What Did They Use To Draw Details On Their Stocks?

[settottu]

To draw details on their stocks? We have pencils and erasers. What did the early gunsmiths use to draw carving details on the wood? I know they had scribes and ink. Really. How would someone like John Armstrong have drawn his carving design?

[rich pierce]

According to Wikipedia, pencils were used in America as early as 1729.  Erasers, on the other hand......

[smart dog]

HI,
They had pencils and charcoal.  You don't need erasers because you can scrape mistakes away more cleanly.  Pencils were invented during the 17th century.  I have some from Colonial Williamsburg that look just like modern pencils without erasers.

dave

[Frank]

You can use pure lead. Just put a point on it to get fine lines.

[msellers]

You can use pure lead. Just put a point on it to get fine lines.

Correct me if I am wrong, but weren't pencils made with lead in older times? Thought that was why there were the different harnesses, and the old adage about lead in the pencil. I know that modern pencils use graphite.
Mike

[Scota4570]

Pencil erasers have been around along time too, 1770.  IF I recall from the "Connections" PBS series,  They were called "rubbers".  They were made from non vulcanized rubber tree sap.  I believe that the old amber-clear erasers are the old type. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eraser

[rich pierce]

You can use pure lead. Just put a point on it to get fine lines.

Correct me if I am wrong, but weren't pencils made with lead in older times? Thought that was why there were the different harnesses, and the old adage about lead in the pencil. I know that modern pencils use graphite.
Mike

Apparently pencils were never made of lead. Graphite was assumed to contain lead. It does not. “Lead” pencils have been mis-labeled for centuries. All according to Wikipedia.

[Daryl]

The White erasers work well on 'pencil lines' on wood, without leaving pink marks.

[msellers]

You can use pure lead. Just put a point on it to get fine lines.

Correct me if I am wrong, but weren't pencils made with lead in older times? Thought that was why there were the different harnesses, and the old adage about lead in the pencil. I know that modern pencils use graphite.
Mike

Apparently pencils were never made of lead. Graphite was assumed to contain lead. It does not. “Lead” pencils have been mis-labeled for centuries. All according to Wikipedia.

Good to know, obviously I never bothered to fact check that misconception. No more hijacking this thread for me.
Mike