Thanks for the positive comments John and Sam. Frank was someone who we all looked up to and was the right person at the right time to move the guild forward as our first president.
Not John Kusmit or his brother, Nick. The scroll looks nothing like their work. Also if John had engraved it it would be signed J.K.
Looks more like the work of someone in Ken Hurst's shop to me.
The August 1979 issue of Guns Magazine has an article on Viramontez. Also Sam Welch wrote a very complete obituary for him in issue 112 of The Engraver magazine.
Santos,
German engravers of the 19th century all used similar source material both in their training and practice. Young, Nimschke, Helfricht, Bodenstein, et al. were all originally from the same region of Germany (Thuringia). Over the years, I have seen almost identical animals and game scenes...
Cowpolp,
You have not said whether you are cutting in the Asian method or the European or side hand method. Did you take your class from John Shippers? He uses the Asian Style (cutting toward yourself with a short chisel and short handled hammer). Most of the comments above are for the European...
That GTX was a steal! I cut templates into Plexiglas with a push graver. Problem is if you are not skilled at hand engraving you have to learn that first. Monk is a past master of making panto templates so take his advise.
Those pictures show relief scrollwork. Go to the engraving glossary to learn all the styles and techniques used in hand engraving.
www.engravingglossary.com
As far as the layout goes, I would just draw out the first one then make a smoke, ink or wax transfer for the succeeding 49.
Mitch, Here is a link to the whole story.
https://www.rockislandauction.com/riac-blog/the-battle-of-denver-city-hall