When the first settlers ventured out onto the prairies around here, they noticed that in the late summer a type of huge blood sucking fly would attack in swarms with such fierceness that it could kill a horse. They called the predators "Green Heads". Eventually the "horse guard fly" was seen on the prairies, and it soon eliminated the green heads in insect to insect combat. The settlers considered the "horse guards" a sort of devine intervention.

With the upcoming CLA show and live auction only a few weeks away...
I want to draw some attention to all the sites that are featuring some really nice publicity and item photography for the items being auctioned...
first up check out this link for the images on Bill Scurlocks blog page:
http://www.muzzleloadermag.blogspot.com/
It will be a great one to follow as the show gets closer and closer...
TCA

Art and Jan Riser have posted a few more of my pouch sets from the Historic Rivers of the Froniter series...the Yadkin and the Missouri are new, and you can find images of them on the blog at this link...
http://contemporarymakers.blogspot.com/2010/07/missouri-by-tc-albert.htm...
TC

I was just delivered another "old" hunting bag to restore. Its a pretty nice little bag and has stood up well. The attached horn is a beauty, and theres a small measure with it as well. I have another bag at home waiting restoration too...its due by mid August...its a neat old home spun double bag from the percussion era....and closes with a commercially made early bone button...thats kind of rare. I have restored dozens of old hunting pouches, and this one is a pretty neat little one, and in remarkably good shape.

I forgot to mention that a few weeks ago I took delivery of my Charlie Bowers underhammer action. He mounted it to the stock I sent him on one end, and breeched my 48" DeHaas barrel to it on the other. All I can say is wow! With no more work at all this is a fully usable chunk gun...I wont leave it like that as I intend to finish it up in a fine early percussuin style complete with a few inlays and a nice pierced panel patch box inspired by the work of Brent Gurtek as seen on the "Underhammer Society" web page.

I nearly have the Yadkin set done...the pouch will have a painted flap, nothing much, but a bit of traditional fraktuer type painting...the horn hangs seperate...I figure the big German game bags never had attached horns, so why would an early bag set created by Moravians at the crossings of the Yadkin? (just my own concept at work there...) The knife is forged, hilted and sheathed, the hilt coming from an antique carving set and made of spiral fluted bone...or perhaps even ivory?

Just a note to say that due to the high amount of spam that keeps trying to log into this site, "NO" account will ever be authorized unless you set up an account and I personally authorize the access. If you have a name or email address that I cant recognize as legitimate, I will have to reject the application.

If you try to set up a legitimate account, and cant get access, try to contact me personally at any of the several traditional muzzle loading web boards I frequent...
Sorry, but I have to do it for now.
TCA

Its not huntingpouches, but it is an old time craft none the less...bee keeping!
Our bees arrived Friday...four pounds of them and a queen.
They came through the US mail, can you believe it. Next time you think bad on the post office, just think about the crazy stuff they get delivered, like "LIVE BEES".

We set them out into the new hive...its a small 8 frame, two story English garden style hive with a copper roof. They were gentle as could be, (no pun intended),
and we got them into their new home with out too much excitement.

I have been working away on the Yadkin set between breaks from writing up all of the CLA p.r. articles...and its coming along pretty good...the bag is done...the horn too...and the knife ready to handle...need to make and attach a sheath for the knife...and want to antique the horn a bit more...then pair them all together and write the story of the "Yadkin at the Crossings" that accompanies the bag...
I hope its done by the end of the month...but I wont rush it....
TCA