AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Contemporary Longrifle Collecting => Topic started by: Mike Brooks on October 19, 2019, 03:56:45 PM
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This was an interesting project. I was given a pile of parts and a price ceiling and told to make what ever I wanted and here it is. I know this fellow to be very fond of Antes architecture so I went with that for a foundation which lead me to using mainly Christian's Spring decorative features which I enjoy plus a lot of Brooksisms thrown into the mix. The cheek carving is right off an Antes rifle, the carving at the tang you see on many early Germanic styled guns. The lock panels are very Christian's Springs. The raised panel around the box is taken from an Oerter gun, Oerter's was in wire but this is done in relief. The wire Moravian Star on the cheek is also CS inspired. The volutes and related carving at the rear pipe is another Antes inspiration as is the thumbnail finial on the rear pipe, the buttplate and the trigger guard. The sideplate is right off an Antes rifle. All the circle punching is a Christians Springs peculiarity that I used liberally through out the decoration to create a textured effect. The wavy gravy buttstock and forestock moldings are Brooksisms , created to give the gun a look of movement and speed.The engraving is pretty near all Brooksism. The logo on the back of the buttplate is taken off English trade guns, most often seen on the tail of the lock. And , what would a Hog Hammer be with out hogs and dogs running down the barrel? You may notice it has red paint on it. This is a continuation of experimenting with color that began on a Lehigh rifle I did last spring/summer. There is still some more paint in me in the future, Haven't quite finished taking paint every where I want to go with it yet.
The specs: Rifled 41" Rice swamped "EDL" barrel in .60, Chambers early Ketland lock, L&R triggers. Castings are all done locally. Has a very fine piece of Harrison wood, sort of 1/4 sawn in some areas, must have come out of a sort of twisted stump. It worked very well for the most part, got some interesting washboard effect from cleaning up with scrapers...pretty authentic look close up. It has sling swivels fore and aft, but I didn't put them on for the pics. Stained with Kibler's iron nitrate followed by Klien's brownish red which took it WAY too dark. I had to rub the bejessus out of it to get it back to this color. I'll be diluting that brownish red before I ever use it again.
This gun has really morphed and evolved as I worked on it. I was always going with this basic architecture and mounts. The carving was originally going to be all in relief with silver wire edges. I have used this technique before and it's a real eye catcher but leaves a very harsh edge to the carving, not very warm. And, for the most part the paint would have covered the wire edge. So, no wire edges.
I encourage any comment, critique , discussion or speculation on my sanity. And that is all I got to say about that....
(https://i.ibb.co/nwh0Cdj/DSCF2570.jpg) (https://ibb.co/0nPXt4r)
(https://i.ibb.co/HxDd8hv/DSCF2571.jpg) (https://ibb.co/s6vHYWS)
(https://i.ibb.co/CJPGsKv/DSCF2575.jpg) (https://ibb.co/KNKvzx7)
(https://i.ibb.co/6Yc2cms/DSCF2588.jpg) (https://ibb.co/sjphp23)
(https://i.ibb.co/CsFdJFb/DSCF2589-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/93jXwjb)
(https://i.ibb.co/FzpmjpR/DSCF2589.jpg) (https://ibb.co/yq2db2H)
(https://i.ibb.co/42VcGbQ/DSCF2590.jpg) (https://ibb.co/LrZMWTG)
(https://i.ibb.co/swdP3Pg/DSCF2591.jpg) (https://ibb.co/qs3n1nD)
(https://i.ibb.co/9hv5wJg/DSCF2593.jpg) (https://ibb.co/m0BWvmT)
(https://i.ibb.co/YTP1bzz/DSCF2594.jpg) (https://ibb.co/QjpTX22)
(https://i.ibb.co/bHqb2YZ/DSCF2595.jpg) (https://ibb.co/DGsr8my)
(https://i.ibb.co/GkXqf9N/DSCF2596.jpg) (https://ibb.co/jGdS9zs)
(https://i.ibb.co/MfYjX4w/DSCF2597.jpg) (https://ibb.co/XDhdwg0)
(https://i.ibb.co/xjHSkx6/DSCF2599.jpg) (https://ibb.co/DCpDJ0Q)
(https://i.ibb.co/HPw2jHr/DSCF2603.jpg) (https://ibb.co/094XxGf)
(https://i.ibb.co/tbwPkW3/DSCF2604.jpg) (https://ibb.co/19YJhwb)
upload (https://imgbb.com/upload)
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You can clicky on the pics to get them bigger.
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Good Lord Mike, the medication is working! Very nice.
What amount of time do you have invested?
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Good Lord Mike, the medication is working! Very nice.
What amount of time do you have invested?
84 hours. That is with the barrel channel and ramrod hole already done, by Mark Weader I think....or maybe Dave Rase. I once put 120 hours into a gun that ended up in Mass. Don't know how I survived that one with my sanity...maybe I didn't. :P 70-80 hrs is about all I have patience for. Projects of this magnitude become life consuming, you live with it intimately every day until it's done.
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Cool stuff Mike. Your treatment of the stock makes it appear shorter than 41”. I’d love to lay eyes on it in 50 years. A Brooks classic.
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I was lucky enough to see this one during stages of its creation. I thought I knew how it was going to finish out. Boy oh boy was in wrong. Much better than I expected. I liken the contrast this paint and stained wood to that on those classic 57 chevys. Very tasteful and eye appealing. This kind of stuff is right up my alley! Bravo Mike.
Cosby, I really hope that you don't like the gun! You can box it up and ship it to Stoner Creek.
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WOW! Pop Art meats the Long Rifle, Really Kooo L. I love it.
Tim (The one with the 'R')
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Wow, Mike! You hit a bases loaded home run with this one! You continue to amaze me with your continuing work, always a bit better, a bit different.
Thanks for posting this one, which will certainly give me something to strive for.
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Looking forward to seeing it in person. Always wanted a Brooks creation here it is. May not be for everyone but I like it. Stoner I may let you pet it but you're gonna have to give it back. My wife is a rabid Alabama fan she said you trimmed it in the right color. By next year enough hog mud and blood sweat and handling marks and it'll be done. Send it south or bring it Mike and we'll go kill a hog. I'll have a pretty nifty new rifle I could let you use. Thanks for taking the project. Tim
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Mike, I really liked the painted Lehigh rifle, and I like this one even more.
At first glance the red paint seems not to belong, but after a few minutes you realize that it almost works like modern camouflage. The combination of dark brown wood, and red paint is a stunning combination.
The architectural details when read as written seem kinda mish mashed. When viewed on screen, everything comes together quite well, and is very pleasing to the eye. I REALLY like the punch work.
INCREDIBLE JOB!!!!!
R.J.BRUCE
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Good Lord Mike, the medication is working! Very nice.
What amount of time do you have invested?
Indeed the meds ARE working and we didn't get any of it.
VERY interesting rifle to say the least.
Bob Roller
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Absolutely stunning mike!!
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This was an interesting project. I was given a pile of parts and a price ceiling and told to make what ever I wanted and here it is...speculation on my sanity. And that is all I got to say about that...
And that's how you get a maker's best work I say.
Well done, let 'em all spit and cuss what don't like it. I kinda like it.
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Mr Brooks, you are a madman....... I LOVE IT!
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Good Lord Mike, the medication is working! Very nice.
What amount of time do you have invested?
Indeed the meds ARE working and we didn't get any of it.
VERY interesting rifle to say the least.
Bob Roller
Thanks Bob. As I first started to imagine this gun in my head I referred to it as Bill Antes on acid... ;D
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I really like it. It has it all. I like the detail in the cheek piece and around the patch box the most. The dots were a great touch too. You captured what you were after for sure.
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The hogs are just going to walk right up and lay down in front of you waiting to be made into sausage when you point that gun at em. WOW. Inner turmoil... I seem to be trying to convince myself that I hate it. But the more I look at it I just keep thinking I like it. If it were mine, I might rub the paint way back, so it gives more of an appearance of residual, faded old paint. But I am not sure why I want to do that... maybe because the paint scares or disturbs my sense of what I think is supposed to be. And why would that be any more right that what you have already done? Naw... leave it and let it wear naturally... Show it again after 5 years of hard hunting and I bet we might like it even better.
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The hogs are just going to walk right up and lay down in front of you waiting to be made into sausage when you point that gun at em. WOW. Inner turmoil... I seem to be trying to convince myself that I hate it. But the more I look at it I just keep thinking I like it. If it were mine, I might rub the paint way back, so it gives more of an appearance of residual, faded old paint. But I am not sure why I want to do that... maybe because the paint scares or disturbs my sense of what I think is supposed to be. And why would that be any more right that what you have already done? Naw... leave it and let it wear naturally... Show it again after 5 years of hard hunting and I bet we might like it even better.
I can see that. I think a lot of people are seeing it this way. But, think of how "average" the gun would be with out the paint. As the owner told me, "Old Paxinosa would have killed for that gun"...…………...Yep, probably so says I. ;D
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The hogs are just going to walk right up and lay down in front of you waiting to be made into sausage when you point that gun at em. WOW. Inner turmoil... I seem to be trying to convince myself that I hate it. But the more I look at it I just keep thinking I like it. If it were mine, I might rub the paint way back, so it gives more of an appearance of residual, faded old paint. But I am not sure why I want to do that... maybe because the paint scares or disturbs my sense of what I think is supposed to be. And why would that be any more right that what you have already done? Naw... leave it and let it wear naturally... Show it again after 5 years of hard hunting and I bet we might like it even better.
I can see that. I think a lot of people are seeing it this way. But, think of how "average" the gun would be with out the paint. As the owner told me, "Old Paxinosa would have killed for that gun"...…………...Yep, probably so says I. ;D
"Average" was defined by Paul Harvey as being the best of the worst or the worst of the best
One of my favorite non bluegrass songs is "I still haven't found what I'm looking for"by U2.
I think maybe Mike HAS found what he was looking for.
Bob Roller
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Mike were there any warnings on that prescription you are taking? Perhaps not to take with local squeezing's etc. You certainly marched to the beat of a different flute on that one! No one will accuse you of being afraid to step outside of your comfort zone---or is this your comfort zone. Every now and then you just have to do what you want to do...interesting and unique...as always...Ron
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Wish I had the nerve to try something like that. Bravo!
Greg
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Mike, I agree with what you replied. I think it's great on a lot of levels. I recently saw a painted barn gun by Lloyd Moler on facebook that hit me the same way. I felt myself trying to find a reason to not like it, but it truly was kinda working--- it was unique and different and cool, If your red painted gun was mine, I'd carry it and shoot it and enjoy it for the truly creative piece it is. I think you are beginning to channel Eric Kettenberg. Did you start drinking his brand o shine?
Ken
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(https://i.ibb.co/Nsvs3Y7/arte.jpg) (https://imgbb.com/)
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This was an interesting project. I was given a pile of parts and a price ceiling and told to make what ever I wanted and here it is...speculation on my sanity. And that is all I got to say about that...
And that's how you get a maker's best work I say.
Well done, let 'em all spit and cuss what don't like it. I kinda like it.
A speculation on sanity? It's dull out there in the "sane" world. I went around the bend decades
ago and plan no return trip.My excursion started in 1951 with the Duesenberg Automobile and
progressed deeper into the dark side as time went on.Long rifles and others came later along
with vintage aircraft.
Bob Roller
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"Inner Turmoil", sounds like a good name for the rifle. I wonder, if mr B was listening to Hendrix Purple Haze while toiling ove the great work?
I like it big time, makes me wanna put on the war paint and go out amongst em !! Ye haaaaa!!1 Dave f 8) 8)
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Mike when I first seen it I thought man that bourbon of Stoners was stronger than I thought. Then I remembered taking my new 1974 sportster. Taking it all apart. Putting it in a riged frame 16 over springer front t end.
Everyone said what the #$%$# yeah do that for.. Cause I wanted something different.. You sure took this one far from 99% of most longrifles...
OUTSTANDING....Congrats...Oldtravler
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Dave at least I won't have to worry about getting blood on it.
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Dang Mike, I had to go back and look that gun over a few times. I must say, it really grew on me. That little rendition of that Iowa Porky Pig on the barrel is really cool. You should have been a cartoonist, but seriously, very well done and unique. I hear ya about the Dangler stains, I always thin em out at least 50/50 with DA, sometimes more.
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Count me in the “Like it!” Group. It’s a work of art. I hope the “copiests” leave it be.
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Mike,
I, like so many others, like the rifle a lot. I'm also glad to see that I am not the only one to forget about HC and build what they like.
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Mike,
I, like so many others, like the rifle a lot. I'm also glad to see that I am not the only one to forget about HC and build what they like.
It may be more HC than you think. The Coykendahl gun by Oerter has sections of punch marks that appear to have been painted black.
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Dang Mike, I had to go back and look that gun over a few times. I must say, it really grew on me. That little rendition of that Iowa Porky Pig on the barrel is really cool. You should have been a cartoonist, but seriously, very well done and unique. I hear ya about the Dangler stains, I always thin em out at least 50/50 with DA, sometimes more.
I'm with Tommy in that it took a while to grow on me at least a little, ??? :o :-\ ;)
Bless you for having the stones to break outta the box in such a wild and crazy way ! ???
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Madder root Is basically a paint.
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It's supposed to be in Alabamy today, then we'll see what is said by the one that really counts. ;D
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The Hog Hammer is home. Christmas, Birthday and Fourth of July all rolled into one with this rifles arrival. First thank you to Mike Brooks for an exceptional and unique long rifle. I really like it. For those that only have the ability to see Mike's pictures the red is much more subdued and has more brown in it than the pictures show. Holds and fits great and points like a good fowler. It required many years of experience and considerable study and thought to build this rifle. If success is whether the guy in Alabama likes it or not; then Mike hit a home run. I may post some additional pics in a bit. Tim
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Uh...What they all said. If it were mine it would be displayed behind glass with all fingerprints wiped off and would never see the woods. Some guns you use, and some you only look at. Possibly the most interesting gun I've seen in a long, long time; and very easy on the eye.
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Uh...What they all said. If it were mine it would be displayed behind glass with all fingerprints wiped off and would never see the woods. Some guns you use, and some you only look at. Possibly the most interesting gun I've seen in a long, long time; and very easy on the eye.
I sent along a pair of white gloves when I shipped it. It has never been touched by human hands .
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Uh...What they all said. If it were mine it would be displayed behind glass with all fingerprints wiped off and would never see the woods. Some guns you use, and some you only look at. Possibly the most interesting gun I've seen in a long, long time; and very easy on the eye.
I sent along a pair of white gloves when I shipped it. It has never been touched by human hands .
::)
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It has now!
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It has now!
Probably has all the finish worn off by now! ;D
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Hey Mike, nice job - this must be the gun you were describing to me at the CLA show? It turned out great.
I can relate to the comment on the red paint being a more subdued red / brown than the photos show. I have had the same issue photographing my own painted guns. I usually end up having to photograph them a few times before I get the true colors to show. Regardless, very cool gun, congratulations !
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I sent along a pair of white gloves when I shipped it. It has never been touched by human hands .
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WHAT! EXPLAIN THAT TO ME!
(https://i.ibb.co/vZhvmYq/DSC00235.jpg)
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I think it's supposed to be a big deal or something.
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It has now been handled and shot so no longer a big deal.
It is sighted in and ready to go hunting.👍🐗
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It has now been handled and shot so no longer a big deal.
It is sighted in and ready to go hunting.👍🐗
I'M MORTIFIED! :o
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Brooks, you should have known that crazy old coot was going to shoot it.
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Brooks, you should have known that crazy old coot was going to shoot it.
I'd be disappointed if he didn't.
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Brooks, you should have known that crazy old coot was going to shoot it.
I'd be disappointed if he didn't.
I know that’s right. I might, if I were Uber rich, buy a period piece of high collectibility and not shoot it, or in the unlikely case I were to buy a piece specifically made to be a favorite maker’s masterpiece, I wouldn’t shoot it, but those things don’t interest me enough to own. In the end, to me, it is still a tool. If I want something to buy and just look at I’ll buy a vacuum cleaner.
BTW, she’s a real beaut Mike.