doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Which do you prefer, vintage engraving, or modern?

Related to the vintage gun thread earlier, I'm curious which style of engraving most people prefer, stylized vintage or modern realistic. Myself, I much prefer vintage engraving of fat little ducks with stubby wings, flying about as if by magic, rather than the ultra realistic work done today. Even more curious, I wonder if engravers of that period purposefully tried to make their work stylized, or if they thought it was realistic but just weren't very good at representation?

Mark:
I'll cast my vote for the stuff done in the UK in the late 19th Century/early 20th. If you're talking wildlife only, the British stuff was a bit stylized, but overall decent. American animals were mostly so poorly done as to be laughable. But some of America's immigrant engravers did well -- although their style was mostly Teutonic.

The current trend toward Bulino photo-realistic engraving is impressive at first, then one soon begins to realise that as precise as it may be, it simply amounts to a photo on your gun. I prefer art. And that includes interpretation by the artist -- something you know much about.

As for scroll and such, I'll still take the classic stuff from 1860 through 1920. Those engravers knew classic style, balance, proportion... and taste.

Still, one must always keep in mind that much engraving in the British trade was done by young men who simply learned from the master at the next bench.

Best, Kensal

PS: The Parker stock you did kicks bloody butt!!

For game scene engraving I'd have to say the modern Italian bulino engraving is spectacular. Incredible reality. But for scroll, vine, floral engraving I much prefer the vintage work from 50-100 years ago.

Same here and I really like the British/Scottish Celtic styled engraving from that same period. The Bulino pretty much leaves me cold and reminds me of one of those T-shirts printed with your kid's photo on it.

I guess I'm an odd ball. I prefer no engraving on my own guns. I'm satisfied with some nice case colors and a damascus pattern. I can appreciate the fine art work of engraving though---as long as it's on someone else's weapon.

I couldn't agree more with gwsmitth, that Italian Bulino engraving is spectacular. The birds aren't flying turnips anymore!!
But I do preferr the English tight rose and scroll engraving regardless of the period.

I prefer the older more stylized engraving but I don't care for the work of an apprentice engraver - there is no art in such engraving and they were obviously just trying to copy a pattern before them. I like dogs and birds to look alive and realistic. There were some wonderful masters then and I could study examples of their work for hours.
That being said, I think Geoffroy Gournet's woodcock are magical and everything stops when I have the chance to view his work.

Vintage engraving seen on high-grade ($150 grades and upwards) American doubleguns from about 1890 onwards. Although some makers certainly featured more attractive engraving patterns, I don't care who the maker was, it was all excellent work. And though some view many of the engraved animals from this period as caricatures; I could care less, they appear entirely appropriate to the period. Additionally, the stock checkering and carving seen on the high grade American double guns from this period was fabulous, and certainly appropriate with the engraving work these stocks complimented.

Amen!

It all depends on the gun. Vintage guns should have engraving appropriate to the piece but a contemporary 21st century engraver would have few customers if he or she were to engrave the styalized animals of the 19th century on contemporary sporting arms.

The skill and artistry of today's top engravers is unparalleled by engravers of the "golden age." However the work of Joe Loy, L. D. Nimschke, and their better contemporaries looks perfect on the guns of their era.

If one is primarily a collector of vintage guns then the eye is basically attuned to the style of engraving found on them, however for the person who is an actual patron of the engraver's art (not just restoration engraving) then a different standard is usually expected.

On the other hand if one views all firearms as a "weapon" then no engraving would naturally be the choice.

Fortunately for those who want a gun engraved, there is a very strong field of excellent engravers both in the US and abroad to meet any taste or style of engraving.

CRB