Judson Brennan: Alaskan Longrifle Artisan: Jesse Brennan and the Author Visit Mansker Station

Monday, August 27, 2018

Jesse Brennan and the Author Visit Mansker Station

Mansker Station is located in Goodlettsville just North of Nashville Tennessee. On our return from the CLA we stopped by to visit the site and to see the first Bench Copy of the original Mansker Rifle that Jud had created years ago expressly for this museum site.

Pictures from our visit and of our excellent tour guides, Jennifer Kirk & Bill Maddox follow. The site is managed by the City of Goodlettsville as a window into our country's past and geared towards showing school children the realities of Frontier Life, including demonstrations of Frontier industry, blacksmithing and commerce.

Judson J. Brennan was born in Lansing Michigan where he developed an interest in early American longrifles, especially the beautiful and artistic flintlock rifles that were hand made by artisans during the Golden Age of American frontier craftsmanship.

Thanks to the friendship and encouragement of mentors like Roy Keeler, as a young man Jud was able to actually handle and inspect the construction, and the proportion and balance of original Pennsylvania Kentucky rifles. He then set out to teach himself the techniques required to build, carve and engrave contemporary examples of these rifles. His work has been featured in many books and articles on the craft and artistry of these tools of the American pioneers.

In 1985 Judson fulfilled a lifelong dream by moving to Alaska where he settled with his family on Tenderfoot hill, 29 miles North of Delta Junction Alaska.

It is here that he built his house, his workshop, and his forge and it is here that he and his sons Jesse, David and Seth produce handmade historical arms and accoutrements in the traditional manner.

The purpose of this blog is to illuminate the beautiful and artistic works of this unique Alaskan family.

The author is collaborating with Jesse Brennan to present a new website for his work:

http://jessebrennanartsmith.blogspot.com

The author of this blog is Peter Marshall. He is a family physician in North pole, Alaska and has known Judson and his family since they arrived in Alaska in 1985. The author has a companion blog featuring his explorations around the State of Alaska.

It is called:

"Adventures of an Arctic Pilot" and it can be found on the web at:

http://k-syrahsyrah.blogspot.com/