I'm just getting into a set of three Custom Shop Colts SSA's - these are 2nd Generation .45's with three different barrel lengths, matching ivories, and consecutive serial numbers. The subject Theme is set by the client following Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday and "The Cowboys."
Given the "Hollywood...
I did consider that, but these will be cased with the two others and having the 2 scrolled flutes, one under the frame top and the other facing the bottom of the frame, it made little sense to incude the Jokers there. There are three guns, three different barrel lengths and with consecutive...
I'm working on a set of three 2nd Generation Colt SSA revolvers - three barrel lengths, Custom Shop Ivory Grips, and with consecutive serial numbers. I have completed much of the work on various areas of the three, but this is the cylinder of the first....inlaid with gold and platinum borders...
I agree - I still use Mitch's Cylinder Blocks for holding many different parts for engraving. At the moment I have a floorplate mounted for engraving and inlaying this work-in-progress lion. The curve of the floorplate is slight compared to many gun parts, but the ability to rotate it in the...
As a founding member, I recall Frank's willingness to guide us through the process of forming a guild. As many have recalled, each of us at the very first meeting put $20 bills into Tommy Kay's hat to help fund the effort. When it came to time select leadership, we all looked to Frank. He...
It was also an honor for me to be teaching my Grand Masters Class at the same time as Sams. While Sam's students were working on their beautifully designed project, my group of 12 were engraving a variety of Colt Firearms. Class members brought Single Action Army Colts of various barrel...
I have been teaching hand engraved at the Marc Admas School for the past four years. My classes have been for beginners and using hammers and chisels. In 2019 Marc is going to expand his curriculum to include air-powered engraving.
The School is located just south of Indianapolis at Franklin...
Thanks,
I'll be at the Ohio Gun Collectors show this weekend at the FEGA table with Mike Fennel and Brian Powley. The Stonewall rifle will be on display - stop by an visit!
I have shown a few incidental photos of this rifle in other threads including the one about "Hand Push". I just got it all put back together yesterday and these are my first shop photos of the completed rifle.
The base rifle is a "Henry Original," a faithful reproduction of the 1860 Henry...
RB: I spend lots of time engraving but little time on the forums...so it all seems new to me. "Hand Push" caught my eye, and because I was into the Stonewall portrait at the time, it seemed like a good time to respond.
It's difficult to develop the skills needed for hand push engraving, and that development can go on for years before one gains a "feel" for the tools. It's a seemingly simple process - pushing a graver through metal - but there is a huge amount of practice that goes on through an engraver's...
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...
Every engraver eventually comes up with their own particular way of sharpening Liners. Some of that depends on how one uses the Liner. Here are three photos that I use in my classes along with our discussions and hands-on use of the power hone and Dual Angle Fixture.
The first photo is a...
I posted photos of the 2019 Safari Rifle here in late October 2018 when John Bolliger and I had finished the work. The rifle has been featured in the SCI Magazine and in other advertising leading up to the Saturday (January 12, 2019) evening Auction. Meanwhile, like with all other major...
I agree with Sam - all engravers, using power assist or push, need to be creative when making gravers and punches. Power Hones make it easier, speed the process and increase the accuracy and repeatability, but I still make my own punches for sculpting. Beading tools make up many of the punches...
When I visited the Giovanetti Bottega with the GRS Group in 2005, we saw rolling racks of Beretta receivers that were very lightly laser etched. The Bottega engravers were then recutting the etched patterns.
This is the next step, then, in recreating hand engraving in the modern format...