Theresa Smith | Collegian
The Introduction to Firearms Class and Hillsdale Firearms Club fired handmade 18th Century-style flintlock rifles made by the the “Blaker Boys” at Shooting Instructor Nate Padget’s home shooting range on Oct. 31.
Padget invited Norman and Davy Blaker, a father-son pair who reside in Hillsdale and construct their own muzzleloaders, to speak about the historical rifles and allow students to fire them.
“Actually, my father was doing this before I was born,” Davy Blaker said. “What you do is you have to buy the parts and build it.”
The Blakers have made flintlocks and their own gunpowder for almost 50 years.
“He builds a few rifles from time to time and if a person wants to buy one, he is sometimes willing to sell it,” Davy Blaker said. “It is not a business at all. It is just something done for enjoyment.”
Padget said for the past four years, the introductory course’s curriculum included the flintlock shoot. Due to a scheduling conflict, however, the class couldn’t include the Blakers’ lesson this fall semester. Instead, Padget hosted the Blaker Boys for a special event.
“We thought it would be special for the students to handle actual flintlocks,” Padget said.
Padget said the spring semester introductory class will have the opportunity to shoot flintlocks, too.
“It will be at my place or at the range, depending on the schedule,” he said. “I’ve already arranged with the Blaker Boys on that.”
In addition to building and shooting rifles, Davy Blaker owns a tax accounting business. The Blakers also participate in muzzleloading shoots.
Junior Matthew Little, president of the firearms club, said the shoot was an amazing experience and a look into American history.
“This was something our forefathers did,” Little said. “It was just you and some powder and some lead.”
