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The Filson Historical Society — Since 1884
Sporting Clay Classic Raffle2026
A finished flintlock fowling piece in profile on dark velvet — tiger-stripe maple stock, brass furniture, 44-inch barrel — representative of the piece Patrick Lewis is hand-finishing for the Filson raffle.

Win a custom-made flintlock fowling piece.

A historic flintlock shotgun for birds and small game — hand-built by Filson President & CEO Patrick A. Lewis, Ph.D. from a Kibler Longrifles kit. $25 an entry, or 4 for $100. Drawn live October 30 at the Filson.

Buy an entry — from $25

$575 raised

of $25,000 goal

Winner picks up in person at the Filson

Kentucky residents 18+ · Void where prohibited

The Filson Historical Society · Est. 1884501(c)(3) Nonprofit · EIN 61-0444690Kentucky Charitable Gaming License ORG0002993

The piece

A working 1760s fowling piece.

A fowling piece is a long-barreled smoothbore made for birds and small game — the workaday gun many Kentucky settlers carried west across the Cumberland Gap.

The kit was donated by Kibler Longrifles of Hanoverton, Ohio — renowned for authentic period detail, manufacturing precision, and reliable lockwork. Because Kibler donated the kit, every dollar raised goes to the Filson.

Design

1760s English fowling piece

Builder

Kibler kit · finished by Patrick Lewis

Lock

Kibler CNC English flintlock

Barrel

44″ three-stage round-to-octagonal

Overall length

Approximately 60 inches

Hardware

Brass · relief-cast thumb piece · shell carving

Close-up of the finished English flintlock and side plate set into tiger-stripe maple.
The lock
Hand-carved shell relief and scrollwork at the wrist of the finished fowler.
Wrist carving
The finished butt of the fowler — relief-carved shell, brass medallion, and tiger-stripe maple.
Butt & medallion

Details from a previous Kibler fowler

The build

Forty hours by the museum’s CEO.

Filson President & CEO Patrick Lewis is putting roughly forty hours into this piece himself — assembling the lock, refining the shell carving at the wrist, staining the tiger-stripe maple, and finishing every surface by hand.

Then comes the part most modern guns skip: he ages it. The technique came from the workshop of weapons historian Mel Hankla — the historian who’ll give the post-shoot lecture at the Classic. The finished fowler will read like a piece carried west across the Cumberland Gap and kept for two centuries in a Kentucky family.

Raw, unfinished maple stock of a Kibler fowling piece — fully shaped but pale and unstained.

Stage one

Raw stock, fully shaped

Carved shell relief on the wrist of the unfinished Kibler fowler stock — chiseled detail before any stain or finish.

Stage two

Hand-carved shell relief

The same wrist area on a finished Kibler fowler — tiger-stripe maple stained warm amber, the carved shell now sharp under the finish.

Stage three

Stained, oiled, aged

40
Hours of hand work
$3,500
Estimated retail value, finished
2
Centuries of patina, deliberately

What your ticket does

Every ticket purchased helps preserve and share the stories of Kentucky and the Ohio Valley.

The Filson is a privately supported, non-profit historical society founded in 1884. Through the generosity of our members and donors, we collect, preserve, and share the stories, documents, and artifacts that connect us to our region’s past and inspire future generations.

142

Years of collecting, preserving, and sharing history

90+

Educational programs serving learners of all ages

18,000+

People served each year through programs, exhibitions, research services, and community outreach

Collections

Preserving the stories of Kentucky and the Ohio Valley

The Filson’s library, archives, and museum collections include manuscripts, photographs, books, maps, and artifacts that document the people, places, and events that shaped our region. These collections are available to researchers, students, educators, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of our shared history.

Programs

History brought to life through engaging public programs

From the James J. Holmberg Lecture Series and Gertrude Polk Brown Lecture Series to the Filson Institute, Dine & Dialogue, exhibitions, and educational programs, the Filson connects people with history through thoughtful conversations and lifelong learning.

Campus & Community

Making history accessible to all

Visitors can explore the Filson’s historic campus in Old Louisville through free tours of the Ferguson Mansion, attend public exhibitions and programs, and experience history beyond our walls through partnerships with schools, libraries, and community organizations throughout Kentucky and the Ohio Valley.

How it works

Simple, regulated, transparent.

  1. 1

    Buy your entries online

    $25 per entry, or 4 for $100. Buy as many as you like — there is no limit on the number of entries.

  2. 2

    Get your confirmation by email

    Your entries are confirmed by email immediately, showing how many you hold. Forwardable. Print or save.

  3. 3

    Drawing live on October 30, 2026

    The winner is drawn at random from all entries, live at the Filson Historical Society in Louisville, coinciding with the Sporting Clay Classic at Ashbourne Farms in La Grange, Kentucky. Winner need not be present. The Filson contacts the winner by phone and email within 48 hours.

  4. 4

    Pick up in person

    The winner picks up the fowling piece in person at the Filson Historical Society in Old Louisville, within 90 days of the drawing. The Filson does not ship the piece under any circumstance. Buyers accept these terms at the time of purchase. If a winner cannot complete in-person pickup within 90 days, an alternate winner is drawn.

Frequently asked

Common questions, plainly answered.

Is this raffle legitimate?
Yes. The Filson Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 61-0444690) founded in 1884. The raffle is conducted under a Kentucky Charitable Gaming License issued by the Kentucky Department of Charitable Gaming, license number ORG0002993. The fowling piece kit was donated by Kibler Longrifles, so 100% of every dollar goes to the Filson’s mission.
Can I buy from outside Kentucky?
No. Entries are open only to Kentucky residents who are 18 or older. The Kentucky Department of Charitable Gaming, which licenses this raffle, limits sales to Kentucky residents, so we cannot accept entries from outside the Commonwealth. The winner must also travel to the Filson in Louisville to claim the prize in person — the Filson does not ship the fowling piece under any circumstance.
What if I win and can’t make it to Louisville?
The winner has 90 days from the drawing to collect the piece in person at the Filson Historical Society in Louisville. If a winner cannot complete in-person pickup within 90 days for any reason, an alternate winner is drawn. By purchasing an entry you accept these terms.
Can I gift my ticket or the prize?
You can give your raffle tickets to any Kentucky resident 18 or older — the same eligibility rules apply to a gifted entry. If a gifted ticket wins, the recipient becomes the winner and is responsible for in-person pickup and any transfer requirements that apply at the place of pickup.
Is my ticket tax-deductible?
No. Per IRS rules, raffle ticket purchases are not tax-deductible as charitable contributions, even when the proceeds support a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The fair market value of the prize may be reportable as income to the winner; the Filson will issue a Form W-2G if required.
How is the winner drawn?
Every entry you buy is recorded against your name and confirmed by email at purchase. The winner is drawn at random from all entries, live on October 30, 2026 at 12:30 PM Eastern at the Filson Historical Society, 1310 South Third Street, Louisville, Kentucky. The drawing coincides with the Filson Sporting Clay Classic and luncheon at Ashbourne Farms the same day. The winner need not be present at the drawing; the Filson will contact the winner by phone and email within 48 hours.
Are entries on sale now?
Yes — entries are on sale now and remain on sale until 12:15 PM Eastern on October 30. There is no cap on the number of entries sold. Entries are sold through RallyUp, the licensed platform the Filson uses for this raffle, and RallyUp emails your confirmation at checkout.

Buy your entries

$25 an entry, or 4 for $100. Drawn live October 30.

Entries are on sale now, $25 each or 4 for $100. Buy as many as you like — there is no limit, and sales close at 12:15 PM Eastern on October 30.

Because Kibler Longrifles donated the kit, every dollar from every entry goes directly to the Filson’s mission — the library, the public programs, and the Ferguson Mansion campus open to anyone, free.

Entry pricing

1 entry
$25
4 entries
$100
Buy entries

Entries are sold through RallyUp, the licensed platform the Filson uses for this raffle. You’ll choose your number of entries there and receive a confirmation email from RallyUp. By purchasing you confirm you are 18 or older, a Kentucky resident, and willing to travel to the Filson in Louisville, Kentucky to claim the prize in person if you win.

With gratitude

Thank you to Kibler Longrifles.

The Filson is grateful to Kibler Longrifles of Hanoverton, Ohio for donating the Fowler kit that makes this raffle possible. Their donation means every dollar from every ticket goes directly to the Filson’s mission. Explore their full line of historic American weapon kits — longrifles, fowlers, and more — at the link below.

Visit Kibler Longrifles

Official rules & eligibility

The fine print, plainly written.

  • Eligibility. Open only to residents of the Commonwealth of Kentucky who are 18 years of age or older and willing to travel to the Filson Historical Society in Louisville, Kentucky to claim the prize in person if they win. This raffle is licensed by the Kentucky Department of Charitable Gaming, which limits entry sales to Kentucky residents; entries purchased by non-residents are void and will be refunded. Filson Historical Society employees, board members, and their immediate household members are not eligible.
  • Drawing. One winning entry will be drawn at random, live on October 30, 2026 at 12:30 PM Eastern at The Filson Historical Society · 1310 South Third Street · Louisville, Kentucky. The drawing and announcement of the winner coincide with the Filson Sporting Clay Classic and luncheon at Ashbourne Farms the same day. Winner need not be present. The Filson will contact the winner by email and phone within 48 hours of the drawing.
  • Prize pickup — in person only. The winner must pick up the fowling piece in person at the Filson Historical Society, 1310 South Third Street, Louisville, Kentucky, within 90 days of the drawing. The Filson will not ship the piece under any circumstance. Raffle participants accept these terms at the time of ticket purchase. The winner must be legally permitted to take possession of a firearm under federal, state, and local law; the winner is responsible for any transfer requirements that apply at the place of pickup. If the winner cannot complete in-person pickup within 90 days for any reason, an alternate winner will be drawn.
  • Number of entries and sales cutoff. There is no maximum number of entries. Sales end at 12:15 PM Eastern on October 30.
  • Charitable gaming. The Filson Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 61-0444690). This raffle is conducted under a Kentucky Charitable Gaming License issued by the Kentucky Department of Charitable Gaming. License number: ORG0002993.
  • Tax treatment. The fair market value of the prize may be reportable as income to the winner. The Filson will issue a Form W-2G if required. Raffle ticket purchases are not tax-deductible as charitable contributions under IRS rules.