Author Topic: New Rifle In Progress  (Read 7462 times)

Offline Ian Pratt

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Re: New Rifle In Progress
« Reply #50 on: August 10, 2018, 08:55:28 PM »
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. 

       


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.

Offline louieparker

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Re: New Rifle In Progress
« Reply #51 on: August 10, 2018, 11:49:40 PM »
 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

Offline elkhorne

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Re: New Rifle In Progress
« Reply #52 on: August 13, 2018, 03:37:26 AM »
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

Offline Gaeckle

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Re: New Rifle In Progress
« Reply #53 on: August 19, 2018, 04:39:18 AM »
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.

Offline BOB HILL

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Re: New Rifle In Progress
« Reply #54 on: August 19, 2018, 08:16:26 PM »
Pictures don’t do it justice. Another excellent and very interesting work of art.
Bob
South Carolina Lowcountry

Offline Elnathan

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Re: New Rifle In Progress
« Reply #55 on: August 19, 2018, 09:39:37 PM »
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.
« Last Edit: August 19, 2018, 10:52:00 PM by Elnathan »
A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition -  Rudyard Kipling

Offline mountainman

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Re: New Rifle In Progress
« Reply #56 on: August 19, 2018, 10:01:20 PM »
That is some Beautiful Work Ian!!!

Offline Blacksmoke

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Re: New Rifle In Progress
« Reply #57 on: August 20, 2018, 12:50:09 AM »
Ian: Your art work is truly inspiring!  Nice gun! Lucky owner. :P    Hugh Toenjes
H.T.

Offline Ian Pratt

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Re: New Rifle In Progress
« Reply #58 on: September 11, 2018, 05:25:25 AM »
A few photos of the rifle taken by my friend Ric Lambert -
















Offline Curtis

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Re: New Rifle In Progress
« Reply #59 on: September 11, 2018, 06:47:47 AM »
Thanks for the pics Ian!  I enjoyed seeing and handling that treasure at the CLA show!

Curtis
Curtis Allinson
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Sometimes, late at night when I am alone in the inner sanctum of my workshop and no one else can see, I sand things using only my fingers for backing

Offline Ed Wenger

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Re: New Rifle In Progress
« Reply #60 on: September 14, 2018, 10:19:25 PM »
Absolutely beautiful rifle, Ian!  I like everything about it.



       Ed
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Offline Mark Elliott

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Re: New Rifle In Progress
« Reply #61 on: September 15, 2018, 12:12:31 AM »
That is a stunning work of art!

Mark

Offline PPatch

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Re: New Rifle In Progress
« Reply #62 on: September 15, 2018, 01:49:58 AM »
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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Offline Craig Wilcox

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Re: New Rifle In Progress
« Reply #63 on: September 15, 2018, 05:25:20 PM »
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!
Craig Wilcox
We are all elated when Dame Fortune smiles at us, but remember that she is always closely followed by her daughter, Miss Fortune.

Offline Ian Pratt

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Re: New Rifle In Progress
« Reply #64 on: September 16, 2018, 12:57:06 AM »
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.

Offline Ian Pratt

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Re: New Rifle In Progress
« Reply #65 on: September 16, 2018, 01:02:13 AM »
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