Author Topic: Austrian Hunting Rifle... (Read 16961 times)

KC · « **Reply #25 on:** May 09, 2016, 01:47:17 AM »

I love your work. Fantastic engraving and carving. I especially like the detail at the breech and the engraving on the lock. I think I just need to study the pictures for awhile. Outstanding rifle.

Ed Wenger · « **Reply #26 on:** May 09, 2016, 02:57:23 AM »

Thanks for all the kind words! Humbly appreciated....

Ron, the carving is definitely baroque in style, and certainly has some Berlinish characteristics. Don't know about the "grasshopper" part, lol....

Phip, thanks. I enjoy wire work, although it can get a little tedious. It's one of the things that draw me to European pieces. Some of the work on original pieces is simply stunning.

Dan, trust me, I know exactly how you feel, and have felt the same way more than once. There are a lot of really talented builders out there to draw inspiration, and learn from, more than a few of which post here on ALR. Thank you.

Thanks once more, and again, if anyone has any questions about anything, I'd be happy to try and explain.

Ed

tlallijr · « **Reply #27 on:** May 09, 2016, 03:12:24 AM »

Beautiful !

Maalsral · « **Reply #28 on:** May 09, 2016, 03:21:31 AM »

Ed, I love it! The carving and the engraving on the lock are beautiful.

James Rogers · « **Reply #29 on:** May 09, 2016, 03:49:06 AM »

Very nice Ed! If you keep up with these old world pieces you will end up being labeled "Euro-trash" as some of us have been affectionately termed!

D. Taylor Sapergia · « **Reply #30 on:** May 09, 2016, 05:40:07 AM »

Ed: I love the rifle and you deserve all the praise being heaped upon you. There are so many of the gunmaker's arts being demo'd here, and so well executed.

Can't wait to see what's next!!

gumboman · « **Reply #31 on:** May 09, 2016, 05:56:15 AM »

Beautiful weapon Ed. It is so humbling to see your work. I really like the finish. I might want to use that on the fowling piece I have under construction. How many coats of sealer did you apply? What is paraffin oil and where can one buy it? Just to make sure I understand, you used a toothbrush to work in the paraffin oil?

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #32 on:** May 09, 2016, 01:47:02 PM »

Great gun, really shows off your skills. I wish all you guys with high levels of skill would go Euro to properly illustrate your skills. Hard to do on KY rifles and make them feel legit.
I don't know if it would qualify as a "weapon" though....

Tim Crosby · « **Reply #33 on:** May 09, 2016, 04:15:48 PM »

Holy Cow Ed! That is Beautiful.

Tim

Acer Saccharum · « **Reply #34 on:** May 09, 2016, 04:31:14 PM »

That is a lovely piece, Ed. What a joy to scroll through the pictures to see view after view, leaving me hungry for more.

Your description of a mistake in the cheekpiece makes me laugh. It's not anything an onlooker would pick up on, unless you pointed it out, and even then, so what? This is a perfect example of a mistake being made into a silk purse. Nice recovery!

Ed Wenger · « **Reply #35 on:** May 09, 2016, 05:29:37 PM »

Gumboman, paraffin oil is just a medium many wood workers use with pumice or rotten stone. Plain mineral oil does pretty much the same thing. You can purchase paraffin oil through Woodcraft. I typically use rotten stone or #4 pumice stone for the abrasive in rubbing out a stock.

The technique I use for this type of finish comes directly from Bill Shipman. The stock is stained and allowed to completely dry. Permalyn sealer is then used to soak the stock. I typically use one of those disposable foam applicators, although a brush works well also. Working one area at a time, the stock is soaked with sealer until it barely, or stops soaking in. Move on to the next area and repeat. I typically use darn near an entire can (the little ones) of sealer with a lot of stocks during this process. If there's areas where you get runs, simply wipe lightly with a paper towel. I then allow the stock to dry 12 - 24 hours.

The next step is to soak a small square of cloth with SEALER, not finish,("T" shirt material or a cleaning patch works well) and simply wipe the sealer onto the stock. Just one swipe per area should do it, no need to rub, just swipe. You can get the entire stock done in less than two minutes. Set aside to dry, typically 3 - 5 hours. When the stock is not sticky, and feels "dry", it's ready for the next coat, applied the same way.

Typically, I'll apply four to six coats of sealer.... I like to apply the last coat at the end of the day so I can start the rubbing out process first thing the next day. I don't allow the last coat to cure for days, since it gets harder as it cures, and find a twelve hour or so cure time works well for rubbing back.

Last step is to slather on some paraffin or mineral oil, sprinkle on some rotten or pumice stone, and scrub the stock with an old tooth brush. After you scrubbed for a minute or so, wipe off with a clean cloth to see how it looks. Repeat if needed for the desired look, then do the rest of the stock in the same manner. This works especially well for carving since you can get into all the nooks.

Hope that helps, sorry for the long dissertation, and thanks to Bill!

Ed

hudson · « **Reply #36 on:** May 09, 2016, 06:30:51 PM »

I absolutely love the rifle!!! Clean lines, not overly embellished. The walnut helps marry things together in a way I can’t explain. I love walnut! Your engraving is way beyond any thing I can ever hope to attain. The wire inlay encourages me to include it in one of my next builds. Thank you for sharing.

D. Taylor Sapergia · « **Reply #37 on:** May 09, 2016, 06:36:53 PM »

Really nice job on the lock Ed! But it needs a flint about 3/16" longer. I'd be afraid of the top jaw striking the frizzen before the flint, or worse, the jaw screw hitting the top of the frizzen. Of course, the flint must not strike the pan either, or the side of the barrel.

Chris Treichel · « **Reply #38 on:** May 09, 2016, 07:56:22 PM »

wow, that is some amazing work.

Marcruger · « **Reply #39 on:** May 09, 2016, 07:56:43 PM »

Ooooh. It's great to see that in its finished state Ed.

That's quite the looker to go along with its nice balance. Well played sir.

I especially like the way you worked the engraving pattern around the stippled panels on the lock and the tang. It reminds me of some favorite leather carving patterns. That is some sweet work.

The carving at the tang and sides of the wrist are exceptionally well conceived and executed.

I am guessing, considering your timeframe, that this was not created for a particular customer. I think you are going to have trouble hanging onto this one.....like a dad with a pretty daughter. I imagine folks are in the que already.
Best wishes, Marc

Osprey · « **Reply #40 on:** May 09, 2016, 09:50:51 PM »

That is fine as frog hair! Inspiring for us mortals, too.

In a related report, several red stags have been sighted swimming the Atlantic, all with the goal of surrendering to the bearer of this rifle.

Sweeney · « **Reply #41 on:** May 10, 2016, 12:13:51 AM »

Gorgeous, Ed, inspirational. Would you please describe what you look for in a walnut blank when planning such a build? I have been so immersed in curly maple and have not yet developed any eye/intuition for walnut planks.
Thanks,
Troy

Ed Wenger · « **Reply #42 on:** May 10, 2016, 01:08:10 AM »

Taylor, the flint is at least that too small. I just picked up the closest one I had to take some photos with, thought that would look better than the wood "flint" I had in during the build....

Troy... I think everyone has their own tastes in regards to what they look for in a walnut stock, just like with a piece of maple, or cherry. One of the big things for any stock is the grain orientation through the wrist area. After that, like a maple stock, hardness is desirable for carving. After that, I'd say it's pretty much a matter of taste in regards to grain pattern, burl, or even curl. In general, European walnut tends to be a little harder, not as "stringy" as American black walnut, and typically is more closed grained. There are certainly exceptions to that. I made a rifle a couple years ago from a piece of American walnut that was rock hard and had very tight grain. Hope that helps....

Ed

Robby · « **Reply #43 on:** May 10, 2016, 03:25:00 PM »

Awesome piece of composition and execution, just beautiful!!! Very warm and inviting, makes me want to pull it up and look down the sights.
Robby

vulture · « **Reply #44 on:** May 10, 2016, 09:23:12 PM »

That is one beautiful piece of work, and exactly what I wanted when I purchased one of Pedersoli's Jaeger rifles, mine will never be as nice looking as yours, but I've had the rifling redone, and the simplicity of the stock is what I like. What I find most appealing on yours is the shape of the stock, that is what I was looking for. I have never cared for the shape of the Jaeger rifles with the undercut shape at the trigger guard, this is just a me thing, I would love to have your skill, but just not willing to put in the time to acquire it. Thanks for sharing.

Curtis · « **Reply #45 on:** May 10, 2016, 09:43:52 PM »

Ed, I think you have fallen into a rut here.... this gun is better than the last, the next is a little better, and oh, the next is even better yet. What's up with that?

$:-\$

Oh well, keep it up!

Curtis

t.caster · « **Reply #46 on:** May 11, 2016, 01:14:56 AM »

As everyone has already said, it is totally beautiful from stem to stern!

AMartin · « **Reply #47 on:** May 11, 2016, 03:03:44 PM »

The pics look super and I would like to see this one in person .. very nice !!

Al

Hemo · « **Reply #48 on:** May 11, 2016, 05:25:57 PM »

I feel compelled to add my totally redundant and obvious observation that that's a spectacular piece of work! I love it. Doing the European stuff certainly does allow one to go a step beyond the usual early American work and still stay believable.

Gregg

Long John · « **Reply #49 on:** May 12, 2016, 05:00:55 PM »

Ed,

I just got to reviewing ALR after a week or so.

You rifle is simply stunning! You are rapidly positioning yourself as one of the go-to, top builders out there. This gun certainly deserves all the praise it has received and you deserve credit for making your vision a reality with such skill and attention to detail.

Best Regards,

John Cholin

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Author Topic: Austrian Hunting Rifle... (Read 16961 times)

vulture

Hemo