80+ Years of Contemporary Longrifles | Once in a Lifetime Flintlock Display | Wayne Estes, Tim Cosby

Today we're back with Wayne Estes and Tim Cosby to go through their one-of-a-kind display showcasing the advancement and the evolution of contemporary long rifle building from the 1940s to today.
Wayne and Tim are collectors of Contemporary Longrifles and have been for many years. After the success of last year’s display titled “The Early’s”, featuring early colonial period contemporary builds, Wayne and Tim wanted to return this year and feature a more comprehensive look at contemporary longrifles.
This year’s display features 40 “contemporary” builds dating back to the 1940s, advancing through years and regions to show one of the most comprehensive looks at contemporary muzzleloading seen to date.
Chapter 1: A Bridge to the Past
Hacker Martin
Lester Smith
Earl Lanning
Carl Pippert
Royland Southgate
Chapter 2: The John Bivins Effect
John Bivins
Mark Silver
Monte Mondarino
Jim Chambers
Bobby Denton
Chapter 3: Along the Eastern Seaboard
George Stanford
Mike Gahagan
Wallace Gusler
Mike Cox
George Suiter
Mitch Yates
Bill Shipman
Larry Mroc
Bob Harn
Ned Hipp
Chapter 4: The Southern Boys
Heschel House
Jim Parker
Frank Bartlett
Frank House
Mike Miller
Chapter 5: The Old Country, Pennsylvania
Allen Martin
David Dodds
Eric Kentennburg
mark Wheland
Ken Gahagan
Chapter 6: The Reform School - the Continuing Evolution of the Contemporary Longrifle
Jon Laubach
Hill Pierce
Mark Thomas
Brian Barker
Jerry Kirklin
Bob Watts
Ian Pratt
Josh Wrightsman
Fred Riley
Jud Brennan
Music: Brylie Christopher Oxley freesound.org/..., [This work is licensed under the Attribution 4.0 License.](creativecommon...)
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Muzzleloading, muzzleloader, muzzle loader, mountain man, longhunter, bushcraft, living history, longrifle, flintlock, blackpowder
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[@jimjohnson2321]

What a great contribution to the folks who love and appreciate the art and function of the long rifle. Thank you Ethan.

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

Hey I’m just the camera man, Wayne and Tim are the stars here. Thanks for the kind words

[@RiverRat1953]

I was holding my breath until you showed my favorite builder, Mark Wheland. What a great video! My drool rag is soaking wet. All these builders are amazing! Thank you Ethan for this fabulous video!

[@stephenfields6236]

What a great exhibit that was! Thanks to everyone that made it possible.

[@danielfox4446]

Thank you for taking time to get the photos of theses wonderful makers,and "you" did each maker,and the collectors justice Ethan. Thank you for your hard work, wasn't easy as it looks, compiling each one !!! These two collectors,I think you show interview them,and show us their life long obsession of their collection of contemporary Muzzleloader !!!

[@steveg8322]

Magnificent, high art indeed. ❤

[@donjohnson2418]

Yet another excellent video! THANK YOU for panning over the guns SLOWLY so viewers can get a nice, long look at the details. Other content creators should follow suit. Great job!

[@bernardflood8289]

Greetings from Ireland. This was a fantastic video. Many thanks to you, Wayne & Tim.

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

Many thanks!

[@alj4940]

I'm really thankful you do these videos. Great and beautiful work.

[@arcturus8016]

Thanks to Wayne and Tim, and thank you, Ethan for the great gun-by-gun review of this amazing display. I enjoyed it in person both days I was in the exhibition hall at CLA, and this video captured things I hadn't noticed, even in the photos I took. Great job documenting one of the greatest contemporary longrifle exhibits ever!

[@shadetreemech290]

I have never seen so many great guns up so close before. Thank you.

[@johngrossbohlin7582]

I was delighted to see the work of three of my former co-workers and friends on display; Gusler, Laubach and Suiter. I learned a lot from them, as well as Brumfield and Wagner, but always felt like I knew nothing... My Federalist Period Lancaster style gun was created through Jon's hand and his and Dave's mentorship of me, as well as George's hand to bring the project home. When I saw Wallace in The Gunsmith of Williamsburg back around 1970, while in Junior HS, I thought it was the coolest thing ever. I still do! Thanks for the memories!

[@David-cv6ih]

Amazing! Absolutely beautiful craftsmanship!

[@winstoncampbell1776]

OMG. I sorry I missed it this year. That display was beyond magnificent. You visited my my display last year and even videotaped some of my rifles and horns. The top gun on the tall rack is a Bob Harn that has a very special meaning to me and is the rifle I took an Ohio big buck with. My collection is not near as extensive as these gentlemen but I am proud to be the caretaker of a few very nice muzzle loaders. Thank you for your videos.

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

Thanks so much. Hope to see you again soon!

[@swamprat9018]

That right there is a documentary video. I'm so jealous of how they can do the transition of the lock panels to the stock, so clean and smooth.

[@bigracer3867]

Great show. Your channel gets better and better 👌🏻

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

I appreciate that!

[@tlportraits]

Thanks for making this video. I enjoyed it immensely! I purchased one of Wayne’s Kibler Woodsrunner builds last week, and he’s a first-class act.

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

Wayne is top notch!

[@jshingler5284]

Excellent video Ethan. I really enjoyed this one. Very good videography too. That would be a lot of work to set up that display. I would not be able to choose who did and who did not make the cut. Thank you for bringing us along.

[@lae52]

Thank you for that fascinating documentary of contemporary makers. The guns displayed definitely show why caplocks will never catch on.

[@user-nt9xp1lr1o]

GREAT JOB on this! Wayne does need ONE MORE. SEE YA old friend.

[@michaelsmith2733]

Loved the video. Tried my hand at rifles bag, horns, knives and tomahawks yrs. ago . I was never very good, but did get a bag published. The carving always blows my mind. Did Shipman build a rifle for Hawkeye in Last of the Mohecians ? again what a surprise to see all of those creative builders work on one watch, Muchos Gracious.

[@joehuber9168]

Took my breath away I truly appreciate you sharing such works of art 👌👍🔥

[@donfullbright8468]

Outstanding collection

[@erickschmidt432]

David T Dodds is my Godfather. Nice to hear him mentioned

[@galenhisler396]

Wow! That was amazing.

[@joshuamoore1322]

I have never seen a ugly muzzle loader! Everyone of those rifles are a work of art 😊

[@glennkelley6096]

Excellent video and display. Thanks for recording it and sharing.

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@davidwhiren817]

Wow , wow , wow !!! the relief carving & silver wire inlays on several of the display quality pieces , I would consider as exceptional in their execution by the different artisans , responsible for their making !!!

[@larryreese6146]

Thanks for the show! I know there are folks who don't appreciate muzzleloaders like those but, for the life of me, I can't understand why.

[@larryadams2184]

Outstanding

[@thomasreed325]

Excellent!!

[@556suppressor]

Beautiful rifles. I need to get one someday. I only have percussion rifles now.

[@ol1guy994]

Wow. Thanks

[@Snap4590]

Thank you, Ethan.

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

You are welcome! Happy to do it

[@markfair7648]

Wasn't long enough 😂. Loved it fantastic. Great job Ethan

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

Thanks a ton!

[@earlshaner4441]

Outstanding video

[@donmartin2788]

Enjoy the video very much thank you so much for doing very well done I believe you did all the gun makers justice

[@operationcaddyshackgopher1664]

Wow

[@jeannieheard1465]

Bob Watts would have loved this.

[@duybear4023]

Pretty

[@jamessullivan1618]

Great video. Was this from the last CLA meet in Kentucky. Fantastic.

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

Yes it was!

[@larryadams2184]

That is absolutely right my brother you cannot have enough I got way too many rooms in my house that I can fill up you can only build them until I die

[@MrKmoconne]

It is not an omission on Wayne and Tim's part because you can only show so many rifles, they know who he is, but I must mention the artisanal craftsman from Indiana, John Schippers. Was his work in the video? His work has always been museum level. Probably among the top 5 engravers in the country. John has been associated with the program at Connor Prairie for 50 years. A quiet man of immense stature when he puts tools to wood and metal. I don't know how his health is, but I would really enjoy if you can visit Hershel House at his home in Woodbury Kentucky. I got to meet Hershel at the Art and Arms workshop at Connor Prairie. I admit I was more than a bit star struck. He was very nice. His younger brothers have stepped in to advance the Woodbury school and I'm a bit worried Herschel's health might not be so good.

[@xd451e1edcc8]

Great video!! I hope we will see the other part of their collections next year. Hershel House's name is misspelled? (at 17:24)

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

Egg on my face there. My sincere apologies!

[@arkansasnaturalstate]

Not as decorative as these but in the 60's 70' 80's Poole and Lenhart from Oregon where heavy into the muzzleloader circuit in Oregon, Washington State and Northern California even made rifles as prizes

[@redlemur6073]

Tastefully done (music sux)

[@johnveglio4433]

The only statement that I disagree with is when Tim Cosby said that the rifles were made to be looked at, they were made to be FIRED and HUNTED WITH !!!! It is almost blasfamy not to use these fine guns out in the field taking game or at the range. Just my opinion !

[@myrlstone8904]

I can only suggest that Tim likely knows many of these artists and as a consequence, the statement was informed. One could say an expression of an art form rather than a utilitarian hunting rifle. These makers likely built many hunting grade rifles in gaining the skills required to eventually produce these pieces. One could also say blasphemy if these examples were exposed to the rigors of a black powder hunting or shooting - rain, humidity, constant cleaning with required disassembly to remove all fouling residue, and the inevitable bumps, scratches, and dings.

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

Totally understand how it comes off in the video. To provide more context from my conversations with Tim, he and Wayne DO hunt with and shoot these pieces regularly. “Seen” in this context is meant to be in contrast to being locked in a safe or vault. Part of the ethos for Tim and Wayne with these displays is showing rifles that many could consider to be “safe queens” and investments to be stored in perfect conditions and never moved. There’s nothing wrong with a safe queen if that’s what someone wants, but that’s their business. I totally agree though, I love seeing these used and enjoyed. I hope this provides more context, I really appreciate your comment!