Announcement: Retirement

[Sam]

I can't think of anyone more deserving of retirement than your father, Marcus. He's certainly done his part to change and improve the world of hand engraving. I've studied his work for years, and still do every time I see a photo.

While I didn't take his course, Abigail and I did spend quite a bit of time with you and Ken, and it was a teary goodbye when we had to leave.

We'll all be anxious to see his paintings! I can still see Ken with his sketch book sketching furiously during our jam sessions in Emporia.

Please give him our best wishes.

Sam & Abigail

 

[Peter E]

I had never met your father Marcus, but I also marveled at pictures of his work. Hopefully he will have a long and enjoyable retirement.

 

[BrianPowley]

Marcus, attending Grand Masters with your father and you was a memorable and defining week for me.

Your father is a legend. I'm sure you'll carry on the tradition. You certainly are qualified to do so.

Tell your father happy retirement.
All the best.
Cheerio!

 

[jimzim75]

I have never met your father Marcus, but from your writings I come to get the sense
of the man and his engraving. I would think he would still be interested in weighing on
the direction of design for engraving. I wish him a happy retirement and hope to hear
what he and you think in the future.

Jim

 

[Glenn]

Marcus,
As you know, I was wanting a piece of your fathers work in my collection. After studying the work you did for me and having it in my collection to look at many times since you finished it, more than ever I wanted to have some thing that your dad has engraved. Of course, his time was not such that he could do a project for me. Three months ago I was able to purchase a fully engraved mauser action that is signed by your dad. This I keep in my desk at work so I can study it at will. Now more than ever I consider myself one lucky guy.
I wish your father a happy retirement. I will surely think of him often.
Best regards to him.
Glenn

 

[Fred Bowen]

Marcus,
It was truly an honor and incredible experience to have been in your father's GM class. Spending time with him and you outside of class was very entertaining and enlightening. I will always remember how to use the term "Union Jack" properly and enjoyed his stories and knowledge of.. well, just about everything.
It is good that he recognized when to start a new life in a different art form. Please give him my regards and that I wish him the best.

 

[KCSteve]

Marcus

Best of luck to your father - may his retirement be a long and happy one!

 

[Martin Strolz]

Marcus,
It was a delight to have met your father in Emporia and I send my best wishes for his future. I believe that the engravers, collectors and gunmakers would love to see his work published. A book on his art would be great!

Martin

 

[John B.]

Marcus, everything Martin just said.
Ken, a great talent and and joyful gentleman who opened so many doors.

Respect always.

 

[jerrywh]

That is sad news for me. At least we have the great legacy of his works. I have admired his work for many years. He is truely one of the great masters of our day.

 

[Roger Bleile]

Marcus,

Among engravers and gun collectors world wide the description "Hunt engraved" has meant high quality and artistic merit for decades. Building on the work of the late Harry Kell, your father was a pioneer among those who took engraving from an ancient trade to an art form. My best wishes to him for a happy and fulfilling retirement.

Roger Bleile

 

[WDA]

After having met Ken at Emporia Kansas in 2007 , I can say he is as impressive as
an individual as his work is in the engraving world. Thank you for being a pioneer
in the engraving world and a very classy genteman. I will say the work of Kens' will
always be a benchmark that will be studied and admired by every engraver. Best
wishes. Thank you Marcus for your participation and words of wisdom that have ,
I am sure, been greatly influenced by your father. Best regards to both of you.
Bill Albers

 

[Dennis Sprague]

Marcus
Please forward my best to your father on his retirement. I have never met him,but thru you passing on some of his advice and a article in the double gun journal I feel a respect for the man and his work.
Dennis

 

[pilkguns]

Well best wishes to a wonderful gentleman and talented beyond words artisan. I treasure the memories of escorting the two of you around in that big black Lincoln and the many jokes and good times we had together. I look forward to see what is forthcoming from Ken's palette and brushes now.

 

[Crazy Horse]

Although it's sad to hear of a master"s retirement, it will come to all of us lesser engravers. The bright spot on the horizon is that Ken Hunt's legacy lives on in his son Marcus.
It would be nice to see some of Ken Hunt's most notable works and maybe ask if he would show which piece he considers to be his "Masterpiece."

 

[Peter E]

It would be nice to see some of Ken Hunt's most notable works and maybe ask if he would show which piece he considers to be his "Masterpiece."

If you have "Steel Canvas" by R.L. Wilson, there is some great work by Ken Hunt in there.

 

[Ron Smith]

Marcus,

I would like for you to give Kenny my rgards and say that his retirement is well deserved and his commitment to the art has been an inspiration to me. I think back at some of the cartoons that he did and realized that he was truly an artist of many types of media.

I hope and wish him the best and admire his sense of humor. He is a great guy, and I hope that we will see him again here in America. I also admire the relationship that you have with him. It is as a father and son should be.

I will drink a toast to his retirement and thank him for his inspiration. I also would like to see some of his painting art if that is possible. I am sure that others would like to see it too.

Best of luck Kenny!!

Ron S

 

[airamp]

Hi,

I have had the honor of speaking by phone with your father and have to say he is truly a gentleman, skilled artist, and really quite a guy.

He first called me about a Weston vise I picked up on ebay and when he learned I was a beginning engraver he spent about a half an hour explaining techniques and a few stories of the colt factory custom shop.

One in particular that sticks in my mind is that how the engravers soaked there hammer handles in kerosene at night so they would be springy when working with H&C. That just amazed me.

His engravings are outstanding pieces of art and will live on as fine tribute to a Master Engraver, Teacher, and Gentleman.

He mentioned he works 10-12 hour days so now that he is retiring hopefully he will only be enjoying the art a 4 hour day???

Thank you Ken for all the help and being a great help and inspiration to myself and may engravers for years and many years to come.

Enjoy your retirement (semi retirement hopefully???)

Wish I could be there for your gracious invitation to your gathering.

God Bless,

Mike (AirAmp)

 

[rod]

Marcus,

Your dad was very kind to me when I first met you both at a Grand Master's weekend a few years ago. I had no engraving reputation, and felt very honoured to be treated with good humour and on equal terms. We enjoyed a few jokes together, and I remember him sketching away when you and I were swapping some songs. He let me take a few pictures of his quick sketches during the informal music sessions. I do hope he will continue his art and projects of passion, now that he has chosen to wind down his professional career of distinction! I take the liberty of posting a few pictures below.

Hope to get back before long to walk in the Cotswolds, maybe we can find time for a cup of tea and chat if I come within range of your place?

Thank you for your continuing support on iGraver with your many informative postings, and for your encouragement!

best

Rod

 

[Marcus Hunt]

Rod, you are always welcome. Lookin' forward to seeing you sometime. I'll print out and send Dad the photos.

Once again, thanks everybody for your kind wishes.