A review of:
Lynton McKenzie Engraving Techniques and Smoke Prints
Published by Steven J. Lindsay
Lindsay Tools has published a fascinating book on Lynton McKenzie.
On the Introduction page it states it was compiled by Pam McKenzie, Steve Lindsay and Don Patch. It reads as if you were listening to McKenzie himself.
There are several sections covering engraving techniques used by this great Artist.
The richest source of unique information in this book is the section “Lynton McKenzie Smoke Prints”. There are thirty-four pages of smoke prints. On one page will be the prints as they appear, and on the facing page there is a negative image for ease in viewing.
The smokes are pulled from various works , including knives by Lake, Hoel , Osborne amongst others and Custom firearms by diverse makers such as Michael Ehinger, Daniel Frazier, Ed Weber, Martin Hagn, Freedom Arms and David Miller.
The book is spiral bound, in black and white and whiles not a coffee table show book it is a unique and indispensable addition to any Fine Gun Library and will hold a special place in the studious gunworkers’ bench reference material.
ACGG member David Trevallion knew McKenzie from the trade, and after looking through the book in Reno with Nigel Beaumont of Purdey’s, David had these recollections of Lynton:
“I first met McKenzie in a pub in London; He was introduced to me by my friend Ken Hunt. Ken said he was an up and coming engraver. Lynton came up behind Ken; he spent hours and days at Kens’ house in London, in Kens’ tiny upstairs studio, asking questions and pouring over Kens’ extensive engraving library, looking over his shoulder, learning techniques, and tips”.
“Later I visited him in New Orleans, he cut a Purdey for a client of mine who was a pigeon shooter, He did a Harrington and Richards pistol for me and finished a Winchester 21 that Griebel had started for me.”
“The last job of his I was involved with was the Ehinger Gun. I restocked it with a
cheekpiece for Henry Blagdon. Ken Hunt engraved the charges on the steel buttplate and
Winston Churchill did the silver stock escutcheon. Barry Lee Hands engraved the new
lockpins I made, it was a copy of one of Lynton’s favorite guns.”
“He was a great engraver, and this new book is a great resource”
For more info including ordering go to
http://www.HandGravers.com
