Greetings from Fair Grove, MO

[dhaverstick]

I just stumbled across this site doing a search for something and was quite pleased to find another place where folks still like to do things the hard way. I live and breathe traditional bowhunting and muzzleloader hunting as you can see from these photos.




I also like to make my own leather goodies and arrows.




I look forward to visiting with you all in the future!

Darren Haverstick

[TradRag]

Welcome! Nice pics! Love the arrows!

[McClura]

Very nice equipment Darren! I have really had the wants for a pistol like that in flintlock in about a 45 for targets and could use it for hunting also. I have several target pistols but want a hunting pistol.
Is your long rifle a smoothbore?
Been through your part of the woods many times going from Springfield to Marshall , MO and up to Sadalia to visit Rod Gates many years back. Used to shoot with him and a great big guy from that area that shoot muzzleloading competition. Can't remember his name.
I really like all of your gear. Are you the one that stitched them?
Who made the bow you are shooting? Looks like a Mantis I had.

Mike

[dhaverstick]

Mike,

The long gun is a smoothbore 12 gauge and the pistol is a smoothbore 20 gauge. I also have .50 cal longrifle flinter. All were made by my good friend, John Pruitt, in Spring City, TN.

Yes, all the leather goods were hand stitched by me. When I got into traditional muzzleloader hunting about 10 years ago, I started buying some leather accouterments to go along with the guns. I found that I was needing some alterations to some of the things and asked a friend of mine if he could do it for me. He gladly did and then told me that I could have easily done it myself with a little direction. That push was all I needed. Fortunately, I work in Springfield, MO, which is the home of the Springfield Leather Company. They were very helpful in getting me started and a bazillion dollars and many hours later I became adequate at the craft. I really love doing everything by hand even though it takes me ten times long than someone with a machine. I sell a piece from time to time but the price only covers the leather and a fraction of my time. I don't care. It's something I love to do. If you would like to see some of the other stuff I've made, I can post some links to photo galleries of my work.

Darren

[hawkthrower]

Glad to have you aboard ! Great work!