AND THE LUCKY WINNER IS....

The Contemporary Longrifle Foundation offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a completely handmade Kentucky Longrifle by Hershel, Frank, and John House.

THE PROGRAM
The Contemporary Longrifle Association is a non-profit organization of collaborative members, who are collectors, makers and students dedicated to the art of contemporary longrifles, accoutrements and related items made after the mid-twentieth century. The Contemporary Longrifle Foundation is the educational and fund raising arm of the Association.

Through the collective efforts of three renowned Kentucky gun makers, Hershel, Frank, and John House, a special handmade longrifle has been created for the CLF as a fundraiser. The proceeds from the "An American Tradition" House Brothers Handmade Flintlock Longrifle Project will enable the Foundation to continue its mission to promote the art of the Kentucky Longrifle and related arts through publications, museum exhibits, grants, and promotion of contemporary artists.

Such a rare and unusual event as hand making a Kentucky Longrifle deserves to be recorded and the CLF has made sure it has been accomplished. The complete building process took more than a year and has been fully documented both by video and still photography. The video production is sponsored by Hammond Communications Group, Lexington, KY who has filmed the process on video and will produce a DVD of the building process. This video DVD will be donated to the CLA and will become available at a later date.

Photographers Ric Lambert, David Wright and Steve Auvenshine have captured the building process in digital photography. Through the generosity of these individuals and companies, we have a lasting record of one of the unique processes of "Following the Tradition".

Giveaway tickets on the "American Tradition" longrifle will be offered for a donation of $5 each or 5 for $20. This superb once-in-a-lifetime rifle will be awarded to some lucky recipient at a drawing at the Annual CLA show next year, on August 15th, 2009. You do not have to be present to win.

THE LONGRIFLE
This longrifle is completely handmade - the forged barrel, the lock, triggers, iron mounted hardware and screws are made by hand in the same tradition of American gunmakers in the 18th century. The rifle is built in their nationally recognized style, known as the "Woodbury School", and named for the small Kentucky town in which the brothers grew up. The House Brothers have included many of their personal and unique attributes for which they are so well known. The rifle is relief carved, and sports engraved iron mounts. The patchbox is tastefully engraved with touches of sterling silver overlays and a sterling silver thumbpiece (for a future owner's initials) accents the wrist area. The 41" swamped barrel is rifled in .45 caliber.

The only thing not made by Hershel, Frank, and John is the fine piece of curly maple wood in which the rifle is stocked. This piece of hand selected wood was donated by Freddie Harrison of Bradford, Tennessee. A supplier of stock blanks to muzzle loading gun makers for more than 30 years, Freddie volunteered one of his best pieces of wood for this unique project.

THE GIVEAWAY
The "American Tradition" rifle will be raffled by the Contemporary Longrifle Foundation through a year long program which began with the unveiling of the rifle at the Contemporary Longrifle Association annual show in Lexington, Kentucky in August of 2008. The raffle will conclude at the Lexington show next year in August 2009 when some very lucky person will take home one of history's most unique contemporary longrifles.

The CLA was organized as an association of contemporary muzzleloading makers, collectors and related artists. This association recognizes the scope of collecting to include traditional muzzleloading rifles, pistols, fowlers, their accoutrements and related objects handmade after the mid-twentieth century.

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS: Quarterly Newsletter - Annual Show - Educational Experiences - Regional Mini-Shows.

MEMBERSHIP DETAILS: Membership dues are $50 annually, January through December. If a member joins after October 1, membership is good through the following year.