Services

Information

 Photos

Shooting

The “Mills” Boys

Owensboro, Kentucky

     Joe W. Mills is one of those folks that I have to give much credit for who I am today. I’ve heard Earl Lanning say so many times that, “we are an amalgamation of the inspiration from those few significant individuals who we intimately encounter along the journey of life.” Actually the whole “Mills” family has been a great influence upon who I am. Watching Randall Mills, the patriarch of the Mills clan, and the interaction and constant respect practiced between him and all three of his sons has set a wonderful example; and to emulate this admirable family has been a personal goal in the interaction with my own five children.

 The Patriarch of the Clan, Randall Mills and Joe at the 1^st Hammer In - 1995

     Joe and I have been close friends and hunting buddies since the early 1970’s. I had just begun attending Western Kentucky University and had taken a summer job with the U.S. Corps of Engineers at Barren River Reservoir. There I met a man who would become my dear friend and mentor, Russell McGuire. Shortly thereafter, Russell introduced me to the world of living history and “Rendezvous” by doing several programs for the campers at the park where programming was my responsibility. Early that fall, he invited me to the “Mills Boys - Come as you are, Do as you please - Cow Pasture Rendezvous”. That’s where I met Joe, his father Randall, and his brothers, Mike and Greg.  Meeting Russell that summer and then later the Mills Boys and others at that first rendezvous, literally started me along the path upon which I am still traveling today.    

Joe Mills  - Contemporary Longrifle Association Auction - Lexington, Kentucky - 2006

     But even more than those highlights at the once a year show; Joe Mills’ name has been long recognized in the muzzleloading world for his unique and creative leatherwork.  He creates examples of the old time hunting pouches, based on originals from the 18^th and 19^th centuries.  Joe researches, collects, and recreates those accoutrements that were used by muzzleloading hunters and shooters of past centuries.  With the resurgence of interest in black powder shooting in the second half of the 20^th century, the desire for authentically reproduced shooting pouches has prompted Joe to recreate authentic examples of these utility items. His attention to detail, coupled with his creative bent results in the production of his hand made, but very usable works of art. 

     The first shooting pouch I had him make for me was to go with the “Grant Gun” that Hershel House and I had completed in the fall of 1984. In mid December, Joe and his wife Vickie delivered the bag to my home in Bowling Green. My daughter Paige had just been born only days before, and Vickie was only days from giving birth to their first child Jessica. This is still the bag that I use most all the time and is truly a cherished possession.

                                     1984 Grant Gun bag with Roland Cadle horn

Handy inside pouches

   Most of the time Joe will utilize an original horn to accompany his bags. In this particular case I preferred using one of my own – a banded horn with an applied bone tip, produced by well-known contemporary horner, Roland Cadle. Notice that this horn is not attached to the bag; this being one of several powder horns that I have used through the years with this bag.

     For the most part Joe’s bags have a natural patina, a look and feel that tends to make contemporary horns more often than not, seem “out of place”. It is somewhat rare to find one of Joe’s bags upon which a modern horn appears exceptionally complementary unless the horn has also been produced with a nice warm mellow appearance.

Heavily aged Mills bag

Hershel House knife and original measure & powder horn

     The above heavily aged bag was actually in Joe’s “cull” pile. This piece was created using old leather and I must admit was sort of a “pickle” when I first picked it up out of a pile of scrap leather on the floor of Joe’s basement shop one evening. It was so stiff one could hardly get your hand into it. But I fell in love with it and coaxed Joe to make friends with it, doing his magic to soften it up and make it user friendly. It has always been one of my favorite bags. The original powder horn, purchased from Jim Dresslar, has a southern feel with its green color and turned bulbous bottom plug with turned horn knob to keep the strap. It has a nice double curve and perfectly compliments this very functional bag. The powder measure is also an original piece, but the longknife attached to the back of the bag is contemporary and by Hershel House.

Mills bearskin bag with original horn

Back of the bearskin bag showing small original bag axe

This neat little pouch was produced somewhat early in Joe’s career as a bag maker. It is fashioned from bearskin and completely hand stitched. It is 10 inches wide, but rather shallow being only 6 inches deep, making its contents easy to find and readily accessible. It is constructed with double pockets in the main compartment and the accoutrements: horn, vent pick and axe attached to this bag are all original but still very serviceable tools. The spout plug of this original powder horn is rather unique and is also a powder measure, being hollowed out to hold 40 grains.

Large Mills bag designed for Woods Walks

Individual compartments inside bag

     This large bag was designed specifically to carry the many things that might be called for in a situational “woods walk”- shooting event. It’s large enough (11 inches x 14 inches) that all the necessary components for shooting a rifle, smooth bore, and a pistol…multiple sizes of balls, wads, everything, will fit nicely. In serious primitive shooting events, often points are given for articles ranging from fishing equipment to a small steel trap and with this bag, along with the below pictured haversack, one can easily “hit the woods” and have everything needed to survive or be competitive.

Mills Haversack with coconut noggin

Inside pockets for compass, spyglass and fire-making kit

Hunting Bag inspired by early inlaid Ky. furniture

Back of bag showing axe by Aubrey Williams

    This “Hunting Bag” is Joe’s interpretation of an 18^th century outfit that could have been made in frontier Kentucky. The front design was inspired by the inlay patterns found on early Kentucky furniture. The bag shows Germanic influence, yet the work is just crude enough that it is obviously not “cordwainer” made. It is rather large measuring 10½ inches deep by 12 inches wide. The little urn that the vine is coming out of is actually a copper overlay, and the matching copper pan brush and forged vent pick are by Brad Mills, Joe’s eldest son. The turned horn measure is by brother Greg Mills, and Charles Miller created the adjustable measure with flint striker along its side. Charlie also made the bear-bone handled patch knife attached to the strap. The attached powder horn with applied collar and internal screw tip is an original piece. The little Kentucky styled bag axe is a product of the Lake Cumberland Mini Show and Hammer In and was made by Aubrey Williams during his 2003 blacksmithing workshop.

“I.H.” shooting pouch – engraved measure by Bruce Horne – Patch-knife and folding vent pick by Charles Miller

   This special hunting pouch was made to go with a fine flintlock rifle that Earl Lanning made for my son Isaac for his high school graduation. The patch-knife attached to the back of the bag is by Charlie Miller as well as the folding vent pick that looks like a little pin knife. The engraved powder measure is by Bruce Horne. The decoration on this bag is also reminiscent of vine type inlay found on Kentucky furniture, but on either side of the flowering vine are the owners’ initials “I.H.”.

   The last two bags featured are just precious. Joe gave both of these bags to my son Isaac, soon after I had made him a little miniature flintlock rifle for his 7^th birthday. As you can tell with the 12-inch ruler included for perspective, the little haversack is only about 7 inches wide and the little bag only about 5 inches, yet both are very usable by little hands and together with his rifle made for a great boys outfit.

     Joe and Vickie Mills now have five children; their daughter Jessica, who is in college; Brad, who has just graduated high school, and “the boys”. His running buddies these days are his three younger sons, Joseph, Nicholas,

Joe and his boys

 and Michael. Sometimes he will enlist Brad to help keep them in line, but all agree that Joe is one of the best fathers we have ever known…second only to his own father, Randall.

     A diligent father, a professional real estate broker and auctioneer, a well-known contemporary artist, Joe has also taken the time to be a loyal comrade throughout the years. He has been there many times when I needed him, if for nothing more than a listening ear. And…time after time, we’ve traded – almost never any cash changing hand. And although, he always drives a hard bargain, I always feel in debt to him, as I can never seem to do more for him than he invariably does for me.

     On a closing note, for years Joe would send me to the Eastern Rendezvous with a cluster of his bags, wanting me to trade them for any original powder horns that I might see. And in those days, back in the early 80’s, most every year I would come back and present him with a sack full of nice original horns, many of which he tells me he still has to this day.  And there are several that I remember well…and would just love to trade him back out of !

Thanks Joe ! I appreciate and treasure your friendship.

                                                                                                 Sincerely

       Mel Hankla

Contemporary Artists

Kentucky Longrifles

What’s New?

Coming Events