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

Clare,

Thanks for the kind words about my most recent book. A labor of love indeed!

Roger

As to gold, I generally agree with my professional colleague KY Jon. On the other hand, if it is subtle and not over done, I don't mind a little here and there......

Both of these are, of course, examples of the modern engraver's art.

My preference for old or new may extend to overdone case colors too. If I won't be hunting the redone colors on my project guns to a more subdued tone, I may opt for a different style of finish. This is not a statement about Bob Blair's beautiful pictures, but they did get me to thinking about a couple of my projects in progress.

I'm a big fan of well-executed. Plenty of that old and new.
Like Chuck said, "I know it when I see it."
As far as old goes, I really enjoy Woodwards along with the
fancy Greeners, Lindners and Harkoms.
Also enjoy the hi-end Smiths, Bakers and LeFevers.
-jim

I think the vintage works of Loy and Kornbrath were of my liking very much so.

The bulino style is also one I like when done tastefully. I especially like it when combined with other techniques where deeper scroll and banknote is used.

The question I have for today's engravers is this: could you knock out a Purdey type engraving of the same quality in a couple days. Or, does the modern buyer demand much more perfection or whatever it's called?

Joe,
I watched Barry Hands knock out some pretty nice stuff pretty quickly with his Italian made pnuematic engraver.

I like the old time stuff
Dog with tail and head down

Close up of one of the dogs



and stubby winged birds




Mike

"The question I have for today's engravers is this: could you knock out a Purdey type engraving of the same quality in a couple days. Or, does the modern buyer demand much more perfection or whatever it's called?"

Joe,

The present day connoisseur of high end double guns does expect a higher level of perfection and the best engravers can provide that.

When we speak of covering a sidelock double gun with rose and scroll in a couple of days you have to keep in mind that shops like Jack Sumner's and Harry Kell's had a number of journeymen and apprentices working for them. When a gunmaker sent in work on Monday with a note saying they needed it by Thursday, several people in the shop worked on the gun at the same time. The opening lever and trigger guard to one engraver, the forend iron and latch to another, the screws to an apprentice and so on.

One British engraver told me, about 30 years ago, that inexpensive Birmingham guns were sometimes engraved using what was known as "punch work" where one engraver cut all of the scroll spirals with a hammer and chisel and another cut the "inside work" with a burin.

Also keep in mind that engravers working for the trade in the UK and Europe receive the gun parts in the white, polished, and in the "soft" pre-hardened state. After engraving the parts are sent back to the maker for hardening and assembly. American engravers working for private customers usually receive a complete, assembled , hardened gun that they must disassemble, strip the finish, polish, engrave in the hardened state, then get refinished and reassembled. This all adds time and difficulty. It is also why American engravers favor air assisted gravers due to having to work on hardened gun steel, especially magnum revolvers.

Cheers,

Roger

"I watched Barry Hands knock out some pretty nice stuff pretty quickly with his Italian made pnuematic engraver."

Chuck H,

Barry uses a Lindsay PalmControl air graver made in Kearney, Nebraska by Steve Lindsay Engraving and Tools. The Lindsay PC is also my preferred choice of tools though, like most long time gun engravers, I use the burin, hammer and chisel, punches or anything that helps achieve the desired effect efficiently. An example and explanation of the Lindsay PalmControl AirGraver can be found at this link: http://www.engravingglossary.com/Hand%20Engraving%20Glossary%20L.htm

BTW: I know of no power assisted engraving tools made in Italy.

If anyone would like to learn more about the tools, terminology, and styles of engraving you can click on the link under my signature to visit my illustrated glossary. The glossary has over 300 definitions and over 400 images covering every aspect of hand engraving including terms in French, Italian, and German.

Cheers,

Roger