on engraving, relief carving, staining, and finish-ing to make your pistol truly unique. If the student has a current pistol project underway or a collection of parts they are encouraged to bring them to class for instruction. Instructor: George Suiter *(SS) Self-supporting Muzzleloader Pistol Build | 9/14-9/18 | MTWTH | 9A-6P | $495