Precious Gems

[Mike Lyons]

I have quite a few cut rubies, emeralds, garnets, sapphires etc. that  I found mostly  in the desert in Saudi Arabia and some in Alaska and the Black Hills in South Dakota while in the military.  I had some cut by the LBD’s in the desert.   I’ve seen some rifles and pistols with precious gems on them. Is there a specific rifle or pistol type  that had things like precious gems enlayed  on them?  I don’t do anything with them and it would be nice to somehow incorporate them in a rifle. 

[M. E. Pering]

Afganvet... Though there were guns made with these adornments, they were mostly for European and Ottoman royalty.  I am not certain about Czarist Russia, but it would not surprise me there, either.  This is something you will need to do research on if you are wanting to emulate one of those guns that had them.  As far as I know, no American gun ever had gems, but I don't know everything, and it is possible a couple did.  If you aren't going for a HC gun though, go for it.

Matt

[Craig Wilcox]

Not much gem work on firearms this side of the pond, which is a shame.  I used to buy rough stock in Brazil, bring it home to Florida, then cut and polish.  Believe I still have a few tucked away.  Some amethyst, fire opal, etc.  Lots of rough star sapphire - makes fancy cabochons.

[Longknife]

There is ONE, very nice American made swivel breech flintlock rifle that is inlaid with gems. I have it in one of my books but can not seem to lay my hands on it right now, maybe I loaned it out,,,I'll look some more in the morning....Ed

[Lucky R A]

       The most notable American gun with a number of jewels is usually referenced as "the Jewel Kuntz."   It is well pictured in Dave Hanson's book, The Art and Evolution of the Longrifle.   You better be really on your game if you want to re-create this  rifle.   
Happy building,
Ron

[smart dog]

Hi Mike,
Precious stones on guns of any type in history are rare.  There are a few in almost every century since firearms were invented, mostly made as lavish gifts to royalty or by them.  IMO most I have seen are hideous artistic disasters. With respect to  American longrifles, there are one or more rifles by Jacob Kuntz that have cut glass and/or "Macungie" stones inlayed on the cheek piece and patchbox. I believe Macungie stone is a type of blue-green jasper that was mined just south of Allentown, PA.  As far as I know, there was never any type of specific type of firearm upon which gems were inlayed, just those intended as lavish statements of wealth.

dave     

[Mike Brooks]

You put gems on a rifle everybody is going to think you're light in the loafers ....even if that wierdo Kuntz did do it.

[Mike Lyons]

You put gems on a rifle everybody is going to think you're light in the loafers ....even if that wierdo Kuntz did do it.

You may be onto something.  Maybe there's a link between Kuntz and Baron Friedrich von Steuben. What we think is "Lady Liberty" or an "Indian Head" might be?

[Majorjoel]

You could always hide "The Family Jewel's" inside your patchbox.   
 
It would not be too awful gaudy to use one or two small gem stones for the eyes on a carved lion or griffon I suppose.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Hugh Toenjes did a nice Lehigh rifle back in the last quarter of the 20th Century.  He incorporated a jem in the cheek piece inlay with nice effect.  It is the only contemporary rifle of which I am familiar with such an inlay.

[Bill Raby]

Probably the best example of rifles, muskets inlaid with gems would be the mukahla from North Africa. Those tend to be highly decorated and gemstones were rather common on them. This was the type of weapon used by the Barbary pirates during AMerica's first foreign war. So they actually do have some connection to American history. Building one would be an interesting project. And also quite a challenge.

[Daryl Pelfrey]

Im with Mike Brooks on this one.LOL

[Mike Lyons]

I’ll keep them hidden away for another 20 years. 

[Craig Wilcox]

Awwww, Afghan - be novel!  Be creative!  Be different!  Bedazzle us all with rubies, sapphires, and fire opals!

Who knows, you might be the 21st Century Kuntz?

Why?  Because you can!

We all make replicas or "our take" on an historic firearm - you can be the one that breaks that old mold.  Yes, Hugh - Blacksmoke - made an absolutely gorgeous rifle.  You can too, if you want.  I will not be one to stifle your creative talents.

If it comes out too ugly for the world to see it, you can reclaim all the hardware and gemstones, with not much loss except for some wood and some time.  BUT - you may set a new trend!

If I can find that bag of un-polished star sapphires, I would be glad to give you some.  It would just take some shaping and polishing to make them into beautiful objects.

Best of luck to you whichever way you go, my fellow Vet.

[Mike Lyons]

Maybe a pistol some day with $#@* all over it.  For some reason,  im being drawn to less fancy rifles. Im trying my best to figure out how to make a Lehigh with very little carving.  Examples are hard to come by.

[axelp]

Brent Gurtek of French River Muzzleloaders out of Duluth MN made an early Lehigh that sported a black onyx inlet into a hunters star above the cheek piece, It looked pretty cool.

[Bob Roller]

The museum owned,jewel encrusted guns I have seen are to me,underwhelming and I
wouldn't give $5 for any of them if I had to keep them.I suppose this is because jewelry
to me is a waste of money and an attraction for violent criminals to act.

Bob Roller

[Dave Marsh]

I’ll keep them hidden away for another 20 years.

Good decision.   

Dave

[Mike Brooks]

I'd probably  have the family jewels made into some jewelry for my wife and/or mistress before I hammered it into a gun stock.


Hey, they do nifty implants now too....you could have some jewels implanted in your forehead.  The ones I have seen in person were VERY fetching....

[Mike Lyons]

I'd probably  have the family jewels made into some jewelry for my wife and/or mistress before I hammered it into a gun stock.


Hey, they do nifty implants now too....you could have some jewels implanted in your forehead.  The ones I have seen in person were VERY fetching....

Wayne was right.  You are full of great ideas.  That would go awesome with my neck rings, bone through my nose and the disc in my lip.   

[Mike Brooks]

I'd probably  have the family jewels made into some jewelry for my wife and/or mistress before I hammered it into a gun stock.


Hey, they do nifty implants now too....you could have some jewels implanted in your forehead.  The ones I have seen in person were VERY fetching....

Wayne was right.  You are full of great ideas.  That would go awesome with my neck rings, bone through my nose and the disc in my lip.   

If you ever need advise on style you now know who to talk to.

[rick/pa]

The Scots were great ones for using jewels on fancy flat powder horns.  Or perhaps some 18th century pimp had a gun with inlaid jewels.

[Robby]

I did it once on the third gun I made. I inlayed my grandfathers tie tack, my birth stone, into the cap box on an Ohio type gun. Can't sat I liked or disliked it at the time or now, that wasn't why I did it. I made it for my daughter and was teaching myself how to do a lot of different things and learning a lot of different thing at the same time.
 

Robby

[mountainman70]

Hey Robby, reckon we could please see the rest of that rifle? Looks swell to me. Thanks Dave

[Mike Lyons]

Those Ohio rifles  are growing on me.  This is getting ridiculous!!!!