Flintlock Rifles with Hershel House

Those who say movies are all stunts and props should take a closer look. A Kentucky craftsman, whose hand-made masterpieces have been in the hands of the big screens biggest names, shares his story airs this weekend, September 5 and 6, on Kentucky Afield TV.

Since the 1960s, Butler Countys Hershel House has been crafting the finest Kentucky Longrifles in the world and in Tinsel Town. Built for both collecting and black powder hunting season, the period-perfect guns are authentic in every detail. The Woodbury resident gives host Tim Farmer a front-row seat to his log cabin workshop. Of course, you have likely seen Houses work already in the hands of mega stars Mel Gibson and Russell Crowe in recent box office hits.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Kentucky
• Afield
• Hershel
• House
• Tim
• Farmer
• Flintlock
• Rifes

[TheJeffSoares]

"Been in love with these old guns ever since."

[davidmoore00]

Hershel and John are great people. I have gone on rendezvous with John and Frank multiple times and let me tell you, there is not a single House that you will meet that you will not find to be an amazing person. A true artisan family. And their mother is a wonderful woman if I ever met one.

[kirkconway]

Hi herchel,

whats the difference in the report of older generation muzzloader's, and newer style cartridge gun's?

Is it the powder burning slow, compared to modern flash powder?

and the size of the barrel?

seem's like it is as bigger hole in a barrel would have more volume come out and smaller hole would sound like a crack.

[kylongrifle]

Absolute master at what he does..Looking at someone like Hershel or Frank's work makes craftsman want to be better,,

[dhamrick100]

anybody know of anyone who has records of original sales of Bean rifles made in east Tennessee, mine has been in my family for well over a century and I havent been able to find an ancestor matching the initials engraved that B. Bean made it for.

[jd40boy]

i am a old gun nut that loves guns, and own many, and have met with several well known names in the gun building trade. but without doubt my favorite gun related experience ever, was looking up Hershal unanounced at his home in woodbury ky a few years back, to discuss a little left handed squirrel rifle he had built for a family member he was very gracious and welcoming, and i stepped back in time when i entered his residence and gun shop.

[spartencamp]

A True American Craftsman !

[DanOblacksmith]

(Cont)- I saw him again, this time on T.V. on PBS. Older now than the youthful Fox Fire spread, he was to be seen in his shop forging iron on the anvil and hot filing, flintlock parts of course. Markedly improved in his skills over the years mind you, by now producing masterful works, especially noticed in the stock work. This PBS was when I got out of the marines in '89, maybe '90. Then as before I saw no more of him for another ten years, until this vid yesterday.

Mr. House is a true master...

[DanOblacksmith]

Watching this I found myself hitting pause just about every few seconds or so as the video went.

Each new scene was a portrait to be studied, each new view worthy of inclusion in some picture book.

I first ran across the name Herschel House many years ago in a rural New York southern tier library somewhere, in a dusty old volume of the Fire Fox Series.

In it was a younger Herschel pictured and followed step by step through the hand making of an American Longrifle.

Perhaps ten years later (Cont)-

[Carppainter]

great video! Fantastic! ...nice guns .........thanks !!!