Sorry for the insensitivity of the internet, I very rarely use emoticons :>).
Mark is the artist, IIRC, not I. I am a craftsman who seldom repairs guns, but did professionally for years. I've also done quite of bit of restoration on genuine antique firearms (more than 100 years old). When I do repairs I try to discover why the gun broke in the first place, repair it so that doesn't reoccur and there is little evidence of my work. And above all else, I do my best to insure that the gun will be safe to handle and shoot for generations to come.
Mark's approach to the grip work sounded entirely cosmetic to me. In an early post about Daryl's butt extension I praised the work which was purely cosmetic in nature with no structural concerns.
I've been seeing busted doubles glued back together with checkering camouflage for 30+ years, mostly by, or for dealers looking to make a good profit. I've also seen these stock re-break because the original concern was not addressed. Usually terrible wood layout. The gun shown above might have been one of them!?!
I just don't see this as an art form.
Anyone familiar with DT's/crossedchisel repairs will note that he adds a major wood mortice to the repaired area to insure strength and stability. David is a pro and hugely concerned with the longevity and safety of his work. He is fully aware of the cosmetic aspects as well.
One of our members had a valuable double restored a few years ago and is now aware of the possibility that some one in the future might want shoot it because it looks great? A very good thing to consider, IMO.
I wonder about the future of all my work, as I'm sure David does. I also wonder what would happen to one of these glued-together repairs, two owners down the road, when it got soaked in an acetone bath in a turkey broiler?
Basically I think a gun with cosmetic-only repairs should have holes drilled in the breeches so no one could ever shoot it again. But then someone with a micro-TIG would just weld it up and call it good, any way...
Whether anyone agrees, understands or not, I get to express my opinion just like everyone else. I apologize for sounding rude, but maybe a wake-up call was in order. Or maybe not...
Best,
Steve
This one has been use by two different student to practice checkering and by me to practice chiseling arcaded fences -- and yes, it is signed W. Richards! It is, and will remain, broken... and rendered inert.
