Posts Tagged → kempton gun makers fair
Kempton Gunmakers Fair 2026 starts with a bang
The annual Kempton Gun Maker’s Fair started today, at the Kempton Community Center, in Kempton, PA. This is the former Dixon’s show. Dixon’s black powder shop is still operating, and why they ever gave up ownership of this national show, I will never understand.
For those easily startled and alarmed and triggered by the word “gun,” you can do a bong hit and relax, because these are guns of the 1776 variety. Mostly flintlocks, some percussion, all artistic beauty. They are loaded by pouring black powder down the barrel, and then ramming down a patched lead ball on top. Shooters of these fine instruments might get one shot every 45 seconds, if they are really fast. These are mostly used for primitive hunting and shooting competition, and are constructed of especially pretty, and expensive, sometimes rare, wood.
Hunters toting these rifles in the woods are committed to challenge. To giving animals a real high chance of survival. No long range assassinations possible here, the Long Hunter must have excellent wood craft, and get close to his quarry. A shot over 100 yards is considered long distance, and though the guns are very accurate, the human hand-eye coordination factor is the fly in the ointment here. Hold-through after the flash in the pan is imperative. Thus the nickname “flinchlocks”, because that fiery flash in your face makes you flinch, and miss.
My usual experience, anyhow. And so any legal animal taken with one of these primitive black powder guns is truly a trophy.
A great deal of 1770s period clothing and accoutrements are available, for those wishing to step back in time. Tools, tomahawks, spontoons, halberds, pikes, and naval spears are all part of the kit, and are therefore available.
I went to check on the status of a percussion rifle being made for me, to take a class on flint knapping, to see long time acquaintances, and to pick up some really neat hand crafted gifts for people who appreciate them. Ended up selling a pile of dry curly maple and black walnut stock lumber I have had stashed for many years. Whatever I get for that will go towards paying for that percussion rifle being made.
Funny little circle, that.
If you are at all interested in black powder guns and all the related stuff around them, like beautifully made leather “possibles” bags, or a blacksmith’s hand made steel tomahawk, or a set of naval pikes for your office decor, the Kempton Gun Maker’s Fair is worth your visit. It runs through Sunday.
Jim Chambers Flintlocks is one of the powerhouse lock and parts makers in the world. Jim and his crew here
A colorful attendee from New Jersey, upon whom I bestowed Most Hirsute of The Show award.
Antique style arms and armor. Need a curaiss for Monday’s board meeting?
David Martin, a talented cabinet maker from Bloomsburg, talks with talented gunmaker Mark Wheland, from Blair County. At age twelve, I started my trapping career on Mark’s family farm in Pennsylvania Furnace. Funny small world.
Making homespun wool thread on a traditional spinning wheel
Gary Fatheree and his super cool wheel locks from Germany, Denmark, and some other formerly European country. You can successfully bag dinner with these
Gunmaker Rod England and gun barrel maker Jason of Rice Barrels teamed up. Rod makes beautiful 1860s style percussion locks and breech plugs, long range sights, and makes Henry style rifle kits. Jason makes perfect barrels to your exact order on his CNC machines. In fact, that percussion rifle I came to check on has Rod’s lock and Jason’s barrel, a .62 caliber Forsyth rifled masterpiece.
More wheel locks, a snaphaunce, and an assortment of related 1500-1700s style guns
Spark Mumma from Jonestown, PA, makes beautiful hand crafted items from cow horn, bone, and wood. I bought one of his large scrimshawed salt shakers
In flintlock rifle circles, Alan Martin needs no introduction. His guns are objects of artistic beauty
Someone talented spent a lot of time making these beautiful “letter openers”
Every year artisans from across America submit their best work to be judged in a competition. Rifles, knives, scrimshawed powder horns, ornate leather bags are the most common items
You can stand amazing beauty only so long, before resorting to the “smart” phone
Some vendor tables
Blacksmith making a naval spear head with socket. As a part time blacksmith myself, I will attest that making a quality socket is the hallmark of a real talented smith
Master class on knapping flint
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Tools and detritus (debotage) of flint knapping
Thank you for helping us learn how to make our own gun flints!
Two blacksmiths compare notes
ETAR 2026 is unbelievable!
The Eastern Traditional Archery Rendezvous has been kind of perking along the past few days, with campers setting up their sites, vendors setting up their tents and booths. Holy moly today was the strongest official opening day I have ever seen since 2000, when I started attending. Back then it was hosted at Denton Hill State Park in Potter County, and was a pretty decent sized event. But this, now, today….
Honestly, ETAR might almost be suffering from its own great success, because man oh gees, there were a LOT of people there. And one imagines that by tomorrow afternoon, the start of the weekend, a LOT more people will be joining the gang. Saturday will see a big push of day trippers. When I pulled out of the third parking lot at 5:00 PM this afternoon, having arrived at noon and still had to go find distant parking nonetheless, and what a beautiful afternoon it was, like Vermont kind of weather, campers were still pouring in and setting up. People were parking way up on Oregon Hill Road by English Run Road and walking quite a ways to join the event at Ski Sawmill.
This event is really an unbelievable success, and it is probably due to a natural reaction by a segment of Americans fed up with technology saturation 24/7. Toting your traditional long bow and a quiver full of arrows around to shoot instinctively at 3-D targets all day every day is about as non-tech as life can get. Lot of camaraderie and old friends. I saw my brother in law, of all people. Bought a nice new ceramic knife sharpener for camp, by Steamboat Super Sharpeners. Also got some tee shirts for family members, who could not be there with me…
Up on today’s speaking roster was Rose Anna Moore, a noted tough participant in the TV show ALONE, who was choppered out of deep British Columbia grizzly country because her inner toughness was greater than her body was tough. I first heard her speak in 2021, or 2022, at ETAR, and was impressed. Since then, she has grown her non-profit group to educate and help and heal about 500 people annually. Her place in the world is in the woods foraging, hunting, fishing. Fascinating person, and worth the event entry fee alone.
Lots of families, lots of dogs, lots of tents and custom campers and friendly strangers who are happy to talk about almost anything. ETAR is the antidote for what ails an over-technified nation like ours. It is what every family and friends summer should be, and it runs for few more days. You should go. I wish I could stay, but the Kempton Gun Maker’s Fair starts tomorrow, and a man cannot be in two places simultaneously (no marriage jokes, please, not yet, anyhow).
ETAR 2026
Everyone I know who uses sheath knives already has waaay too many knives. I myself have an awful lot of hunting knives. I do not know how this guy did selling his knives.
3-D archery targets of every shape, size, animal, alien and zombie known to humankind
Local sporting good store
The Outdoor Artist can make all kinds of outdoors stuff into pretty art for your home
Outdoor Artist, one of about 100 vendors at ETAR
The main 3-D archery field
Rose Anna Moore and some fanboys
Nessmuk’s carries wool clothing and fancy custom axes. We are fortunate to have them in the Wellsboro area
Rose Anna Moore in a vulnerable moment, when she is not battling some grizzly bear for a rotting salmon carcass
Rose Anna does interpretive presentations the old way. Her outdoor kit is laid out on the table, and the audience is invited to come up and handle stuff
Archery targets are hidden away across the entire ski slope complex
Just what you need: More camo
Prospective bow buyers testing the wares
The big tent
The Big Jim’s tent
Like a summer fair or carnival
The old steam engine that powered the old sawmill here, surrounded by campers. Lots and lots of campers
People and their bows
Main camping area
Non-stop wagons taking people hither and thon. ETAR is a big event and there are a lot of places to go
Fancy campers, basic tents, truck caps…
Parking and camping area at Ski Sawmill
David and I share the same tee shirt, and I have the hat. We hit it off immediately