Author Topic: "Masterpiece Gun" (Read 60683 times)

Kermit · « **Reply #25 on:** March 28, 2012, 05:56:00 PM »

Whatever, as my granddaughter would say.

I happen to be one of those who find this ol' canoe paddle of a turkey killer to be to his liking. Highest compliment I can pay? Wish it was mine! I'd even be willing to swap actual money for it...

I used to go all wide-eyed and drooly over guns all carved up and inlayed and engraved. Somewhere over the years I started really looking at the REALLY BASIC guns. Schimmel, barn gun, poor boy, whatever you call 'em. To me, that's where a craftsman's work can really show through.

Good on ya, Mike. Nice work.

Dan'l 1946 · « **Reply #26 on:** March 28, 2012, 06:11:24 PM »

Quote from: Eric Kettenburg on March 27, 2012, 07:59:26 PM

Hmmmmm. Well I'll tell you what, henceforth I shall designate all my guns 'masterpieces.'

That'll be 40K, thank you very much.

Ahhh, Eric, all of your guns ARE masterpieces!

Kermit · « **Reply #27 on:** March 28, 2012, 06:50:21 PM »

Wait just a darn minute. It finally dawned on me that I'm looking at an ASH stock. Can you tell us what you did to finish the stock? I really like curly ash--care to share what you did to make it look this good?

TPH · « **Reply #28 on:** March 28, 2012, 06:57:45 PM »

Mike, that gun is finer than a frog's hair split 40 ways! Keep up the good work.

And I like your sense of humor, even if it does go over my head.

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #29 on:** March 28, 2012, 08:32:22 PM »

Quote from: Kermit on March 28, 2012, 06:50:21 PM

Wait just a darn minute. It finally dawned on me that I'm looking at an ASH stock. Can you tell us what you did to finish the stock? I really like curly ash--care to share what you did to make it look this good?

Just Wakohn Bay's aquafortis is all, haven't used it in years. Turned out a little dark, but fine for a turkey gun I think.

Eric Kettenburg · « **Reply #30 on:** March 28, 2012, 09:09:35 PM »

The turkey's probably won;t think so, but then that's the point isn;t it?

bob in the woods · « **Reply #31 on:** March 28, 2012, 09:27:33 PM »

Eric , do you still have that mustardy colored large bore "barn" gun you displayed on your site years ago ?

Roger B · « **Reply #32 on:** March 29, 2012, 12:23:13 AM »

Under the old guild system didn't a journeyman have to produce a "master piece" which was judged of high enough quality by the guild in order to become a "master"? If that is the case, then anyone could submit their best work as their "master piece" and then the beauty and quality would be in the eye of the beholder. So if I built a dead perfect TN without a mistake on it (fat chance) , would it be better than a so-so built Verner with a lot of fairly well done bling? What if I built a nearly perfect rifle made with all commercially available pieces, while another fellow built a somewhat less artistic gun, but made all of the parts including lock, triggers, and barrel, himself? Which would be closest to the "masterpiece" ideal? There really is some material for discussion here.
Roger B.

Brian · « **Reply #33 on:** March 29, 2012, 02:04:54 AM »

Quote from: Eric Kettenburg on March 27, 2012, 07:59:26 PM

Hmmmmm. Well I'll tell you what, henceforth I shall designate all my guns 'masterpieces.'

That'll be 40K, thank you very much.

Eric, if I had 40 K I'd happily pay it for one of your guns. Period.

T*O*F · « **Reply #34 on:** March 29, 2012, 03:19:13 AM »

Quote

Hopefully this will provoke deep thought and intelligent discussion.

Guys,
You just ain't gettin' it. It Ain't About the Guns!!

It's about the use of superfluous superlatives in an attempt to add additional value to a product where none exists.....kinda like the ShamWow or Schticky infomercials on TV. And there are people who fall for that line and buy those products because of the sales pitch.

Eric Kettenburg · « **Reply #35 on:** March 29, 2012, 04:13:18 AM »

Dave, that's a very concise...

oh sorry, I don't have time to finish because I need to go get the iPad XXXVII...

Eric Kettenburg · « **Reply #36 on:** March 29, 2012, 04:19:17 AM »

Thanks for the kind words! Bob, the mustard gun has left the building a looooooooong time ago. Don't know where it is now - hopefully taking care of any turkeys Mike's gun is overlooking.

T*O*F · « **Reply #37 on:** March 29, 2012, 04:45:40 AM »

Quote

oh sorry, I don't have time to finish because I need to go get the iPad XXXVII...

Eric,
Make sure you download BarnYard. It's a new app that filters out all the BS so you only see the truth on your screen. Most forums show up as blank screens.

Bob Roller · « **Reply #38 on:** March 29, 2012, 02:12:36 PM »

Under the guild system the journeyman did have to produce at least one gun for judging as his "Meisterstuck". Some of these were made of components made entirely by the craftsman.In the world we now live in,this would be rare but it has been done. The analogy of the "perfect"Tn,gun as compared to a ho-hum Pa. is a good one. One thing is sure,if it's man made it is NOT perfect.
I can make a good lock but never did make a perfect one and if I did,it would worry me.
To the beginning craftsman I would say don't worry about "perfection" because it does NOT exist so just do the best you can and be glad for that.

Bob Roller

Osprey · « **Reply #39 on:** March 29, 2012, 03:04:41 PM »

I think the jist of this jest is that Masterpiece, however it is defined, is a term that should only be used by others for your work, if deserved. Using it to describe your own work, no matter how good, smacks of hubris and boasting. Look back to the old masters, many of whom wouldn't even sign their guns, how do you think they'd fall on this topic?

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #40 on:** March 29, 2012, 03:06:52 PM »

Quote from: T*O*F on March 29, 2012, 03:19:13 AM

Quote
Hopefully this will provoke deep thought and intelligent discussion.
Guys,
You just ain't gettin' it. It Ain't About the Guns!!

It's about the use of superfluous superlatives in an attempt to add additional value to a product where none exists.....kinda like the ShamWow or Schticky infomercials on TV. And there are people who fall for that line and buy those products because of the sales pitch.

Wow, somebody that isn't afraid to say they get it.

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #41 on:** March 29, 2012, 03:08:14 PM »

Quote from: Osprey on March 29, 2012, 03:04:41 PM

I think the jist of this jest is that Masterpiece, however it is defined, is a term that should only be used by others for your work, if deserved. Using it to describe your own work, no matter how good, smacks of hubris and boasting. Look back to the old masters, many of whom wouldn't even sign their guns, how do you think they'd fall on this topic?

And another.....

Robby · « **Reply #42 on:** March 29, 2012, 03:18:40 PM »

It would depend on if the word Masterpiece is used as a noun or an adjective. Or, how a person wants to believe the word is being used. There is reality and perception.
Robby

Bob Roller · « **Reply #43 on:** March 29, 2012, 03:56:24 PM »

<who wouldn't even sign their guns>? maybe they couldn't. Not everyone could read and write then and now.

Bob Roller

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #44 on:** March 29, 2012, 05:43:31 PM »

Quote from: Robby on March 29, 2012, 03:18:40 PM

It would depend on if the word Masterpiece is used as a noun or an adjective. Or, how a person wants to believe the word is being used. There is reality and perception.
Robby

I don't often deal with reality.....

Roger B · « **Reply #45 on:** March 29, 2012, 08:45:28 PM »

I get the tongue in cheek aspect of the post, but I still think it might be interesting to find out what a bunch of guys who can actually turn out masterpieces thinks a masterpiece might be in the 21st century. Like art; I know what I like and like pornography; I know it when I see it, but I'm not sure I can define it. Beyond ego, I think the appellation attached to a craftsman's work would have some monetary implications for the craftsman. For me, it might be a certain level of work to shoot for.
So if I had been a journeyman in your shop, what would you expect in a masterpiece from me?
As far as owning a $40K masterpiece, I have no interest, as I would be scared to death to use it. I would rather have 20 $2K guns that I could really enjoy. I don't think Mike is obsessed, but perhaps I am.
Roger B.

Vomitus · « **Reply #46 on:** March 29, 2012, 08:54:11 PM »

Quote from: Mike Brooks on March 29, 2012, 03:08:14 PM

Quote from: Osprey on March 29, 2012, 03:04:41 PM
I think the jist of this jest is that Masterpiece, however it is defined, is a term that should only be used by others for your work, if deserved. Using it to describe your own work, no matter how good, smacks of hubris and boasting. Look back to the old masters, many of whom wouldn't even sign their guns, how do you think they'd fall on this topic?
And another.....

Wull ...!

rich pierce · « **Reply #47 on:** March 29, 2012, 09:52:48 PM »

It's subjective of course, but to be a master back in the day probably meant being able to do all the common tasks associated with building guns, doing it efficiently, and with excellence. My understanding is that the journeymen of the flintlock period in America could average a modestly decorated rifle every 2 weeks. This would involve tasks we don't necessarily have to do today including forging the breechplug and tang, drawfiling the top 5 flats because the barrel was delivered with rough grinder marks al over it, making sights, underlugs, nosecap, thimbles, toeplate, sideplate, patchbox, all assorted springs and pins and screws and lockbolts, inletting the barrel with hand tools only, etc.

Robby · « **Reply #48 on:** March 29, 2012, 10:09:59 PM »

I'm sure many master craftsmen had no desire to own their own shop, whatever their discipline. In applying for work, I'm also sure, the guy that did the hiring would ask to see the applicants masterpiece if he was requesting masters wages.
Robby

rich pierce · « **Reply #49 on:** March 29, 2012, 10:38:20 PM »

Robbie, you mean they couldn't just go to the guy's website?

I bet that in Europe at least they carried letters of introduction from their guild or other masters, etc.

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Author Topic: "Masterpiece Gun" (Read 60683 times)

Vomitus