Please Critique My Carving

[James Rogers]

I am in the early phases if my second English fowling piece but I am studying some pictures of originals to do some preliminary planning of the carving . My first gun's carving is rough and full of many mistakes that I am able to detect but I am hoping to get some feedback and suggestions from different and more experienced eyes. These are the best pictures I have that show the carving height and features.

Thank you in advance,
James

[JTR]

I don't know,,, looks like you're beating yourself up over not very much, as the carving looks pretty good to me!

There are a couple places where your curves are a bit kinked, and those could be made to flow a little smoother. Other than that, I leave it up to the guys here that do the Great carving.

Nice looking gun!
John

[eagle24]

I don't know anything about carving, but that is a beautiful rifle.  Awesome!

[Acer Saccharum]

I think you're playing the newbie... only it doesn't show up in your work. This looks really good, James. The only thing you have to be careful of, if you are going for total authenticity, is that you don't make it too good. You are pushing that limit.

Keep up the really good work,
Tom

[James Rogers]

Trust me guys, it's pretty rough up close. I have yet to be able to sharpen the tools correctly and it shows. I handle (fondle) this gun every day and things begin to pop out at me that I find fault with. Of course many of those things I was aware of during the building process but others have surfaced as I have studied it over and over.

I am pretty satisfied for my first piece but I want to improve. I see straight areas in the ribbon that should be more rounded and flowing. They looked fine to my eye until the gun was done.  I may have not made the carving quite high enough in an attempt to keep from looking too bulky.

 It has been suggested that I take some of the classes at Bowling Green and I really want to do that some day but finding that amount of time away is even more challenging than the dollars would be at this time.
I really need to see more original pieces in person to catch some of it I know.

Acer, your comment on looking too good got me to thinking. I know there were differing qualities in the work of English makers and in American makers. In general, how did the average English quality compare with our average American quality in guns? A hard question I know but just wanting some opinions.

James

[rich pierce]

If you can give us some closer shots we might see what you're seeing.  My Dad used to say, "Looks good from the road!" 

[James Rogers]

Richard, I would need to email them if someone would be so kind. It knocks out my connection trying to upload with dial-up to a photobucket account anything larger than what's posted.

[Acer Saccharum]

James, just build another gun, will ya? Each one will get better until you can't see anymore and then they start to get worse, gun by gun.

Practice is the mother of something, and you are well on your way. If you can't get you hands on originals, you should try to get some good books. It looks like you do have some good material already, judging from the quality of your designs.

Also, keep your eyes and ears open for original work to study. Most collectors love to share their collection with you if the see how serious you are about your work.


If you are worried about the technical aspects of carving, a class will certainly help. But at your level, I'd think an intermediate or higher would serve you best. Sometimes Ron Scott offers carving classes. Jim Kibler has been known to teach a class or two. The WKU classes are also a good source. Those classes should be listed in Muzzleblasts in the next few months.

[B Shipman]

The heck with the carving. That's a nicely styled English fowler and that's much harder to achieve than neatness in your carving. 
The proportions of the carving are fine. Not to short or long. The main folage in the center is way too pinched at it's base.

[rick landes]

If you feel your carving is not as exact as you want it to be you may want to draw a template to trace onto the stock and then use the same template as a check tool to see if you have cut the amounts you intend to from those areas under scrutiny.

I often use a scroll template to check the roundness of a curved area. If it is not as I want I carefully draw in the "offending" areas and correct accordingly.

I think in the main you are suffering from a bit of perfectionism that will not let you say this is good. I have to believe every builder feels they could have done something (or things) different if they could turn back time. Make notes of what you want to change. You walk a path of a craftsman. I believe it is an ever evolving path. Enjoy the trip and the experiences. I have often said that I think a master builder is not a perfect builder, but one who knows how to work their errors into the design in such a way that it becomes part of the plan.

Your rifle is a beauty. Be well pleased with it and enjoy it.

[Leatherbelly]

Your rifle is a beauty. Be well pleased with it and enjoy it.

 Has great eye appeal. Nice job! Ditto to what Rick said.

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

James, That gun is beautiful!!  You even got that @#@@^ sideplate inlet beautifully as far as I can see in the pictures. The carving looks terrific to me.  Just get the next one going and carve something a little different.

How did you do that barrel...its beautiful, stamps, standing breech?? 

[Pete G.]

I like to sit and just turn the unfinished piece over and over and use a pencil to circle any areas that may need some more attention. Riffler files are a very good tool for clearing up the minor little humps and bumps. Keep looking until there are no more things to circle.

[James Rogers]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I have just returned home from Phoenix AZ where my laptop bit the dust and have not been able to reply.
I do tend to put myself to the whipping post.
Tim, that sideplate was a real bugger to get just right. I worked on it again after I took the pictures and was able to get it satisfactory enough to take to Dixon's the day after. I don't even want to think how many hours i have in that one piece. Kind of silly to begin with such a part but the design called for it. This next gun is going to have a solid sideplate just for a break.  

[brokenflint]

Nice one James!!  Can I come over to your house and look over your shoulder 

Broke