Author Topic: "Masterpiece Gun" (Read 63157 times)

Frenchy · « **Reply #75 on:** April 06, 2012, 08:01:27 AM »

Sorry for not being clearer in what I was asking.
This was the quote from the "Masterpiece Rifle" thread
"It is niether argumentative nor pointless, in fact it is educational. It could be far more educational with an honest critique of the gun, which I could keep brief and too the point, if the moderators would allow it. I know Hugh wouldn't get it, but maybe some of the rest of you fans of Hugh's gun would learn what makes a gun good...or not ."

I'm new to forums and haven't learned how to post pics, yet. Will do so when I have the knowledge and the time.

Longknife · « **Reply #76 on:** April 06, 2012, 04:44:06 PM »

Frenchy, Mike did crituqe the "Masterpiece" rifle on the other thread. He wrote in the othert thread::::

---QUOTE-----Well, OK.....
The most difficult thing to get past is the cheek piece. PREGNANT and amateurish. Looks like something off of a 1960's Dixie Gun Works kit. The wrist area looks almost squarish and the barrel is buried too deep in the wood. The wire is nicely executed, although it does "float" a bit behind the cheek, nothing to anchor it. What's up with those grooved areas around the lock panels? Another very amateurish feature. It is also imbalanced with the lack of relief carving. The very little bit that is behind the barrel tang is insignificant and amateurishly executed. $#*!, I'm no great shakes at relief carving but even I can do better than that. He would have been far better off to carry the lock panels and tang carving off in wire as that is his forte'. The engraving is fine, but for a "Masterpiece " gun I'd expect far more of it. I don't remember anything else about the gun, I couldn't get past the above faults.
This may have been considered "Masterpiece work" in the 60's and 70's, but you just can't get by with this kind of stuff these days .----UNQUOTE---

George Sutton · « **Reply #77 on:** April 08, 2012, 04:15:52 AM »

Mike, you are entilted to your ego, you do great work.

Centershot

Frenchy · « **Reply #78 on:** April 17, 2012, 08:26:34 AM »

Thanks Longknife. I must have sluiced over that post.

greybeard · « **Reply #79 on:** April 17, 2012, 08:32:39 PM »

YEP! MY EGO IS BIGGER THAN YOUR EGO !!!!

Bob

T*O*F · « **Reply #80 on:** April 19, 2012, 07:40:08 PM »

This is the only true masterpiece gun I have seen in a while. Made by Jerry Huddleston, it just received the Engraver's Choice award at the recent FEGA show. He made all the parts himself, including the barrels; and he did all his own castings. The gun itself is a flint double in the style of the early 1800's French masters. The inlays are gold and silver and the castings are sterling silver.

Pictures are too large to post. They are hi-res and can be enlarged by clicking on them once.

http://jwh-flintlocks.net/gr-tg-lg-super.jpg
http://jwh-flintlocks.net/gr-muzzle-lower.jpg
http://jwh-flintlocks.net/gr-locks.jpg
http://jwh-flintlocks.net/gr-bc1-large.jpg
http://jwh-flintlocks.net/gr-bc2.jpg
http://jwh-flintlocks.net/gr-0315sized.jpg
http://jwh-flintlocks.net/gr-tw1.jpg
http://jwh-flintlocks.net/gr-tw3.jpg
http://jwh-flintlocks.net/gr-my-ffl-top-comp.jpg

Dennis Glazener · « **Reply #81 on:** April 19, 2012, 07:47:57 PM »

Jerry does excellent work and the piece certainly deserves to be called a Masterpiece.
Dennis

TPH · « **Reply #82 on:** April 19, 2012, 08:16:15 PM »

He certainly does Dennis, that is a fine piece of work.

JDK · « **Reply #83 on:** April 19, 2012, 08:39:51 PM »

But is it still a "masterpiece" if he hasn't submitted it to the guild?

T*O*F.....thanks for posting this incredible piece. J.D.K.

TPH · « **Reply #84 on:** April 19, 2012, 09:58:54 PM »

Quote from: JDK on April 19, 2012, 08:39:51 PM

But is it still a "masterpiece" if he hasn't submitted it to the guild?

T*O*F.....thanks for posting this incredible piece. J.D.K.

What guild?

Jerry doesn't need a guild.

rich pierce · « **Reply #85 on:** April 19, 2012, 10:00:09 PM »

It shows mastery, that is for sure. It is not something a journeyman could do. Most folks we think of as masters of the longrifle would be hard pressed to execute similar skills, which are way beyond what is found on a typical original longrifle.

Flinter · « **Reply #86 on:** April 20, 2012, 01:04:47 AM »

My gosh...Jerry Huddleston has a Masterpiece for sale at the below link, and it's a 54 caliber!

http://www.jwh-flintlocks.net/vigilance-pg2.html

Blacksmoke · « **Reply #87 on:** April 20, 2012, 01:17:32 AM »

TPH : Jerry is a long time member of the "Firearms Engraver's Guild" - his classification is " Master Engraver".
However - his French double barrel Fowler ( pictured above and is absolutely stunning!) only becomes a "Masterpiece" if it is submitted to a "Guild" and accepted by that Guild for entrance there in. Jerry has already submitted some his previous work to the FEGA and was accepted as a "Master Engraver" That work was his "Masterpiece".
This interpretation of the word " Masterpiece" is what is found in any English dictionary or encyclopedia.
Hugh Toenjes

MarkEngraver · « **Reply #88 on:** April 20, 2012, 02:57:18 AM »

[/quote]

What guild?

Jerry doesn't need a guild.
[/quote]

And yet it was the Firearms Engravers Guild of America that gave Jerry his "Master Engraver" status.
Without the Guild there is no group to determine and bestow "master" status.
Jerry submitted and received Master status in 2007 or 2008 if I remember right.

Jerry's shotgun was submitted into several guild "award competitions" this year.
It won "Artistic Uniqueness"
" Engravers Choice Award" ( this is the "best over all" award )
" Best Engraved Shotgun"
and " Best Metal on Metal Inlay" (in a tie with C.J. Cai)

I saw it and got to examine it at the Guild Show in Reno and no picture can do it justice !
An Incredible piece of work !

Mark

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #89 on:** April 20, 2012, 03:16:53 PM »

Jerry's metal work is outstanding as usual. There are several on this board who are more capable of shaping and carving a gun like this. Take off the gold and wire work and then asses the gun.......

So many are fooled by glitz and razzle dazzle....

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #90 on:** April 20, 2012, 03:18:57 PM »

Commence with the arrows of outrage.

TPH · « **Reply #91 on:** April 20, 2012, 03:41:27 PM »

Hugh and Mark, thank you for the information. I was aware of that but it doesn't hurt to be reminded, especially if it lets others know. My statement's intended meaning was that Jerry doesn't need the blessing of a guild, he is completely secure in his own abilities and capabilities. Sorry that I wasn't clear.

Gaeckle · « **Reply #92 on:** April 20, 2012, 03:46:08 PM »

Quote from: Mike Brooks on April 20, 2012, 03:16:53 PM

Jerry's metal work is outstanding as usual. There are several on this board who are more capable of shaping and carving a gun like this. Take off the gold and wire work and then asses the gun....... So many are fooled by glitz and razzle dazzle....

..........agreed............

Joe S · « **Reply #93 on:** April 20, 2012, 05:37:16 PM »

Mike –

Quote

Take off the gold and wire work and then asses the gun.......

I’d be interested in your comments on the basic architecture of the gun. The style doesn’t appeal to me particularly, but that’s strictly a matter of taste. I’m not at all familiar with this style of gun, so I have no opinion on the architecture.

Also, take a look at http://www.jwh-flintlocks.net/vigilance-pg2.html. Follow the links and you’ll see that this rifle went for $16,500.

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #94 on:** April 20, 2012, 05:59:24 PM »

Quote from: Joe S on April 20, 2012, 05:37:16 PM

Mike –

Quote
Take off the gold and wire work and then asses the gun.......

I’d be interested in your comments on the basic architecture of the gun. The style doesn’t appeal to me particularly, but that’s strictly a matter of taste. I’m not at all familiar with this style of gun, so I have no opinion on the architecture.

Also, take a look at http://www.jwh-flintlocks.net/vigilance-pg2.html. Follow the links and you’ll see that this rifle went for $16,500.

Appears to be a Boutet post 1800. The archetecture looks good, but a bit pudgy. There are several things I really like about this gun. The checkering design and execution are excellent in my opinion. Of course the gold metal inlay and engraving is very good as you would expect from Jerry. The wire work is excellent also. The beastie head grip is cool too.
The Fox doesn't work on the trigger guard bow. I don't care for the rear ram rod pipe design or the design of the buttplate return. The carving at the barrel tang looks like it was carved in pretty soft wood. I actually recoiled in horror at the carving at the front trigger guard bow.
I might add I have seen some original guns with gold work in the barrel that I really like. A little bit goes along way. As with the original Boutets and le pages this on is way over done and comes across as garish. In my opinion of course.

David Rase · « **Reply #95 on:** April 20, 2012, 09:34:12 PM »

I think I saw this piece the other day on an episode of the reality show called "Pimp my Gun".

Dave

Maybe Jerry will show up at Ron Scott's gunmakers fair next month and the gun with him so we can see it in person.

Collector · « **Reply #96 on:** April 20, 2012, 11:58:18 PM »

Maybe it's been pointed out before, but we're not looking at nor are we building actual 'anythings.' So they are, at best, meticulous bench copies or in general, personal interpretations. Leading us off, again, into the realm of subjectivity. Obviously, the marketplace of opinion and dollars are big enough to support and indulge all of them.

BTW, I believe that I own the fanciest rifle that Mike Brooks ever built, an early VA piece. Truth be told, it may not even be one of HIS favorites, I just don't know.

Don't make me have to post my 'beating a dead horse to death' photo! Because I will!!

D. Taylor Sapergia · « **Reply #97 on:** April 21, 2012, 01:25:32 AM »

Go ahead. Make our day!

Collector · « **Reply #98 on:** April 21, 2012, 02:30:30 AM »

D. Taylor,

I'm waiting to find out if my Mike Brook's early VA piece is his fanciest and if it's his Ultimate Supreme-er-est Favorite, or not?

D. Taylor Sapergia · « **Reply #99 on:** April 21, 2012, 05:17:01 AM »

I'll stand by...

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Author Topic: "Masterpiece Gun" (Read 63157 times)

Frenchy

Frenchy

greybeard

Flinter

MarkEngraver

Joe S