University Daily Kansan / Wednesday, June 29, 1988
11
Independence Days 1988
Pioneer-era design a real bang for gunsmith
Gun-making art preserved by local man
By Monica Hayde
Kansan staff writer
Pioneers relied on their guns as much as they relied on axes or other tools. And a Lawrence gunsmith is trying to keep alive the skill and art that went into designing and making a gun.
Pat Donahue, Lawrence lawyer and gunsmith, said that his hobby kept an important part of history alive. Donahue will demonstrate the steps that went into creating a 19th-century firearm at Independence Days, which will run Saturday through Monday.
"I'm amazed at the capacities of our forefathers," he said.
Techniques for making guns have changed since the 1800s, of course, but Donahue prefers to do things the old-fashioned way. He said that he had no interest in modern guns. He even designs and builds some of the machinery and tools used to make guns.
Donahue will demonstrate how a gun barrel is forged out of steel, how bullets are cast from lead and demonstrate how grooves are put into the inside of the barrel. That process is called rifling. Donahue built his own rifling bench. He said that it was similar to traditional rifling benches but that it had some of his own personality in it.
Every hand-crafted rifle or gun has a part of its maker in it, Donahue said.
"It's easy to identify makers of pieces," he said. "They were very careful to put in their own trademarks and style."
Donahue became interested in firearms during a hunting trip in Paraguay in 1972. He was hunting wild pigs with crude but accurate guns made by a Paraguayan Indian. One year later, Donahue was researching and making his own firearms.
"At the rate I work, it takes about four to six months to finish one," he said.
Donahue has completed about nine guns. He said that he would occasionally make a gun for a friend, but he does not sell guns. This will be Donahue's fourth year at Independence Days.
"I want to stress that firearm safety is a big concern of mine," he said.
Pat Donahue. Lawrence gunsmith, aims to make Independence Days a great time
Gun club to relive Old West
Steve Traynor/KANSAN
By Debbie Bengtson
Kansan staff writer
Every weekend for the past three months, gunfighters have gathered on the parched Kansas prairie to sharpen their skills as marksmans. This weekend, the shootists will bring their act to Independence Days.
The skits will be re-enactments of what could have or may have happened in the "Wild West" between 1870 and 1890. The plots are all a group effort, Crawford said.
"One of us will come up with a story to perform, and then we'll put it to the rest of the group," he said. "Then we tear it apart."
The group, established in 1982, has performed at every Independence Days celebration and competes around the country against other gunfighting clubs. Last weekend, it placed first at the regional competition in Tonganoxie.
Crawford and George Mills, executive director of the National Association of Gunfighters Teams, are planning this year's national championships during Cider Days, Sept. 17-18 in Topeka. Mills said all previous championship competitions had been in California. Mills and Crawford hope at least 20 of the 114 teams in the country will compete.
The Lawrence Gunfighting Association will perform its re-enactments of Old West gunfighting Saturday and Sunday.
Competition isn't the only reason the 16 members of the group enjoy performing.
The association, with its 16 members in either authentic or homemade costumes, will present four skits a day. Mike Crawford, president of the association, said many of the skits will be different from last year's.
performing.
"It's really fun," said Donna Mosher, Lawrence resident. "I like the people."
Nikki Klink, also of Lawrence, said her father got her interested because she enjoyed acting. "I like to act out the Old West," she said. "The Old West was more fun than anything else."
Mills agreed. "I know I think like everyone else when I say we were all probably born 100 years too late."
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