Question: Gold Background

[tdelewis]

I have been looking at the beautiful work of Brian Hochstrat on the recent post of the Browning shotgun. I would like to know how the gold sky was done. Was it done in the usual way of raising teeth and hammering in gold wire? Is there another way. If it was done with gold wire that is a lot of gold.

 

[SamW]

I have done very little of the gold background. What little I know of it, it is done with wire inlay.

 

[Brian Hochstrat]

The gold background is done with regular inlay techniques, it is no different than any other inlay except there is just more of it.

 

[monk]

The gold background is done with regular inlay techniques, it is no different than any other inlay except there is just more of it.

brian: when you do these creations, how do you have time to sleep ? what you do must take tons of time !

 

[Mike Dubber]

Inlaying gold into backgrounds is about the same as any other inlay technique. This is a non-technical description, but I simply remove metal from the background, create a matrix of crosscuts in the voided area, and drive gold into the matrix. I use bold beads that I make up myself to complete the fill. It can then be dot punched or otherwise finished with a flat punch or textured punch.
The example below is my Colt Sheriff Gambler with selected backgrounds inlaid with gold and then dot punched.

 

[Roger Bleile]

Gold inlaid backgrounds have been gaining in popularity for engraved guns for the last decade. Nevertheless it is not a new technique. Below, I have attached engraving by Emanuel Sadeler of Munich circa 1605-1610.

 

[Crazy Horse]

Emanuel Sadeler of Munich

Old Emanuel Sadeler of Munich probably got that idea from lurking here at the Cafe. ;~)

 

[papart1]

That is exactly what I was thinking also Crazy Horse, probly from members like you and Mr. Roger. pap

 

[JJ Roberts]

Roger,Thanks for sharing those gold inlayed wheellocks. J.J.

 

[Big-Un]

I have several old books (some I can't read, another language) but the pictures of guns back in the 15-16th century speak for themselves.