AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Gun Building => Topic started by: Curt Larsen on April 29, 2014, 01:07:47 AM
-
I've been building a jaeger with a Davis lock and Getz .62 cal barrel for the past couple of years off and on. It was my first attempt at some primitive carving. My cousin Fred Bowen in Lake Villa, Illinois is an engraver. A couple of years ago we visited him and his wife as a side trip from visiting son, wife and grandkids back there. Fred does really beautiful work. The next Christmas I received a card from my wife with a gift certificate from Fred for some simple engraving for my parts. The next year we visited him again and delivered my barrel, lock, triggerguard, toepiece, and buttplate. I gave him some drawings of some simple line work that I desired. I emphasized simple line work as my carving isn't anything to show off. Anyway, last Christmas we visited again and I asked if I could have the barrel back so I could keep it in my stock. He said that he wasn't finished with the buttplate as he wanted to take the parts to a Las Vegas show in January. Ok, so I received the parts the end of February and reassembled my jaeger. I wanted everyone to know about Fred's work so here are some pics for you. After you see them you'll understand why I'm now thinking about takin a really good course in carving--then maybe a new stock to suit his work. Enjoy.
The right side of the stock:
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi55.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fg123%2FCurtsstuff%2Frightstockwithlock_zpsc260e1fc.jpg&hash=80f5f4598f24467bc1ebbc8afae81eaa6dfa9d60) (http://s55.photobucket.com/user/Curtsstuff/media/rightstockwithlock_zpsc260e1fc.jpg.html)
The left side of the stock:
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi55.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fg123%2FCurtsstuff%2Fleftsidestock_zpsed0b92b9.jpg&hash=ab3afd4e5d2cb0ba7978a15ccbfd6329494fb5b1) (http://s55.photobucket.com/user/Curtsstuff/media/leftsidestock_zpsed0b92b9.jpg.html)
The barrel:(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi55.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fg123%2FCurtsstuff%2Fbarrel1_zpsb5a778de.jpg&hash=6d219f9bb6eacedd5e07ff0f397c5deb47898b18) (http://s55.photobucket.com/user/Curtsstuff/media/barrel1_zpsb5a778de.jpg.html)
the trigger guard:
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi55.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fg123%2FCurtsstuff%2Ftriggerguard1_zps0e2796fa.jpg&hash=bd3edf3dc2fa5299eb40a75f5da12c33c5d068e4) (http://s55.photobucket.com/user/Curtsstuff/media/triggerguard1_zps0e2796fa.jpg.html)
The toe piece:
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi55.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fg123%2FCurtsstuff%2Fthumbplate1_zpsb9011501.jpg&hash=37e6fc15d2daf3d839e1aa245b8ba85032a5ddc9) (http://s55.photobucket.com/user/Curtsstuff/media/thumbplate1_zpsb9011501.jpg.html)
The sideplate:(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi55.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fg123%2FCurtsstuff%2Fsideplate5_zps4f13fd6b.jpg&hash=d7faab2d0aee90562ee2d4fe25f87fd20e8b779b) (http://s55.photobucket.com/user/Curtsstuff/media/sideplate5_zps4f13fd6b.jpg.html)
The lock:
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi55.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fg123%2FCurtsstuff%2Flock3_zps6bb709eb.jpg&hash=8532bcd5e23e69fd9b91550a15417e103f5fbd74) (http://s55.photobucket.com/user/Curtsstuff/media/lock3_zps6bb709eb.jpg.html)
Closeup of the lock:
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi55.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fg123%2FCurtsstuff%2Flockcloseup_zps73f5196f.jpg&hash=cc87d5fe904c9b5b52692bd63df41f1e17458b2d) (http://s55.photobucket.com/user/Curtsstuff/media/lockcloseup_zps73f5196f.jpg.html)
Buttplate:
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi55.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fg123%2FCurtsstuff%2Fbuttplate4_zps1ece1924.jpg&hash=83ecb59f2aa68e363956a13b990b8f50a0b1a27e) (http://s55.photobucket.com/user/Curtsstuff/media/buttplate4_zps1ece1924.jpg.html)
And finally, the detail on the buttplate:
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi55.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fg123%2FCurtsstuff%2Fbuttplatecloseup_zps42661b4a.jpg&hash=e78558e5ed15422eb2fcefc9da81d965fede136f) (http://s55.photobucket.com/user/Curtsstuff/media/buttplatecloseup_zps42661b4a.jpg.html)
Fred and I grew up together in the Chicago suburbs. He is 8 years my junior. His dad was my favorite uncle. But he has become a real artist over these many years. We were both collectors and I suspect, like me, he couldn't afford the real thing and began building. He has several nice pieces on his wall. At this point, I don't know how to repay him for all this work. If I try to come up what this is really worth, we'll be eating beans and rice for the rest of our lives. At this point there will be a way somehow, but for now I'm letting this post be a very visual and very exciting example of his work. Yes this is a shameless plug, but I am really proud of my cousin Fred.
-
Quality work for sure. Very nice gun from both craftsmen.
-
I wanted everyone to know about Fred's work so here are some pics for you. After you see them you'll understand why I'm now thinking about takin a really good course in carving--then maybe a new stock to suit his work. Enjoy.
Curt had the engraved parts with him at our Williamsburg VA show and I took a look at them. The engraving looks good here but in person it was spectacular. Thanks for posting Curt.
Dennis
ps Nice on the Jaeger too!
-
Nice.
-
I can't imagine what he'd have done if you hadn't limited him to "simple line work." that buttplate is more than spectacular.
-
Simply gorgeous Curt...Congrats! And your cousin Fred can be reached where?
-
Thanks for posting the pics Curt. His design work is gorgeous, but his shading and background treatment just blow me away. Amazing talent.
-
Yeah,,,, well,,,,,,, it's obvious he can't follow simple directions. ;D Mark
-
Cousin Fred can be reached at stagargent@yahoo.com. I suspect that stag argent is the silver stag on our Bowen family crest.
Curt
-
Beautiful rifle and the design made on the rifle are really awesome. It is a nice work and really need good effort and practice to made such design on the buttplate.
-
Some beautiful engraving for sure. Thanks for showing the photos.
-
Beautiful work! Some day if I live another 200 or 300 years I'll be able to do that. If my eyes hold up. Amazing!!
-
Curt, your pride is certainly justified! He has a great deal of talent. Nice rifle too.
Curtis
-
Curt it's me, your long lost cousin AL, remember me. Lol ;D ;D. That is fantastic engraving.... AL
-
There's nothing wrong with a plug and cousin Fred is deserving of it. Looks like really good stuff.