Author Topic: Wanted: English Engraving patterns  (Read 8981 times)

Offline Acer Saccharum

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Wanted: English Engraving patterns
« on: April 05, 2009, 05:17:06 PM »
Anyone have a suggestions for 18th Cent English engraving patterns? Or photos of actual guns?

I am going to be engraving a fowler in the 18th Cent style, and wish to look over a whole bunch of patterns/designs, to get the 'feel' of the culture.

Thanks,
Tom
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Offline Blacksmoke

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Re: Wanted: English Engraving patterns
« Reply #1 on: April 05, 2009, 05:51:55 PM »
Acer,  Do you have the book "Great British Gunmakers"by Neal & Back?  It would have what you are looking for I think.  If you don't have it I could scan some pics. and e-mail them to you.         Hugh Toenjes
H.T.

Offline smart dog

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Re: Wanted: English Engraving patterns
« Reply #2 on: April 05, 2009, 08:12:33 PM »
Acer,
Hugh is correct.  The best single sources I can think of are Neal and Back's books on British Gunmakers.  Perhaps the other source would be auction catalogs from Sotheby's.  Jerry Huddleston has mentioned one in particular I believe.  Anyway, I would be happy to scan some photos from Neal and Back's books and send them to you. I attached a photo of engraving on one of the dueling pistols I am making.  The design is my own adaptation but it is derived from pistols made by Twigg and Nock.  Please let me know if I can help.

dave   

 
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Offline smart dog

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Re: Wanted: English Engraving patterns
« Reply #3 on: April 05, 2009, 08:18:09 PM »
Acer,
I forgot to mention checking out www.caywoodguns.com.  Scroll down their home page and they have a link to a few engraving patterns from 18th century English fowlers.

dave
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Online D. Taylor Sapergia

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Re: Wanted: English Engraving patterns
« Reply #4 on: April 05, 2009, 08:34:30 PM »
i've saved a few i'll mail you electronically, tom.
D. Taylor Sapergia
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Offline Acer Saccharum

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Re: Wanted: English Engraving patterns
« Reply #5 on: April 05, 2009, 08:48:19 PM »
God, you guys are great. Ask and thou shalt receive. I say yes to all of you, bring it on!

Acer

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Offline Jim Kibler

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Re: Wanted: English Engraving patterns
« Reply #6 on: April 05, 2009, 10:31:50 PM »
Check out some of the big auction house websites.  Some of these have quite a large archive of their past sales.  Many have limited, but very good high resolution photography that can be zoomed in on to see incredible detail.  Bonhams is one that I like.  If I rember, there is an online catalog on this site from the Keith Neal auction.   

Offline Acer Saccharum

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Re: Wanted: English Engraving patterns
« Reply #7 on: April 06, 2009, 03:39:22 AM »
I found the book: "Great British Gunmakers"by Neal & Back, on ABE, for $120 USD, in the UK. Over here they are $295 on up.

http://www.abebooks.com/

I usually check the ABE site for older, out of print books, as Amazon tends to be more toward new stuff.
« Last Edit: April 06, 2009, 03:40:45 AM by Acer Saccharum »
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Offline smart dog

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Re: Wanted: English Engraving patterns
« Reply #8 on: April 06, 2009, 05:29:07 AM »
Hi Tom,
Sometimes if you are willing to accept an old library copy you can get great deals on Neal's books (that is what happened to me).  I would buy the book at that price because it is priceless if you like British guns.  Anyway, I leave tomorrow on a business trip but when I get back next weekend I will scan some photos for you.

dave
"The main accomplishment of modern economics is to make astrology look good."

Offline Dave B

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Re: Wanted: English Engraving patterns
« Reply #9 on: April 06, 2009, 07:52:55 AM »
Tom,
I have a few pics of english engraving. I will E-mail what Ive got. My books don't have a lot of good close ups of the thing you are looking for however some do give just enough to give you the general Idea. The little book called English pistols that is only about 12 bucks and falls apart as soon as you start fliping through the pages has some good examples of English engraving. A book that has some good plates in it is the Royal Sporting Guns at Windsor. British Gun Engraving by Douglas Tate has some nice examples of engraving.




Dave Blaisdell

Offline T*O*F

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Re: Wanted: English Engraving patterns
« Reply #10 on: April 06, 2009, 04:28:43 PM »
Quote
Anyone have a suggestions for 18th Cent English engraving patterns?
The English aren't that artistic.  They probably used available French pattern books from the continent. ;)
Dave Kanger

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-S.M. Tomlinson

Offline Acer Saccharum

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Re: Wanted: English Engraving patterns
« Reply #11 on: April 06, 2009, 04:52:56 PM »
TOF...boring???? My goodness, you get up on the wrong side of bed today?

Admittedly, some of it is to me, too. The fine English scroll, while a study in surface decoration,doesn't do much for me. It lacks character.

I find as lot of the French stuff too over the top. The German can be too tight, the Dutch stuff can be bizarre, and and and...... and I can always find something I like, no matter what culture the gun gets engraved in.

I like the early English stuff better than the late flint period. Maybe it has more Continental influence? Then English sporting rifles of the percussion era fascinate me, and the double cartridge big game rifles, the single shots..... what's not to like?
Tom Curran's web site : http://monstermachineshop.net
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billd

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Re: Wanted: English Engraving patterns
« Reply #12 on: April 06, 2009, 05:40:14 PM »
Tom,   You have a PM.

Bill

Offline Acer Saccharum

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Re: Wanted: English Engraving patterns
« Reply #13 on: April 07, 2009, 03:15:12 AM »
Thanks, Bill, got the PM in the PM, which is better than the PM in the AM, but the best is the BM in the AM.
Tom Curran's web site : http://monstermachineshop.net
Ramrod scrapers are all sold out.

Offline Acer Saccharum

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Re: Wanted: English Engraving patterns
« Reply #14 on: April 07, 2009, 03:16:03 AM »
What is the matter with me?
Tom Curran's web site : http://monstermachineshop.net
Ramrod scrapers are all sold out.