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I Love Muzzleloading
William H. Vietor, the Renaissance Man You've Never Heard Of
Learn more about this book at https://indianagunmakers.com/about-the-book/
The Cooley Collection of Vietor creations will be on display at the 2026 NMLRA Spring National Shoot during these days and times at the NMLRA Education Center in Friendship, Indiana:
June 13, 2026, Saturday 9-4
June 14, 2026, Sunday 10-4
June 15, 2026, Monday 10-2
June 16, 2026 Tuesday 10-2
About the Book:
Jeff Jaeger brings William H. Vietor’s world back to life through in-depth interviews, Vietor’s own poetry, and an extraordinary collection of photographs.
William and his son, Francis, were talented amateur photographers who preserved a rare and intimate record of their family’s life. Building on that legacy, Jaeger adds hundreds of detailed color photographs of Vietor’s rifles, pistols, violins, powder horns, and tools—capturing both craftsmanship and character.
A unique feature of this book is its interactive component: a QR code links to audio recordings of Vietor’s 1933 violin being played, along with readings of his poetry by his granddaughter and great-great-grandchildren.
About Jeff:
Jeff Jaeger is a longtime student, collector, and author of the American muzzle-loading longrifle, with a particular focus on those made in his home state of Indiana. With more than thirty years of collecting experience, he is known for his research and dedication to preserving Indiana’s gunmaking history.
Books by Jeff Jaeger:
- John Small of Vincennes, Gunsmith on the Western Frontier (2010)
- Indiana Gunmakers and Their Muzzle-Loading Longrifles, 1778–1900 (2021)
- William H. Vietor, Indiana Gunsmith and American Renaissance Man(2026)
More episodes
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94. Andrew Dixon - Falling in Love with History
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93. Matty Ward - The Stitched Waldo
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92. Chris Laubach - Williamsburg Forge
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91. Chris Supinger - Help, not Hinder
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90. My Friend Max
35:35||Ep. 90Today I share some stories from my friend Max, who got into muzzleloading in 1962, on the cusp of a cultural wave that would define the next 30 years.
89. Ben Starnes on representing the Southern Backcountry during America's 250th
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88. GOEX Has a New Owner
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