45th Annual
National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association at
Western Kentucky University
Gunbuilding/Longrifle/Pioneer Crafts Seminar
Featuring the finest contemporary Gunmakers as personal Instructors.
9-day classes begin Wednesday, June 3 at noon CST through noon CST Friday, June 12, 2026
5 ½-day classes begin Sunday, June 7 at 8:00 am CST through noon CST Friday, June 12, 2026
3-day classes begin Wednesday, June3 at noon CST through noon CST Saturday, June 6th, 2026
Important Dates and Information to Remember
- Cost of all classes is $130 per day. NO INCREASE (3-day $390, 5 ½- day $715, 9-day
$1,170.) - Enrollment is now open. Priority will be given to returning or previous students. Contact Brenda Hooten at the NMLRA at 812-432-2670 (ext. 1006). Please select your first, second and third choice of class, or no other class. Minimum deposit of ½ class cost and Membership in the NMLRA.
- Full payment for all classes required by February 20, 2026
- Cancellation on or before February 20, 2026 will result in $150 being kept along with
your membership fee to the NMLRA with the balance returned to the individual. - Cancellation after February 20, 2026 will result in keeping full payment for all 3-day and 5 ½- day classes, and $800 for 9-day classes with a $370 refund for the 9-day class if there are sufficient funds to cover the loss. NO EXCEPTIONS since the instructional team has been confirmed.
- Final Enrollment Notification will be made to participants by Monday March 20, 2026.
Notification will be via email or USPS if preferred. Please advise your preference
regarding contact information at enrollment.
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN
(PHOTOS)
CLASSES:
Living Legend Wallace Gusler from Williamsburg, VA will be presenting a 3-day seminar on The Culture and Legacy of the American Longrifle with original 18th century artifacts. Wallace returns as one of the original instructors of the first Seminar at WKU in this special lectureship. Wallace brings a lifetime of continuing research for those who want to appreciate the Colonial World of the frontier pioneers. The lectures begin Wednesday June 3 at noon CST.
Mike Miller (riflemaker@aol.com) instructs Building the Kentucky Rifle. This class assists students to build the rifle of their choice. Mike will assist in selecting proper parts and teach how to build from a stock blank if desired. Commercial barrels and locks purchased by the student will be used to build their chosen project. It is expected this will be a continuing class. No kit guns or preshaped stocks for this class.
George Suiter, former Master of the Colonial Williamsburg Gun Shop, returns to instruct Pistol Making or Finish What You Started. Students can bring a stock blank, a lock and barrel and a trigger guard they purchase, and the rest of the parts can be made in class. Learning to inlet a barrel and lock are valuable skills to know. Shaping a stock from a blank is also a valuable skill. If the student wishes they can purchase a kit of good quality from one of many fine makers like Jim Chambers (www.flintlocks.com), Brad Emig (www.cabincreek.net) or Clay Smith (claysmithguns.com). George will be glad to help all he can, starting from a blank or assembling a kit. Any unfinished project, rifle, pistol, fowler or musket can be worked on in class and George will help to get it completed. Email George (pgsuiter@gmail.com) and he can call
you back.
William Baxter (me@PhDBrewer.com) returns with the only wheellock class in the USA. 5 1/2-day & 9-day classes – Building the “Alden” wheellock or a NEW “Bresician” pistol wheellock. The 5 ½ day class will run in conjunction with the 9-day class. Both classes will start on the first day of the seminar. Participants will be instructed on wheellock construction, terminology, & design. Heat treating will be covered in the class as the participants will harden and temper the wheellock components. Lock sets, barrels & stocks will be made available for the participant to purchase. William’s class will also accommodate returning students as well as those interested in the new pistol wheellock lock.
For more information: https://phdbrewer.com/wheellock-class
Frank House is again in structing a nine-day course on the fine art and skill of building an early colonial period North Carolina rifle. Builders select brass or iron mounts that Frank personally forges or casts. The project utilizes a stock with the barrel inlet and ramrod channel cut and drilled. A commercial lock is utilized. This is a continuing class that should now see openings as students are completing their very fine flintlock rifles that includes a metal patch box and relief carving.
Ron Scott’s 1750 English Rifle class is based on a Rifle by Griffin owned by Archibald Montgomery, Colonel Commandant of Montgomery’ Highlanders. The Rifle will use a 28-inch barrel by Rice with caliber choices of 54,58,60 or 66 with a hook breech. The mounts will be typical of those used by the Griffin workshop and cast in brass. The lock will be a modified Chambers Early Ketland with some file work. The stock architecture is similar to Fowlers from the Griffin shop., with exception of a wood buttrap. The trigger is of single design. A precision folding leaf rear sight will be part of the rifle set. Ron has selected a group of stock blanks from his inventory of European Walnut from which the students can acquire at discount prices.
Students are urged to request barrels early to ensure availability. Stock blank photos are available now for examination and selection. The Griffin rifle has the option of being finished in various degrees of ornamentation. Ron’s class will accommodate students who are returning with past seminar projects as well as the new rifle.
Ian Pratt and John House again offer the 9-day continuing class on Building the Woodbury Flintlock Rifle. This legacy class offers novice to advanced gunbuilders the individual and handson expertise to make predominately iron-mounted flintlock Rifles with an emphasis on shooting and reliable performance. It is even possible to build a Foxfire Rifle during the seminar. This class is taught in Woodbury, Ky at the Hershel House homestead.
Lally House Quillworking is offered as a 3-day, 5 ½-day or 9-day class at WKU for beginners to advanced. Includes natural dye techniques. All skill levels are welcomed to this legacy class that features an exacting traditional approach to what was almost a lost art form.
Wayne Trout instructs at WKU in a 5 ½ day class on Assembling and Enhancing the Jim Kibler kit guns. One kit per student although it’s okay to also bring a second kit that’s in progress. Students are required to purchase and bring any Kibler kit of their choice. Arrangements can be made to ship your kit to Bowling Green, Ky. Most students will complete a standard kit during this class that runs Sunday June 7 at 8AM CST until noon Friday June 12, 2026. Wayne will instruct how to personalize and make an heirloom flintlock rifle you can be proud of.
