A Blunderbuss Commission - Finished. Fired, For Sale ?

[oldtravler61]

   In my book Dave ,Jerry an James your all Master's. Yep I said it. Beautiful gun an strap or sling. Very very nice work...!

[JVavrek]

Stunning!!!! Dave You have a gift that most of us only dream of. Thank you for posting such a beautiful piece. I just can't believe all the talent that is on this site and how helpful you all are. Again thank you for letting us see you build the Blunderbuss.

[Pukka Bundook]

Well Dave, after seeing your work I think I should go and feed the pigs. I can do that!  First have to go and buy some though.

Beautiful work, clean, neat engraving.  altogether Lovely!   
Thanks for all the pictures,

Best regards,
Richard.

[davec2]

Thank you all for the kind words.  I have a commission to do another blunderbuss and a brace of pistols.  So wish me luck in getting these next pieces done in a timely manner.

[smylee grouch]

Dave, I apologize for again busting in and taking up space but your work is truly fantastic. I too would consider it an honer to hunt with such a wonderful piece of craftsmanship. I would probably never see any game looking at the gun the whole time afield. Thanks for letting us ride along on this build.   

[Arcturus]

Repel boarders!     Regardless of modern practical uses or "need", I can't imagine how anyone wouldn't covet that short beauty!  Thanks for reviving this.  The sling by James is the perfect finishing touch.

[Marcruger]

Delightful architecture, eye-catching detailing, and crisp execution.  I love it.  God Bless,   Marc

[Ed Wenger]

Going back over the pictures for the hundredth time is just as delightful as the first time.  Absolutely awesome work, Dave!

Have to agree on the craftsmanship of James as well.  James makes some of the finest bags I’ve seen.  Great work on the buckle and sling!



           Ed

[Hemo]

I'm extremely awed and generally green with envy. From your personal stories, it sounds like you came by your engraving (and carving?) skills at a very tender age, so I may excuse myself for not having had a similar advantaged upbringing.

Looking at your pictures, it appears that you regularly use an engraving ball. I just ordered one today--have wanted one for a long time--as well as the Jewelry Engravers's Handbook, to learn more about doing engraved script
 
It appears also that you are using Dykem or some similar blue machinist's dye to lay out your engraving. Do you just scribe your designs directly through the blue dye? I have tried using Chinese white and similar products, drawing on these with pencil, or directly on the metal surface, but without very good results. Is there anything else you do to lay out your designs prior to engraving?

Thanks for sharing these stories and pictures!

Gregg

[davec2]

Again....thank you all for the very kind comments.  I'm still learning, but I enjoy the work, so it's fun to keep going.

Greg,

Yes, I do use blue layout dye and then sketch the design very lightly with a scribe.  I also use Chinese white and / or just a soft wax and then layout with a pencil.  As you know, the wax / pencil layout is easy to wipe out or off, so when I do that I usually do the design in small sections. 

I didn't actually start engraving (really) until I took lessons from Jerry Huddleston a few years ago.  He taught me a transfer technique that I use a lot especially for replicating a design or making a left and right hand version of a given design.  I lay a piece of mylar film on top of a design and scribe the design into the mylar surface.  Then I rub printers ink into the scribe marks, wipe the surface clean, flip the ink filled scribed lines down on the surface where I want it to go and use a burnisher to transfer the ink to the surface.  Works great, but, like the pencil marks on the wax, it will smudge.

Hope this helps,

dave C

[Hemo]

Very helpful, thank you Dave!

Gregg

[BOB HILL]

James, I have gone back many times to study this excellent piece of work. I'm sure I will go back many more times over the years. I have always enjoyed your work very much. Thanks for sharing it with all of us.      P.S.  I typed this awhile back and didn't hit post.
Bob

[bama]

Fabulous work

[louieparker]

Davec2 I agree with Jim. Your work is at a level VERY few are capable of.   Louie

[davec2]

This whole thread is from nine years ago now, so a little explanation is in order.  If any of you have been following the much more recent thread on duplicating a smaller blunderbuss, I did that for the same fellow who commissioned me to make the one in this thread.  In the intervening years, he purchased the original Nicholson and then had me make the close copy.  The Nicholson, and the copy, are both very light weight, handy little guns and the owner asked me if I could cut down this first one I made for him to a shorter barrel length.  Not looking forward to trying to do that, I suggested that he sell this one and have me build whatever else he wanted (which might include a pistol or two ?)  He liked that idea.....and then asked me if I could find out if there would be any interest out there in someone purchasing this brass barreled, 10 gage version.  I told him I would post something here just to see if there was any interest, and since this thread has been read more than 44,000 times, you never know.  It would not be an inexpensive venture into the wonderful world of blunderbusses / shoulder fired artillery....but then again, they don't come along very often (like almost never  )  So this post is just a heads up that I will be posting this gun in the "for sale" section very soon...you never know when you might find someone with more money than good sense....

PS  Here it is in action.....

[flatsguide]

Outstanding work!
Cheers Richard