AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Contemporary Longrifle Collecting => Topic started by: Brent English on March 18, 2019, 03:54:15 PM

Title: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: Brent English on March 18, 2019, 03:54:15 PM
Made the trip to Iowa on Sunday and picked up a gun from our very own Mike Brooks.  I commissioned Mike to make this gun, a copy of an early trade gun featured at the Museum of the Fur Trade in Chadron, Nebraska.  Mike did a great job capturing the spirit of the old gun, which was stocked in curly ash.  Can't wait to shoot it.  20 gauge, 42" Colerain barrel with L&R Queen Anne lock.  Mike did a one-off casting of the trigger guard and fabricated the early sheet metal style serpent side plate.   If we ask him nice, he might post a few pictures of the gun.
(https://i.ibb.co/hZw1Srq/IMG-3479.jpg) (https://ibb.co/TbdqsJC)
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: jdm on March 18, 2019, 05:28:34 PM
PLEASE! PLEASE ! PRETTY PLEASE!
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: Smokey Plainsman on March 18, 2019, 07:38:06 PM
Mr. Brooks may well be the premier builder of our time.

His ability to capture the soul and character of the old guns is beyond measure. His eye for correct architecture, flawless. Nothing short of the word “art” is appropriate for his work, unlike so many builders out there.

Friend, I envy you!!
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: rich pierce on March 18, 2019, 09:09:28 PM
Mr. Brooks may well be the premier builder of our time.

His ability to capture the soul and character of the old guns is beyond measure. His eye for correct architecture, flawless. Nothing short of the word “art” is appropriate for his work, unlike so many builders out there.

Friend, I envy you!!

He’s really good but don’t make his head explode.
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: hanshi on March 18, 2019, 10:21:43 PM

[/quote]
He’s really good but don’t make his head explode.
[/quote]


Isn't it a little late??  :o :-\ 8)
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: Bob Roller on March 19, 2019, 12:01:02 AM
I'm a bit vexed. There was no picture for me.Maybe I ain't supposed to have one. :'(

Bob Roller
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: Tim Crosby on March 19, 2019, 12:19:23 AM
 Man you guys must not hunt, you don't hang out the bait and them set off firecrackers. You'll scare 'em off for sure.
 Now, let's try this again...

   Tim C.
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: Mike Brooks on March 19, 2019, 12:21:52 AM
Mr. Brooks may well be the premier builder of our time.

His ability to capture the soul and character of the old guns is beyond measure. His eye for correct architecture, flawless. Nothing short of the word “art” is appropriate for his work, unlike so many builders out there.

Friend, I envy you!!
And everyone wonders   why I'm a legend in my own mind! ;D

I can rattle off an easy 1/2 dozen people's work I like better than mine, but thanks for the ego boost! Guess I better get busy getting those pics cropped and posted.
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: Mike Brooks on March 19, 2019, 12:42:30 AM
For some reason I can't down load pics...that's a first.
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: Dennis Glazener on March 19, 2019, 01:31:23 AM
For some reason I can't down load pics...that's a first.

Mike,
I think our "free" image hosting service is having website problems.
Give it some time and see if it starts back.
Dennis
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: Daryl on March 20, 2019, 10:07:01 AM
I get one picture with some old @$#% in front of a wall.
I must say, the gun looks quite fair, in the enlargement.
Nice.
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: Mike Brooks on March 20, 2019, 04:18:15 PM
Ok, pictures work today. Pretty curly eh? I stained with Kibler's stuff, I thought the color turned out great.
(https://i.ibb.co/V9crHwK/DSCF2370-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/jfPBVJp)

(https://i.ibb.co/WHNPCf2/DSCF2371-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/RgGB8cD)

(https://i.ibb.co/wSx8xK5/DSCF2372-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/8rSGSj1)

(https://i.ibb.co/hFT64fg/DSCF2373-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/nMKGYCw)

(https://i.ibb.co/XpS0gHS/DSCF2374-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/RPzrm8z)

(https://i.ibb.co/sJ3071c/DSCF2375-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/LhpLKgB)

online image hosting (https://imgbb.com/)
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: Mike Brooks on March 20, 2019, 04:19:57 PM
I get one picture with some old @$#% in front of a wall.
I must say, the gun looks quite fair, in the enlargement.
Nice.
That guy is really ugly in enlargement. :o
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: Bob Roller on March 20, 2019, 04:35:24 PM
OUTSTANDING bit of gun making.I was once told that if someone would combine my face with
the rear end of a bull dog he could tree the devil ;D.

Bob Roller
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: Stoner creek on March 20, 2019, 05:52:23 PM
I get one picture with some old @$#% in front of a wall.
I must say, the gun looks quite fair, in the enlargement.
Nice.
That guy is really ugly in enlargement. :o
....And in person, we’ll, an entirely different story (experience)...........
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: Craig Wilcox on March 20, 2019, 07:14:44 PM
In the interest of seeing Mike's head explode:  Mike, outstanding job on that beautiful fowler!  Still saving up my coins for one of your prizes.
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: oldtravler61 on March 20, 2019, 08:32:50 PM
  My big regret ( don't tell Mike) was not buying that Lehigh that he had at the CLA. I think Stoner got that one. But being frugal and cheap. I miss on several nice guns. Always figure I can go home and cobble something up.!!
  Certainly got enough parts laying around..!   Oldtravler
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: Stoner creek on March 20, 2019, 08:58:29 PM
  My big regret ( don't tell Mike) was not buying that Lehigh that he had at the CLA. I think Stoner got that one. But being frugal and cheap. I miss on several nice guns. Always figure I can go home and cobble something up.!!
  Certainly got enough parts laying around..!   Oldtravler
I didn’t get that one.
I’m pretty sure that he’s going to have another Lehigh at the Knoxville show. Get off some of that cash you’ve hidden away!
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: Mike Brooks on March 21, 2019, 01:01:28 AM
  My big regret ( don't tell Mike) was not buying that Lehigh that he had at the CLA. I think Stoner got that one. But being frugal and cheap. I miss on several nice guns. Always figure I can go home and cobble something up.!!
  Certainly got enough parts laying around..!   Oldtravler
Well, I hate to see a fella live with big regret so I saved that one back for you. Bring money and a gun case to the up coming TN show and it's yours. ;D
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: oldtravler61 on March 21, 2019, 03:17:20 AM
   Hmmmmmm.  decisions, decisions . Time to wheel and deal...but I still like spending Stoner or Cades money..!  Ha ha
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: Stoner creek on March 21, 2019, 03:43:53 AM
   Hmmmmmm.  decisions, decisions . Time to wheel and deal...but I still like spending Stoner or Cades money..!  Ha ha
I won’t have any money for you to spend old buddy. I put all of my allowance into Brooks’s Oerter gun. I’m going to have to borrow gas money and beg for meals at the show  :-\
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: jdm on March 21, 2019, 04:53:44 PM
Mike , Your a master of blending the look of the  old and the new .
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: oldtravler61 on March 21, 2019, 09:51:33 PM
   Stoner I got one of those box lunches for yeah !!  But some how I think if you see something that lights your fancy. Your going to find away !!! 
   Oldtravler  ....aka Mr. Frugal
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: TP on March 21, 2019, 11:46:09 PM
Dang Mike, that is beautiful work.  I especially like the side plate.
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: KC on March 22, 2019, 12:13:02 AM
Nice. That's a beautiful piece of wood. The color did turn out really nice, did you just use Kibler's iron nitrate or did you use the tannic acid too?
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: Mike Brooks on March 22, 2019, 04:26:05 PM
Nice. That's a beautiful piece of wood. The color did turn out really nice, did you just use Kibler's iron nitrate or did you use the tannic acid too?
  Just the iron nitrate, I didn't want it to go too dark. The original is pretty near this color.
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: Brent English on March 22, 2019, 07:35:15 PM
A few pictures of the original that is in the Museum of the Fur Trade in Chadron, NE.  I got pretty cranked up when I saw it and thought Mike was the right guy to make a copy.  I think he was a good choice !

(https://i.ibb.co/hFSHpWQ/IMG-0253.jpg) (https://ibb.co/5hPvq8p)

(https://i.ibb.co/gVzY2nZ/IMG-0260.jpg) (https://ibb.co/6BgQMd0)

(https://i.ibb.co/P6JbvD4/IMG-0261.jpg) (https://ibb.co/sVcDdWQ)

(https://i.ibb.co/VH8qKXv/IMG-0264.jpg) (https://ibb.co/M8LCXqR)

(https://i.ibb.co/nnK12ZL/IMG-0269.jpg) (https://ibb.co/pRkKDGL)
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: BOB HILL on March 23, 2019, 04:39:21 PM
Brent, I'd say you picked the right maker there. Beautiful gun. Thanks for sharing.
Bob
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: Jerry on March 30, 2019, 10:46:47 PM
Mike, That’s an excellent piece of work. Your craftsmanship is abosutely the finest. Great pictures.  Can’t wait to see more of your work. Jerry 
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: kentuckyrifleman on April 22, 2019, 04:41:51 PM
That's one of the most interesting sideplates I've ever seen. Very neat.
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: medbill on April 24, 2019, 06:08:33 AM
WOW its a beauty congrats!!!
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: B.Barker on May 14, 2019, 05:50:39 AM
Nice looking gun Mike. Looks like you used ash is that right?
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: Mike Brooks on May 14, 2019, 02:06:08 PM
Nice looking gun Mike. Looks like you used ash is that right?
Yes, customer found a couple nice pieces at Pecatonica.
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: BarryE on May 15, 2019, 02:35:03 AM
Outstanding, Mike.  Your work always makes me reconsider my meager skills and try to do better.
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: Mike Brooks on May 15, 2019, 03:50:40 PM
Outstanding, Mike.  Your work always makes me reconsider my meager skills and try to do better.
Thanks, that same thing happens to me when I see other people's guns here too.
Title: Re: New Mike Brooks Gun
Post by: t.caster on May 19, 2019, 05:28:54 PM
Man, I love the look of curly ash made into smokepole! I've had a nice piece of it up in my rafters for years now, just waiting for the right time. Maybe next year!