AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Gun Building => Topic started by: Ian Pratt on June 24, 2018, 03:17:25 PM
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The current rifle in progress. Long barrel from Ed Rayl (around 49") in .52 caliber, modified Chambers Ketland. Wrought iron hardware. Still some cleanup to do on the relief carving but waiting until I finish the silver work to go back in and finalize everything.
This is another unusual rifle. All of the silver inlay and overlays on this one are intended to represent various pieces of trade silver that were modified to be used as decoration - for example, you may see the crescent shape penciled in on the patchbox finial. This is the shape of a trade silver nose bob having had the prong which runs through the wearer's septum removed. The result is a crescent moon shape which will complement a rising or setting sun shape at the tail end of the box lid. This "sun" will be a slice of a disc brooch accompanied by engraved rays that will run along the lid.
I have built a couple of related guns which featured kind of a scalloped molding along the edge of the buttstock's comb. One was done with small bone inlays, and on the other gun the molding and scallops were relief carved. This one will have that same detail, but will be done in silver. There were several forms of trade silver that featured beaded and scalloped edges which a gunsmith with peculiar ideas might have cut off and used to decorate the stock of a rifle gun .... more on this later. I have most of the silver pieces made and just started inletting a couple of them yesterday.
(https://preview.ibb.co/dMj7Uo/IMG_0455.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ftLgpo)
(https://preview.ibb.co/iCdqh8/IMG_0456.jpg) (https://ibb.co/gGtO28)
(https://preview.ibb.co/ccLQFT/IMG_0458.jpg) (https://ibb.co/mG3eaT)
(https://preview.ibb.co/dA3vFT/IMG_0544.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fidUaT)
(https://preview.ibb.co/cTQE9o/IMG_0545.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ikni28)
(https://preview.ibb.co/nwPwN8/IMG_0547.jpg) (https://ibb.co/g9BbN8)
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That is going to be stunning. Even unfinished it’s already way past awesome...
Greg
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That IS sumpthin you have going there. Can't wait to see the progress reports and finished product.
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The carvings are really nice and they look pretty. Keep use up to date. This is going to a good build.👍🏻
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Ian, that is seriously out there.
I love how you push the envelope and still manage to stay in touch with traditional roots.
Jeff
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Wow! Very nice.
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Beautiful, it just flows together. You continue to outdo yourself.
Tim
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Love the fresh carving design. very boldly executed as well.
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Very sharp. Excellent carving.
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I sure like your "style"! Can't wait to see it finished....keep us posted.
Thanks,
Tom C
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All of the decoration flows together very nicely!! I like that you have used traditional elements and, made them into your own design, that has a great feeling of " movement" , like the Masters of old. Your use of multiple levels in the carving , is very nicely done . Beautiful mounts as well! She should be a real head turner ! Keep us posted. Nate
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Can't say anything else that hasn't been said,except I cant wait to see the finished rifle,some real nice work there.
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Looks like another exciting piece of work, Ian. Can’t wait to see it completed. I always enjoy your work. Always fresh ideas, but always in keeping with the culture. Thanks
Bob
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Wow ! Thanks for sharing some pictures.
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Very snakey, Ian!!
dave
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Good gracious! That is some lovely carving. Well done. Well done indeed. God Bless, Marc
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WOW.!!
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This going to be at cla? nice work!
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Incredible artistry and craftsmanship. Can't wait to see it finished. Looks awesome already!!!
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What Nate said
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Simply beautiful, and man do I love a long barrel!
Ez
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Hey, Ian is this the gun where you are going to put the patchbox opener in the muzzle cap? I have been waiting for that one.
best wishes
Ron
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Great looking rifle Ian. Is it going to have scallops on both sides or just one?
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I really love that carving. Crisp, clean and elegant. What School/style is it.
Best regards
Rolf
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Ian, you are a true inspiration. Thank you for showing us your incredible work.
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I think this gun and the one Ian made before it are the best contemporary guns that have been made. The level of creavitity and execution are outstanding. The fact that all the designs are original thought have set the bar very high.
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Wow, just wow!!!
Doc
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What Ken said. Great job, Ian! Thanks for posting!
Ed
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Incredible and impeccable!
Curtis
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Ian,
A great looking rifle. I hope all is going well for you. Take care and keep up the great work.
Roger Sells
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Excellent work.
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Yes sir. Yeally nice stuff. Your wacky mind is showinging itself!
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I think this gun and the one Ian made before it are the best contemporary guns that have been made. The level of creavitity and execution are outstanding. The fact that all the designs are original thought have set the bar very high.
I agree, but of course art is subjective. I’m glad that there is support for this kind of creative work.
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Yes sir. Your wacky mind is showinging itself!
Where's the "Like" button for comments?
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Looks like I showed up here just in time while the thinly veiled insults from my friends are showing signs of emerging. Thanks everybody for the very kind words and I will be sure to post some more photos. To answer the questions that were brought up -
I hope this one will be displayed at the CLA show but can't guarantee it . It should be finished by then but I don't know what the owner's plans are. He has been incredibly patient waiting for this one to be done.
The scalloped molding will be on both sides of the comb, I had scraped the pencil lines off the cheekpiece side if that's why you wondered. Here's a picture of the two edge of comb inlays ready to be inlet -
(https://preview.ibb.co/nkPfkT/IMG_0566.jpg) (https://ibb.co/kLW4C8)
Rolf, you had asked about the style / school. Not easy to describe - this one is not a copy of a particular builder's work, more so an attempted fresh take on established techniques and concepts. I try to place a gun regionally by incorporating my own twists on expected features and details, and try to place it on the timeline by showing influences from work that would have been earlier, also sometimes trying to link these to similar details that would show up on later guns. The hard part is trying to make it all feel like it's plausible and not thrown together.
I do have my own story about where this gun might have come from. but for me it's kind of cool to hear what other people see in it rather than fill in the blanks and shut off people's imaginations.
Couple more pictures - The customer had supplied me with some silver coins to use for inlays. I melted down the clippings to cast a little slug then hammered it into a piece to use for a barrel signature plate. That's just a little pile of fire bricks to help hold the heat around the crucible. I set it up in my wood stove to suck some of the heat out of the shop.
(https://preview.ibb.co/gUeXX8/IMG_0529.jpg) (https://ibb.co/foM1QT)
(https://preview.ibb.co/fuWPeo/IMG_0534.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cLC85T)
Almost forgot - Ron, I had to scrap the patchbox release under the muzzle cap project, couldn't get the temper right on the pushrod and kept exploding forends off guns. That kind of nonsense gets expensive in a hurry.
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I ran over a snake once...on my Harley...a BIG snake, a northern Bullsnake. I would be lying if I told you it was ten feet long because it was bigger(draped across a 10 foot wide road lane and it wasn't stretched out.) Almost spun out when I gunned it going over it...didn't look back...freaked me right out! Keremeos BC.
Aweful nice gun Ian! I've always loved your iron work.
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You need to wash your hands before carving.....
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It's a spectacular piece of artistry and workmanship.
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Great rifle Ian!
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You can tell you have lots of friends from the ribbing you are getting. REALLY nice work on that Fowler - one that any of us would be proud to own.
You are giving others plenty of creative ideas for upcoming projects.
And PLEASE - wash those paws before carving!!
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Some more "in progress " shots from last month. The rifle is actually finished , I'll post some pictures of it after the customer has seen it.
The inlays alongside the box and the general shape of the box itself were inspired by an original in relic condition. I modified the serpents to give them more detail but the placement (and the wire tongues!) were inspired by the original.
(https://preview.ibb.co/bzsBFp/FA59_F185_AE3_E_4_AD0_8_C13_F69_CEDFEC2_B3.jpg) (https://ibb.co/nAAyvp)
I often set parts in body putty to engrave them, usually on a block of scrap wood. Makes for a solid mount when the block is grabbed in a vise. When finished you heat it and it pops free. I cover screw holes on the back side with small pieces of masking tape, otherwise putty will squeeze through and you have to dig it out to break the part loose.
(https://preview.ibb.co/en5no9/B63_FED26_F024_43_EF_837_D_0_CDE30_DA2_BA4.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fLfL89)
The trade gun style wrist inlay with engraving finished. I fumed it over ammonia for some base color and later subjected it to more disgusting patina torture. The screw was temporary.
(https://preview.ibb.co/nKjrFp/F006_E399_E0_F9_4_A13_830_D_4_A7_B82_A1_E5_F8.jpg) (https://ibb.co/iKX089)
The finished silver signature plate from the earlier photos
(https://preview.ibb.co/gR6So9/4_EE150_D5_D5_EC_4_B61_B20_F_7985_A1335341.jpg) (https://ibb.co/nakyvp)
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Now you're just teasing us, Ian!!!! Lovely stuff.
Curtis
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Neat rifle, Ian. I like your style. Look forward to seeing the finished product.
Bob
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Fanfrick'ntastic!
Tim
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I like how the carving above the cheek piece recalls the snake inlays but without really being snakes.
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Ian, VERY impressive ! The snakes remind me of a dug rifle that Jim Dressler had . .. Will You have it at the CLA ? Louie
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Be prepared, that tumb piece is going to fall to bits from the amonia fuming. At least that's what I hear. ;)
Really beautiful, Ian. A lot of layers, texture and interest. So much for the eye to enjoy.
Jim
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Your recent stuff is over the top in eye. I've always said if I could afford a contemporary collection I would love to have something from you where you were just turned loose with nothing but trade gun hints like this one. Would also do Kibler the same but tie him to a 1790-1710 time frame ; )
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Thank you very much guys, glad you are enjoying it!
Jim I think you must be right, I just had a look at the rifle and the thumb piece is totally gone, nothing left but a smoking crater. I wish you would have stopped me sooner. Thinking about making these out of stainless from here out.
Robert thank you, I was trying to base my carving not entirely on "American rococo", wanted to incorporate a different kind of stylized serpentine / vinelike flow - kind of meld the two approaches without having literal vegetative shapes with volutes shooting out of them.
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Ian your work always impressed me. Once again incredible craftsmanship.
Oldtravler
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Louie - you are right, I have long been inspired by that relic you mention but until now could never figure out the right project to expand on some of those details. I took the "serpents for sideplates" idea and gave the snakes a bit more shape, reversed them and turned the heads around to create kind of a generally more triangular framing effect for the box, kind of gives the illusion of a patchbox with full side plates.
The rifle is intended to represent one made by whoever would have made the gun pictured below - he's moved on down the wagon road somewhere South of where he built the one below and maybe fifteen years have passed in between the making of the two guns.
This is the "earlier" gun which I made for my good friend Ken Gahagan - bit of shameless self promotion I know, but David Wright did a wonderful job on the image and I've been trying to share it.
(https://preview.ibb.co/ndG0d9/gahagan_gun.jpg) (https://ibb.co/inn6J9)
The association with that relic you mention, plus some "precursors" to details on later Southern guns could possibly place a gun like the later one as far south as NC around 1780 - ? And with the symbolism / trade silver re - use, who might it have been made for? Anyhow, having fun. Anybody wants to talk more about it I'm glad to share my ideas on it and hear yours. I have to go, been sitting here watching out the window as my coal burns away, work to get done.
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Ian, that relic sort of burned a little spot in my brain.. I still think about it. Your rifle is just an outstanding creation ! Though some part may be inspired by the snake rifle, this rifle is your original art work, a unique creation. Few can design and build at this level. I certainly can not ! Congratulations !
Louie
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Ian,
Beautiful work and something just jumped out at me. I love the way you worked the snakes in with your patchbox. They reminded me of a patchbox design that Wallace Gusler showed us in a class. He said it was a butt stock (only) that came out of a Creek grave and it included snakes up the side of the patchbox but not as good as yours. I have looked a many pictures in books but never seen this idea on any of the rifles. The remains of the one Wallace had give HC to the use of them. Would be interesting to learn what school or area the example may have come from. Thanks for showing us the rifle. You are doing a fantastic job on it. Can't wait to see the progress and finished rifle. Thanks.
elkhorne
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Was fortunate to handle the finished rifle at the CLA......somehow, though the pictures of the gun in progress are good, nothing quite compares to rolling it in your hands, looking close up to it, noticing small little details that just somehow aren't transpired through the photo's.
This rifle is really something else. Lot of subtleties going on beyond the obvious design features.....lot of continuity and contrast, and it stands above (far above) everything else. This will be hard to top.
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Pictures don’t do it justice. Another excellent and very interesting work of art.
Bob
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Well, I hope that those of us that couldn't make the CLA show are eventually going to get to see pictures of the completed gun.
I'd like to see pictures of the relic gun that inspired this as well.
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That is some Beautiful Work Ian!!!
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Ian: Your art work is truly inspiring! Nice gun! Lucky owner. :P Hugh Toenjes
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A few photos of the rifle taken by my friend Ric Lambert -
(https://preview.ibb.co/kxDOKp/Dum0zKjA.jpg) (https://ibb.co/gqJZQU)
(https://preview.ibb.co/ijVQX9/kIvrJ9qA.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cxH5X9)
(https://preview.ibb.co/jwGzs9/PHC0oBxQ.jpg) (https://ibb.co/efuVzp)
(https://preview.ibb.co/huRFX9/PrUPIzwA.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cd5nep)
(https://preview.ibb.co/hJMSep/Rq_WAgYg.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cuH0zp)
(https://preview.ibb.co/dCDvX9/Y6cPo1rA.jpg) (https://ibb.co/gYqykU)
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Thanks for the pics Ian! I enjoyed seeing and handling that treasure at the CLA show!
Curtis
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Absolutely beautiful rifle, Ian! I like everything about it.
Ed
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That is a stunning work of art!
Mark
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Ian your work has changed a great deal over the last few years. I like the direction you are headed, and look forward to what comes next. Great looking firearm!
dave
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Ian, you are a true Master of your craft! Everything about that rifle astounds and amazes. My wish is that I can be 1/10th as good as you are. Going to take a lot of work to get me to that level.
One, to me really good question, and that is : How in the world do you get that metal finish done? I live the "mottling" gray appearance, and my mind keeps wondering how it was accomplished.
I am very envious of the rifle's owner!
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Thank you very much everybody, much appreciated.
Dave I agree with you that my work has changed a lot in recent years. I attribute it to learning over time to not talk myself out of my own ideas.
Craig - on the metal finish, it's just rust. There's a lot of monkeying around with metal finishes like that, but the basic idea is to apply something acidic and let it rust, then remove some or most of it, then do similar in layers until you're happy with the look. By the time you get to the last applications you're not letting it work very long, just enough to get some surface color and accent the pitting. It's definitely not as straightforward a process like browning or boiling in bleach water, a lot of it is in understanding how different metals are going to act with whatever you're using to rust them.
The best approach is to this kind of thing is to actually study corroded things that you find appealing - not kidding about this, I have lots of photos of not just guns but doorknobs, hand rails, tools, parts of bridges.
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Here are a few photos of the earlier gun - really these two are a related pair. These were also taken by Ric Lambert at the CLA show last month
(https://preview.ibb.co/n47AsK/3pEaIWcg.jpg) (https://ibb.co/nCq8ez)
(https://preview.ibb.co/iHBQRe/Kv0fD9rw.jpg) (https://ibb.co/d1qwXK)
(https://preview.ibb.co/g4Y5Re/l_5Xcrbw.jpg) (https://ibb.co/iGiTez)
(https://preview.ibb.co/d44OCK/QHAh_Qmg.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fWggzz)
(https://preview.ibb.co/haiGXK/TlSSIxPw.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bBeqsK)
(https://preview.ibb.co/iYYuKz/Z_A4tpRw.jpg) (https://ibb.co/nAbs6e)