2012 CLA Live Auction 4

I am loaning my blog for the posting of information and images about the 2012 CLA Live Auction that will be held on Saturday, August 18th, at the annual show in Lexington, Kentucky. MUZZLELOADER's own T.C. Albert is the auction chairman this year and has assembled an outstanding line-up of auction items. Even if you can't make the show and auction, I know you will enjoy the images.

Bill Scurlock

War of 1812 Midshipman’s Dirk by Glen Mock

The war of 1812 was ignited over our right to free trade and unrestricted shipping. To demand these rights, our fledgling maritime force had to square off with the king’s own Royal Navy. Britannia prided her ability to rule the seas, and her fighting ships and the sailors that manned them were some of the best disciplined and equipped in the world at that time. That didn't stop us from taking them on head to head, both on the Great Lakes and on the open oceans. Determined to fight with whatever means they had available, our brave fighting men were often forced to arm themselves as best as they could with their own private weapons instead of relying on the government to provide them with regulation issue, and this midshipman's dirk was just such a private weapon, and it would have found service in the hands of just such a man.

In honor of these fighting mariners, Glen Mock has crafted a very fine midshipman’s dirk for our CLA “War of 1812” live auction. Glen told us that, “This dirk is a copy of an original Napoleonic/War of 1812-period English/American midshipman’s dirk. It is not a bench copy, since I only had good photos and measurements to go by.”

Glen forged the double-edge blade from 1095 steel and crafted the guard from brass. He turned the handle from black walnut and capped the pommel in brass sheeting. According to Glen, the sheath was the hardest part of this project. Like the pommel cap, it was fashioned from sheet brass, as well as round and half-round brass wire. All of the scabbard’s seams were silver soldered. As a finishing touch, Glen closely copied the decorative period engraving style found on the original.

Glen stated, “I owe my knife-making start to my wife, and to my longtime friend Doug Delsemme. He encouraged me to attend a knife making class that Cousin Willy, Hershel and John House were teaching.” That seminar and those three talented teachers really helped to set him on his way.

Glen started shooting black powder in 1968 and in 1969, and built his first engraved powder horn then. He made a full-time living for several years as a horner/shrimshander, and as a silver and gold smith. Glen says that he also owes much to artisans like Ray Miller, Jerry Riness and many others that have helped him through the years. Besides making knives, Glen and his wife operate a guest ranch called the “Mockville Land and Cattle Co.” in Missouri, where they raise horses and cattle, and rent cabins to “city folks who want a taste of country life.”

Text by T.C. Albert

Photos by H. David Wright


For more information about the auction or CLA membership please visit: http://www.longrifle.com/