Author Topic: Amazing silver wire work  (Read 8257 times)

Offline Blacksmoke

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Amazing silver wire work
« on: May 19, 2015, 06:00:20 AM »
I have just competed a restoration on a pair of tiny English pistols. The butt stocks were encrusted in very fine silver decoration , complete with tiny leaves and flowers.  I thought that some here might like to see some amazing work that was done over 200 yrs. ago.  I replaced 8 leaves, one flower, two scrolls and 2" of wire. The stocks had multiple fractures and one was broken clean in half. Anyway check out the photos attached.  Hugh Toenjes
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Offline Mark Elliott

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Re: Amazing silver wire work
« Reply #1 on: May 19, 2015, 07:02:18 AM »
Thanks for posting, Hugh.   

Offline FALout

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Re: Amazing silver wire work
« Reply #2 on: May 19, 2015, 12:26:00 PM »
Those are small!  Amazing wire detail.
Bob

Offline cmac

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Re: Amazing silver wire work
« Reply #3 on: May 19, 2015, 02:07:25 PM »
Wow! Can you post a photo of the cap?

kaintuck

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Re: Amazing silver wire work
« Reply #4 on: May 19, 2015, 02:47:34 PM »
Nice!
"Fancy lad" or muff pistols?

Tomtom

sweed

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Re: Amazing silver wire work
« Reply #5 on: May 19, 2015, 05:22:51 PM »
Id like ta see a pic of th whole pistol. What kind of work go on ahead of this?  ???

Offline smart dog

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Re: Amazing silver wire work
« Reply #6 on: May 19, 2015, 05:54:03 PM »
Hi Hugh,
Great photos!  I am glad you posted them and it is great to see the progress you made on them.  Hugh shared photos with me before he started the work and I can tell you, he did a masterful job replacing wire and inlays.  Hugh, how did you finally anchor the inlays?

dave
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Offline Acer Saccharum

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Re: Amazing silver wire work
« Reply #7 on: May 19, 2015, 06:26:25 PM »
Really nice restoration work, Hugh.
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Offline Curtis

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Re: Amazing silver wire work
« Reply #8 on: May 19, 2015, 06:39:09 PM »
Definitely amazing work, both the original and the restoration.  I have the same question as Dave, how were/are the inlays anchored?

Curtis
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Offline jerrywh

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Re: Amazing silver wire work
« Reply #9 on: May 19, 2015, 07:36:39 PM »
 I have some butt caps for sale like this one. They are taken from an original.
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Offline Blacksmoke

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Re: Amazing silver wire work
« Reply #10 on: May 20, 2015, 06:22:02 AM »
Thanks guys for the complimentary comments.  Now to answerer some of your questions: The leaves and flowers were originally held in place with hide glue. Over time some of these popped out because hide glue deteriorates with time and humidity.  To replace these I used a technique which employed an undercut to the mortise of the inlet in conjunction with colored epoxy and thicker silver.   I am attaching photos of the butt caps which were cast out of sterling silver then cleaned up and engraved.  The caps were only a little over an inch wide.  All of my restoration work had to be done with magnification.         Hugh Toenjes
« Last Edit: May 20, 2015, 06:24:13 AM by Blacksmoke »
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Offline Kermit

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Re: Amazing silver wire work
« Reply #11 on: May 20, 2015, 06:11:34 PM »
Love the screw placement/orientation.  :D
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Offline D. Taylor Sapergia

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Re: Amazing silver wire work
« Reply #12 on: May 21, 2015, 12:41:25 AM »
Very neat work Hugh!  those little scrolls don't leave any room for error...potential for cross-grain chip out is very high.  I love to see this sort of work.
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Offline Blacksmoke

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Re: Amazing silver wire work
« Reply #13 on: May 21, 2015, 04:55:44 PM »
Here are a few photos of these pistols "before" and "after"  restoration.  I know that they are not longrifles so if they cannot be pictured here I understand.



« Last Edit: May 21, 2015, 05:08:36 PM by aka tallbear »
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Offline tallbear

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Re: Amazing silver wire work
« Reply #14 on: May 21, 2015, 05:09:18 PM »
Fixed your pics Hugh.They are welcome here as far as I'm concerned  ;)

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Offline Blacksmoke

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Re: Amazing silver wire work
« Reply #15 on: May 21, 2015, 05:56:35 PM »
Thanks Mitch,  I will try and post the after now -  Hugh Toenjes
« Last Edit: May 21, 2015, 07:54:54 PM by Dr. Tim-Boone »
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Offline jerrywh

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Re: Amazing silver wire work
« Reply #16 on: May 21, 2015, 11:29:21 PM »
 Blacksmoke.
   That is a great job of restoration on a very complicated restoration. Not many can do that kind of work.  Your great.  That old wood poses a real problem at times. Did you have to stabilize it?
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Offline Blacksmoke

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Re: Amazing silver wire work
« Reply #17 on: May 22, 2015, 01:56:15 AM »
Jerry,  Yes I added some new wood on the inside to stabilize the bad cracks that these little suffered through improper storage and rough handling.  One of the mainsprings was broken so I had to made a new one.
They are both in good antique working condition now.       Hugh Toenjes
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Offline Carl Young

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Re: Amazing silver wire work
« Reply #18 on: May 22, 2015, 03:05:49 AM »
Hugh, thank you for posting the photos and sharing the techniques used. I've very much enjoyed this thread, and hope you share more of your exceptional work in the future. Even knowing where to look I'm doubtful that I can see the restoration...your craftsmanship is inspiring.

Thanks!
Carl
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Re: Amazing silver wire work
« Reply #19 on: May 23, 2015, 04:32:21 AM »
Hugh, The "as was" photos show the silver work proud of the wood due I think to the shrinkage over time of the wood. Did you smooth the silver to the wood in the finish product?
They look stunning now, beautiful job. If I had tried to do this product they would have looked like a pair of antique egg beaters.

Offline Blacksmoke

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Re: Amazing silver wire work
« Reply #20 on: May 23, 2015, 06:30:39 AM »
Ed;  The original silver wire was slightly proud of the wood surface - I left it that way.  Also the new wire and inlays that were added are slightly proud as well.  I hand rubbed a finish over all of the stocks to finish the project.      Hugh Toenjes
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