Critique Request Henry 22

[Douglas]

After taking Rex’s basic gun engraving class in May I have wanted to get a Henry 22 and engrave it. Here is how it turned out. These are great guns to engrave.

Question
I was also was going to post some picture of a Winchester I just finished, but I nickel plated it and it’s a bugger to photograph “to BLINGYâ€￾ . I’ve read on this site a reference to Antique nickel can anyone explain what that is please. I assuming it’s flat black wiped over the nickel but I could be wrong
I really like the nickel but in the pictures it's hard to see the details

 

[Donny]

I've been debating if I should get one of these myself!!!! You just pushed me over the edge!!! Very COOL

Donny

 

[scott99]

Very nice engraving, fits the gun.

scott99 :clapping: :clapping:

 

[ken dixon]

Nice looking job Where in Wy are you?

Ken

 

[Robert Jobe]

Nice engraving. :clapping:R:Rex is a Great teacher:bow:

 

[Douglas]

My wife and I are from Southwest Wyoming. I live in Nebraska because of my job. We still have a home in the Windrivers

 

[monk]

you asked- i'm going to be the "bad boy" here. your engraving technique is real good. the negative- in my opinion : some of your small scroll don't flow out gracefully. thay start at too steep an angle. this is not an engraving fault-- rather one of scroll design and development. having said that-- in spite of what i said, i happen to like it. that gun has a lot of "real estate". it's easy to get lost in an area that large. there's a few books on scroll design mentioned in many postings on this forum. get one of those books, & i know you have a real future in this art form.

 

[Douglas]

Thanks Monk
I want feedback it’s the only way you can get better. I have most of the book and video out there and Lee’s most recent book. So can you help explain your comment too steep? I know there are some elbows and flat spots. Red lining it may help me.

 

[Lee]

Douglas, Several of the scrolls are quite stretched and because of this flatten out. My guess is you wondered how to handle the screws and fill the area. Screws are a nuisance at best and create a design challenge. It would be a good educational exercise to go back to the template and draw a bunch more designs. Try moving the starting points to different locations. Draw in the backbones of the scroll first and ignore the leaves until the backbones fill the space like you want them. I have a chapter in the book explaining how to isolate backbone lines so they can be analyzed and look for straight or flat areas. One of the options for a starting point is to roll the scrolls off the circle in the middle. I've VERY quickly drawn in some other options including one using the starting points you used. None of these are close to a finished design and I would refine any of them significantly before using but I'm trying to open up your mind to other possibilities and pay close attention to the roundness and flow of the scrolls. Sometimes instead of stretching a scroll to fill an area it would be better to put another one in. This piece also has the potential for some interlocking scrolls which Sam covered nicely in an earlier thread.

 

[celticjohn]

Douglas,
Looks great. My questions are how long have you been engraving prior to the gun engraving class? Was the rifle h&c or power assist engraved. You obviously found the class of much benefit. I've been contemplating some classes (online or travelling to UK/Europe) Trouble is for the cost of the classes I could kit myself out with some power as currently I'm still push graving and finding it hard to get myself motivated.

 

[fegarex]

Douglas,
I got to this late but you got good advice. It looks good but the scrolls need attention as mentioned. You're coming along good!
Rex

 

[Douglas]

Thanks Lee that helps. I guess I should go back and study your book better.
Proving feedback and advice from the masters us novices, not providing words will not push the art t0 the next level for many of us that want to learn the art.
Thanks again to all

 

[Douglas]

Thanks Rex
I signed up for your 2012 fall calls can’t wait

 

[Douglas]

Celiticjohn
I have been engraving for a few years push and power, only power now. I would never be able to do what I can to this point without the instruction I have received by attending the class at GRS and the instruction videos and books like Lee and Sam have and feedback you get from this site.
I highly recommend any class from GRS, the instructor are great! It will be money well spent, if you have a passion for the art