Even though I have made my living for most of my adult life in information technologies, I have always considered myself an artist with interests in all types of arts and crafts. Very early, however, I fell in love with antique firearms, particularly the American longrifle. I was captivated by the artistry and craftsmanship of these guns. The variety of skills required to create one appealed to me as well as its integral part in the history of our nation.

I have been making flintlock rifles, pistols, and fowlers as well as their accouterments off and on for almost 40 years. I have been a serious builder since 2003.

I have a particular fondness for iron mounted southern rifles; particularly the guns made in the region from Augusta County Virginia southwest into East Tennessee. I make all the mounts for my iron mounted rifles in the traditional manner including forge welding and forge brazing. I even make fully forge welded, three piece, E. TN guards.

As you might expect, I stock all my firearms from a blank inletting my own barrels, cutting the ramrod grooves, and drilling ramrod holes using period tools and techniques. In fact, almost all the work on my firearms is done using 18th and 19th century tools and techniques. If you want a contemporary muzzle loading firearm with the look and feel of an original, you need to take a hard look at my work.

As accessories for my firearms, I will also make historically correct southern shot pouches, powder horns and measure sets. This is not my primary work, but the simple shot pouches I make have been well received. My favorite is a simple little heart shaped pouch, very common in the Southern Appalacians, with a simple carved horn based on one made in Wythe County VA.

Lastly, I also have a fondness for fraktur. I have been getting more an more serious about this of late as my health has made the gun work more difficult for me. I can make anything from bookmarks and bookplates to full documents such as geburtschein, taufschein, or haus segen. You really should take a look at my fraktur on my web site.

You can visit my website at www.markelliottva.com to see all of my varied works and interests.

Mark Elliott