For you Golden Mean types

[Blackpowder Barbie]

Just to save ya'll a bit of $$, now you can make your own dividers. Here is a site that actually instructs by drawing how to build a
pair of these instead of showing you how to use them.

http://demonstrations.wolfram.com/GoldenRatioDividers/

[Daryl]

TKS Barbie

[Vomitus]

 Here's how I got this pegged. ALL artist's have it whether they know it, admit it, or understand it. It's just a natural ratio, but it's how artists (in general) see or portray things of beauty. Cory Joe hit on the head,to my way of thinking.
"What I find fascinating is how often what is pleasing to the eye fits that ratio."         Bingo!   

[Bentflint]

Mark, I have background with furniture, many a time I have rolled a stump to a camp fire and parked my butt on it. You have a good point, I beleave this reflects in my gun work, proportionally speaking.

[Dphariss]

If a person cannot make a longrifle that looks right because they have no eye for the lines then having a set of "golden mean" dividers is not going the help them any.

Dan

[Eric Smith]

I believe Dan is right. Don't think I'll be spending any money, or time, on the Golden Mean. You reckon Jacob Dickert or Wolfgang Haga knew or understood the "Golden Mean"?   

[Acer Saccharum]

I think they probably did.

I would hazard that nearly all continental trained smiths were familiar with it, especially those who were trained in the design aspects of their art. A copyist may not have used it, or hardly been aware of it. But for those of artistic persuasion, it would be a part of their classic training.

But did they use it? I don't know. Until written reference turns up, it's all speculation.


I'm one of the untrained, among the hordes of unwashed apprentices roaming the country in search of work with a master who won't beat me daily.

[T*O*F]

I'm one of the untrained, among the hordes of unwashed apprentices roaming the country in search of work with a master who won't beat me daily.

This means that you must have run away from a master who did beat you daily.  Perchance, has he offered a reward for your return?  It also explains why you dress the way your do.  No time to steal a good set of clothes during your escape?
 

[Acer Saccharum]

What clothes?

[Bob Roller]

I have heard that "mean"can be construed as ornery,cranky or hateful. I have also heard it can be defined as average which in turn can be defined as the best of the worst or the worst of the best.

Bob Roller

[KLMoors]

Yup Bob, it can be mean. In fact, when I was in college in 1985, I was taking a class in architecture and learning about the golden mean. I had a girlfriend at the time who was blonde, VERY well proportioned, but mean as heck. I called her the golden meanie.

[paa]

Hey Fellas,  The book, Seeing Through the Eyes of Yesteryear, by the late Patrick E. Hallam, might wake you up a bit.  I tested Patrick's thesis, and he is/was absolutely right on.  I have made 2 sets of 3/5 proprtional dividers - the small one for book photos, the other for gun layout.  Once I know TRIGGER REACH & DROP, all the rest of the butt stock is so easily laid out including all inlays, especially the patch box, toe plate, and so on.  Yes, you can do it by eyeball, to a pleasing result, which will always reflect 3/5 proprtions, or you can emply proprtional dividers to educate your eyeballs.  REgards, Peter A. Alexander. the Gunsmith of Grenville County]

[Kermit]

18th century--and earlier--tradesmen used dividers and sectors and such. They did not use tape measures or pocket calculators. Most of them would be lost with today's 3rd grade arithmetic.

Take a look at the symbol of the Masons.

[Don Tripp]

I have made 2 sets of 3/5 proprtional dividers - the small one for book photos, the other for gun layout.  Once I know TRIGGER REACH & DROP, all the rest of the butt stock is so easily laid out including all inlays, especially the patch box, toe plate, and so on.  Yes, you can do it by eyeball, to a pleasing result, which will always reflect 3/5 proprtions, or you can emply proprtional dividers to educate your eyeballs.  REgards, Peter A. Alexander. the Gunsmith of Grenville County]

Will you be covering this in the new edition of the Gunsmith of Grenville County? Speaking of the new edition, I am looking forward to its publication. My 1st edition is pathetically shopworn and tattered but I guard like it was gold. The same can be said of the VHS tapes. I keep a VCR for the sole purpose of watching them. I've stated on this site, Amazon and all over the web that your book and the tapes by themselves or together are too valuable a resource to remain unavailable.

[JTR]

I have a Bowie knife blade that Patrick forged for me shortly before he passed. I'm sure it fits the GM perfectly, and it's absolutely beautiful!

John

[Tom Currie]

I bought Pat Hallam's book at Dixon's after attending his seminar. It's very interesting. It certainly was a passion for him.

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

Yeah, I bought the book and a pair of dividers... really helped on a wooden patchbox I was struggling with.

[Bernard]

Hey Fellas,  The book, Seeing Through the Eyes of Yesteryear, by the late Patrick E. Hallam, might wake you up a bit.  I tested Patrick's thesis, and he is/was absolutely right on.  I have made 2 sets of 3/5 proprtional dividers - the small one for book photos, the other for gun layout.  Once I know TRIGGER REACH & DROP, all the rest of the butt stock is so easily laid out including all inlays, especially the patch box, toe plate, and so on.  Yes, you can do it by eyeball, to a pleasing result, which will always reflect 3/5 proprtions, or you can emply proprtional dividers to educate your eyeballs.  REgards, Peter A. Alexander. the Gunsmith of Grenville County]

Hi Peter;
Great to see you here. Haven't heard from you for some time. Hope to see you at Dixon's this year.

[Eric Smith]

I have made 2 sets of 3/5 proprtional dividers - the small one for book photos, the other for gun layout.  Once I know TRIGGER REACH & DROP, all the rest of the butt stock is so easily laid out including all inlays, especially the patch box, toe plate, and so on.  Yes, you can do it by eyeball, to a pleasing result, which will always reflect 3/5 proprtions, or you can emply proprtional dividers to educate your eyeballs.  REgards, Peter A. Alexander. the Gunsmith of Grenville County]

Will you be covering this in the new edition of the Gunsmith of Grenville County? Speaking of the new edition, I am looking forward to its publication. My 1st edition is pathetically shopworn and tattered but I guard like it was gold. The same can be said of the VHS tapes. I keep a VCR for the sole purpose of watching them. I've stated on this site, Amazon and all over the web that your book and the tapes by themselves or together are too valuable a resource to remain unavailable.

I've heard so much about PAA's book and tapes, I am frothing at the mouth tho obtain them. I know the book is about to be republished. How about the tapes?  I would imagine the would be converted to DVD?