CRF Museum to hold raffle for hand-built muzzleloader

The Cleo Redd Fisher Museum will offer the chance to win a hand-built blackpowder rifle modeled after those built by famed Loudonville gunsmith Peter Reinhard in the 1800s.

Tickets are available at $5 each or five tickets for $20, with tickets sold in person at the museum located at 203 E. Main St. in Loudonville, at the Log Cabin Shop at 8010 Lafayette Road in Lodi or online at www.crfmuseum.com/raffle. The winning ticket will be drawn at the museum at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 13 during the Mohican Winterfest.

The rifle was built by students in the museum’s educational workshop series last year, using traditional tools and techniques. The rifle is .32 caliber and features a Green Mountain barrel, L&R back action lock, Davis triggers, curly maple stock, poured nose cap and brass hardware.

The rifle took over four months for students to complete, beginning the class with a block of wood to shape into the stock and ending it by sighting in the rifle with a range day. The class was led by instructor Tom Oakes with work completed by Jim Gordon, Steve Hughes, Russell Felix and others. The museum thanks the Log Cabin Shop for technical and promotional assistance with the project.

While the winner does not need to be present to win, the museum does require the winner to be 18 or older and follow all state and federal laws and requirements to possess a firearm. Additional rules and requirements are listed on the museum’s website.

All proceeds from the sale of raffle tickets fund future educational workshops at the CRF Museum, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that preserves and promotes the history of the Mohican area.