Donelson Custom Muzzleloaders

By way of introduction, I am John Donelson and I design and build custom black powder rifles, smoothbores, pistols, hand-forged knives, hawks, and tools needed by buckskinners, reenactors, shooting enthusiasts, and collectors. I have no predetermined "line" of goods to offer, the mix varies with each show and each day of production.

If you would like to see a short video of me in action you can click below. A local channel, WCCO, did a segment titled "Finding Minnesota: Hand-Made Weapons" which aired on February 19, 2007

I buy and make what I like to have. Besides my own guns, there's antique items: guns, knives, hand-forged traps. There is also my own knives, hawks, traps, and accoutrements.

Donelson custom guns

For those wanting something not available to the right, I can build it as a special order, whether it's a gun, knife, trap, hawk. A waiting period will apply and may be as short as a few days for a hawk or knife and as long as a year or two for a hand-forged gun. Every item is unique — no two will be exactly the same.

I enjoy researching a style of work and then bring the best aspects from several pieces in the same style or maker to life with my own interpretation of that style, developing a superior product from that.

Donelson Custom Cherry

Terms are $800 down payment for a gun, balance prior to delivery. Lead time is usually six months to a year. Minnesota Sales Tax of 6.5% applies to all sales within the state. Satisfaction is guaranteed or your money back.

You can see me at the upcoming shows:

August 19-20: Contemporary Longrifle Association Show in Lexington, KY at the Hyatt/Rupp Arena downtown Lexington. Famous and infamous Contemporary builders of high quality muzzleloaders and accoutrements from all over the country..a great show.

Donelson Wheatley

I always have an inventory ready for immediate shipment. These items for immediate sale are shown on the right side of this page!

Perhaps you know just what you want or have seen an old antique that you wish you had. Looking through books with photos of original antiques is a good way to determine what styles you like. Right hand or left. French and Indian War period to the Plains Rifle... all are possible.

We can use store-bought parts or I can hand-forge everything depending on your pocket book and your desire. I always supply my clients with photos of their gun in progress from the beginning pile of parts/materials to the finished piece (shows them that I didn't go to Jamaica with their down payment!).

We gladly accept these fine cards:

For Sale Now

1. Antique French Gendarmie Pistol Model 1770. This gun has been restocked in modern times with Curly Maple and it makes a good look. Originally it would have been in plain Walnut. The gun is non-functional and would make a great Wall hanger/decorative element ..............only $475.

2. American Transitional Jaeger smoothbore Rifle: unfinished In-the-white condition, assembled by me and test fired. Tapered 20 gauge (.625 cal) barrel, plain Maple stock, simple iron mountings and sling swivels, front and rear sight dovetails are cut, no rod pipes installed yet and wide early buttplate. Finish it yourself or pay me to do it (add $600) ..............only $1100.

3. Northwest Trade Gun: unfinished In-the-white condition, assembled by me and test fired. 20 gauge (.625 cal), hand-forged guard and buttplate, plain Maple stock, dragon sideplate in brass, low front sight soldered on, two ribbed brass rod pipes with no entry pipe. Finnish it yourself or pay me to do it (add $500) ..............only $1100.

4. Swivel Breech Action and Barrels: twin .50 cal. rifled and tapered barrels braised together. I bought this unit to fullfill an order for a completed gun, but the owner had to cancel the order and so now it is available for a skilled builder to finish .............or eventually I'll make a gun with it ..............only $1975.

5. Antique Trade Axe: hand-forged original axe with an incomplete stamping which appears to be perhaps the East India Trade Co. Has an old handle, but probably not the original handle......has a great feel to it ..............only $225

6. Antique Medieval Dagger: a chain-mail-piercing dagger. Good patina, handle is slightly loose (as it should be from shrinkage) all iron mounted ..............only $585

7. Blacksmith Coal: 50 lb. Bags of premium smithing coal, very clean and nugget size pieces...........$20 per bag
If you need 10 bags or more then the price is ..$17 per bag

8. Antique Frontier-made Axe: dug near Bemidji, Minnesota. Not a Europoean-made trade axe, this one likely made by a local smith ca. 1800's ..............only $95

9. Two Hand-forged Trade Axes by me: these are made with a wrought iron (wagon wheel rim) body with a steel bit welded into the edge...just the way they used to be made! Very durable and very sharp, fits standard handles, suitable for trekking and throwing, but don't hammer with the back or you'll deform the eye ..............only $85 each

10. Three Throwing Hawks by KRJ: these are the standard throwers made by Keith Johnson, Bemidji, MN. All mild steel with a hardened edge...these have decorative stampings added by Keith for me .................only $39 each

11. Old Craftsman Hatchet: this has a very handsome hand-whittled handle with great PATINA which might be used to haft an original head as desired ..............only $35

12. Antique LEMAN triggerguard and buttplate: these appear to be off of a Leman-styled Plains rifle...very nice patina on both brass pieces ..............only $40

13. Antique Early Folding Knife: very early and very nice and fully intact/functional. Blade is engraved with Latin and also has very nice filework on the back edge ..............only $645

14. Antique Dutch/German Musket parts: lock is signed "P. Hann" in the middle and "A. Berlin" along the plate bevel at the foreend. Der Stockel lists Hann in Dusseldorf ca. 1700. Great triggerguard carved with high relief and floral/torch finials. Magnificnet pierced sideplate with opposing dragon heads, percussion hammer and mainspring also included .......... nice parts! ..............all only $125

15. Knife Blade Blanks for builders: these are Torch-cut blanks from L-6 sawblade material, cut using a C&C plama torch which leaves very minimal heating along the edge. These can be ground to final finish or even forged further and will yield high quality steel knives........
Top blade: Bowie style...$15 2nd from top: Hunter..$8
3rd from top: Dagger........$ 8 4th from top: Big Dag.$8
5th from top: Sportsman..$10 Bottom: Stilletto.......$6
Guards: any one.......$5

16. 3 Hand-forged Blades for builders:
Top: Damascus blade in "wood grain" pattern, forged from a coiled car hood spring....very unique..and hard!.............. $125
Middle: Damascus blade from Chainsaw chains .............. $75
Bottom: Hunting Knife from a file .............. $45

17. Old Traps with tags dating to 1946-47:
Three Beaver-size traps with dated tags .............. $20 each
Two Muskrat traps...ca. 1910 style .............. $15 each

18. Rendezvous Tent Stakes: hand-forged tent stakes 14" long and stout with hook on the end .............. $ 5 each

12519 37th St SE, Clear Lake, MN 55319, 320-743-3327