Joe Scott Belt Knife and Nate McKenzie Flint Pistol

The best thing in the Longrifle Culture is the people. I must admit I got into history and living history through enjoyment of the material culture of the 18 and 19th Centuries. Later I found that folks could replicate the items in a artistic way; I fell in love with the new-old “stuff.” Then I got to know the people who created the items. Again, it is the people who make the black powder arts special.

Anyway, two of the folks I have gotten to know a bit are Nate McKenzie (gun builder and horner) and Joe Scott (bladesmith and Journeyman horner) and caught up with them at Dixon’s Gunmakers Fair in Kempton, Pennsylvania. Both have helped fuel my enjoyment of the good stuff.

Mr.Scott is a member of the Honourable Comapny of Horners and I admired an 18th Century, bone handled belt knife on his table at our Fort Roberdeau meeting earlier this year. I got busy and did not buy it. I kicked myself for months until Dixon’s. He still had the knife and I bought it. I am still working on my kit and this knife fit the bill exactly.

Now about my new pistol. I really like cobbled together Colonial American guns. Our resourceful ancestors did not waste a thing and many of their working firearms were made-up of disparate pieces. I have known Nate McKenzie for a few years and I have threatened to have him make such a flint pistol. I wanted a pistol with a strap guard, brass barrel on a maple stock. The Dale Johnson flintlock (by Jim Chambers) sparks like crazy and I must say Nate’s trigger breaks better than my Ruger single action. The knife and pistol will soon be belted together.

If you see Nate McKenzie or Joe Scott at a show, stop and say hello to them. Both are first class artisans and very nice people.

Best regards,
Rick Sheets

See Joe Scott’s contact information by clicking here.

See Nate McKenzie’s contact information by clicking here.