Author Topic: Dragon carving (Read 8913 times)

Wayne Holcombe · « **on:** December 25, 2014, 04:29:40 PM »

I built a rifle with a dragon carved behind the cheek piece,a number of years ago, and I can't remember who originally made the rifle I used as inspiration.Anyone have any thoughts on this.

Wayne Holcombe · « **Reply #1 on:** December 25, 2014, 05:26:00 PM »

Found it.It's a Fondersmith from "Behold the Longrifle" With the dragon on cheek piece side and the Indian heads on the patch box I view this as a nod to the "Sons of Liberty"
Anyone have any further info on this rifle ?

Clark Badgett · « **Reply #2 on:** December 25, 2014, 07:48:15 PM »

Are you sure it was a dragon, or could it have been a hellhorse?

Wayne Holcombe · « **Reply #3 on:** December 25, 2014, 08:24:46 PM »

Might be but I'm in favor of a dragon.It has wings,pointed tail,possibly cloven hooves not horses hooves and what appears to be scales carved onto the body.If you have the book check it out.
I'm going to run the photo through photo shop and see what I find when it's enhanced.Wish I'd had a computer when I built the piece but at that time very few people had computers and even less had photoshop.
If you see something I've missed I'd appreciate the input.

Wayne Holcombe · « **Reply #4 on:** December 25, 2014, 08:48:29 PM »

Enhanced it still looks like a dragon to me.

smallpatch · « **Reply #5 on:** December 26, 2014, 08:37:03 AM »

It's a Griphon. Body of a lion, head of an eagle.

Wayne Holcombe · « **Reply #6 on:** December 26, 2014, 01:47:11 PM »

Could be but it seems to favor the Welch dragon more than it does the Moravian griffin.i.e.,cloven feet,scaly body instead of a hairy one,and a snout instead of a beak.
I'm going to check some of my 18th century design books to see if I can find something that might have been used as pattern.So far I'll check on a dragon,a $#*! horse and a gryphon.Is there anything else I'm missing ?

Wayne Holcombe · « **Reply #7 on:** December 26, 2014, 01:58:53 PM »

As I look at the picture I notice something else,inside the loop of the tail there is a carved ball.The ball is carved separate from the loop of the tail.I remember reading that in Chinese mythology that dragons are depicted as happy dragons and sad dragons.Happy dragons have a ball to play with while sad dragons don't.
Any more thoughts about this design ?

P.s.,
The Welch dragon doesn't have a ball,but then again it isn't Chinese.

Wayne Holcombe · « **Reply #8 on:** December 26, 2014, 02:11:42 PM »

In previous messages insert Welsh in place of all the other spellings I used.

Wayne Holcombe · « **Reply #9 on:** December 26, 2014, 03:08:07 PM »

Looking at the book on Paul Revere engravings there is a chapter on 1765.It shows a print with a dragon holding a sign that says "Magna Charta" .the print is in opposition to the stamp act.

??

Pete G. · « **Reply #10 on:** December 26, 2014, 07:31:49 PM »

Perhaps an obscure reference to the "Green Dragon Tavern" ?

Wayne Holcombe · « **Reply #11 on:** December 26, 2014, 11:07:22 PM »

That's what it said in one of the Whisker books.The patch box has a couple of Indians engraved on the side panels.Sons of Liberty

smallpatch · « **Reply #12 on:** December 27, 2014, 02:40:51 AM »

The only other dragon carving behind a cheek piece that I know Of is a M. Fordney rifle. Bill Shipman has a nice example on his website.

Wayne Holcombe · « **Reply #13 on:** December 27, 2014, 02:50:50 AM »

Impressive

galamb · « **Reply #14 on:** December 27, 2014, 04:25:15 AM »

Here is one more to add to the list.

It's referred to as the "green dragon rifle".

It was built in Shepardstown Va. (now W.Va/Shenandoah area) circa 1810 by an unknown gunmaker (A.G. stamped on barrel).

Not sure I see a "dragon", but it is some kind of creature...

Wayne Holcombe · « **Reply #15 on:** December 27, 2014, 02:37:45 PM »

Looks similar to the Fondersmith rifle.Is this one pictured in any book ?

davebozell · « **Reply #16 on:** December 27, 2014, 03:20:59 PM »

RCA #25 is another rifle with a dragon on it, although I don't think it's the one that you have in mind.

mark esterly · « **Reply #17 on:** December 27, 2014, 05:06:03 PM »

I'm not seeing a dragon on #25 . just a bunch of incised cuts.

Wayne Holcombe · « **Reply #18 on:** December 27, 2014, 05:14:33 PM »

The dragon I'm looking at is shown in Gunsmiths of York co. By Whisker,pg 66-67.It is also shown in "Behold the Longrifle" same pictures.,pg 50-51.

PPatch · « **Reply #19 on:** December 27, 2014, 10:01:51 PM »

Graham that is a very interesting relief carving. It is well executed even if the subject is like "What the heck!??"

dave

galamb · « **Reply #20 on:** December 28, 2014, 04:50:49 AM »

That rifle is included in the CD the KRF put together on Shenandoah rifles.

Great CD by the way for anyone wanting super hi-def photos to help with builds.

Wayne Holcombe · « **Reply #21 on:** December 29, 2014, 10:09:09 PM »

Thanks. I'll put it on my list.

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Author Topic: Dragon carving (Read 8913 times)

galamb

galamb