Author Topic: Bear Gun...........Opinions Needed (Read 5965 times)

OldMtnMan · « **on:** December 12, 2018, 07:49:37 PM »

I ordered another GPR in LH .54. It's going to be my dedicated black bear gun. I thought i'd add a carving to the butt stock related to bear.

A carving of a bear?
Bear Gun?
Bear Killer?

What do you guys suggest? Too corny? Don't do anything? I have no concern about resale. It's my gun now to do as I please. It will keep me focused on bear hunting when I look at it.

Also, i'd make a mess of the carving and could use someone who could do it for me.

Lobo · « **Reply #1 on:** December 12, 2018, 07:56:33 PM »

I'd find someone that is good at carving and have a bear carved opposite of the cheek piece. Then name it "Bear Killer"

OldMtnMan · « **Reply #2 on:** December 12, 2018, 08:00:32 PM »

I like your style Ron.

Hungry Horse · « **Reply #3 on:** December 12, 2018, 08:07:17 PM »

I’m from the less is more crowd. Maybe a bear track inlay on the cheekrest would be a little more subtle.

Hungry Horse

OldMtnMan · « **Reply #4 on:** December 12, 2018, 08:10:19 PM »

Quote from: Hungry Horse on December 12, 2018, 08:07:17 PM

I’m from the less is more crowd. Maybe a bear track inlay on the cheekrest would be a little more subtle.

Hungry Horse

Then i'd have a bear track on my cheek when I shot the gun.

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #5 on:** December 12, 2018, 08:12:32 PM »

Might be handy if you often forget where you are and what you were doing.... I think maybe just taping a photo on the buttstock with the caption "SHOOT THIS!" may be just as handy and less work. You could even nail it down with brass tacks if you wanted a more historically authentic look.

OldMtnMan · « **Reply #6 on:** December 12, 2018, 08:16:11 PM »

Old man humor Mike?

Hungry Horse · « **Reply #7 on:** December 12, 2018, 08:18:25 PM »

You say that like it would be a bad thing.

Hungry Horse

OldMtnMan · « **Reply #8 on:** December 12, 2018, 08:21:22 PM »

Quote from: Hungry Horse on December 12, 2018, 08:18:25 PM

You say that like it would be a bad thing.

Hungry Horse

Are you speaking from experience? Kind of bloody at first.

WKevinD · « **Reply #9 on:** December 12, 2018, 08:23:47 PM »

I'd look to Jaegers for carving inspiration, there are some awfully nice carved and engraved hunting scenes, mostly boar hunting but it should give you some ideas.

Kevin

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #10 on:** December 12, 2018, 08:28:43 PM »

Quote from: burnt on December 12, 2018, 08:23:47 PM

I'd look to Jaegers for carving inspiration, there are some awfully nice carved and engraved hunting scenes, mostly boar hunting but it should give you some ideas.

Kevin

Sure, but then you could only shoot pigs......

I plan on doing another Oerter gun, the one with the Griffin carved behind the cheek piece. I hope I see enough Griffin's to shoot to make building that gun worth while.... Maybe if I drink enough whisky I'll see plenty....

OldMtnMan · « **Reply #11 on:** December 12, 2018, 08:34:05 PM »

Can anyone suggest a carver for me?

So far I like Ron's (Lobo) idea.

rich pierce · « **Reply #12 on:** December 12, 2018, 08:39:27 PM »

Most gun carvers I know prefer to emulate period work. You might try some other field of carvers. Or consider an engraved cheekpiece inlay or an engraved J&S Hawken style patchbox. They were sometimes engraved with buffalo or elk and such.

OldMtnMan · « **Reply #13 on:** December 12, 2018, 08:53:39 PM »

Here's another option.

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #14 on:** December 12, 2018, 09:18:09 PM »

Well at least it's not permanent.

OldMtnMan · « **Reply #15 on:** December 12, 2018, 09:24:26 PM »

I prefer the carving. I can imagine an old mountain man carving BEAR KILLER in his stock. Not sure he'd have the talent to carve a bear though. Maybe I should go that way.

Less and less pleases me as I get older. For some odd reason, this pleases me.

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #16 on:** December 12, 2018, 09:34:42 PM »

I have been asked to carve turkey tracks, deer tracks, bear tracks, etc and a variety of animals of all types and have never done any of it. Turned down lots of gun orders just for that reason. Some builders will carve anything you want on a gun as long as you pay for it, I've always been one of those that find those sorts of things unacceptable for any money. Just one of my many quirks....

I'm sure there is somebody out there that wouldn't hesitate to carve anything you want on your stock.

OldMtnMan · « **Reply #17 on:** December 12, 2018, 09:39:41 PM »

I understand where you're coming from Mike and feel the same way. However, can you imagine what I said about an old mountain man.

I have this urge now and had I lived back in the day would have the same urge.

I think a fancy carving would be out of place. What I want is similar to carving my name on a horn in sort of a crude way.

smylee grouch · « **Reply #18 on:** December 12, 2018, 09:42:17 PM »

Forget the carving, bad idea. Do as Rich said and get an oval inlay and have a engraver/gunsmith engrave what ever bear stuff on it and then inlet it into the cheek rest. Just my opinion.

OldMtnMan · « **Reply #19 on:** December 12, 2018, 09:49:21 PM »

Ok, let's rethink this. I think fancy carvings look great on longrifles. They almost look unfinished without them.

This is different. This is a plains rifle owned by a grizzly old mountain man. He's a simple sort of guy. His gun gets banged around and is sometimes used as a club in a fight. He's the type who might take out his hunting knife and carve his name on a gun. Who knows, maybe his nickname is Bear Killer. So, he carves it on his stock.

rich pierce · « **Reply #20 on:** December 12, 2018, 09:56:40 PM »

Go for it. Sounds like you should do it yourself to be authentic.

flinchrocket · « **Reply #21 on:** December 12, 2018, 10:07:44 PM »

I Hatchet Jack bein of sound mind an broke legs do hereby leaveth my Barr rifle to
Whoever finds it

OldMtnMan · « **Reply #22 on:** December 12, 2018, 11:04:24 PM »

Daryl · « **Reply #23 on:** December 12, 2018, 11:45:33 PM »

Quote from: Mike Brooks on December 12, 2018, 09:18:09 PM

Well at least it's not permanent.

hahahahahahaha - one could remove it, like immediately.

OldMtnMan · « **Reply #24 on:** December 13, 2018, 12:17:28 AM »

No problem. I'll make it a wall hanger when I can't hunt anymore. It will bring smiles just looking at it on the wall.

I have a story about the name Bear Killer but I don't want to tell it. Trust me. Putting it on my stock fits right in.

Decision made. I still don't trust me to do it. Does anybody want to do a simple name on my stock? It doesn't need to be perfect. Better if it's not.

News:

Author Topic: Bear Gun...........Opinions Needed (Read 5965 times)

Lobo